32-20 winchester factory ammo

[mickbr]

fellas I was looking to get my hands on a 1892 in 32-20 that is coming with decent qty of factory ammo , that being winchesters superx lead 100 grain at 1200fps. I dont think I will reload for it ultimately as its more of a collection item for me, but I would like to take it out for some small game to say I have done so. I was wondering what the characteristics of the factory load might be. Is this load any good for small game hunting, or better off used up for plinking?

1.Will it lead badly?

2. For small/small medium game will it be expanding at 1000-1200fps or just zipping through like an oversize 22LR?

Thanks for any guesses, absolutely no idea myself. :)

[ndnchf]

At 1200fps there should be no leading. That's a pretty mild load.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Any critter under 50 pounds was considered correct game in SW Michigan where I grew up
Put those slugs through the head or shoulders and big ol' nasty mean racoons expire just fine.
Anything less is east pickings.

[ATCDoktor]

The factory Winchester (or Remington for that matter) lead factory loads for the 32/20 are fine for small game shooting at reasonable distances.

I’ve killed both cotton tails and jackrabbits with my ancient scabbard worn Model 92 in 32/20 using Remington factory lead bullets and have had no issues reference leading and accuracy was up to the task.
https://i.postimg.cc/3Jmp5CPD/EC66EABD-200E-4860-889C-D51AF38C3E3A.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I couldn’t tell you whether or not these bullets expanded but most of the small game animals fell where they were hit inside 50 yards.

Just make sure you know your point of impact reference you point of aim for the distances being fired and you will be good.

Gratuitous M92 32/20 pics:
https://i.postimg.cc/G22HrJcD/3CED60D3-7CCE-41B0-B6CF-61399ADAD879.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/QMV4kfL1/D387B484-FAC4-4BC5-BD85-2443C78BC104.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/SspPSy9x/CF14A7E7-B9C5-422B-A64B-C724380BC3F5.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[veeman]

That's a mighty fine looking 92 you got there.

[mickbr]

thanks fellas its worth a shot then. ATCdoctor, that rifle is a beauty, similar configuration to the one I am looking at. I notice the 1892 seem to come in the 20" barrel full magazine, and a longer barrel but shorter 6 shot magazine gun. Wish I knew the date range for either or maybe they both existed at the same time.

[wch]

In mu experience this ammunition never showed itself worthwhile for anything other than plinking.

[northmn]

I was given two boxes of Remington factory 32-20 lead cartridges. I could not really sight them in to shoot them up as they did not group well enough. I tried my 120 gr handloads and it settled down again. Also had good luck with 98 gr pistol bullets but those just did not shoot. The rifle came with a partial box of jacketed Remingtons and they shot OK but not to the same POI as the lead bullets. Mine is a Marlin 94 CL.

Shot a bit of small game critters with the 32-20 and it is a fun cartridge. If it weren't for the fact that I have plenty of 22LR's stowed away it would make a great backup. I don't load my 32-20 very hot. About 1400 at most. Just to give it a little flatter trajectory.

DEP

[Froogal]

I believe the .32-20 was developed specifically to be a small game hunting rifle.

[ndnchf]

I have quite a few .32-20 loads for a rolling block. It shoots very well with the Ideal 3118 flat nose 115gr bullet.

[Drm50]

I have a Win 53 rifle and Marlin 1894 ( original ) also a rifle in 32/20. They do a fine job on groundhogs and squirrel with lead bullet. I have had a couple 92s but bores were poor and I traded them off. My 53 which is basically a 92 rifle has a bore like a new dime. I’ve got few factory Win Lubaloys left. I shoot 115gr cast FN in both rifles.

[Outpost75]

I grab every old partial box of .32-20s I find at estate sales and auctions and I've bought quite a bit off GunBroker. I shoot them in an old Savage boltgun, Colt Police Positive and a S&W Hand Ejector. No issues with leading in either and accuracy is good. Effective small game, groundhog and turkey round in which you can eat right up to the bullet hole. Here is some velocity data from multiple samples of factory loads, both old and new, and standard-pressure handloads which are safe in the old revolvers.


Factory .32-20 Ammunition in Rifle and Revolver
Ammunition Description___________Colt Police Positive 5”_____Savage Sporter 25”

Rem-UMC 100-grain lead
Kleanbore “Dogbone” box 1930s______898, 44 Sd, 116 ES________1302, 15 SD, 38 ES

Peters 100-grain softpoint
Kings Mills, Ohio 1940s______________870, 28, 71______________1150, 44, 137

WRA 100-grain lead
Red & yellow box 1950s_____________854, 33, 87_______________1263, 18, 53

W-W 100-grain lead
Rounded primer, yellow box, 1970s____800, 11, 31______________1241, 9, 22

W-W 100-grain lead
Flat primer, white box, 1990s_________778, 27, 69_______________1172, 18, 65

R-P 100-grain lead
Bridgeport, CT 1970s________________780, 24, 67_______________1181, 17, 52

R-P 100-grain lead
Lonoke, AR current production________716, 21, 55_______________1140, 12, 35

Column Mean by Gun____________5” Revolver______________25” Rifle
Average Velocity of Factory Loads_____814 fps._________________1207 fps

"Group 1" Standard Pressure .32-20 Loads for Rifle or Revolver

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

Accurate 31-105T

LD#1, 3.2 grains TiteGroup_________858 fps, 22 Sd, 61 Es_______1133 fps, 30 Sd, 67 ES

LD#4, 3.4 grains Bullseye__________861 fps, 19 Sd, 47ES________1173 fps, 18 Sd, 54 ES

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

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

259205259206259207259208

[mickbr]

Wow thanks outpost75. Darn I am starting to get interested in reloading this thing.

Do you know of any load data for similar performance with a jacketed bullet like a 85grain XTP?

[Outpost75]

Wow thanks outpost75. Darn I am starting to get interested in reloading this thing.

Do you know of any load data for similar performance with a jacketed bullet like a 85grain XTP?

The 10-grain IMR4227 load works fine with either the 85- or the 100-grain XTP.

The 4.9 of AutoComp would be OK too.

[.45colt]

The 32-20 is a re-loaders dream. I have a Marlin CL made I think in the 80's and once You can reload for it there is no use for a .22 anymore. from lite plinker's to top end loads it is capable . I had a big groundhog working his way down to My garden one day , and sat on the back porch with Hornady XTP's loaded hot. he was 45 yards away when he stood up in some grass. the rifle cracked and the results were a golf ball sized hole in his head. there is a reason why Elmer Keith liked the 32-20 .

[mickbr]

Researching this calibre I find it also came in a savage bolt action, the model 23. Wonder what bore condition these old guns are usually found in. They are probably younger than most 1892's I am thinking.

[Outpost75]

Researching this calibre I find it also came in a savage bolt action, the model 23. Wonder what bore condition these old guns are usually found in. They are probably younger than most 1892's I am thinking.

My Savage boltgun is just marked "Savage Sporter" and predates the Model 23. Mine came out of Tioga County, PA and had been used on a farm from the 1920s on. Bore was bright and shiny. The original owner was a WW1 Army vet who knew how to clean a rifle, and handed it down to his son who was WW2 vet, who handed it down to his son, who was Vietnam vet, who gifted it to me. The Savage boltguns are butt-ugly and plain agricultural looking, but shoot well and are only 1/4 to 1/3 the price of a Winchester 92 or Marlin 1889.

[ndnchf]

I too have a Savage Sporter, but it's a .22. Been in my family for as long as I can remember.

[Outpost75]

I too have a Savage Sporter, but it's a .22. Been in my family for as long as I can remember.

So far as I can remember the 23A was .22 LR, the 23B a .25-20 and the 23C .32-20. All good guns!

The Savage "Sporter" dated from about 1920, and became the Model 23 in 1923, production continued until 1941. They are fairly common in east coast agricultural areas. There were also some private label production for Belknap Hardware, Sears, etc.

[square butte]

Lest we forget the 23D in 22 Hornet :)

[ndnchf]

So far as I can remember the 23A was .22 LR, the 23B a .25-20 and the 23C .32-20. All good guns!

The Savage "Sporter" dated from about 1920, and became the Model 23 in 1923, production continued until 1941.

Mine must be pre-1923 then. It has no model number. Just Savage Sporter. It has an old Weaver G6 scope on it.

[mickbr]

Was the savage 23 easily scopable or does it require some technicality to do so

[ndnchf]

My Savage sporter is drilled and tapped for a side mount. Seems like a simple installation.

[Outpost75]

My Savage sporter is drilled and tapped for a side mount. Seems like a simple installation.

Mine is drilled and tapped for a receiver peep sight, but not for the side scope mount. I did not care for the peep, because it would have required a higher front sight, because the sight arm must be raised high enough to clear the bolt. Not well thought out. So am using the factory open sights. If anyone has a Savage 23, wants the peep and can live with having to install a higher front sight, being aware of these issues, then PM me.

[justashooter]

I have quite a few .32-20 loads for a rolling block. It shoots very well with the Ideal 3118 flat nose 115gr bullet.

i have an 1878 made spanish roller re-barreled in 32-20 with a cut from a 1943 1903 barrel. sweet rifle that likes the old winchester hi-speed ammo.

[ndnchf]

I did some casting today, including a pile of Ideal 311008 115gr .32-20 bullets, lower right in the photo. I do love shooting the 32s :Fire:

[sharps4590]

Best feral cat cartridge there is....in a '92 or Colt Army Special.

[quack1]

Very true sharps4590. This was the first time out hunting for this model 53 after I repaired and refinished it. I was hunting ground hogs on a state game lands and came across this field lion at about 40-50 yards. He never knew I was there. Lyman 3118, air cooled COW, 5.5/Unique, about 1400fps, small pistol primer. Very accurate load, fun to shoot gun. I've shot a lot of ground hogs with that gun in the years since.
https://i.imgur.com/0D7lHkkl.jpg