Smith Hand Ejector 32 question

[218bee]

I have a S&W Hand Ejector 32Long that I've always wanted to find out the age of. Anyone know of a source for that info? Serial number is in 598,000 range. It must be a pre-Model 30 as it does not have the "30" stamped on frame. I believe the Model 30 designation came about around 1957??? So I guess this puppy is before that. Its not worth much but I've always been curious. Want to start casting for it when I can save up for some more moulds. Any help would be appreciated

[Ghugly]

I have one in the 203,000 range and was told it was made around 1918. http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/ is a great place to find out more. I use the Lee tumble lube 90gr over 2.7gr of Universal. It's a mild load that shoots right at point of aim.

[Glen]

598,xxx was probably made in the early 1950s.

[trooperdan]

I have a couple of these fine old guns, one in .32L and one in .32-20, I had both documented with factory letters from Roy Jinks. The cost is $50 per letter and the time is 4-5 months. I'll check my dates; the .32-20 is a Mod 1905, 4th change and was 1927; the .32 L was (AIR) 1919.

[218bee]

Yeah, I'm thinking 50's, used to have a 22 kit gun that this one is very similar to. By serial number I knew it was not a early hand ejector.
TROOPER DAN...how does that 32-20 shoot??? Been looking for one of those as a mate to this one and wondered about that cartridge. I guess it can be a finicky little devil.

[trooperdan]

OK, I finally got around to checking, my .32 Regulation Police was shipped to E. K Tryon Co in Philiadelphia 27 Feb, 1919 and the .32-20 was shipped to W A Shroyer's & Sons, Dayton OH 27 Dec 1926.
I have only shot light loads in the both, in a later .32-20, it can be loaded pretty hot but I figure both of these ladies are in their retirement and just enjoy a sedate stroll around the garden now and then.

[9.3X62AL]

Like Dan, I'm a happy owner of a S&W M&P in 32-20 WCF. It has a 5" barrel, and K-frames of this barrel length seem to be accumulating here for some reason.

This is the third revolver I've owned in this caliber, two of which still reside with me. The best info I ever got for this caliber was from Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" in "Handloader" magazine. His recommendation was to use SR-4756 powder under 115 grain boolits, e.g. Lyman #311008 or #311316. 5.0-5.5 grains in the lighter guns like the Colt Police Positive Special worked well for me in the now-departed example I had, and my M&P and a Colt SAA Bisley x 4.75" both dote on 5.5-6.0 grains of SR-4756, again per Mr. Waters from his article. None of the three revolvers do as well with 90-100 grain boolits as they do with the 115-120 grainers, and a couple years ago I had Dan at Mountain Molds carve me out a 120 grain radiused flat-nose with a bore-rider roughly half its length that falls free @ .314" on the drive bands in WW metal. GREAT shooter in my revolvers.

[Wayne Smith]

I have a Hand Ejector what I've been told First Change Target in 32-20, or, as it says on the barrel, .32 Winchester. Serial #, from memory, is 229xx - and no, I haven't forgotten an x. Unfortunately it's not in good shape and I don't think the front sight is original. On the other hand, the first time I took it to the range, shooting an original Winchester mold 117gr boolit over 4.5gr Unique put the first shot in the X ring @ 15ft. Shocked me so much I pulled the next two. Once I get the right crimp on those boolits and can shoot more than 3 at a time well see how well I can concentrate. Unfortunately the results of anything beyond about 15ft are more related to my cataracts than the pistol!

I didn't clean it before shooting it and I guess I've pulled almost enough lead out of that barrel to make another boolit! And it still shot that well. I wonder how well it will do with full rifling available?

[218bee]

Its suprising how well some guns will shoot whether dirty/fouled/pitted bore or not. I think one of those in 32-20 would be fun to play with. No hot "rifle" loads just target plinking stuff.
Wayne....I find at my age I "should" take the blame for more and more of my "inacurate" guns but I still like to blame the guns once in a while...[smilie=1:

[9.3X62AL]

Consistent roll crimps on 32-20 reloads make a BIG difference in accuracy, and the usual run of R-P and W-W cases stretch unevenly upon firing, requiring a trim/square-up every other firing. The cure for that sort of nonsense is Starline brass--the single most significant upgrade to the 32-20 caliber I've noted in 25 years of restuffing their empties.

[Bret4207]

What Al said 10X! Trim those suckers.

[218bee]

Yeah, I heard about keeping them trimmed and keeping primers seated uniformly also. Are you guys using Lyman 311008 by chance?? I hear it is a good "standard" to go by.

[scrapcan]

Th other thing you will find is that the different makes of brass will have vastly different length. You will either have to segregate or trim all to the same short length.

I would agree that the 3118 (or under new numbering 311008) is a good design to try, it also works well in the 32 S&W long.

[Willbird]

OK, I finally got around to checking, my .32 Regulation Police was shipped to E. K Tryon Co in Philiadelphia 27 Feb, 1919 and the .32-20 was shipped to W A Shroyer's & Sons, Dayton OH 27 Dec 1926.
I have only shot light loads in the both, in a later .32-20, it can be loaded pretty hot but I figure both of these ladies are in their retirement and just enjoy a sedate stroll around the garden now and then.

trooperdan, the Ohio State Highway Patrol at one time carried Smith 32/20 revolvers loaded with rifle ammo. I have a 32/20 hand ejector that has a King sights on it, the front sight has the little angled mirror that shines light on the front sight blade.

Bill

[Bret4207]

trooperdan, the Ohio State Highway Patrol at one time carried Smith 32/20 revolvers loaded with rifle ammo. I have a 32/20 hand ejector that has a King sights on it, the front sight has the little angled mirror that shines light on the front sight blade.

Bill

You're a lucky guy to have a gun like that!

The 311316, which is similar to the 311008 only GC'd, has been my most successful boolit. I've run them pretty darn hot (1200+) from my Colt Army Special 32WCF. I believe Dep Al has had good luck with the RCBS number that's also similar and there was a Cowboy boolit available in the RCBS line that should have worked. Frankly, without the mould tables in front of me I sometimes forget just how much is out there, but there are good shooting boolits available. I had very good results from the "undersized" Lee Soup Can GB boolit in my K-32 Smiff. A 2 banger production number might be worth a try considering the low cost.

[9.3X62AL]

Bret et al--

Sorry for the confusion, I tend to get lyrical and sugar-coated when I start posting about 32 caliber revolvers. Objectivity goes south, too. :)

In the 32 S&W Long and 32 Magnum, BY FAR the best boolit has been the RCBS 98 SWC. 700-1250 FPS, it cannot be bested.

In the 32-20, the two boolits I use most are the Lyman #311316 or a little Mountain Molds number I cobbled up that falls out @ .315" in WW and weighs 120 grains. Its nose is a radiused flat shape like a Lyman #358477, and is bore diameter in my revolvers (.303"). It refuses to fit in my 32-20 rifle due to that nose diameter and its interface with the ABRUPT throat's rifling leade. So, it's a revolver-only slug.

My experience shows that 32 SWL and Magnum revos tend to do better work with the 90-100 grain pills, while the 32-20 rollers do best with 110-120 grainers. All of my 32-20 revos past and present were/are fixed sight platforms, and the 115-120 grain slugs go right where the sights look at 25 yards with between 5.5 and 6.0 grains of SR-4756.

[Glen]

Al -- I understand (and share) your fondness of things .32. Question -- I have heard others (e.g. Ken Waters) say how well SR-4756 works in the .32-20, but so far I have only gotten mediocre results with it in my 1930s vintage M&P. Have you tried HS-6 in the .32-20? And if so, what were your results like?

[218bee]

Is the Lyman 311316 still available...I have the RCBS 98swc on order and was thinking of the 311008 but heard I may have better results with the gas checked bullet above. Anyone got one thay want to part with????

[Willbird]

You're a lucky guy to have a gun like that!

The 311316, which is similar to the 311008 only GC'd, has been my most successful boolit. I've run them pretty darn hot (1200+) from my Colt Army Special 32WCF. I believe Dep Al has had good luck with the RCBS number that's also similar and there was a Cowboy boolit available in the RCBS line that should have worked. Frankly, without the mould tables in front of me I sometimes forget just how much is out there, but there are good shooting boolits available. I had very good results from the "undersized" Lee Soup Can GB boolit in my K-32 Smiff. A 2 banger production number might be worth a try considering the low cost.

I'd be even more lucky to get the factory letter and find out it came from the factory with those sights :-). SWMBO has a colt DA revolver that has a king rib on it, it also has a kings cockeyed hammer. It's finish is not anything to write home about, honest wear and use, but again a letter saying it came from the factory like it is today would be a good thing to have :-)

The OSHP used 32/20 revolvers because they penetrated auto bodies better than 38 revolvers loaded with round nosed ammo.

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

Glen--no use of HS-6 at all, sir. I don't believe I've ever had any on hand. SR-4756 worked so well so quickly, I kinda stopped looking as far as the 32-20 is concerned.

I'm in a unique situation in this new town I've moved to. It is 150 miles north of the LA/Orange County basin, and has about 25K people compared to the 13 million of the South Coast/Inland Empire. Surprisingly enough, it is easier to find a wide assortment of powders and primers in the two small local shops than it was in all the shops of the metropolitan area. In short, I doubt I could have found HS-6 locally if I had wanted to in my previous residential area, but can do so now in a town containing 2% of the former area's market potential.

[Bret4207]

Is the Lyman 311316 still available...I have the RCBS 98swc on order and was thinking of the 311008 but heard I may have better results with the gas checked bullet above. Anyone got one thay want to part with????

The 311316 isn't available new anymore. They show up on Ebay about 3 times a month, in double cavs usually. I've never used the 311008, but have a couple similar moulds that do okay, not up to 311316 performance though.

[Bret4207]

I'd be even more lucky to get the factory letter and find out it came from the factory with those sights :-). SWMBO has a colt DA revolver that has a king rib on it, it also has a kings cockeyed hammer. It's finish is not anything to write home about, honest wear and use, but again a letter saying it came from the factory like it is today would be a good thing to have :-)

The OSHP used 32/20 revolvers because they penetrated auto bodies better than 38 revolvers loaded with round nosed ammo.

Bill

Ah! The Bootlegger days! The NYSP had 45 Colt New Service revolvers back then. Penetration didn't appear to be an issue!:mrgreen: