S&W 32/20 HE of 1905

[moosedog]

I just bought this from forum member Lee Barner and am totally pleased with the deal. Lee's a great guy to do business with.
I recently started loading for the 32/20 cartridge and this gun puts the rounds out nicely. Even the grips are numbered to the gun.
I added the grip adapter and a spring kit as some of these older HEs have heavy trigger pulls.

 

[glenncal1]

Moose-that is a beautiful example of the .32-20 breed. .32-20 is a great round and very versatile. I have the same gun in target config.

 

[Truckman]

Dang it!...I knew I should have bought that!......Ben

 

[Brooks]

That's a nice one! Is that the original finish?
My 32-20 is a good shooter.

 

[Retired W4]

Lee gave up a nice one. I had to get a companion gun for my 32 WCF without giving up my first born so I went with this Savage 23C from the same time frame (early 20's).

 

[Green Frog]

Looks like you picked a winner, moose dog. Are those the noses of Ideal 3118 bullets I see poking out of the loaded rounds? Nothing like going old school with a classic gun!
Froggie

 

[moosedog]

Thank all. Yes, it is the original finish and the bullets are 115gr HP from GT bullets. Not sure of the mold number that they use.

 

[Drm50]

That one got by me, never saw it listed. Nice example. I don’t know how many S&W. 1905s and Colts I’ve had in last 10yrs a bunch. Still don’t have the elusive Target Model. Saw one mint in box for $2200, I passed.

 

[CptCurl]

Lee gave up a nice one. I had to get a companion gun for my 32 WCF without giving up my first born so I went with this Savage 23C from the same time frame (early 20's).

Companion guns - yes!

Here's a photo of my S&W .32-20 HE Tgt alongside one of my Winchester M1892 rifles in .32 WCF.

I shared them in a thread I posted almost 9 years ago. My how time flies! A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today

There is something very pleasant about a .32-20 HE. People go wild over the K32 Masterpiece (and I do have one) while overlooking its more available predecessor.

Curly

 

[Brooks]

My companion gun to the HE is a Marlin 1894CL in 32-20. I bought it in 1990. Almost bought a Browning 53 in 32-20. Love the Winchester action, but I could not have the glossy Browning finish and the paper thin barrel on it. It's nice to have a rifle and handgun that shoots the same cartridge.
Plus I can load up the rifle rounds with the Hornady 100gr XTP bullet in case I want to get serious!
Check Starline website every day for cases. Occasionally they take back orders for 32-20.
I consider the 32-20 a farmer's gun... a homeowner's rifle you keep by the kitchen door....so accurate and easy to shoot, your grandma could hit with it when the varmints come into you vegetable garden.

 

[Retired W4]

I have not done any reloading for decades but I have a friend that loaded some 32-20 for me. And he put together some 32 Colt short for my Marlin 1891. Now that is a sweet shooting rifle. The Marlin also takes 32 Colt long and and rim fire long and short. I just have to change out the firing pin. The rim fire ammo is VERY expensive.

 

[Hawg Rider]

That's a beauty, congratulations! The finish and stocks on mine show quite a bit of honest wear, but mechanically it's very good and very accurate. I haven't reloaded in many, many years...and I don't think that I need to invest in another hobby now that I'm getting ready to turn 70. However, .32-20 ammo is a little difficult to locate, and I've been shooting Cowboy Action ammo whenever I can find it.

 

[cmansguns]

Love mine...even with keyholing...my fault or the gun??

Boy the OP's gun is really sweet! How often do you even see one in that condition, much less one up for sale. I got mine well over a year and a half ago, and finally around Christmas last year found some ammo...HSM Cowboy Action. 115 gr flat nose lead, took a couple months to find a range that would allow solid lead projectiles greater than 22 LR.

Unfortunately at 15 yards the gun put 12 rounds on the paper (indoor range, no wind, excellent light, all single action, standing, off hand). I think the target shows some keyholing and I can't figure out what I probably did wrong. The bore of this October 1921 (per Roy) is pitted but the action is tight, no end play, no shake, no push-off.

 

[Brooks]

@cmansgun,
I don't think you are doing anything wrong... I think what is wrong is the HSM ammo. From the looks of the terrible HSM crimp, I would guess they are using a .308 bullet when you should be shooting a .313-.314 bullet.

 

[Drm50]

If you have an old 32/20 the individual gun is going to dictate the bullet diameter. Early on there wasn’t industry standards as today.
Especially with 25/20 and 32/20 I have found cast the only way to go for practical accuracy. With both these there is no need to go crazy hardening the bullet metal. I make mine with 20:1 Lead-tin and they don’t lead and shoot excellent.
Some of the old .32 cal cartridges I have started with .323” mold and sized appropriately. I know you arent suppose to do over .003” but I don’t think it really matters at velocities we are talking about.

 

[dwh]

Moosedog, what incredible revolver you picked up. The 32-20 is a completely under rated cartridge. Excelling as hunting cartridge for anything under 150yards and under a 100 pounds. Companion rifles are a must with this revolver cartridge combo.