StrawHat
Member
Thank you, I was not aware. Just going by what I remember fellows asking for in the hardware stores and gun shops.
Kevin
Ammo choices for .32-20
- Thread starter gonzogeezer
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Thank you, I was not aware. Just going by what I remember fellows asking for in the hardware stores and gun shops.
Kevin
StrawHat
Member
I do recall that Marlin, rather than put the Winchester name on their barrels, renamed the WCF cartridges as dashes, ie 32 WCF became 32-20, 38 WCF became 38-40, and 44 WCF became 44-40…or maybe that is an old gunwriters tale!
Kevin
Kevin
gwpercle
Member
Pick up a copy of the book "Cartridges of the World " it will make you an "expert" overnight !
The 16th edition is out and sells for $25 to $35 in softcover .
A kindel version is $19.
There is supposed to be a 17th edition out but not sure of availability .
Fascinating books w/ history and a little reloading data .
It really helps clear up some of the confusion of cartridges !
Gary
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This is true. Marlin had sort of a fetish against putting the name of another manufacturer on Marlin firearms. So, they avoided using the Winchester name even to refer to cartridges that properly carried it.
For a time (c. 1905-1915) Marlin even marketed its own version of the .32-20, calling it the the .32-20-100 Marlin. It was identical to the .32 Winchester except for the bullet itself. The two were interchangeable in firearms.
larryofcc
Member
I do not reload 32-20. My late BIL did. I got my M53 from him in a trade. My disabilities preclude me from doing much shooting anymore, so I will just shoot the reloads when I can and perhaps buy a box of 32-20 pistol ammo if one should cross my path. I have a sealed box of period 32-20 ammo for the M73 rifle, safe for pistols, but for over $100, I won't be shooting these. Thanks all. Big Larry
Green Frog
Member
I guess after Marlin had a couple of their cartridges co-opted by Winchester, they were a little testy about naming rights. According to tradition, Marlin developed both the 32-40 and the 38-55 for their Ballard single shot, but Winchester sold a bunch of high walls and lever guns in these two chamberings. The 32-40 is frequently referred to as BMW for Ballard, Marlin Winchester. Then both companies started putting their names on their cartridges as did Remington. I'd guess S&W resorted to the 32-20 designation to avoid even the initials of another gun corp. I bet there were some tears shed when the Model 16-4 got roll marked "32 H&R"! Cases say "44 REM MAG" while the barrel roll marks I've seen just say "44 MAGNUM".
Then there were 32 S&W and 32 COLT. The latter made more sense at the time as it simply duplicated the rim fire 32 with center fire priming. The folks at Smith did a better job of marketing apparently, as that's what survived.
Froggie
Then there were 32 S&W and 32 COLT. The latter made more sense at the time as it simply duplicated the rim fire 32 with center fire priming. The folks at Smith did a better job of marketing apparently, as that's what survived.
Froggie
Colt renamed the .32 S&W Long the .32 Colt New Police, the only difference being the Colt round had a flat point bullet.
S&W was reluctant to put Colt's name on their handguns also, until the introduction of the M25-3 in .45 Colt.
S&W was reluctant to put Colt's name on their handguns also, until the introduction of the M25-3 in .45 Colt.
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DWalt
Member
Colt did the same name change for the .38 S&W and the .38 S&W Special. They became the .38 Colt New Police and .38 Colt Special. Pretty much identical to the S&W versions except for bullet shape. I believe that stopped sometime in the 1930s.
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A lot of interesting replies on this post. The various 32 cartridges can be a source of confusion to many. Especially when the person who has one isn't sure what 32 he actually needs! Over years of dealing in guns and ammo I have come to the conclusion that there are more people out there with 32 caliber guns and a serious lack of knowledge than any other bore size! From the various "32 Shorts" to 32 Winchester Special and everything in between. And some people clearly think "if it goes in it must be okay!"... and leave me wondering how they've managed to survive LOL. Really enjoyed reading all the responses to this post, especially since so many made the point to only use the correct ammo!
DWalt
Member
Then there is the .32 Colt which is unlike any of the other .32 cartridges mentioned.
stanmerrell
Member
Yes, there have been a lot of confusing 32 caliber cartridges made, and the names and nick names can further confuse an already confusing bunch. This thread make me want go looking for a 32-20. Whoops I mean 32 Winchester Special, I mean 32 WCF...
DWalt
Member
And there is also the nearly forgotten .32-44 target round from the 1880s. Along with numerous foreign cartridges which are basically .32s. To say nothing about the new .32 Carry cartridge.
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We can't forget the 32clmr(colt lighting magazine rifle) cartridge also known as the 32-20. As a side note. I've always thought the reason we see so many 32-20s with ringed barrels. Is because people were using wrong ammo. A 32 long will chamber and fire, but not with much velocity. Just a thought.
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StrawHat
Member
DWalt
Member
I have often heard of .32-20 revolvers with ringed barrels but have never personally seen one.
I have always believed that ringed barrels were the result of an obstruction in the barrel, usually a stuck bullet. High pressure/velocity rounds would likely cause catastrophic damage like blown cylinders or split barrels. Bulged barrels need back pressure to cause a spike in pressure high enough to stretch the barrel in one spot causing a bump. Open barrels will not bulge, but rather fail if pressures are high enough.
Pressure peak of most revolver loads happen +/- 1" down the barrel. At that point, the bullet is just leaving the frame reinforcement, so if any extreme pressure was applied, the bulge would be only at that location. My guess would be a double charge or high velocity rifle cartridge would likely be the culprit plus the cylinder would likely fail before the barrel. As we know, barrel rings appear all the way up and down the barrel, suggesting stuck bullet.
Pressure peak of most revolver loads happen +/- 1" down the barrel. At that point, the bullet is just leaving the frame reinforcement, so if any extreme pressure was applied, the bulge would be only at that location. My guess would be a double charge or high velocity rifle cartridge would likely be the culprit plus the cylinder would likely fail before the barrel. As we know, barrel rings appear all the way up and down the barrel, suggesting stuck bullet.
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The .32 Colt Short and Long are different from the .32 S&W and S&W Long. You can shoot the Colt rounds from a S&W, but not vice versa. The .32 S&W rounds are larger in diameter and will not chamber in a Colt. The Colt uses a heel-type bullet (like a .22 LR) so the case and bullet are the same diameter. The S&W has the bullet seated into the case so the case mouth is larger than the bullet. But....the .32 Colt New Police has the bullet in the case so, as already stated, it is the same round as the S&W Long. Colt put the flat-tipped bullet in it so you can tell it is a Colt cartridge, which in their estimation was superior to the S&W roundnose cartridge.
