.32 cartridges

[bmwmpb]

I have just inherited several revolvers in .32 caliber and need some help in identifying cartridges. Here's what I have:

1. Model .32 Safety Hammerless Top Break New Departure (1884) - .32 S&W
2. Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector (1896) - .32 Winchester-.32/20
3. .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903, First Change. (1905) - .32 S&W
4. .32 Regulation Police I-Frame. (1926-27) - .32 S&W
7. 30-1 J-frame. (1971) – .32 S&W Long
9. Colt Police Positive Special (1907) - .32-20/.32 Winchester Center Fire

I would like to reload for guns but not sure how many different cartridges I have. Any help that you can be would be greatly appreciated.

 

[glowe]

. . . need some help in identifying cartridges. Here's what I have:

1. Model .32 Safety Hammerless Top Break New Departure (1884) - .32 S&W Correct
2. Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector (1896) - .32 Winchester-.32/20 No - 32 Long
3. .32 Hand Ejector, Model of 1903, First Change. (1905) - .32 S&W - No 32 Long
4. .32 Regulation Police I-Frame. (1926-27) - .32 S&W - No 32 Long
7. 30-1 J-frame. (1971) – .32 S&W Long - Correct
9. Colt Police Positive Special (1907) - .32-20/.32 Winchester Center Fire - Three cartridge IDs used through the years - 32-20 or 32 Winchester, or 32 WCF
. . .

 

[murphydog]

Presuming the gun IDs are correct :

Number 1 is correct, the .32 S & W (also called the Short).
Numbers 2, 3, 4, and 7 are chambered for the .32 S & W Long. This will also chamber the .32 S & W, which is the same diameter but has a shorter case.
Number 9 is a .32-20 or WCF, a longer/tapered case and not interchangeable with the straight-wall .32 S & W family. S & W made only one standard revolver model in this chambering, the larger medium or K frame Military & Police.

Gary beat me to the answers .

Hope this is helpful.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I like .32 handguns

Left to right, .32 a.c.p., .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R magnum, .32/20 Winchester.

 

[bmwmpb]

Thanks for the help, the people on this forum are amazing in their knowledge. The model of 1896 has .32 Winchester CTG. stamped on the barrel. Is it still a S&W .32 long? Pictures attached.

The serial # for this gun is 677, could that affect the chambering?

 

[Inusuit]

I would trust the information given by MurphyDog and ColbyBruce. Like the OP, I would have assumed that .32 Winchester meant .32-20. However, I think .32-20 firearms of that era were marked .32 WCF for Winchester Center Fire. I may stand corrected by those with more knowledge. Their numbers are legion.

 

[murphydog]

This is a K frame .32-20 M & P as noted above, also known as the model of 1899 for its introductory year. It is an early one and missing a small knurled knob at the ejector rod end. At that time the only chamberings were this and .38 Special.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I honestly do not know the pre model number guns well; however, I think the 1896 guns had a odd looking ejector rod, no thumb latch, and the rear sight was half way in the top strap. You likely have a 1902 M&P in .32/20 there.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I had two .32/20 revolvers a few years ago. Neither did anything that a .38 special wouldn't do for a lot less money, so I traded the pair off for a CZ 527 American in .222 Remington.

 

[murphydog]

I honestly do not know the pre model number guns well; however, I think the 1896 guns had a odd looking ejector rod, no thumb latch, and the rear sight was half way in the top strap. You likely have a 1902 M&P in .32/20 there.

Correct on all counts for the 1896 . It was also the only S & W Hand Ejector that unlatched the cylinder by pulling forward on the ejector rod, like early Charter Arms revolvers.

The 1902 M & P has the standard front ejector rod locking point.

If you put an I/J frame .32 next to the K, the size difference is fairly obvious.

 

[ColbyBruce]

If you put an I/J frame .32 next to the K, the size difference is fairly obvious.

Yes it is.

 

[H Richard]

One stamped 32 Winchester would be a 32-20.

 

[murphydog]

The earlier M & P s in this chambering were not stamped (like the 1899 in the photo above), or marked .32 Winchester CTG. S & W did not like to advertise for their competitors, even indirectly, so later ones were marked .32 WCF, and the last ones had .32-20 CTG on the right barrel. All the same cartridge.

 

[glowe]

. . . 2. Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector (1896) - .32 Winchester-.32/20 . . .

Lots of confusing replies here. The Model 1896 is an I frame revolver that only came in 32 Long. If the barrel is stamped 32 Wichester, it cannot be a Model 1896. That caliber was only offered in a K frame gun and likely a Model 1899 or 1902. Supply the serial number and we can identify which model you have.

I would trust the information given by MurphyDog and ColbyBruce. Like the OP, I would have assumed that .32 Winchester meant .32-20. However, I think .32-20 firearms of that era were marked .32 WCF for Winchester Center Fire. I may stand corrected by those with more knowledge. Their numbers are legion.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I had already identified the stampings you will find on a K frame 32-20.

 

[rockquarry]

Be careful shooting any short .32 cartridge. I was given a partial box of old Remington .32 S&W. I was checking velocity of some handloads one day and decided to chronograph some of the .32 factory ammo. I don't recall the exact velocity, but it was somewhere around 550 fps through one of my two S&W short-barreled revolvers. I suspect the slow-moving lead bullet might have difficulty exiting some bores and would be quite prone to ricochet.

 

[bmwmpb]

The serial number is 677. It can be seen on the butt of the gun in one of the pictures. Lots of differing opinions. In my opinion what you've all helped me identify is a Model of 1899 K-frame that fires .32/20 Winchester cartridges. I'm assuming that with a serial number of 677 it was probably built in 1899. Please correct me if I am wrong. Can't thank you enough for the help.

 

[murphydog]

Yes, the one pictured in post 5 is a .32-20 M & P. The factory over time sold more than 7 times the number of .38 Specials in this frame size, but number 677 was probably made in the first few months of the start of production in 1899.

By the way, any current production .32-20 ammo should be safe to use if it is structurally sound. It is expensive and difficult to find, so reloading is a good idea.

 

[rburg]

By the way, any current production .32-20 ammo should be safe to use if it is structurally sound. It is expensive and difficult to find, so reloading is a good idea.

The .32-20 is also a pain to reload. The cases are long and fragile, tending to crumple. I bet I ruined more of them than the 10s of thousands of 38s and 9mm cases I've reloaded. Those straight cases somehow are a lot more durable than the old .32-20s. As for the .32 S&W family, its a real pain to handle the tiny cases and bullets. You may get to the point where you just decide not to shoot them very much. Times may have changed, but I also buy the .32s at gun shows. Private tables often have partial boxes around here. Usually for attractive prices.

You can buy .32-20 cases from time to time. I bought a bulk box of bullets, 2000 at a gun show. I use a kind of light load, the same 3 grains I use for 38 specials. Bulleseye. My reloading sequence doesn't risk a double charge, I pour powder and then seat the bullets. You'll like the cartridge to shoot. They're sweet shooters, kind of like a 22.

You're lucky they didn't toss in a 32 Colt. Its a different bird using a .299 bullet. Also kind of weak and fun to shoot, but ammo generally can't be found. If you see a box, don't buy it for your 32 S&Ws.

In my ill spent youth we reloaded .32 in the basement between shots. We had an improvised (read cheap) home made reloading system. Just some hardwood blocks, a mallet and a home made powder measure. Dad cooked that up with some wire and a fired 22 short case. He filed the top down until it threw 1 gr charges. He had a full bag of O buck we worked out of. Deprimed with a nail ground down, reprimed with a dowel rod against a wood block. Seated the bullets with a piece of wood. No reason to seat the O buck deep, just enough so it wouldn't fall out. Very mild loads, almost no noise.

We got away with it in the basement for years until Mom discovered we were firing center fire in the basement. She thought it was pellet gun noise. I have no idea why mothers are no-fun, but you discover it. Its part of your training on how to become sneaky. Good for when you get married I guess.

 

[Peak53]

In my ill spent youth we reloaded .32 in the basement between shots. We had an improvised (read cheap) home made reloading system. Just some hardwood blocks, a mallet and a home made powder measure. Dad cooked that up with some wire and a fired 22 short case. He filed the top down until it threw 1 gr charges. He had a full bag of O buck we worked out of. Deprimed with a nail ground down, reprimed with a dowel rod against a wood block. Seated the bullets with a piece of wood. No reason to seat the O buck deep, just enough so it wouldn't fall out. Very mild loads, almost no noise.

Necessity breeds invention. Love it. I used to shoot 22 BB caps in the basement. Dad and I loaded 243 and 270. We had to shoot those outside!