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.
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 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).
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.
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.
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:
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.
The 32-20 has always intrigued me, because it was mentioned by Mcllhenney as the round of choice for hunting turkeys back in the day. Sadly, none of the states I hunt allow hunting turkeys with a rifle. Still . . .( the shaman gets a distant look on his face)
I don't own a 32-20, but I do have a Marlin 1894 that shoots 38 SPL and 357 Mag. If I took a 125 grain cast lead bullet, what would be velocity that would come close to mimicking a 32-20?
I've got a Ruger Buckeye Special and I'm gonna have to try some of JB's recipes. The one I'm using now is with the 115 gr. Cast Performance gas check and 2400.
A bullet you didn't use in the 32-20 loads is the 115gr speer gold dot that was designed for the .327 federal
Far as I can tell that bullet has been discontinued ... maybe quite a while ago.
Tom
That's a shame if it has. I still have several thousand as I bought in bulk a few years ago. I still see the loaded .327 ammo with it for sale, but maybe that's old stock. It's a great bullet I use in my 32H&R, 327, and 32-20. I'll have to see if I can find anymore.
My first year hunting with a Savage Model 23 in 32-20 was with mixed results. I settled on a Blue Dot load behind a Hornady 100gr XTP giving me around 14-1500 fps.
The bullet expands nicely but doesn't fully penetrate the deer. Deer were shot between 75 feet and around 50 yds. Neck shots will be the only shots taken and at 50 yds, I feel I need to hunt as an archer with the 32-20 and not a rifle hunter. It's great for too close to civilization hunting which is what I actually purchased the rifle for.
I ended taking two deer with this rifle, a third deer shot was collected by a neighboring hunter after I gave it a 30 yd lung shot.
If you find that I'm wrong, if you find a source, please let me know. I'd like to try them in my Single Seven. Looks like a good bullet. At the moment, even the 100 grain XTPs are tough to find. 85s are around and so are the 90 grain Sierras.
There is a fourth regime of the .32-20, though it is very much a niche use: In the ten-inch, bull-barrel Contender, it is possibly the single most useful handgun silhouette cartridge. With 175gr cast bullets at around 1100fps, it is very competitive for the standing events on full-size targets, and with the Lyman 311008 it is hard on the heels of the Hornet for top Field/Hunter pistol.
[quote=BullShooter It's interesting that Robert Johnson thought the 38 Special was "most too light". Perhaps he was corresponding with Elmer?
Actually, Elmer Keith claims he killed a running doe with a .32-20 revolver, just because that's what he was packing when it ran (partway) past him. George Nonte claims dead deer with .32-20 and .38 Special revolvers.
I'd like to try them in my Single Seven. Looks like a good bullet. At the moment, even the 100 grain XTPs are tough to find. 85s are around and so are the 90 grain Sierras.