Thoughts and photos of the 32-20

[KirkD]

Thoughts and photos of the 32 WCF (32-20)

It’s hard to say sometimes why certain cartridges can have such a powerful nostalgic hold on a fellow. My first introduction to the 32-20 cartridge was back when I was a young fellow growing up in a rural area. My best friend on a farm four miles away bought a box of 32-20 cartridges for an ancient, well-used Marlin rifle that had obviously been heavily used on some homestead back in the late 1800’s. The afternoon when he opened that box, pulled out some of those little cartridges, and fed them into that old rifle is still fresh in my memory. Perhaps it was the sight of that old homesteading rifle and those fascinating little cartridges that got a nostalgic hold on me that is at least as strong some 45 years later.

Here’s a shot of my own 32-20, originally known as the 32 W.C.F. Mine is an original Winchester Model 53 made in 1929, with ’32 W.C.F.’ marked on the barrel. It is both my daughters’ favourite gun to shoot …. no noticeable recoil and not much of a bang. As for me, it's my all time pet varmint cartridge. With a 115 grain bullet at 1,257 fps, I do have to sneak up a little closer, but that is part of the fun.



I’ve purchased a bunch of Starline 32-20 brass and started loading them this week with my pet load of 9.5 grains of 5744. The bullets are from the 115 grain Magma mould. It is an accurate load but this new batch of 5744 sure meters poorly, often plus or minus 0.4 grains. For that reason, I’m planning to develop two new loads this weekend using Blue Dot and 2400. I know that 2400 meters like a dream. I’ll be saving my 5744 for larger capacity cartridges where plus or minus 0.4 doesn’t make much of a difference.

In the meantime, here is a close up of some of my loaded cartridges for your viewing pleasure. My wife thinks they are cute. By the way, the book is an original copy of Frank Tose' Trapping Tanning and Taxidermy and is a gold mine of information. You can get reprints still for it or download an electronic copy.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Nice looking 32 WCF. MY Winchester is an 1873 from the late 1880's that was well used by the time I got it. Has the typical fat throat of a BP rifle. Has to have .315+ boolits to shoot halfway straight. But it sure is a fine up close ground hog rifle. Easy on lead and powder. Sadly it is in storage up north there in eastern ILL.
Mike in Peru

[KirkD]

Sorry to hear that, Mike. I know that sometimes when I am in other countries far away, I think of my lever guns and shooting as a special reward when I get back.

[TXGunNut]

Thanks for sharing the eye candy, Kirk. Well written and potographed, as usual. Very nicely done, thanks again.

[yooper]

What an absolutely gorgeous M53. I can't recall seeing many in that condition and with such BEAUTIFUL wood. I agree with your wife, the cartridges are indeed "cute". I'm envious.
yooper

[btroj]

I really like the 32-20. I use a 120 gr rnfp with 5 gr of Unique. It is just a pleasure to shoot.

[TheGrimReaper]

Man, that is one SEXY rifle you got there!!!!

[Reg]

You say you want to try 2400 ? With that 115 grain bullet, try 8.5 grains for a accuracy load and you can go to 11 grains for one with more zip. Have used the 8.5 load in several different rifles and a couple of pistols and it has always seemed to shoot well and will meter through about any measure like quicksilver. Sneak up on the top load. You do get a bit of "cornmeal" with 2400 but have never seen where it effected anything.

[KirkD]

If things go well, I'll be trying that 2400 load on Friday afternoon. Thanks.

[northmn]

I have a bunch of different powders from previous rifles and shotguns and have tried them in my 32-20 Marlin. It is really not a fussy cartridge and it you want to "use up" a powder it takes a while and a lot of shots with the 32-20. I like mine at a similar level as you do. When I bought mine I had a Lee mold for 120 grain bullets. As cast it throws about .3125 and using Lee tumble lube I have had no complaints nor a reason to get another bullet.

DP

[smithywess]

Thank you Kirk for another great write up on a terrific rifle in great shape. Tremendous photography. I have enjoyed this fine calibre (.32-20) for a long time as well. My little Marlin Model of 1889 was built in 1893 and in .32-20 shoots well with 7.5 grains of Alliant's 2400 under the R.C.B.S. bullet .32-98-SWC. placing the shots into about an inch and a half at 80 yards off a sandbag rest. The velocity is 1246 f.p.s. as I recall. The bore slugs to .313" and I don't size my bullets which fall from the mould at .315"/.316". Here's a pic.



Thanks again for your contribution, I enjoy them greatly.

[KirkD]

That is a beautiful '89!

[50target]

SMITHWESS, I tried a load in my Marlin 1889 in 32-20 and had to single load it as that long swc nose was too long to function except for single feeding. I was crimping in the bullet's crimp groove. It is possible that I could crimp over the frony driving band.

Now the bad part. That load shot like wildfire in model 94 Marlin 1889 but heck I didn't buy it for a single shot so I will crimp over the forward band and hopefully that will suffice. I do not remember powder type, brand or primer. Load data is in my loading room and inaccesible at the moment.

Enjoy those 32-20 rifles. Shoot'em all day cheap, not loud. What's not to like.

Bob

[smithywess]

Bob,

Give me a day and I'll check my specs.

[Idaho Mule]

That is one beautiful Model 53. JW

[Harry O]

Nice rifle and a nice cartridge. The very first handgun I ever shot and the very first centerfire cartridge I ever shot was in my father's 32-20 about 50 years ago. I have been using them every since. I have different loads because of the very large difference in strength of the different guns that use that cartridge.

I inherited the 32-20 Police Positive Special mentioned above. That is a very small frame handgun and I cannot use more than factory pressures in it. I have used small amounts of Red Dot, Bullseye, Unique, and recently, Trail Boss for that.

My newest handgun is a S&W NewModel 16 that was rechambered from .32 Magnum to 32-20. I use 6.0gr of SR4756 in that one. More powerful and very accurate.

I also have a 1990's Marlin Model 94 in 32-20 that I use 10.0gr of 2400. That would destroy the Colt PPS so I not only label the cartridge box well, but also use different bullets in them so that I can tell at a glance what is in the case if they get separated from the labeled box.

I have had a few other 32-20's over the years, but have kept these.

[smithywess]

Bob,

This cartridge was designed originally as a blackpowder round and the bullets were crimped on the ogive in front of the front driving band to prevent the bullet from moving forwards. Because the case was filled to the brim with blackpowder the bullet didn't move backwards either under recoil being held forwards by the powder. I use 7.5 grains of 2400 and this doesn't fill the case entirely however because my bullet is two thousandths of an inch overbore it is held well in the case neck by very good bullet tension. I crimp in front of the front driving band on the ogive to produce an overall cartridge length of 1.533". The maximum O.A.C.L. in my 45th Lyman manual is 1.592". I would think that an overall length like mine of 1.533" would be just fine for your rifles as far as loading as many rounds as you wish. I checked the velocity of my load which was 1246 f.p.s. which is well within blackpowder speeds. I went as high as 9.0 grains but the group opened up quite a bit so I dropped it back to 7.5 grains. This is a very comfortable load to shoot.

[50target]

SMITHYWESS, thanks for the info. I will try the crimp over the driving band. I believe I was using SR4756 in that load. It was mild and accurate. My group would have been better if th elight had not failed on us. I put that ivory bead in the middle of the black and she stood out really well. My 1889 in 32-20 has a 26" heavy round barrel and I understand over at the Marlin Forum less than 3600 made with that barrel length. Add that long heavy barrel to a pristine bore and she shoots super well. It is a mild cartridge, fun to shoot and cheap to load. I also have a 1894 vintage Marlin in 25-20 with standard 24" octagon barrel with pristine bore and I really like that little cartridge. You can get them up really fast. No fuss, no kick, no noise. Great little gun.
I noticed your handle that you have an interest in S&W's and you can tell from mine that I do also. I have a 32-20 Target Smith and so far I am getting pretty decent accuracy using Red Dot but I am also going to try some Green Dot. Hope to get it driving tacks one day. I've about satisfied my desire for S&W and am now on a vintage Marlin kick, with the 1889, 1894, model 97 (1904) and model 39(1924) all of them decked out with Lyman Tang Sights. The Marlin guns are just lean and slim in appearance. Gotta love them. Thanks again for the help on the 32-98 RCBS info. That bullet does real well in my K32 Smith using W231 at 25 yds.
Take care
Bob