Help with .32-20 Please!

[w10085]

I picked up two .32-20 HE's in the past few months. One has a heat treated cylinder and one does not. One came with dies and brass. I'm looking forna good starting point to play with for the components I have right now. I have some 77 grain 32 acp jacketed bullets and some 110 grain M1 carbine (.308) bullets. I have Bullseye, Unique and Red Dot to work with. What are some loads that will shoot point of aim? I have read that .32-20 brass is thin and will easily crush but is there anything else different about loading this cartridge? What is the best overally load you shoot if I end up shooting these pistols a lot? Thanks in advance!

 

[guesser]

The bullets you have are far from optimum for any 32-20. I shoot several old 32-20s and use cast lead bullets of 100-115 gr. I find Trail Boss powder to be an excellent propellant for use in the older guns. I cast an old Ideal 3118 from 50/50 wheel weights/lead for 115 gr. I size .313 and load it over 2.4 gr. of Trail Boss.
If you don't cast, there are several good commercial casters that make bullets suitable for older 32-20s. I recommend Rim Rock Bullets and go for the softer BHN. It will shoot better in the old bore. Most of the older guns had varied bore diameters, mostly .312 or larger. Thats why I shoot lead and size it somewhat larger.

 

[BUFF]

guesser's advice is good. Neither of the bullets you have are very good choices for a .32-20 revolver.

Speer's Number 13 manual, the newest I have, lists data for a cast 98 grain SWC bullet. With this bullet they list charges (start/max) of 3.0/3.5 of Unique and 2.4/2.9 grains of Bullseye. These are both under the industry pressure limit of 16,000 c.u.p. and keep velocities under 1,000 for cowboy action shooting limits.

Yes, the brass is thin but so are other old cartridge case designs. Use a good lube (I like Imperial sizing wax, I think now made by Hornaday), take your time in making sure the cases are all the way into the shell holder before working the press handle and you won't have any problems.

I, too, shoot the cast Lyman 3118, although it has been a while since I made any. I usually loaded it over Unique. It shot close to point-of-aim in my 4 inch .32-20 M&P, a short Colt Bisley and a very old Marlin 1894 lever action. With your older revolver, go with the milder ranges of data you find. Do not use data for rifles or for Thompson/Center Contenders.

 

[David LaPell]

The bullets you have are good, for something other than the .32-20. I have loaded a few .32-20's using Unique and prefer the 100 grain cast bullets like those from Western Bullet co but there are others. With one of your guns not having a heat treated cylinder, I would keep the loads on the light side. Another good bullet that I have been playing with is the 100 grain Hornady XTP in .32 caliber. Again, keep the load light.