load data for older 32-20 colt revolver

[seawolfjack]

First time on the forum. I have a Colt revolver made in 1905 and I'm looking for data using a 95 grain lead bullet. I'm running out of some factory ammo and want to reload, but i don't want to damage my pistol. any help is appreciated. Thank you

[Outpost75]

My five-inch Colt Police Positive Special was made in 1924 and has a 0.005 cylinder gap.

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The pooled average of seven samples of both old and newer factory .32-20 loads was 814 fps, which represents a sensible loading level for older guns when assembling revolver loads using fast-burning powders like Bullseye. Do not exceed 3.5 grains of Bullseye with 100-grain bullets or 3.2 grains with 115-grain bullets in the older guns. With your 95-grain bullet 3.5 grains of Bullseye should be a good, safe, full-charge load about 900 fps.

Handloads not appreciably exceeding 900 fps with 100 grain bullets or 850 fps with 115 grain bullets are safe maximums for the Colt Police Positive Special, Army Special and early non-heat-treated S&W .32-20 Hand Ejectors. S&W Hand Ejectors made after 1918 and smokeless-frame Colt Single Actions may cautiously approach 20,000 psi, approximating the .32 H&R Magnum, about 1000-1080 fps with 100 grain bullets from a 5” barrel.

Standard Pressure .32-20 Loads for Rifle or Revolver - Originally published in The Fouling Shot No. 254 pg. 11

Bullet, Little Dandy#, Pdr. Chg.____Colt Police Positive 5”______Savage Sporter 25”

Remington .311” 100-grain JSP____930 fps, 16 Sd, 45 ES________1230 fps, 26 Sd, 79 ES
LD#4, 4.9 grains AutoComp - Approximates prewar Rem-UMC "Dogbone" loads DO NOT EXCEED

Accurate 31-105T

LD#4, 3.4 grains Bullseye__________798 fps, 27 Sd, 60ES________1153 fps, 20 Sd, 72 ES Approximates factory load

LD#3, 4.5 grains AutoComp________912 fps, 19 Sd, 53 ES _______1260 fps, 21 Sd, 55 ES

LD#4, 4.9 grains AutoComp________ 943 fps, 32 Sd, 71 ES_______1315 fps, 32 Sd, 118 ES DO NOT EXCEED

LD#10, 7.5 grains Alliant #2400_____991 fps, 24 Sd, 65 ES_______1348, 29 Sd, 69 ES DO NOT EXCEED!

LD#13, 10.0 grains IMR4227_______985 fps, 25 Sd, 61ES________1280 fps, 53 Sd, 176 ES DO NOT EXCEED!

Accurate 31-114D

LD#3, 3.0 grains Bullseye_________741 fps, 35 Sd, 92 ES________1041 fps, 26 SD, 78 ES

LD#4, 3.2 grains Bullsye__________861 fps, 20 Sd, 54 ES________1173 fps, 18 Sd, 52 ES MAX. FOR OLDER REVOLVERS


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[seawolfjack]

I'm not sure about the heat treating. The pistol i have is a colt bisley manufactured in 1905.

[Outpost75]

I'm not sure about the heat treating. The pistol i have is a colt bisley manufactured in 1905.

The loads listed above should all be fine in the Colt SA.

[Guesser]

Colt heat traded from 1895 onward for use of smokeless propellant. Opinion on dates vary but certainly from 1900 on. S&W started heat treating after WW I. I use 2.9 grains of Trail Boss under any bullet up thru 115 grains in older Colts and newer Colts and Ubertti revolvers. Good load, moderate and accurate.

[seawolfjack]

thank you gentlemen for the info

[smkummer]

Your Bisely single action colt leaves a lot of metal around the cylinder chambers and barrel forcing cone. If made in 1905 it should also have the VP stamp on the forward trigger guard indicating verified proof for smokeless powder. 30 Year’s ago I was loading for a friends 5 1/2” Bisley and we used data from an older Lyman’s manual that was hotter than above. Not that you need to do that but no issues from using that data in a bisley.

[Harry O]

Many, many years ago, a friend and I shot most of a box of "rifle only" factory 32-20 loads through an early Colt SAA (we were pretty sure it was a smokless powder Colt). There were no problems of any kind that we could see. It was a hoot. There was a lot of muzzle blast that was spectacular in the evening.

On the other hand, I shot most of one chamber full of the very same cartridges thru a lightweight Colt Police-Positive-Special revolver and bent the center pin.