Info on S&W 32-20 CTG

[rburg]

Just some comments on .32-20 ammo. Go looking. Visit gunshows if there are any in your region. Around here, we have a bunch of private tables at our shows. Its not at all uncommon for a good ole boy to empty his closet to scrape some money together for a new gun. I hate to call it this, but.....its generally considered obsolete ammo. As such it sometimes sells pretty cheap, particularly in partial boxes.

Reloading is fun and a good way to keep shooting. But its also a long term proposition. I was lucky enough to score about 500 bullets for about $20 a while back. I then managed to find and buy about 5 boxes of ammo and more empties for another $50. But it sometimes means you've got to always be looking and then be willing to buy when you see it for sale.

If you go on vacation, google gun shows in the places you're going. Folks there don't care where you came from. Ammo in the free states is much like buying a belt or hamburger. Also, stop at every old gun shop you can find. The older and more run down, the better. Some of the proprietors have closets full of crap they couldn't sell 20 years ago, or more.

 

[Muley Gil]

I gree with Dick on finding .32-20 ammo. However, avoid any jacket hollowpoint loadings. These cartridges, loaded with 80 grain JHPs, were intended for RIFLES ONLY and are generally considered too hot for revolvers.

And avoid any reloads, unless they are made by a reputable company.

 

[5_Is_Alive]

Just some comments on .32-20 ammo. Go looking. Visit gunshows if there are any in your region. Around here, we have a bunch of private tables at our shows. Its not at all uncommon for a good ole boy to empty his closet to scrape some money together for a new gun. I hate to call it this, but.....its generally considered obsolete ammo. As such it sometimes sells pretty cheap, particularly in partial boxes.
Reloading is fun and a good way to keep shooting. But its also a long term proposition. I was lucky enough to score about 500 bullets for about $20 a while back. I then managed to find and buy about 5 boxes of ammo and more empties for another $50. But it sometimes means you've got to always be looking and then be willing to buy when you see it for sale.
If you go on vacation, google gun shows in the places you're going. Folks there don't care where you came from. Ammo in the free states is much like buying a belt or hamburger. Also, stop at every old gun shop you can find. The older and more run down, the better. Some of the proprietors have closets full of crap they couldn't sell 20 years ago, or more.

Good idea regarding the gun shows while on vacation. Never really thought about that before. This will work especially well when visiting family in Texas! I did however attend the Orange County Gun Show last month and didn't run across any. Probably just looking in all the wrong places as that gun show is pretty huge.

I gree with Dick on finding .32-20 ammo. However, avoid any jacket hollowpoint loadings. These cartridges, loaded with 80 grain JHPs, were intended for RIFLES ONLY and are generally considered too hot for revolvers.
And avoid any reloads, unless they are made by a reputable company.

No JHPs (rifle only ammo), and No unreputable reloads,

Got it!

Thanks everyone,

Jason

 

[BrianMajors]

I'll chime in here as a new poster to S&W forum. I have a 5" .32-20 M&P in Nickel that my Father in Law gave me for a wedding gift 12 years ago. Lots of fun to shoot. He passed away last November, so I want to start reloading for it so I can shoot more. My wife shot it a few months ago and liked it, too.

I figure it would make a fun trail gun for easy hikes as well, where you might kick up a rabbit. I don't ahve the serial # handy right now, but IIRC, it was manufactured in the mid '30's, according to an old blue book I had.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum, Brian.

I've had at least one .32-20 since the mid '70s. Yes, they are a lot of fun. Just make sure you wear good hearing protecton, as they can be LOUD.

The .32-20 is not the easiest cartridge to reload, due to the thin, tapered walls, and having to lube the cases. Just be careful and make sure and get the cases started into the dies. If you have any other handguns, such as a .38 special or .357, start with those first to gain experience reloading.

Please don't let my comments discourage you from reloading though. It can be a great hobby.

 

[signman920]

32-20

Hello, I just recentlt purchased a 32-20 serial #75794 I am needing sideplate screws for it, any ideas on where to find and what year is this firearm

thanks

 

[KarmannGhia]

32-20 is the caliber that got me started into reloading in the late 1980s (out of necessity). As stated earlier, it is not the easiest cartridge to load. Factory ammo can be found. Midway and Aimsurplus have it.

Try Brownells for screws.

 

[Absalom]

Hello, I just recentlt purchased a 32-20 serial #75794 I am needing sideplate screws for it, any ideas on where to find and what year is this firearm

thanks

As for the year, it likely shipped around 1917. I have a reference to #76926 shipped Aug. 1917.