32-20 with Modern Ammo

[Muley Gil]

That old muddy water.
These seem to contradict a lot of what you posted ?
Note it's a 20 round box
That it does indeed say important not for revolvers.
Also note the velocity and that's for a 115 grain jacketed bullet.

I would say that those comments above applied to US made ammo. And IIRC, that ammo also dates to the '50s-'60s.

 

[weatherby]

I would say that those comments above applied to US made ammo. And IIRC, that ammo also dates to the '50s-'60s.

You will not find a warning against use in revolvers on the boxes of any .32-20 ammunition, made at any time, except the 80 grain high velocity hollow point load!

Must have missed that part of the authoritative
Discussion

 

[Drm50]

"Cowboy" ammunition is generally a code word for "underloaded" and is a common recommendation for old guns.

I have read that .32-20 revolvers are disproportionately subject to bulged barrels.
Is that so, and if so, what is the current theory?

I have dealt in 32/20s, revolvers and rifles for years. I've never seen a bulged barrel 32/20 revolver. A bulged barrel is caused by bore obstruction. I'm sure there could be cases of separated cores in early jacketed ammo. That it is some kind of plague is a stretch
It's about the same level as revolvers blow up by the old Hv rifle ammo. Now I have seen several 357s with bulged barrels from
target loads with 1/2 jacket bullets, throwing the core.
In 32/20 I've herd of people shooting 32 S&W in them. That could possibly also leave a bullet in bore. About shooting through car bodies also sounds like a wives tale. I don't know what bullet they had back in 20s & 30s would be much of an AP bullet.

 

[glowe]

You will not find a warning against use in revolvers on the boxes of any .32-20 ammunition, made at any time, except the 80 grain high velocity hollow point load!

Must have missed that part of the authoritative
Discussion

Paul, there were at least two boxes with heavier bullets pictured in this thread. The Dominion box above states "Do not use in revolvers" and the Western Super-X box states "For use in rifles only". The topic has been beaten to death, but old ammo without known velocities or pressures. especially with jacket bullets, should not be used in vintage S&W revolvers.

 

[DWalt]

I have dealt in 32/20s, revolvers and rifles for years. I've never seen a bulged barrel 32/20 revolver. A bulged barrel is caused by bore obstruction. I'm sure there could be cases of separated cores in early jacketed ammo. That it is some kind of plague is a stretch
It's about the same level as revolvers blow up by the old Hv rifle ammo. Now I have seen several 357s with bulged barrels from
target loads with 1/2 jacket bullets, throwing the core.
In 32/20 I've herd of people shooting 32 S&W in them. That could possibly also leave a bullet in bore. About shooting through car bodies also sounds like a wives tale. I don't know what bullet they had back in 20s & 30s would be much of an AP bullet.

I also do not remember seeing any .32-20 revolver having a bulged barrel, and do not know why any bullet would shed its jacket. But I have heard tales about it happening. I have fired a few rounds of .32 Long in a .32-20 revolver and nothing bad happened. Long ago I had a friend who was accidentally killed by a .32 Long bullet fired from a .32-20 revolver. I don't know why a .32-20 bullet would be any better than a .38 Special bullet in penetrating a car body.

 

[gmborkovic]

This discussion reminds me of back in the 60s at the speed shop.
You could buy 5gal. cans of racing fuel. Clearly printed on the can, in red,
top and front, "For modified race track cars only". Enough said! Right?
Some did not heed the warning. Oh well. If it says rifle only, it means rifle only.

 

[BSA1]

The first .32-20 that S&W built was the 1899, a medium frame.

By the 1930s, S&W had discontinued building .32-20 revolvers; they were still in the catalog, but the factory had enough already built. Sales were at an all-time low for that round.

So what was the best model for me to carry pre-registered magnum time?

What would be the best model for shooting today? I reload all of my 32-20 ammunition and never brought any commercial manufactured stuff.

 

[Retired W4]

This discussion reminds me of back in the 60s at the speed shop.
You could buy 5gal. cans of racing fuel. Clearly printed on the can, in red,
top and front, "For modified race track cars only". Enough said! Right?
Some did not heed the warning. Oh well. If it says rifle only, it means rifle only.

Mike, I'm thinking that had to do with the way they taxed that off road fuel.

Great informative discussion on the 32-20 ammunition. I have my ammo dealer buddys watching for any thing available now.