Loading 32-20

[Gordyf808]

Hi All
I just acquired a Smith HE in 32-20. No ammunition for this here in Hawaii so I am a reloader, No problem??
Step 1 slug the bore. Did it twice, both times .309 groove depth.
Once with a 00 buck ball and once with a .313 Hunters supply 115 grain bullet. The bullet I intend to use. Same result

Should I be concerned that the bore is so tight?? Do I want to resize or find a smaller diameter bullet??.
Have no experience with this caliber. Bullseye and 231 powder on hand.

Thanx in advance
Aloha
Gordy

 

[DWalt]

The standard .32-20 bore diameter is .312-.314". No idea as to why yours would be different. However, if it slugs at .309, you can use bullets of that diameter. However, the sized case neck may not grip the bullet tightly enough. You will just have to try it and see. If you have 231 powder, I'd advise starting at 4.0 grains and increasing (100 grain bullet), but probably not good to go over 4.5 grains. The .32-20 is not intended to be a powerhouse load in a revolver, so do not try to magnumize it. I think some of the more recent .32-20 revolvers from Ruger may have a .308-.309 bore. There are tons of .32-20 reloading recipes on the internet.

For years, my standard .32-20 load has been a 100 grain cast lead RNFP .314" bullet over 3.5 grains of Bullseye. About 1000 ft/sec MV. Works fine for me. I'm sure someone will jump up and advise against using Bullseye because it's possible to throw a double charge, but I always visually inspect charged cases closely under a bright light or flashlight before seating bullets. I pay no attention to such fearmongering, as I am always very careful about loading inspection, no matter the caliber or the powder used.

 

[Gordyf808]

The standard .32-20 bore diameter is .312-.314". No idea as to why yours would be different. However, if it slugs at .309, you can use bullets of that diameter. However, the sized case neck may not grip the bullet tightly enough. You will just have to try it and see. If you have 231 powder, I'd advise starting at 4.0 grains and increasing (100 grain bullet), but probably not good to go over 4.5 grains. The .32-20 is not intended to be a powerhouse load in a revolver, so do not try to magnumize it. I think some of the more recent .32-20 revolvers from Ruger may have a .308-.309 bore. There are tons of .32-20 reloading recipes on the internet.

For years, my standard .32-20 load has been a 100 grain cast lead RNFP .314" bullet over 3.5 grains of Bullseye. About 1000 ft/sec MV. Works fine for me. I'm sure someone will jump up and advise against using Bullseye because it's possible to throw a double charge, but I always visually inspect charged cases closely under a bright light or flashlight before seating bullets. I pay no attention to such fearmongering, as I am always very careful about loading inspection, no matter the caliber or the powder used.

Thanks Dwalt.
It may be me. Somebody has fired this piece with factory ammunition at the rated diameter before me so I have to believe that since 1922 it has has been OK. The barrel is not bulged that one can see and the bore looks really good but for a couple of small pits. I did not have to beat the slugs through the barrel with a sledge, so I am going to assume that maybe I am compulsive on this one. I will try it at a light published load.
Like you, I look at the tray of powdered cases and check for double loads. Have only made one mistake so far and I am glad it was a Ruger Blackhawk. Broke the transfer bar only. They are strong!
231 is my go to pistol powder, but I am fooling with Bullseye now as someone gave me a half pound. It is hard to come by here.
Thanks and Aloha
Gordy

 

[Alk8944]

Gordy,

Since S&W barrels are 5 groove it is not possible to measure a slug from one with simply a micrometer or dial caliper. All you are measuring is the distance from the groove on one side to the land impression on the other, which will be ca. .309. A special gauge block with a 108 degree included angle is needed to measure these. I own 8 (I think, maybe more) .32 cal. S&W revolvers, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32-20, and they all slug .313-.315. I do own the required gauge block! Just size your bullets .314 and go with it.

Do yourself a favor. First, use small rifle primers to reduce toe chances of a squibbed load sticking a bullet. There are an inordinate number of .32-20 revolvers, it seems most frequently S&W(!) that have experienced this some time in their lifetime. There are quite a few with bulged barrels as a result. Second, do not load minimum loads with any powder, particularly Bullseye, for the same reason. Third, try to stay away from very dense powders, like Bullseye, as they take up less than 1/2 the case and are more prone to squibbing because of position sensitivity.

Do not believe anyone who makes the claim that rifle primers in handguns will result in mis-fires because thy are harder, this simply isn't true. In more than 50 years and several thousand rounds, that I have been loading and shooting this cartridge, mostly loaded with SR primers**, I have NEVER experienced a mis-fire in a revolver with this cartridge. I have never stuck a bullet either, although I know a couple of shooters who have, and bulged their barrel!

**Note, this is not my idea alone. This was a recommendation made by, as I recall, Elmer Keith. I believe it was in a magazine article in the 1960s. I have not been able to locate the recommendation in any of his books which I own. It may have been another writer, possibly Phillip Sharpe, too. All I know is it works.

 

[lebomm]

Is the Speer 100 gr. half-jacketed "Plinker" still available? I always thought that was a natch for the .32s. I have a few hundred and no 32s. WAAH ! (Yes, I know it's a .308)

Larry

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My S&W is from 1902 and my Colt PPS is from 1918-1919. I use the tried and true Lyman 3118 bullet. My mould is for gas check bullets so has a different number and weighs 117 grains when cast with wheel weights. For 32-20 I've always sized to .313" and lube in a Lyman 4500 (not a tumble lube bullet). I also like Hornady lead SWC 90 gr bullets. Over the years I've used WW231, Unique, and now days Trail Boss for my hand gun loads. Rifle loads I load with Jacked Bullets, so I never use them in my old hand guns. But I can always use my handgun loads in my rifle. The Hodgdon website has data for Trail Boss listed at 2.2 to 2.5. NEVER Compress Trail Boss and loads are most accurate with a 1/16" gap between the bullet base and the powder column. This is all I loading for my old revolvers these days. Ivan

 

[ArchAngelCD]

W231 will deliver good loads for the 32-20.

 

[David R]

32-20 case is a bottle neck case, so there are no carbide dies and the cases havee to be lubed.

I shoot 32-20 in my contender using loads you cannot. My contender bore IS 308" .

Cases are delicate, I have crushed a few.

I have had nothing but bad luck with factory loads. Accuracy is not good for me. Home cast work better. I think you will find the same.

Enjoy your revolver.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Treat your cases like tiny rifle cases and you'll do all right.

1. Neck size only after they've been through your revolver. No reason to FL size cases going back into the same gun.

2. Bell your case mouths. Chamfering isn't enough IMO for any pistol caliber.

 

[ironhead7544]

The 32-20 is a rifle cartridge. It is just pistol sized.

I would try Trail Boss with that revolver. Will make a nice target/plinking load with little to no leading. And it is harder to double charge.

 

[Gordyf808]

Gordy,

Since S&W barrels are 5 groove it is not possible to measure a slug from one with simply a micrometer or dial calioer. All you are measuring is the distance from the groove on one side to the land impression on the oher, which will be ca. .309. A special gauge block with a 108 degree included angle. I own 8 (I think, maybe more) .32 cal. S&W revolvers, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32-20, and they all slug .313-.315. I do own the required gauge block! Just size your bullets .314 and go with it.

Do yourself a favor. First, use small rifle primers to reduce toe chances of a squibbed load sticking a bullet. There are an inordinate number of .32-20 revolvers, it seems most frequently S&W(!) that have experienced this some time in their lifetime. There are quite a few with bulged barrels as a result. Second, do not load minimum loads with any powder, particularly Bullseye, for the same reason. Third, try to stay away from very dense powders, like Bullseye, as they take up less than 1/2 the case and are more prone to squibbing because of position sensitivity.

Do not believe anyone who makes the claim that rifle primers in handguns will result in mis-fires because thy are harder, this simply isn't true. In more than 50 years and several thousand rounds, that I have been loading and shooting this cartridge, mostly loaded with SR primers**, I have NEVER experienced a mis-fire in a revolver with this cartridge. I have never stuck a bullet either, although I know a couple of shooters who have, and bulged their barrel!

**Note, this is not my idea alone. This was a recommendation made by, as I recall, Elmer Keith. I believe it was in a magazine article in the 1960s. I have not been able to locate the recommendation in any of his books which I own. It may have been another writer, possibly Phillip Sharpe, too. All I know is it works.

You are dead right on the grooves! That would explain it.
I figured it was something I was doing being a newbie to this caliber.
Good info on the SR primers too. I will keep that in mind.
Have Trail Boss, about 3#. Will look into that too. Good input from all of you guys. A big help!
Thanx and Aloha
Gordy

 

[walnutred]

For pistol loads the Trail Boss and cast bullets have worked well for me also. How is your bore?

 

[Green Frog]

Is the Speer 100 gr. half-jacketed "Plinker" still available? I always thought that was a natch for the .32s. I have a few hundred and no 32s. WAAH ! (Yes, I know it's a .308)

Larry

I see them at gun shows from time to time, but I don't know whether they are still available from the factory or not. IIRC they were made for 30 Carbine, and AFAIK there is still a lot of loading going on for that round! I used a few for a 32 H&R load I had worked up to shoot in an old original 32 rimfire Winchester low wall I had converted to centerfire and rechambered for the newer round. The bore was pretty marginal, but it still shot OK with those little half jacketed bullets. I kinda hope they still make them as the 32s just seem to keep right on following me home!

Froggie

 

[Trinidad Bill]

I noticed that the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook also recommends SRP for the .32-20.

Thanks for the .314 sizing recommendation!

 

[2152hq]

I always use SR primers in the 32-20 when I load it,,which isn't often any more. Down to just a 1902 mfg Colt SAA in that caliber.
32-20 was originally a rifle caliber after all,,the 32 WCF for the 1873 lever action.

I use .308 dia bullets on occasion like the speer plinkers. Even some 30Luger bullets one time that I had no immediate use for though they may have been .309d.
To avoid the case necks being left too large in dia after sizing and expanding in the regular 32-20 dies (Lyman),,I just size them but don't expand them.
That leaves the case a nice tight fit for the .308d bullets.
(I do the same trick loading 38spcl dia bullets in 38S&W cases (and dies).

I've used RedDot most recently. Accuracy wasn't anything great, but the old ring in the barrel gets the blame for that!,,couldn't be me!
Yes a lot of these calibered pistols seem to have that dark ring problem.

R/Dot is a fairly bulky powder if the double-charge things keeps you awake at night.
I never think about it much as I charge the case and immediately seat the bullet. I do that with all my reloads. Slows the process a little, but I still have all my fingers and never lost a gun.

TrailBoss does sound like a nice fit for a cartridge like this though I've never tried it. Good advice above about not trying to make a magnum out of it. It is what it is,,enjoy it.