32 H&R Magnum vs. 32 WCF in Rifles

[RicinYakima]

New thread from some interest on another post.

The only 32 H&R I own is a Remington 580 22LR I converted to 32 H&R Magnum. The oldest 32/20 is a Remington Number 2 rolling block, then a Savage 23 C and a 1990’s Browning Model 53. For my use, there is not a lot of overlap in usage, as I’ll explain for my use.

The H&R only has two loads, 2.0 grains of Bullseye with a 100 grain HB RNFP that is very quiet in the 20 inch barrel and used only for very settled areas. (Suppressers are now forbidden in my state again after being OK for about 7 years.) The “hot” load is 7.0 grains of A2400 at about 1100 f/s. That is a good varmint load out to the 75 yard range with its 2 ½ power scope.

The 28 inch barreled RB only gets 3.0 grains of Bullseye with a modified Ideal 311316 with the gas check shank removed. It weighs 118 grains with WW’s and 2% tin. This is the minimum load that will group well at 50 yards and my fun plinker. The Savage has a Lyman Alaskan, and its normal load is 9.5 grains of A2400 for 1550 f/s. The bullet is a gas checked Lyman 311316, either solid for vermin or HP for varmints. For years I used this in the winter lambing season to keep the coyotes away and thinned out. (Later converted to 357 Rifle when wolves and cougars started showing up.)

The Browning I put a receiver sight on, and it is a fun plinker! It will feed any 32/20 ammo I make for rifle or revolver. It is a consistent 4 inch at 100 from field positions and easy to carry on walking sage rat expeditions.

So for my use the only real overlap is the 75-100 varmint use, as my “hot” 32 H&R load is not hot enough for badgers, from personal experience.

So always interested in others thoughts of why you like one better than the other. And what you use them for.

 

[Brad]

I only have a 32-20 Marlin rifle, my 32 H&R is a Ruger revolver.
The 32-20 will do all the 32 H&R will do in a rifle and can easily be downloaded. Mine does well with a 120 rnfp and 3 gr of Trailboss. Quiet enough I can hear the mainspring through the stock.

 

[Outpost75]

My .32-20 rifles are a Savage Sporter which pre-dates the Model 23 and a barrel for my H&R Garden Gun, fabricated by John Taylor from a 10-inch twist, 4-groove, Govt form .30 cal. barrel. It is actually chambered for .30 M1 Carbine, but John cut a Rim seat in the barrel so that it will also fire and eject .32-20s. The Bunny Gun also has a barrel for .32 S&W Long fabricated by John from a pull-off M1 Garand barrel, which is dedicated to Cat Sneeze.

The 10-inch twist barrels in .30M1/.32-20 and .32 S&W Long will stabilize GI 174-grain boattail Ball M1, M72 or M118 Match bullets subsonic with good accuracy. Common factory handgun loads group an inch at 25 yards with iron sights.

The small case capacity of .32 S&W Long is ideal for low noise "cat sneeze" loads. Minimum charge to exit the barrel with jacketed 174-grain FMJ is a compressed case full, about 7 grains, of IMR4198. With 100-116 grain soft lubricated lead, 1 grain of Bullseye.

I don't exceed factory load levels in the Savage .32-20 Sporter, my normal load is 3.5 grains of Bullseye with Accurate 31-105T. I sometimes throttle up the .30 M1/.32-20 barrel in the Bunny Gun. A nominal case full, about 10 grains, of 4227 with Accurate 31-155D gets 1300 fps. Factory full charge .30 Carbine soft Point loads get 2100 fps in the 20-inch barrel.

 

[RicinYakima]

Just a historical note, Savage was the first US company to load non-corrosive primers (imported from Switzerland) in the 1920's and developed the 60 grain 25/20 and 80 grain 32/20 for their model 23 rifles. Since the CF 23's has a locking lug and a bearing bolt handle, I have not qualms about loading it to the the 28,000 CUP level.

 

[Bret4207]

My 32 S+W Long (not Mag I know) rifles are Remington #4 and #6's, a rolling block and falling block respectively. The little #6 get's 32 S+W's usually with bullets around 80-90 grs. I don't load that one up at all, just cat's sneeze type loads that rarely break the sonic barrier. The #4 gets a 32 S+W Long case and anything from 80-118 gr's. Lovely little rifle. The common handgun type loads in a 32 S+W Long become something else in a rifle barrel and much more effective. I have a Stevens 44 in 32-20 that needs lining badly. In it's day it did handle jacketed stuff fairly well, but it was nothing to brag on. The Savage 23 in 32-20 gets the 311316 almost exclusively around 1600 fps. I've pushed it way hotter and kind of regret that. With the ancient Weaver K4 on the 23 it's not a hard thing to get decent grouping at 75-100 yards anymore than it is with a 357 or 44 loaded to the same general speed. I don't have my load books in the house, but there are no exotic powders involved.

I also have a Marlin 94 in 32-20 that has a poor barrel. I need to get that out and see if it shoots better than I recall! There are also some M1 Carbines here that need exercise. Oh, and a 9.5" barrels Ruger SSM 32 Mag. Not at all impressive that Ruger. Maybe it's just the guy behind the trigger, but my K32 shoots better groups and the Ruger wears a SCOPE!!!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

My only 32H&R guns was two SSM single six Rugers a 4 5/8 and 6.5". I had that 6.5 trimmed to make a pair of 45/8 when we started Cowboy shooting. It was my wifes favorite.
I found then adequate bunny guns. I took a couple Coyotes along the way too.
My first 32/20 was a family Savage 23. When Marlin brought out the Classics I bought a New 32/20 for my own rifle. I found a 120g bullet that I later learned was a Lyman 008 bullet over a splash of PB was a dandy squirrel killer and VERY quiet. Later I was able to afford a Colt SAA in 32/20. I have only fed that lead hand loads and these days do not shoot too often.
I had a Universal Carbine in 30 US but my buddys pop bought that from me.
32 Longs for us was target guns for NRA Bullseye three gun shooting.

The only one I pushed "hard" was that Marlin sending XTP's about 21/2200 into more then a few Coyotes.

I was late to the 327 and only have hand guns but they are awesome. Plenty of power where the lil H&R was lacking. Its a companion gun for me while deer hunting.

I haven't been shooting my 32/20's as much since the 300 bo came ta stay. The 32-20 was better @ lifht lead and the 300 better at the "heavies".

The 32's will always be a lil special for me.

 

[6thtexas]

I have a Marlin 1894CL in 32/20 that I will never part with. Being a strong action I can very safely loads that will keep up with a m1 Carbine. Cases last forever which especially nowadays is a good thing. A RCBS 115gr. FP and a hefty load of H110 work great at short range on our small Hill Country deer. No need for a .327.

I have its companion piece as well. A Ruger 32/20 w/ .32 H&R cylinder eats the same loads as the Marlin and shoots great since the throats were opened up to .3135". It do produce a fireball late in the evening!

I love the .32 H&R too but just shoot it in a Single Six. Again with careful reloading this little cousin is very accurate and will beat 1200fps with the right cast bullet and load. I shoot it a lot and run a lot of light WC loads through it as well.

As I get older I have really come to appreciate .32s.

 

[jerry w]

I recently ordered a 23" 32 H&R barrel from MGM, I had been hemming and hawing about ordering one for years and finally pulled the trigger. Really looking forward to getting it in hand, should be about the perfect walk about, squirrel & bunny gun. Going to put a Skinner peep on the rear, may try and find a 2.5X Ultralight Leupold at some point but for now the peep will work. Most of the other custom T/C barrel makers only offer the 32 H&R in .308 barrel while MGM will do a .311 bore.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I recently ordered a 23" 32 H&R barrel from MGM, I had been hemming and hawing about ordering one for years and finally pulled the trigger. Really looking forward to getting it in hand, should be about the perfect walk about, squirrel & bunny gun. Going to put a Skinner peep on the rear, may try and find a 2.5X Ultralight Leupold at some point but for now the peep will work. Most of the other custom T/C barrel makers only offer the 32 H&R in .308 barrel while MGM will do a .311 bore.

That sounds like a good set up.

The 32 H&R Mag corrects the shortcomings of the 32 S&W Long in terms of terminal performance. It allows for a lot of versatility. The 32 H&R Mag can be downloaded to keep the bullet sub-sonic. I understand the 327 Federal, but it’s not for me. I think the 32 H&R Mag is a better end for the progression of the family of 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Mag.
A peep sight on that barrel would be a nice compact system and probably more than enough precision for the ranges that cartridge would be used at.



Keep us updated on that project.

 

[300BLK]

My own infatuation with the 32-20 goes back to when I was a teen and got to shoot an 1873 Winchester. When Marlin introduced the 1894CL in the late '80s, I bought a 32-20. Mine has a fat chamber, so has only been used with light, kind to brass loads, but still one that I won't part with.

I had the opportunity to buy one of the Marlin 32 H&R mag carbines while they were still available, but bought an 1894C instead. Since then I've had a Stevens 44 converted to 32 H&R, but keep loads light. IMO, the 32 H&R has an advantage over the 32L in powder flexibility. In strong actions, both the 32-20 and 32 H&R can be warmed up significantly, but the 32-20 will retain the advantage because of powder capacity. Honestly, its probably better to shoot moderate loads in a 30-30 than hotrod either of these smaller cartridges.