Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General 1892-32-20 Success on Deer, link to pics.

There's a reason that 25-20's and 32-20's aren't popular deer rifles. It's not that "newer shooters" don't know it's capabilities. It's that experienced hunters know they're a lousey choice. I also have witnessed several deer killed with .22's, but what sticks out in mind is the big bucks in full rut, or full of adrenalin that took alot of killin. The old rule of thumb of 1000 fpe minimum for deer isn't a bad one.

Have to disagree. Most who knock the 32-20 have never used one.

I know of one hunter who used plain 100 grain
standard lead 32-20 on 13 different deer. 12/13 when down almost instantly. 1 was tracked a short ways.

Another man told me his father, who had access to more than a 25-20 took many deer with one. Said it was quite effective.

My 32-20 rifle was borrowed last season by a friend and dropped a doe in her tracks at 54 yards.

Old crank in Alaska took out Mr. Grizzly with a 32-20, lived to tell.

If you use the 1000 fpe theory, that rules out 357 mag and many other very viable deer rounds. Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton would laugh their butts off if somebody said the 357 was not a decent deer round. FPE is worthless, its what you hit.