The .32-20 Hand Ejector Thread

[DWalt]

The OP is a much less robust revolver, though. ..

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You have to be kidding. The OP is heavier and more robust, and the various timing problems often attributed to DA Colts simply do not exist given any reasonable care. Granted. the lockwork is somewhat more complex than S&Ws, and repairs require more skill to perform, but are very seldom needed.

 

[don 65]

i use to think i have a low serial number but it is has 4 digit

 

[Plain Old Dave]

You have to be kidding. The OP is heavier and more robust, and the various timing problems often attributed to DA Colts simply do not exist given any reasonable care. Granted. the lockwork is somewhat more complex than S&Ws, and repairs require more skill to perform, but are very seldom needed.

Might be the Police Positive I'm thinking about. Heard about one of them that the crane got sprung on from shooting old HV .32-20 through. They shot it once, and couldn't get the hammer to come back. In a K frame, you'd crack the forcing cone or bulge the cylinder first. A friend of mine has a 6" nickel RB with a cracked cone...

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[finloq]

Has anybody fired Georgia Arms 32-20?
I was getting mediocre accuracy and some key holing at 10 yards. My barrel appears to be in good condition with good lands and grooves (I have not slugged the bore yet) but swallows the same rounds in the standard bullet test. I measured the bullet diameter with a digital caliper and came up with a diameter of .3085? What?



"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

 

[DWalt]

The standard bore diameter of the .32-20 is 0.313"-0.314". Smaller bullets than that will not engage the rifling properly. I think the new T-C Contender single shot pistols in .32-20 have a 0.308 bore.

 

[finloq]

Yep. If only I could find another manufacturer in stock...anywhere.



"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

 

[DWalt]

Anyone planning to shoot a .32-20 revolver very much should seriously consider taking up reloading. It eliminates the logistics problems of obtaining factory ammunition. .32-20 cast lead bullets are readily available from places like the Missouri Bullet Company. There is no need to use jacketed bullets, but they are also available, such as those made for the .32 H&R Magnum and the .327 Federal.

 

[finloq]

I just acquired a collection of (I presume) 50's-60's RNFP. The question is: is this HV or no?



"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

 

[DWalt]

Probably not. I believe the HV ammo had 80 grain jacketed hollow point bullets, and usually had something on the headstamp identifying that it was high velocity. At one time I had some .32-20 rounds with jacketed exposed lead bullets (not hollow pointed) which were not HV. I'll check information in some of the old ammo catalogs.
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I checked a variety of both pre-war and post-war Remington, Winchester, and Western ammunition catalogs. In all cases, the .32-20 HV loads listed had 80 grain jacketed hollow point bullets (which Remington describes as "Mushroom" and W-W called Open Point Expanding). You might want to pull a bullet or two and weigh it - if it's more than 80 grains, it's not HV.

 

[finloq]

These guys are all RNFP:

 

[DWalt]

See #310. I'd say yours are not HV.

 

[finloq]

Thanks for the research, DW

 

[spencerhut]

An older aqisition . . .

Have had this for some time. It's rare for me as I've never shot it and I shoot just about everything I have. It's 100% correct down to the grips, worn and tattered as they may be. It came with three boxes of Winchester .32-20 ammo that I know I still have somewhere. Cylinder and bore are near perfect as you could hope for. The insides *looked* untouched when I cleaned it up and preserved it long ago. My 625/627's get torn down seasonally after I switch over to my auto for the competition shooting I do, so the thought of a gun this old never having been apart is odd to me.
Almost forgot, it has some sort of pinned on brass front sight. I think I've been inspired to find the ammo and shoot it since the rest of you seem to be shooting yours.

 

[finloq]

I think it's beautiful. I love the long barrel.



"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

 

[DWalt]

It's unusual to see checkered grips worn almost smooth like yours. Have you checked to see if the same serial number is penciled on the back of the right grip panel? The SN is very high in the range, as the last S&W .32-20 was in the 144000 SN range. Production stopped in around 1929-30 but S&W continued to catalog them for sale until 1940. Any .32-20 sold between approximately 1930 to 1940 was either from inventory or assembled from earlier components. Yours is likely to have been shipped during the later 1920s due to the 1920s style grips and mushroom extractor rod knob.

Your front sight is not typical, and it's possible it could be one of the rare "half-target" variations, although I have not heard of one of those in .32-20. It may be worth the price of a factory letter ($50) to find out if shipped with a target front sight. However, a letter may or may not reveal that. You may also wish to add a better close-up picture of the front sight alone to see if anyone else can identify it.

Ammunition availability is a problem. It is still factory loaded, but not widely distributed, and expensive. It's nearly always a special order or buy off the internet item. Most who shoot .32-20 rifles or revolvers very much will reload to avoid the ammunition hassle.

"...the thought of a gun this old never having been apart is odd to me." I believe that is fairly common to find unopened revolvers. Many owners will never take a screwdriver to their revolvers as long as it continues working. I have seen some that are so crudded up inside from dried oil and dirt that it's certain they have never been opened and cleaned internally.

 

[spencerhut]

Found the ammo, three boxes of 50 Winchesters.
The grips are clearly numbered to the gun in pencil. Barrel, side plate, star & cylinder all match.
I'll need to pick up another set of K-Frame grips for in order to shoot it. It's uncomfortable to even hold it with the original grips.
Front sight:

Front sight looks like an amateur gunsmith job to me.

 

[DWalt]

Post some pictures of the boxes (all sides) if possible. Everyone loves old ammunition boxes, and I may be able to date them approximately. Lot numbers would help.

Someone who knows more about target front sights should be along shortly to give an informed opinion, which I cannot. S&W provided a fairly large number of target front sight blade options.

 

[spencerhut]

Shot, shoots just fine. Little to no recoil, plenty accurate enough.

 

[rburg]

If its a sweet shooter, its a 32-20.

 

[Muley Gil]

That's a Shread front sight. I had a .32-20 target that had one.