32-20 handgun loading data needed!

[Vulcan Bob]

Hi all, well I finally found a nice four inch S&W M&P in 32-20 and need some experienced 32-20 blasters favorite loads for their hand cannons. Used Ken Waters "Pet Loads" book for starting data but the book is dated and there is a lot of new propellants around these days. At the moment I have some Rainier .312" 100gr plated bullets to play with. Yeah I know but as this will be my only 32-20 I don't think I'm going to be shooting it enough to justify gearing up to cast for it. Had fair results using 2400 with mag primers "not so much with standard primers!" and with Bullseye but not getting the accuracy I would like. The 312" diameter plated bullet looks right for the bore diameter as I had to remove a bullet stuck 1/2 way up the bore and got to inspect the rifleing and crimp marks on the bullet " a squib resulting from using a standard primer with eight grains of 2400". Any insight will be appreciated!

[Guesser]

Is your 32-20 Smith a pre heat treat or post heat treat? Somewhere around 1920 being the break point, from what I've read. I shoot Colts and load 2.9 gr. of Trail Boss under Lyman 3118/115 gr.

[Vulcan Bob]

Hey there Guesser, its a late production fourth model, guessing 1925-27. Been thinking about Trail Boss as well.

[Sheriff]

Lyman 4th has a lot of .32-20 data as well as different powders. I load my old 1905 HE, 2nd with 5744/115 cast.

[Char-Gar]

I have a 1931 Smith and Wesson M & P and a Colt Army Special. The Smith has cylinder throats of .316 and the Colt runs .312.

The 32-20 in handguns is a difficult and twitchy handgun to load for. Good results can be had, but it will take some work with allot of misses before you hit the sweet spot. I know of no cook book loads that will deliver the goods every time.

I can give you cook book loads that will deliver the goods in the 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP and 45 Colt, but not the 32-20. Lots of luck and keep checking back to keep up up with your progress.

[Vulcan Bob]

I'm starting to think you are right!

[dubber123]

It's warmer than some will like, but 5.1 grains of Green Dot with the RCBS 98 gr. SWC does well in my 2 S&W 32-20's. My 6" has an awful bore even after firelapping, and has the early (invisible) sights. It will shoot under 3" at 50 yds. with this load. Better sights should shave off a half inch or so.

[LabGuy]

I'm using 4.9 grains of Unique behind an RCBS 32-90-CM lubed with BAC, (Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition, 2010).

[Vulcan Bob]

Well back from the range again and tried 3.5 Bullseye and 3.5 of Tight group with those 100gr plated Rainiers. The Bullseye loads were ok but had too many flyers and the Tight Group shot about a two inch group centered but about three inch's low and is the winner so far, these were off the bench at a whole fifteen yards. A whole lot of experimenting and shooting left before I move out to a twenty five yard zero!

[dubber123]

I'd be willing to bet your throats are closer to .314" than the .312" boolits you have. It made a noticeable difference in mine. Mine also seemed to shoot better when I stood on the gas a bit..

[rintinglen]

I'd be willing to bet your throats are closer to .314" than the .312" boolits you have. It made a noticeable difference in mine. Mine also seemed to shoot better when I stood on the gas a bit..
^^My experience also. I have a 1919-1920 era 5 inch that is one of the early heat-treated models. (Per the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, heat-treating started at serial number 81,287.) Mine likes the RCBS 32-98 SWC and a lot of Unique. The loads that shoot best in my gun greatly exceed the ones listed in Lyman's 4th Edition, but were taken from the RCBS 1st Edition Cast Bullet Manual. I use .313 boolits in mine. .312 increases the group size.