Rossi 357 Magnum M92 Lever to Winchester 32-20

[John Boy]

Back in the era, folks used to reline 32-20's to 357 Magnum's when the caliber was introduced in 1934. I'm doing the reverse to 32-20 with a new 357 Rossi M92 lever Action

Just need installation of a TJ 1:16 liner - load the 32-20's up to 990 fps, feed them in the tube - chamber and extract with no modifications needed
Lee 311-100-2R
4.1gr W231
Calculated Maximum Stability Factor = 3.15

[pietro]

Back in the era, folks used to reline 32-20's to 357 Magnum's when the caliber was introduced in 1934. I

'm doing the reverse to 32-20 with a new 357 Rossi M92 lever Action

Just need installation of a TJ 1:16 liner - load the 32-20's up to 990 fps, feed them in the tube - chamber and extract

WITH NO MODIFICATIONS NEEDED




Dreams are great, especially if you desire a single-shot .32-20 Rossi M92. :violin:

I don't want to be a buzz-killer, but the .32-20's case/rim is slimmer than a .357 magnum's, which translates both to the loaded rounds likely not staying in the magazine until cycled, and (being narrower) the .32-20 will be problematic when feeding through the action's .357 cartridge guides.

You "might" be able to get away with using the .357 magazine tube/follower, but I'm thinking that the magazine throat will need a reduction sleeve installed & .32-20 cartridge guides from a ,32-20 Winchester model(s) 1892, 92, 53 or 65 installed in the .357 Rossi.


.

[John Boy]

Pietro: Agree with the concerns about the staying in the magazine and the guides.
Before I ordered the 357 rifle, I asked a knowledgeable firearms friend that owns a 357 Rossi to put 6 loaded rounds in his magazine. He cycled the finger lever for all 6 rounds. Each round stayed in the magazine until cycled - stayed on the lifter - chambered and extracted with no issues with the cartridge guides. That's when I decided to do the caliber conversion

[Guesser]

sure do hope it works for you. Maybe the 256 Winchester Magnum? It is based on the 357 case.

[Mk42gunner]

I must admit that I am surprised that .32-20 rounds cycled through a .357 sized action with no problems. I do like the idea of having a 92 in .32-20; but I think I would make up at least a magazine full of dummies, then cycle them several times to make sure no action work is needed on the donor rifle.

If they don't work flawlessly, there is always one of the .30-.32 caliber options on the .357 case.

Robert

[Hamish]

30 Badger. 38 Special brass, 30 Mauser/Tokarev dies. Manson carriers the Reamer. 32-20 load data.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?256118-30-Badger-30-Reece

[w30wcf]

i have a 92 Winchester made in 1927 that has .25-20 on the barrel. However, at some point in its life it was converted to .357 magnum, before I purchased it. It functioned flawlessly with .357 magnum ammo.

I decided to have it converted back to .25-20 and had a liner installed. It functioned flawlessly with .25-20 ammo.:)

w30wcf

[John Boy]

The official birth date of the 357 Magnum was 1934, designed by Elmer Keith. It had a velocity of 1800 fps vrs the 1200 fps of the 32-20 Win that had been around since 1882. Of course, 'faster is better' so there were many 32-20 rifles converted to 357 Magnum

[northmn]

The official birth date of the 357 Magnum was 1934, designed by Elmer Keith. It had a velocity of 1800 fps vrs the 1200 fps of the 32-20 Win that had been around since 1882. Of course, 'faster is better' so there were many 32-20 rifles converted to 357 Magnum
I have both a 357 and a 32-20. The 357 is a more flexible cartridge and I find it more useful for uses I have for either. For small game you want to head shoot with either and 38 specials also work well and still leave something if you body shoot. Light weight bullets can be used in the 357 also. I enjoy the 32-20 and probably have my attitude because I have one. They are fun to shoot. I do not hot rod it mainly because my uses for the cartridge are 4 wheeler/tractor carry where one takes advantage of opportunities that may present themselves from small game to coyotes. Carry the 357 a lot for that use. Winchester must love how some buy into their marketing where they supposedly said it was both a small game cartridge and will work on deer. While I could shoot deer with one in deer season, I have better rifles and no desire to use it as it is really pretty anemic for that use. I would not spend the money to convert but we all get our itches to scratch.
The 32-20 was originally a black powder cartridge and made a lot of sense for small critters when BP was used. When rimfires started to come into their own in smokeless powder the uses for the 32-20 and 25-20 kind of dropped off and they quit making rifles for them. A 22 mag also works for about anything I use a 32-20 for.

DP

[izzyjoe]

I'm thinking you would be taking a step backwards, the 357 can do anything the 32wcf can do, and more, brass, and bullets are more common. It does sound like a neat ideal, to tell the truth I'd look around and try to find a 92 win in 32-20.

[missionary5155]

Good morning John Boy
I would sure have at it. Any little project may have a few bumps and rough spots involved but hey that is what makes the project so satisfying. Can think of numerous "project" lever guns and revolvers sitting about that became real usable items with just some determination and stick to it.
Mike now in ILLinois