32-20 S&W pistol ammo

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heloderm

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I have tried and failed finding information about the correct ammo for my gun. I have a early S&W pistol 32-20. I have found the the 32 of course is the caliber and the 20 stands for the amount of BP grains used for the load. The bullets I have been able to find are stamped 32-20 but I am sure they are loaded with smokeless powder since they are modern loads that have been around the last 50 years or so. The 32-20 was originally developed for both rifle and pistol as interchangeable loads and both were BP CTG. My question is fairly simple. Using modern reloading does and don't one should never load a pistol CTG with anything but a pistol primer. The bullet has to be a full lead bullet and the shell casing has to have a shoulder unlike the standard 32cal. Can anyone give advice whether a BP load 32-20 with a 80 to 110 grain bullet along with a pistol primer be the only safe CTG to use in these vintage guns. That being said is the older 32-20 rifles in the same situation having only BP loaded CTG's. My heaven when you begin to understand how different these guns were made and how different the ammo was at the time I really feel that modern smokeless power is gong to harm the guns let alone the shooter. Maybe the only way is to reload ones' self so as to be sure the load and the bullet and the primer is correct for the gun.
 
I am always about reloading. I am pretty sure your gun is fine with smokeless powder and should even be able to use jacketed bullets even though I would prefer the lead bullets myself.

A picture of the gun and serial number will help date when it was made. But I don't think S&W ever made any BP only 32-20 revolvers. But if I'm wrong someone will be along to correct me. Maybe Driftwood will chime in and give some of his always excellent advice.
 
It is my understanding that current commercial smokeless powder .32-20 ammunition is manufactured at pressures that will not harm ever older firearms. My reloading manuals have a variety of powder and bullet weights specifically for handguns.
 
The Smith and Wesson .32 Military and Police Hand Ejector came out well after smokeless powder was standard.
In that one case ".32" meant .32 WCF/.32-20.

There is adequate if not exactly ample reloading data for the round, no need to play the "rated" game, and, as Coyote3855 says, all recent production factory ammunition is at pistol-safe pressures. The old High Velocity rifle-only ammunition dropped out of the catalogs around 1960.

You have to have the right brass and the right dies, there is hardly anything in common with "standard .32 cal." by which I assume you mean .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long.
 
S&W did not always heat treat their cylinders.

From another forum, “...
N frames first heat treated cylinder was in the Model 1917.

K frame 32-20 heat treating began in 1919 at approximate serial number 81,287.

K frame 38 HEs had heat treated cylinder that started in September, 1919, at about serial number 316648. Most other model cylinderswere heat treated after 1920...”

If your revolver is prior to serial 81287 a softer load is recommended.

Kevin
 
Welcome to THR, heloderm! It is good to have you aboard!

A picture of the gun and serial number will help date when it was made.
At least provide us with the information stamped on the barrel. ;)

I have a few 1st-QTR-of-the-20th century S&W and Colt revolvers (plus a 1922-mfr .32-20 Marlin 27-S pump rifle). I handload 100gr and 115gr lead for the revolvers over Trailboss.
 
S&W marked the Winchester Model revolvers with three different cartridge stamps, 32-20, 32 Winchester and 32 WCF.

Kevin
 
I have both S&W and Colts in 32-20 manufactured from 1899 on. I have been shooting low to mid range smokeless charges and lead bullets without any problems.
 
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