Share your thoughts on a 32-20

[lbaize3]

barrel. I want a single shot 32-20 rifle to shoot cast 115-118 grain GC lead boolits. Both NOE molds... the Smoking Hot 32 (RG4 HP GC) and the 32 SWC (5 cavity...2GC and 3PB). I plan to use some of Paco Kelly's upper end level 2 loads with both AA2015 and AA1680 powders. And I will use my basic plinking load of 3.9 grains of Red Dot.

I have ordered a Green Mountain .312 grove dia. barrel that is 1.065" X 25"..... A 1 in 22 twist. I can have my gunsmith put it on a Ruger #1 (45-70... unfired) or a Uberti Rolling Block carbine (30-30...also unfired) or I can get him to make a barrel for my Thompson Center Contender. He had mentioned that I needed to get a barrel at least 1.20" in diameter so there would be a good shoulder on the Ruger #1. Unfortunately, the above mentioned Green Mountain barrel was the only one I could find with the necessary grove diameter. I did not want a .308 dia. as I have numerous other 32-20 firearms with the .312 dia. and did not want to have to segregate my ammo.

I have been leaning toward using the Ruger #1 because I have three other 45-70 single shots. And although I have other 30-30 rifles, The Uberti is very well made and it looks like it is going to be a fine lead boolit chunker. The Contender barrel idea should cost less to make as I have another contender barrel the gunsmith can take the locking block and ejector off of.

Anyway, I am having a time making a decision and would be very interested in your thoughts. I imagine that some of you will think of something that might help me make an informed decision....

Thanks,
Leonard

[Four Fingers of Death]

The 32/20 and the Contender would be a match made in gun heaven I'm thinking.

My interest was sparked when you said you had a gunsmith that could build you a Bbl for the Contender. I would like to get the hinge blocks to fit to barrels for my Encore. We get any sort of Bbl here easily, but Bbls for the Encore and Contender are as dear as poision and hard to get!

It would be a shame to operate on a new No1, but like you say, you have a few already. It might end up a bit heavy, which may or may not be a problem.

I have an old Savage and a 92 that was built in 1927 in 32/20. Nice old round. My friend had an old Colt in 32/20. It was quiet heavy compared to a 45, but it shot nicely. His wife approached me when he had a stroke and his was disposing of his guns, but I couldn't afford it. I did end up with a Bonehill SxS shotgun of his to remember him by though.

[leadman]

I think the Contender would be great. Has your smith ever done a Contender? If not maybe one of the regulars building them could do it for you. MGM, Bullberry, etc.

Be sure to have the bore size marked on the barrel since most Contenders are .308". Someone might cuss it if you every sold it and they shot .308" thru it! LOL

[Jack Stanley]

I've always like the style the Ruger number one has , I just never wanted another Ruger single shot after I found out my number three had a different point of impact every time you took it out . If the Ruger could be made so it would hit where the sights looked every time that would be a neat rifle to use .

The Rolling block is a nice idea but if I can award point for style I think it would loose to a classy number one with really nice wood . But then I'm the guy that wants Savage to make a nice run of the 219 rifles in 32-20 only take their time and do it right .

I tend to agree with the Ruger and the .312" barrel , are you thinking reciever sight or scope for the rifle ?

Jack

[gewehrfreund]

I have a .308 Contender carbine barrel from their custom shop and it's a great little combination, so I'd recommend this choice.
I just missed a Ruger #3 in 32-20 once and it still smarts. That would have been a fun one to play with.

[quilbilly]

Outright my favorite Contender barrel is my 32-20. It travels with me everywhere if I think there is the remotest chance of a target of opportunity (in season) that weighs less than 100#. It is far and away my most accurate Contender barrel as well and outshoots my match .22 barrel every time at 50 meters. I don't load it hot but it is warm with the 115 gr GC boolits leaving the barrel at 1500 fps. MY load is 9.4 gr of 2400 powder.

[halfslow]

I think the contender and 32-20 would make a great small game carbine.
You don't have to cut up a barrel for the under lug. These guys sell a monoblock (stub) which should work ok: http://www.eagleviewarms.com/why.htm

[35remington]

Think very carefully about how you want it chambered and throated. Such can make or break cast bullet accuracy. Make sure you know what you want and why.

Many "factory type" chambers and throats for 32-20 make the gun far less of a cast bullet shooter than it could be. Beware.

Guess how I know?

[Four Fingers of Death]

I think the contender and 32-20 would make a great small game carbine.
You don't have to cut up a barrel for the under lug. These guys sell a monoblock (stub) which should work ok: http://www.eagleviewarms.com/why.htm

Thanks for the link, very interesting!

T/C Factory Bbls are hard to get here and extremely expensive. Using the stubs will not prove that much cheaper, but will allow us to get/build whatever Bbl we want without lots of drama importing them.

[donald duck]

Just my opinion, but I would prefer the new .327 over 32-20 as the .327 brass is better. I love my .32 H & R Mag barrel in the Contender. My barrel is .308 so I run bullets through a Lee .309 sizer die and it is very accurate.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Just my opinion, but I would prefer the new .327 over 32-20 as the .327 brass is better. I love my .32 H & R Mag barrel in the Contender. My barrel is .308 so I run bullets through a Lee .309 sizer die and it is very accurate.

Thats a good idea. Nice little case, stronger than the 32/20 as well. Like comparing a 44/40 and a 44Mag. One case is fragile (but fun), one case is hell for stout (also lots of fun, lol).

[lbaize3]

Jack: the 65 year old eyes that are blurry more often than not will require a small compact scope that will allow me to use the rifle more frequently. I may use a quick detach mount and receiver sights to make the rig more fun.

Halfslow: Thanks so much..... Your info is exactly why I asked for your thoughts!

35Remington: Dummy rounds will go to the gunsmith for throating. He is a good friend and a better gunsmith. Thanks....

Four Fingers: You are very welcome! Good to hear from you, my friend.

Donald Duck: I use the .327 and do agree with you. Probably will get a .327 next to go with my Ruger .327 Ruger Blackhawk. Have always been a believer in using a rifle/pistol combination in the same caliber.

Thanks again for all your input. I have just about decided to go with the Contender barrel setup.

[shaggist]

Since you are going a cartridge route similar to what I am doing, I thought a few thoughts might be in order.
I am completing a single shot, relined .410 in .32 H&R Magnum caliber. I chose this round for several reasons. It is a neat little round and well-suited to a 'rook rifle' setup. .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W short will both work in it, and, once I get my Starline brass, I am going to experiment with loading it to .32-20 (rifle) velocities. I have Hornady 90 gr. SWC for my cast loads in factory Federal brass, which will be loaded to pistol speeds for my cast bullet plinker. The Starline will get Hornady 85 gr. JHPs for the increased velocity. Weighing in a just a hair over 5 lbs, recoil should be negligible and accuracy to 100 yds. remains to be seen.

It has been a fun project, although running over my initial budget estimates, and I am looking forward to the developmental processes once the weather cools off a little. I'll post pictures in a couple of days, but right now it is too hot for me to go out and play.

[EDG]

I talked to a pistol silhouette shooter about his .32 H&R Contenders.
He originally tried 3 different .32-20 Contenders barrels before he found one that shot well for him.
He did not like having to lube brass in the volumes he shot plus he said he crushed a .32-20 case now and then seating bullets because the brass is so thin.
He switched to the .32 H&R Mag for both him and his sons competition pistols. He uses a carbide die to size the brass. He shoots the Hornady .312 swaged lead bullets and gets good accuracy - he is not a cast shooter.

[Frank46]

graybeardoutdoors.com, check out the 4D reamer ad. They list criterion bbls (kreiger) in twists of 1x18, 1x16, and 1x10 for the 303 british. The listed bore diameter is .311. Just saw this and thought you may or may not be interested. The origional twist for the 32/20 was I believe was 1/20. the faster twist bbls would allow you to shoot heavier boolits than the 115 grain or so that the 32/20 used. Frank

[leadman]

I have a 1 in 8 twist Contender barrel in 300 Whisper. Shoots everything well from the Lee 93gr RN to the Lyman 314299, plus jacketed if you desire.
With the 93gr Lee I load it to about 780fps, the 314299, 206gr is 1,150 fps. The nosler ballistic Tip, 2,100 fps.
Easy to make the brass from 221 Fireball or 222, 223 cases. Hornady is even making ammo now.

Mike Bellm even does a rimmed version on 357 Max.

[cnicked]

I have a Winchester model 92 that has been rebarelled with a piece of original 303 with the
1 in 10 twist. It shoots like a dream. Cheap too.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I use the 32-20 mainly as a hunting cartrige. Groundhogs are the main item of interest but any coyotee that happens along will be engaged. The 32-20 will never offer much recoil so my idea of a handy rifle for crawling around dithes and wood edges is light weight. Any of the listed actions would be more than suffient to hold the chamber pressures and clamp a barrel on it. But as a hunter having that Contender in 32-20 with a 1-4 power scope carrried about in a front carry sling holster would be a great tool to have during a morning of eliminating bean eaters.
Mike in Peru

[Four Fingers of Death]

I am really itching to get my Savage bolt gun back. It has been at the gunsmith's awaiting a scope fitting since before global warming became an issue it feels like. If he doesn't hurry there won't be any more Polar Bears to shoot!

[quilbilly]

I solved the problem of crushed cases by using an old sailing marlinspike to just smooth out the inside of the case after priming. It may also bell the case a little but I can't see that with my old eyes. I now use that marlinspike on all of the rifle cases I load with CB's.

[Aunegl]

The 32/20 is very accurate in the contender. In silhouette field pistol, my load was RCBS 130 grain SP, Accurate 1680 powder, Fed primers. The cases were trimmed to 1.28" and I got over ten reloads before I had a case failure. In the Big Bore Production and Standing classes, the bullets were RCBS 165 grain silhouette, until I got tired of ringing rams. Then I moved up to RCBS 200 grain silhouette. The alloy I was using WDWW. When reloading 32/20 brass, one needs to be a little bit patient.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I used a screwdriver shaft on the 44/40s, but found my old Army clasp knife, which has a Marlin Spike, knot a problem, lol!

[El Bango]

I have a 303 Brit barrel that i am going to use to build a T?C carbine in 32-20.Maybe take pics and do a tutorial?

[excess650]

I think the Ruger #1 a bit large and heavy for the 32-20, but it most definitely would work. If my 22 Hornet #1 doesn't work with cast it'll get rebored to something 35cal. A Winchester (or Browning) Lowall would be a good choice, Stevens 44-1/2, or something along those lines.

I have a Marlin 1894CL in 32-20 and wouldn't part with it. Mine is used for low powered to moderate cast loads as I have 30-30s, 7.62x39, 308, 7.5x55s and 30-06s for more serious 30cal work.

[quilbilly]

I do love my 32-20 10" Contender. Yesterday I was at the local range with it while the local Coast Guard helocopter crews were doing their quarterly 7.62 cal rifle qualifications. I suddenly noticed they weren't shooting. They, spotters and shooters, were watching me plink at 2-3" white pebbles in the berm 100 yds away. I powdered three in seven shots. The CPO commented that was some fancy shooting and ask what it was. 32-20. 130 years old and still setting the standard. Could I do the same thing again. Doubt it. Priceless.

[Dark Helmet]

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/productdetail.aspx?id=AK-BLANK $33.00 20 x 1.06 "

[L Ross]

Leonard, have you considered going traditional? Just think of a 32-20 on a Low-Wall action topped with a MVA B-4 Winchester scope clone or the Leatherwood Malcolm 3x or 6x. I shoot the 32-20 from an old Stevens Ideal Mod. 44 with mild loads of Unique or 16 gr of 3fg black. Oh what a small game rifle. My Low-Wall is a 25-20 and will soon get the scope blocks but the effect is the same.

Duke

[9.3X62AL]

I am greatly fond of the 32-20 WCF in a rifle. Mine is a levergun (Marlin 1894CCL), but it still makes a fine varminter.

[lbaize3]

Since I made the original post, I purchased a Green Mountain barrel and had it turned into a TC Contender barrel. It shoots well, but I have not had but one chance to test the rifle. It was accurate and a joy to shoot. I am currently loading several batches of 32-20 in virgin Starline brass. I am using AA1680 and AA2015 as recommended by Paco Kelly for Level 2 firearms. The boolits are NOE molds... a RF hollowpoint and a SWC. As soon as I get some of my irons out of the fire and take these loads to the range, I will post pictures.

And I have been looking closely at the low wall in 32-20. Would very much like to have one with the pistol grip and double set triggers. (drool.....)