Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 32-20 loads

What loads do you shoot in your 32-20 rifles and pistols? I have an old 1894 Marlin and a not-quite-as-old Colt Police Positive that are both in 32-20 and am looking for a nice moderate load to shoot in both of them. I shoot the maximum load listed for Trail Boss during Cowboy shoots but would like something a little more powerful for general use. I don't want to go to TC power levels.

In my older Police Positive I use Oregon Trail's 115s and 4.0gr Unique. Velocity is right around 850.

I shoot a Browning Model 53, and use a RCBS cast 115 gr. FN, over 7.5 gr. 2400. I get about 1150 fps from a 22" barrel. Might be a bit dirty for a handgun, but it's accurate, quiet, and very hard on the squirrels.

In a strong revolver (SAA clones) I like 12 grains of 4227 or 11 grains of 2400 under a 115 grain hard cast bullet. Both loads give about 1200 fps and are effective on deer or hog size game. These loads are a bit distructive on edible small game unless head shots are made.

Good loads for small game are the same 115 grain bullets over 4.5 grains of unique or 6 grains of Blue Dot for near 1000 fps out of a 5 1/2" barrel. These loads are safe even in the smaller Colt or S&W revolvers and can take a deer or hog with very careful shot placement. These are very pleasant loads to shoot.

I normally load the slightly heavier (1200 fps) loadings and depend on being able to head shoot anything I might want to eat.

17 gr H110, 85 gr FMJ , 30 carbine brass, WSPM, 1.54" makes serious top hat on primer.

Why use 30 Carbine brass? Is it thicker than 32-20 brass?

Oh Yeah, just run the case thru the powder bowl and scrape off the top , pound in a bullet and shove it in that old colt. Thats what you just posted as an asinine answer for a simple load request. What the hell is a matter with you. Idiot.

Notropis, clarky is the charlie manson of reloading info, likes to tell others what to do but doesnt have the balls to pull the trigger himself. If he did , he'd be typing with a pencil held in his toes.

My spies tell me that most .32-20 brass is pretty soft and doesn't hold up well when loaded anywhere near hot. But Starline's .32-20 brass is alot stronger and works alot better for such loads.
Been very tempted to buy both a rifle and a revolver for the round. E

There are rifle loads, and revolver loads for the 32-20. A Police Positive isn't a stout revolver, and should be babied a bit.

I am not much of a .32 shooter but a friend of mine is. I have this from another Forum...

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=424769&sid=a06a64d45b208a98b69cc439c224e852


Bob