Picked up a .32-20 1905 4th Change

[Model19man]

Starline has not discontinued 32-20 brass. We are working our way currently through an enormous backlog from the most popular calibers to the less popular ones, so a run has not been made in a couple years of 32-20. We will produce this brass again in the future when we get caught up more.

That's great news - why not make it possible to order some? I've had 41 Long Colt on order for a long time and you have not made any of that in a long time but at least we can order it.

 

[Green Frog]

Starline has not discontinued 32-20 brass. We are working our way currently through an enormous backlog from the most popular calibers to the less popular ones, so a run has not been made in a couple years of 32-20. We will produce this brass again in the future when we get caught up more.

I have placed this same information in a couple of places, virtually word for word, but substituting “they” for “we”. I hope folks will believe it straight from you and be patient. FWIW, I’m trading some of my stash of Starline 327 Fed Mag brass with a good friend today to obtain a similar number of 32-20 brass just to get me through the tight times. IT PAYS TO PLAN AHEAD (and to have friends who plan ahead!)

Green Frog

 

[azshot]

Starline has not discontinued 32-20 brass. We are working our way currently through an enormous backlog from the most popular calibers to the less popular ones, so a run has not been made in a couple years of 32-20. We will produce this brass again in the future when we get caught up more.

I would encourage you to make a run sooner rather than later. Many .32 WCF shooters are older and want to shoot their guns more this decade. Many manufacturers made many rifles and pistols in this caliber that are still out there. More than the .50 Action Express and .260 Rem I see you currently have available. To say that a round that people are desperately begging for for the past 5 years, to shoot in guns made in the millions, is not "popular" is not true. Those other, new rounds are faddish, and will fade quickly. And no one can shoot as much of anything that gets shot in 9mm and .223. I predict one day soon these non-automatics will be picked back up again as states outlaw black guns.
Please - make some cowboy brass again.

 

[Model19man]

I would encourage you to make a run sooner rather than later. Many .32 WCF shooters are older and want to shoot their guns more this decade. Many manufacturers made many rifles and pistols in this caliber that are still out there. More than the .50 Action Express and .260 Rem I see you currently have available. To say that a round that people are desperately begging for for the past 5 years, to shoot in guns made in the millions, is not "popular" is not true. Those other, new rounds are faddish, and will fade quickly. And no one can shoot as much of anything that gets shot in 9mm and .223. I predict one day soon these non-automatics will be picked back up again as states outlaw black guns.
Please - make some cowboy brass again.

While I agree with most of what you say the likelihood is that Starline made a run of .50 Action Express and .260 Rem and that run - maybe from 2016 - is still in stock because no one wants it.

 

[azshot]

That's likely. But all the more reason to make .32-20. Every forum, every gun shop, every shooting club across this nation is clambering for .32-20 and being told it's unobtainium. It wouldn't take much business analysis to know you would sell ever box you make - immediately.

 

[Igiveup]

I just committed to buying 50 new brass at a dollar each that a friend bought in Reno, Nv. thisl last week. I "think" I might get another 100 for a VZ-24 bayonet, so I will have everything but bullets. Any suggestions?

 

[smithra_66]

I just committed to buying 50 new brass at a dollar each that a friend bought in Reno, Nv. thisl last week. I "think" I might get another 100 for a VZ-24 bayonet, so I will have everything but bullets. Any suggestions?

Accurate molds 110 grain bullet, sized to .314.

Works great and you can crank them out cheap!

 

[StarlineBrass]

While I agree with most of what you say the likelihood is that Starline made a run of .50 Action Express and .260 Rem and that run - maybe from 2016 - is still in stock because no one wants it.

You are correct. What is available of those calibers is not from new runs.

 

[StarlineBrass]

That's great news - why not make it possible to order some? I've had 41 Long Colt on order for a long time and you have not made any of that in a long time but at least we can order it.

Credit card companies only allow us to collect the funds from the card for 30 days after the order is placed. For every order older than 30 days we have to manually contact each customer for payment information which requires a lot of extra manpower we just don't have available right now. So we will be waiting on this caliber to start taking back orders again when we are closer to making another run if that makes sense?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm not exactly sure why anyone calls this little but YMMV strikes again!

32 20 Hand Ejector Model 0f 1905 4th change left side

I figured the OP would like to see another of these....

 

[Green Frog]

I just committed to buying 50 new brass at a dollar each that a friend bought in Reno, Nv. thisl last week. I "think" I might get another 100 for a VZ-24 bayonet, so I will have everything but bullets. Any suggestions?

When it comes to cast lead bullets, there's the Lyman 311008 and there's everything else. First made nearly 150 years ago as the Ideal 3118, a near identical copy of the original Winchester mould for the 32-20, this is and has always been the industry standard for the caliber. I've experimented with a couple of smaller bullets, but "when in doubt..."
Froggie

 

[Igiveup]

Green Frog, what is the weight of that bullet? I don't cast bullets, and think a coated bullet might be good. I have to research the different bullets available.

 

[Model19man]

The Ideal Mold #31133 is about 110 grains and darned good in the 32 WCF too. My local reloading store sells them powder coated. Which keeps the hands clean and helps when shooting my S&W Model 1899 too.

 

[N7BLW]

The nearest s/n in my database are:
91400 - 9/14/20; 92870 - 10/10/11; 95573 - 1/21/21. Goofy range of dates, but S&W folks just picked one out of stock and shipped it.

 

[Green Frog]

Green Frog, what is the weight of that bullet? I don't cast bullets, and think a coated bullet might be good. I have to research the different bullets available.

Well, I think Lyman currently lists it at 118 gr, but I’ve seen it listed as 2-3 grains lighter or heavier. It depends on your alloy. When I first started using them, and without critical weighing, I “guesstimated” them to be 115 gr, but now I expect 117-118. Long answer to a short question. BTW, while I guess powder coating is OK, it seems kinda incongruous for this old cartridge. But then again, you be you!
Froggie

 

[4K2022]

The s/n matches on all the parts including the stocks. Based on the s/n of 93833, my SWAG estimate of shipping date would be 1924 or ‘25. But after seeing Charlie’s thread on his .32-20 s/n 105xxx shipping in 1921, mine must be ‘19 or ‘20 maybe? I’ll have to wait until next week to ask Roy since I just submitted a ship date request for the M39-2 I picked up yesterday. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go track down some .32-20 dies and brass.

My SWAG estimate of shipping date would be ‘21. I’ve confused a couple 32-20 threads today. Waiting for the magic

 

[tlawler]

The verdict is in: Dr. Jinks says it shipped in October 1920.

 

[4K2022]

The nearest s/n in my database are:
91400 - 9/14/20; 92870 - 10/10/11; 95573 - 1/21/21. Goofy range of dates, but S&W folks just picked one out of stock and shipped it.

This one squeezes right in there, well done. Barrel length choices also might affect the time between shipping dates. Either way the original purchasers would have used Morgan Sliver Dollars,, not Peace dollars during their transactions that soon after WWI

 

[smithra_66]

“They are nice little guns. I have a 2nd change made in 1907 and I shoot it regularly with a case full of Swiss 2F and a 115 gr. bullet.

I get the best accuracy from that load. Lots of fun.” smithra 66

“Heat treatment cylinders around serial number 80,000 in the 32-20 k frame. Post 1921 manufacture date,, no more round butts. Great job bringing that one home, and sharing.” 4K2022


Well, both of you hit me squarely! My old M&P is in the 75XXX SN range. I’ve always been a little hesitant to get very enthusiastic with my reloads, but BP loads might be a possibility. Of course like any self respecting 32-20 loader, I have a good old Ideal 3118 mould for 115 gr bullets and just happen to have a can or two of Schuetzen Cartridge grade BP. I may have to whomp up a small batch of BP 32-20 cartridges to see how they do… I’m not going to start out by using up these hard found new cases, but I do have a small odd lot of once fired cases I could clean thoroughly and devote to such an “experiment”.

Froggie

I think you'll like it! The 32-20 case is cavernous compared to the tiny amounts of fast burning smokeless you put in to baby a 100+ year old gun.

With black, you just fill 'er up. And the compressed load makes for amazing standard deviations, which lead to good accuracy. With smokeless and all that air space, I get huge SD's and extreme spreads.

The WCF cartridges were made for black powder. Same with my '73 and SAA in 44-40.

Don't fight it!