[Outpost75]

I recently came into a 1943 date of manufacture Colt Official Police with 6-inch barrel, chambered for the .32-20 Winchester. The Colt OP has better steel and heat treatment than the earlier Army Specials or Police Positives and will tolerate heavier loads approaching the .327 Federal and suitable for the Winchester 1892 rifle.

The design intent of the .32 H&R Magnum was to produce ballistics approximating .32-20 black powder loads from a stronger, smaller case which could efficiently do so with smokeless powder at pressures approximating the .38 Special +P, which could be chambered in small, compact pocket and "kit" guns. It does exactly that.

Unfortunately the .32 H&R never caught on because the market is obsessed with high velocity rounds which are utterly useless as small game foraging rounds, destroying edible table game.

The .32-20 firing a 100-grain flat-nosed lead bullet at 900-1000 fps is a sure killer of small game, and truth be told, up to small deer if well placed. You can eat right up to the bullet hole. Penetration is reliably 20+ inches of gelatin. At tree stand range I've shot white tails through both shoulders broadside and recovered them easily. The .32-20 is flat shooting enabling hits to 100 yards on groundhogs, etc. from an accurate revolver with good loads. I see no need for supersonic .32-20 revolver loads as you destroy edible meat and reduce penetration.

A charge of 10.5 grains of 4227 in the .32-20 gives 950-1000 fps from a typical 4-inch revolver, approximating pre-WW2 full charge loads with the Hornady 100-grain XTP bullet, which expands reliably to .40" diameter if that is important to you. In my experience expansion reduces penetration and if a cast bullet has a meplat larger than half of bullet diameter it will penetrate deeply and be effective.

.Factory lead .32-20 loads are approximated with 3.5 grains of Bullseye, 4 grains of 231 or 4.5 grains of Unique for 870 fps from a 4-inch and 1030 fps from a 6-inch barrel with 100-115- grain flat-nosed lead.

Accurate 31-105T is my design for the .32 S&W Long and .32-20. Seat the bullet out crimping into the rear crimp groove with 3 grains of Bullseye for 900 fps in the .32 S&W Long in strong, post-WW2 revolvers such as the S&W Models 30 or 31. Great kit guns!

In .32-20 seat to crimp in the front groove to match factory overall cartridge length for use the S&W Hand Ejectors, Colt Army Special, Official Police and the Winchester lever actions.

 

[Hick Industries]

A lot of years ago I picked up a 3" Ruger SP101 chambered in 32 HR. I planned to use it as a trapline gun, but California banned steel traps shortly after. I continued to carry as a Kit Gun while hunting and fishing in the mountains.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

My 32-20 is a 1921 Colt Police Positive Special.
I've got an adequate supply of Remington Green Box JSP's.
I sometimes carry it around the farm instead of my usual Ruger Single Six 22 WMR.

 

[whirlibird]

Every couple of weeks I miss the .32 wheelguns I used to have.
A couple of the later M-16 .32 Mags, I punched out one 4" to .32-20. With slightly stepped chambers, it was stupidly accurate and had zero recoil.

But a 50's Colt Detective Special in .32 Colt NP escaped me when I was fascinated by big bores and loud noises.

Tried the Ruger Single Six's, but never quite liked them as much as the 16's or the little Colt.

The .32-20 is quite fun in a pistol, as long as you aren't threatened by the cost of the cases.

 

[ajole]

Unfortunately the .32 H&R never caught on because the market is obsessed with high velocity rounds which are utterly useless as small game foraging rounds, destroying edible table game.

Which high velocity rounds are you talking about people foraging with, that destroys meat? Rifle or handgun? And is “foraging” about squirrels and rabbits, or deer and hogs?

Some of us aren’t “obsessed” with velocity…we just have to hunt in places where 100 yards is a rare close shot on game animals. We use .22’s on rabbits, though, so….not obsessed.

 

[randyt]

I recently came into a 1943 date of manufacture Colt Official Police with 6-inch barrel, chambered for the .32-20 Winchester. The Colt OP has better steel and heat treatment than the earlier Army Specials or Police Positives and will tolerate heavier loads approaching the .327 Federal and suitable for the Winchester 1892 rifle.

The design intent of the .32 H&R Magnum was to produce ballistics approximating .32-20 black powder loads from a stronger, smaller case which could efficiently do so with smokeless powder at pressures approximating the .38 Special +P, which could be chambered in small, compact pocket and "kit" guns. It does exactly that.

Unfortunately the .32 H&R never caught on because the market is obsessed with high velocity rounds which are utterly useless as small game foraging rounds, destroying edible table game.

The .32-20 firing a 100-grain flat-nosed lead bullet at 900-1000 fps is a sure killer of small game, and truth be told, up to small deer if well placed. You can eat right up to the bullet hole. Penetration is reliably 20+ inches of gelatin. At tree stand range I've shot white tails through both shoulders broadside and recovered them easily. The .32-20 is flat shooting enabling hits to 100 yards on groundhogs, etc. from an accurate revolver with good loads. I see no need for supersonic .32-20 revolver loads as you destroy edible meat and reduce penetration.

A charge of 10.5 grains of 4227 in the .32-20 gives 950-1000 fps from a typical 4-inch revolver, approximating pre-WW2 full charge loads with the Hornady 100-grain XTP bullet, which expands reliably to .40" diameter if that is important to you. In my experience expansion reduces penetration and if a cast bullet has a meplat larger than half of bullet diameter it will penetrate deeply and be effective.

.Factory lead .32-20 loads are approximated with 3.5 grains of Bullseye, 4 grains of 231 or 4.5 grains of Unique for 870 fps from a 4-inch and 1030 fps from a 6-inch barrel with 100-115- grain flat-nosed lead.

Accurate 31-105T is my design for the .32 S&W Long and .32-20. Seat the bullet out crimping into the rear crimp groove with 3 grains of Bullseye for 900 fps in the .32 S&W Long in strong, post-WW2 revolvers such as the S&W Models 30 or 31. Great kit guns! View attachment 508485 View attachment 508486 View attachment 508487

In .32-20 seat to crimp in the front groove to match factory overall cartridge length for use the S&W Hand Ejectors, Colt Army Special, Official Police and the Winchester lever actions.

Nice handgun. Been looking for one like it. Good choice

 

[Outpost75]

Which high velocity rounds are you talking about people foraging with, that destroys meat? Rifle or handgun? And is “foraging” about squirrels and rabbits, or deer and hogs?

Some of us aren’t “obsessed” with velocity…we just have to hunt in places where 100 yards is a rare close shot on game animals. We use .22’s on rabbits, though, so….not obsessed.

Factory level .327 Federal and .32 H&R Magnum hopped up to full-snort Ruger loads, and hot '92 Winchester .32-20 loads over 1500 fps make featherburgers of birds and bloodshot coyote bait of small furbearing animals. Nothing left I would eat.

 

[Hick Industries]

Factory level .327 Federal and .32 H&R Magnum hopped up to full-snort Ruger loads, and hot '92 Winchester .32-20 loads over 1500 fps make featherburgers of birds and bloodshot coyote bait of small furbearing animals. Nothing left I would eat.

I have shot 32HR reloads long enough to suggest that mild 100g cast SWC loads are the most accurate and usefull. I save the full snot loading for 85g JHP defense loads, and find that killing bigger critters with a 32 HR very much depends on precise shooting. This round does not produce enough kinetic energy to kill something if you can not hit the critical spot. Close does not count.

 

[hiwall1]

Every 32-20 revolver I have shot seemed way louder than expected (louder than bigger calibers).
I like my 32 mag revolvers and rifle.

 

[Surveyor]

You lucky guy. Congrats on the find.

 

[Nick30]

I had a Colt .32-20 for a bit. But it was shaving lead bad and so I sold it to buy another firearm I wanted.

I have a Marlin CL in that caliber that I really enjoy. I'd like another .32-20 revolver to go with my rifle.

I believe cimarron makes single actions in that caliber. That probably what I'll go for.

Yours looks really nice. I wish that caliber would become more available again.

 

[old-grunt]

I've always been partial to 115 grain LRNFP in .32 H&R,and or 32-20 in the neighborhood of 900- 1000 fps the bullet has plenty of energy for coyotes out to 100 yards,and doesn't mangle small game, I'm sure be same reloaded in .327 but I just shoot the .32 H&R in .327 if I don't want full power,I reload .327 with Hornady 100 gr HP and load it close to max.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Way back in the early 70's a friend was shooting 32-20 HV rounds in his grand pa's S&W revolver - not a safe or good plan but those were way hotter than standard 32-20 rounds.

 

[old-grunt]

Yes sir charlie the 32-20 can be loaded pretty warm in the right guns,marlin 94,Winchester 92. Hot 32-20 is about same as .327 loads,and neither is anything to underestimate out of a rifle.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Way back in the early 70's a friend was shooting 32-20 HV rounds in his grand pa's S&W revolver - not a safe or good plan but those were way hotter than standard 32-20 rounds.

Many decades ago the High Velocity loads were made by most manufacturers for use in rifles.
They aren’t made anymore (to my knowledge) but there may still be some out there floating around.
NOT a good idea to fire them in pistols.

 

[ajole]

Factory level .327 Federal and .32 H&R Magnum hopped up to full-snort Ruger loads, and hot '92 Winchester .32-20 loads over 1500 fps make featherburgers of birds and bloodshot coyote bait of small furbearing animals. Nothing left I would eat.

So….maybe…..don’t shoot those?

 

[Outpost75]

1

So….maybe…..don’t shoot those?

I don't and see no need for them. If I need a bigger gun that's what my .44s are for.

 

[Bobcat In The Woods]

I would love to eventually get my hands on a 32-20WCF set of original Winchester 1892 and S&W Hand Ejector, both smokeless rated, just for poking around the woods. “Just feels right, man.”

Right now I content myself with my original Model ‘94 and a Heritage 22lr.

 

[randyt]

Speaking of brass. I wonder if 7.62 nagant brass could be converted to 32-20 brass. A friend gave me a bunch of once fired ppu for converting to .310 cadet