Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer's 32-20 article

JB
Thanks for the 32-20 article. Now I'm just waiting for loading the 250-3000 in modern rifles. Maybe a cooper M54. I'd even loan you mine.

A bullet you didn't use in the 32-20 loads is the 115gr speer gold dot that was designed for the .327 federal. I load this bullet with Lil Gun to 1850fps in a modern marlin 1894 with 22in barrel. I have no idea of pressure, but I've had no problems and brass lasts forever. It has been a good hunting load for me.

Where can I find the 32-20 article?

Dan

Latest issue of HANDLOADER. Probably only out in digital edition right now, as the paper edition doesn't appear until around the first of the month.

I will look forward to reading the article when I receive my copy in a couple of weeks.

I put an old, beat up Savage Model 23 to good use last deer season. Always willing to try out a new recipe.

Dan

The test rifle in the article (which also includes two handguns) is a Model 23!

KodiakIsland,

I'm planning to do a piece on the .250 in bolt rifles with a 1-10 twist, but already have a rifle (though not as nice as yours).

While your waiting on MD's article on the 250 Savage hunt up the 1976 issue of Gun Digest for Vernon McGee's article on the Ruger bolt gun.

I have had a love for the .32-20 in a revolver since the early 1970's when I started loading for a SAA.

I have always relied on a hard-cast bullet as I don't think the various jacketed bullets will perform as well when penetration is required......and penetration is always required on game the size of deer and hogs. The small bore .32-20 isn't as impressive nor as effective as a larger bore handgun, but will eventually cause an animal to bleed out as long as bullet weight is heavy enough to insure full penetration.

I typically loaded a 115 grain flat nosed bullet over a healthy dose of 2400. I was probably pushing things a bit with 7.5 grains of powder for 1350 fps of velocity and later reduced that load to 7.2 grains for about 1250 fps as I gained in age and experience. never had a problem with my SAA and my mother fired quite a few of these loads in her Colt Police Positive Special.

With those loads was a sure (if unspectacular) killer on deer and hogs when the bullet was carefully placed. In fact, I have personally found the .32-20 to be very nearly equal in killing ability to the .357 and every bit as effective as the .38 Special.

I always wanted to have a rifle in the same caliber as my revolvers, but came across a Model 23 chambered in .25-20 and soon fell in love with that round for small game and the occasional deer or hog when used carefully. I loved it so much I never got around to trying the .32-20 in a long gun.

I'm serious about loaning it to you if you want it. Seems like every .250 article (for good reason) is about loading the 99. I love the 99s and wish I had a whole stable of them, but I also like my modern 250s as well (ruger and coopers). Seems there is very little data for modern pressures and COAL greater than factory specs. I have pretty much started using the cooper for all my hunting of animals smaller than elk. I load the 100gr BT or TTSX to 3000fps, get great accuracy, and kill stuff just as well as any other modern round.

Gonna have to look into this one. Been hunting with an old 32-20 for some years now.

The 100 Hornady XTP has done everything I've needed it to do, and does it VERY well. NOthing has gone more than about 30 yards or so with it.

But alwyas looking to learn.

Jeff

Have 3 boxes of the Remington 100 gr soft point 32-20 bullets in the old red boxes, in like new condition. PM me if someone has an interest.

JB, I need an article on a 32-40...

I need one on deer hunting with the .25-20 Marlin...just to annoy Savage_99

I look forward to your 32-20 article. I like the way you respect the Savage 23. Mine is a 25-20 23B which made your recent 25-20 piece fun to read. I am almost as proud of the scope on my 23; it is a weaver J2.5 bought new in the box for $10.00 (cheap even then) in a small town gun shop going out of business sale. The rifle was drilled and tapped for a model N side mount. I've wanted a 32-20 version simply because the 23's are so much fun to shoot.

You should talk to your buddy Mike about that. Of course, you'll probably have to loan him rifles and brass.

That Canadian guy has done one or two, using a 99, I believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0H_5PSNokk

Beats a ballistics chart and why shoot jello when we have testimony?

I have a Dec 2001 article on the 32-20 in Handloader magazine by Brian Pearce.

It basically breaks the load presented into three categories for 3 categories of guns; 16 kcup, 30 kcup, and 40 kcup.
--------------------------------------------------------
I have experimented with it over the years in old double action Colt revolvers:

110 gr HNDY RN SP .308 14 gr H110 1.59" 30 kpsi
110 gr HNDY RN SP .308 16 gr H110 1.59" 47 kpsi

I have loaded up mass quantities of:
120 gr Missouri bullet .313 coated 14 gr H110 1.57" 34 kpsi
98 gr Speer HBWC 2.7 gr Bullseye 1.36"

It's interesting that Robert Johnson thought the 38 Special was "most too light". Perhaps he was corresponding with Elmer?

Here is a transcription of Johnson's lyrics, from my post of six+ years ago, in a thread in this forum: 32-20 thread.

I sent for my baby, and she don't come
I sent for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't want do
If she gets unruly, and thinks she don't want do
Take my 32-20, and cut her half in two
She got a thirty-eight special, but I believe it's most too light
She got a thirty-eight special, but I believe it's most too light
I got a 32-20, got to make the camps alright
. . .
I mentioned in that post that the my favorite variation of the song was by the Flamin' Groovies. It has since been posted in youtube:



--Bob

For some reason, your post made me think of "Stagger Lee", so I hopped over to Wiki and found more info on that song than I ever would have imagined.

Worth a look if you like that stuff.

I read John's article the other day, and as usual, it'll probably end up costing me a bunch of money at some point. Every so often I bump into one of those Browning 53s on line and the little plastic card in my pocket starts vibrating.

My copy came on Monday. Muddy