32/20

[m60 tanker]

Hello everyone I last visited on 02/28/2012. I have been out of town with the military for the last year. I picked up a 32/20 today at a pawn shop the serial number B83676 it is a 4in barrel and in good NRA shape. I gave 150 OTD. I need to know what model and about the time build. Thank you.

 

[Muley Gil]

Thank you for your service.

You have a .32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905-4th Change. It was probably shipped in the late 1910s-early 1920s. The "B" means that it was shipped with a blue finish.

$150 is a great price these days.

I love .32-20s!!

 

[JP@AK]

Hello "Tanker"
Welcome home!
The model name for your new revolver is .32-20 Hand Ejector, also referred to as a .32-20 Military & Police revolver.
I'm assuming you got the serial number from the barrel flat. That is usually the only place you find the B, which is not part of the serial number. It only indicates that the gun left the factory with a blue finish. You should find the same number without the B on the butt of the gun, the rear face of the cylinder, the underside of the extractor star and the rear edge of the yoke. If the gun is wearing original stocks, it will be written with a pencil on the inside of the right stock panel.
Serial number 83676 would be from 1919, just shortly after S&W began giving the cylinders a heat treatment to strengthen the steel. Original stocks would be checkered walnut and would have a gold, recessed S&W medallion at the top. This is assuming the gun has a square grip frame. If the butt is round, it would most likely have had hard black rubber stocks.
Good find and a good price, assuming the gun is in shooting order. .32-20 ammunition is still available from Olin (Winchester brand) but it is not cheap.
One more thing. The cartridge designation on the barrel should be 32 W.C.F. CTG on a gun of this period. After about 1922, it was changed to 32-20 CTG.
Jack

 

[m60 tanker]

The patent date on the barrel is Dec 29 1914. I disassembled the gun and cleaned a 100 years of dirt out of it. This gun will go good the its friend my 1892 Win in 32/20.

 

[JP@AK]

That Muley Gil - he's quick!!!
I guess I type too slow or too much!
Jack

 

[Muley Gil]

That Muley Gil - he's quick!!!
I guess I type too slow or too much!
Jack

I've been taking typing lessons. I'm up to 40 mistakes a minute, using my two index thumbs!

 

[JP@AK]

The patent date on the barrel is Dec 29 1914.

That patent date refers to the 4th engineering changes that were implemented in production in 1915. Shows the gun has those changes incorporated into the lock works.

This gun will go good the (sic) its friend my 1892 Win in 32/20.

Precisely why S&W introduced this model chambered for this cartridge. Colt's Patent Firearms Company did the same thing.
Jack

 

[TACC1]

Welcome back! Just wanted to say that.
TACC1

 

[shawn mccarver]

The patent date on the barrel is Dec 29 1914. I disassembled the gun and cleaned a 100 years of dirt out of it. This gun will go good the its friend my 1892 Win in 32/20.

I only say this since you mention a rifle. I am not sure about now, but when I had a .32-20 HE 4th Change about 40 years ago, I was told you had to be careful to buy ammo for use in revolvers, as the ammo was also available in higher pressures for use in rifles. It could have been a "wive's tale," but I recall someone warning me back then. It is not unheard of for ammo makers to load the same casing to two different pressure levels back in the day when idiots were allowed to eliminate themselves from the reproductive chain, thereby improving the species. The 38 Auto and the 38 Super Auto come to mind. This practice is unheard of these days as our consumer protection laws and lawsuits seem to cause perpetuation of people that in previous decades would have naturally weeded themselves out. It seems that we are interfering with the "natural law" of evolution in an unfortunate way.

Anyway, you may want to research that issue to see if it is still an issue, or perhaps someone else with current knowledge could chime in.

 

[Muley Gil]

I only say this since you mention a rifle. I am not sure about now, but when I had a .32-20 HE 4th Change about 40 years ago, I was told you had to be careful to buy ammo for use in revolvers, as the ammo was also available in higher pressures for use in rifles. It could have been a "wive's tale," but I recall someone warning me back then. It is not unheard of for ammo makers to load the same casing to two different pressure levels back in the day when idiots were allowed to eliminate themselves from the reproductive chain, thereby improving the species. The 38 Auto and the 38 Super Auto come to mind. This practice is unheard of these days as our consumer protection laws and lawsuits seem to cause perpetuation of people that in previous decades would have naturally weeded themselves out. It seems that we are interfering with the "natural law" of evolution in an unfortunate way.

Anyway, you may want to research that issue to see if it is still an issue, or perhaps someone else with current knowledge could chime in.

At one time, Winchester sold a "rifle only" 80 grain jacketed hollow point .32-20. The case was marked "HV", for High Velocity". This ammo is no longer being produced, but may be encountered at gun shows, old gun shops, etc. DO NOT use it in a handgun.

Modern factory loaded .32-20 ammo is safe in handguns, though I probably wouldn't use it in an 1880s Colt Single Action Army.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Any chance of seeing a picture or two?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hello everyone I last visited on 02/28/2012. I have been out of town with the military for the last year. I picked up a 32/20 today at a pawn shop the serial number B83676 it is a 4in barrel and in good NRA shape. I gave 150 OTD. I need to know what model and about the time build. Thank you.

Y u no post picture? LOL

 

[m60 tanker]

Will try to post some pic later I take it to the range today. I loaded some round for it with a 100gr lead and 8.3grs 2400powder. I am also taking the Win 92 to shot. Thanks to every one.

 

[Green Frog]

As the cowboys used to say, "That's a pair to draw to!" and as others have said, Welcome Back and Thanks for your Service. I'll be looking forward to seeing your pix as well and would only add that yours is a late enough serial number to indicate it should have the heat treated (stronger) cylinder. Enjoy it.

Froggie

 

[DWalt]

The likelihood of getting hold of .32-20 HV loads is pretty low. It has not been factory loaded for 50 years or so, and it is pretty easy to spot as it will have a jacketed bullet. Revolver ammo will have a lead bullet. Remington still loads .32-20 also (and for some strange reason, the Remington box is labeled "Rifle", but it is perfectly OK in revolvers), but most of those who know and love the .32-20 load their own to eliminate the availibility and (significant) expense problems associated with it.

 

[Skeetr57]

I have shot .32-20 guns a good bit, and all of the older ammo, from Remington at least, was jacketed soft point. I have never shot any of the non jacketed lead bullets, but I did buy a bunch of bulk Remington 100 gr JSP rounds for reloading. The HV ammo that I remember was loaded with an 80gr full jacket hollow point bullet. I have seen some of the HV stuff fired in a late M&P .32-20 will no ill results.

 

[DaGOOSExyz]

Welcome home Soldier. Thanks for your service. Goose

 

[shawn mccarver]

At one time, Winchester sold a "rifle only" 80 grain jacketed hollow point .32-20. The case was marked "HV", for High Velocity". This ammo is no longer being produced, but may be encountered at gun shows, old gun shops, etc. DO NOT use it in a handgun.

Modern factory loaded .32-20 ammo is safe in handguns, though I probably wouldn't use it in an 1880s Colt Single Action Army.

Wow, it is very good to know that I was not imagining things.

 

[m60 tanker]

I went to the range today with the Smith and with the Win92. I shot the Win92 at 50yds and the pistol at 25 feet. The rifle loved my cast loads of 10grs of 2400 with a 100grn LRN and the pistol loved 8grs of 2400 with a 100grn LRN. I also loaded some with 20grs of 2ff of black powder.The white target is from the rifle and the yellow is from the pistol.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I have shot .32-20 guns a good bit, and all of the older ammo, from Remington at least, was jacketed soft point."

At one time, you could find Remington .32-20 ammo loaded with the jacketed soft point and also with a lead bullet. Winchester-Western .32-20 ammo came with a copper washed lead flat point bullet.

 

[m60 tanker]

I cast all my bullets. There is a feeling of shooting a round that you cast. And the good thing is you pick size round to match the bore.

 

[DWalt]

My "best" revolver load for the .32-20 is a 100 grain hard cast bullet (0.313" dia. from Missouri Bullet Co.) over 3.5 grains of Bullseye. Extremely consistent velocity of about 875 ft/sec (6" barrel), and great grouping. I used that same load many years ago in a WWI-era Model 1873 Winchester rifle with good results.

 

[m60 tanker]

I have two things to ask. One I ordered a mould today that is 90gr and would like a good load for it. And why does the pistol that I have does not have the Smith&Wesson stamp on side plate.

 

[trauma1]

got some.

The likelihood of getting hold of .32-20 HV loads is pretty low. It has not been factory loaded for 50 years or so, and it is pretty easy to spot as it will have a jacketed bullet. Revolver ammo will have a lead bullet. Remington still loads .32-20 also (and for some strange reason, the Remington box is labeled "Rifle", but it is perfectly OK in revolvers), but most of those who know and love the .32-20 load their own to eliminate the availibility and (significant) expense problems associated with it.

I ended up with some of these from a local gun show. fired a cylinder full and called it quits. felt they were too hot for the revolver. no need to beat it up. current Remington ammo ok.

 

[Retired W4]

What a great pair. A Winchester 92 and a 32-20 HE.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Glad to see this thread. Never have tried 2400 in the .32-20. You've got a good looking '92 Winchester there and an appealing .32-20 revolver as well.

I too feel that Winchester '92s and Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector .32-20s go together.

 

[Green Frog]

The 32 WCF/ 32-20 was a great revolver and carbine round that unfortunately was severely wounded by the popularity of auto loading pistols and bolt action rifles IMHO. There was nothing at all wrong with the ballistics and other performance of the 32-20 except perhaps the need to be a little careful with the necks when reloading. A look at the number of threads today about the caliber will confirm there is a renewed interest, but in today's market, I doubt S&W would even dream of reintroducing the 32-20 in a modern pistol though. More's the pity!

Froggie