.32 H&R

[RicinYakima]

Hard to imagine a shot out .32-20, but if it could talk , I’d sure like to hear the stories!

The biggest issues were corrosive primers and black powder. All the way into the 1920's ammo companies made black and corrosive primers for sale. Especially in Alaska and Northern Canada, they were well received as they work regardless of the temperature or conditions when loaded within a couple of years. I took me 20 years looking on the Indian Reservations for a 32/20 Savage Model 23 with a good bore.

 

[Glaciers]

Two years ago I was at our local gun show which is small never more then 80 tables usually closer to 50.
Anyway I had just come in the show, always hit right at opening, usually sneak in while everyone is setting up and pay on my way out. I had a destination in mind because I had heard one regular might have an item I’ve been looking for.
Well got to the first couple of tables and Sid another gun show friend pointed out a Winchester 92 SRC, octagon barrel, in good dark shape but all original. The bore was a sewage pipe which was being charitable. Had my mind fixated on my original reasons for coming to the show. Put the 92 down and wondered on to the back of the show. Found what I was looking for and then it hit me that it was an all original 92 SRC in 32 WCF for $350. Right away I turned around and went back to the front to pickup that 92. 10 minutes. Gone. Slapped my forehead for being an extreme dummy. A 92 octagon barrel SRC in original configuration under $1,000 and I walked away. The crappy bore could have been delt with. I’ve only had two other 32WCF rifles, one a 73 standard rifle in fair shape and a beautiful little model 53. Both long gone now. I was never excited about the 32-20 but I would love to have had that SRC. Rare with an octagon barrel.

 

[Jeff H]

.....A 92 octagon barrel SRC in original configuration under $1,000 and I walked away....

You know, there's a fairly recent thread going right now for confessing just such unusual behavior.

I think it was titled something like "I Did Something Really Stupid Today..."

There's no statute of limitations on these things.

 

[Jeff H]

...

The 32/20 rifle is a VERY useful tool--esp. if it can safely manage 1892/1894-level loadings.

If I were to be completely objective about it, this would do everything I NEED to do. I rationalize that I might have a chance to do some deer hunting sometime, so the 357 Mag was my choice.

Besides the much more common and less costly brass, a 32-20 in a 92 would possibly be a tad better for longer shots at varmints/vermin too.

 

[CZ93X62]

The 357 Magnum is more caliber than the 32/20--no argument there. For deer-sized game it is a better option, esp. if 180 grain bullets enter the mix.

My 357s when loaded to the cartridge's potential aren't really K-frame-friendly. In 357 I load two intensities--either at 'Skeeter's Load' levels (900-1000 FPS in wheelguns with SWC plain-base bullets) or at 1935/Doug Wesson levels--which can run the Lyman #258156 to 1350 FPS in my 4" Model 686 and 1850 FPS in the Henry Big Boy. The 180 grain RNFP/GC can conjure up almost 1325 FPS from the bear-strong Bisley BH x 7.5", and 1750 FPS in the Henry carbine.

I do similar stuff with the 32/20 WCF--1882-level loads with 115 grainers in revolvers, and 1800 FPS with #311316 in the Marlin 94 CCL.

 

[Jeff H]

VERY similar loading scheme here.

 

[CZ93X62]

VERY similar loading scheme here.

SAAMI loadings in 357 Magnum run 125 JHPs to 1425 FPS in the 4" 686. 158 grain Super-X loads gave about 1225-1235 FPS. One must recall that SAAMI assumes the use of J-frame S&Ws with 357 Magnum loads and 1873 Winchester platforms with 44 Magnum. Old School people like yours truly have trouble with ideas like these; such merchandise is made to be sold rather than used.

 

[RicinYakima]

I'm always sad when you get new reloading manuals and you have their "maximum" load and the starting load is always 10% less. I think it was Hornady in the 1960's that gave you a load 200 less than max and 300 less than max and you could relate to it very well.

 

[CZ93X62]

The availability of affordable chronographs in the 1990s gave the lie to many ammomaker ad claims. At about the same time SAAMI revised their pressure gradient and measurement standards from the old-school copper- or lead-crusher inferences to the more accurate and repeatable strain gauging and piezo-quartz electronic transducer regimens. The landscape changed in several dimensions at once.

Nothing is as constant as change.

 

[Ben]

Some great reading here !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bret4207]

The availability of affordable chronographs in the 1990s gave the lie to many ammomaker ad claims. At about the same time SAAMI revised their pressure gradient and measurement standards from the old-school copper- or lead-crusher inferences to thore more accurate and repeatable strain gauging and piezo-quartz electronic transducer regimens. The landscape changed in several dimensions at once.

Nothing is as constant as change.

Yup, those 13-1400 fps 9mm loads that were really doing 11-1200, or less!, opened some eyes!

 

[Rick H]

A little off topic: My hunting buddy decided to have his "perfect all around hunting rifle" built on a MarkX Mauser action. He poured over the ballistic charts and decided that his just had to have the greatest whiz-bang magnum 7mm. He had a 7mm Weatherby Magnum built. Now he was not enamored with long barreled guns and since this was going to be a custom build he also wanted a handy rifle in the woods. He had it built with a 20" barrel.

While at the range working up a load for a hunt out west he saw my chrono set up. I was working with my 24" bbl. 7mm Rem Mag. We chronoed my rifle and his, both loaded with rather warm loads of 154 Hornady spire points. The look on his face when he discovered his Weatherby was considerably slower than my Remington was priceless. To be honest there was not a bit of practical difference in killing power or trajectory between the two. Advertising hype and speed sells. Common sense rides somewhere in the back seat.

 

[Ben]

Old ideas from gun rags will often times fall to proven ballistic data.
Ummm, 20" barrel, WOW muzzle blast ! !

 

[RBHarter]

No replacement for displacement........but if the transmission, drive line , ring and pinion , axle shaft , wheel , wheel studs , splines , or tires won't hold it ......

In our case (pun) if the barrel won't burn it all it's a waste . You gotta have that other 4-6" otherwise you should have gone with a 280 or 7-08" in the short barrel .

Thoughts nobody ever mentions.
If you have a 24" barrel for a 300 Sav , 308 , 7.65A ,7.7 J , 06 , 300WM , and a 30/378 Weatherby, it will be not only 2" more than the Sav or 308 needs for apex velocity but functionally a half inch longer with the Sav and 308 than the 06' and 300 WM both of which are a 1/4 shorter than the x55/57/58 . The 30/378 loses another half inch to the 06' .
20" 308 clan , 22" Mauser/06' , 24" for WM/RM , and 26" for the RUM/Weatherby.
The 6" of additional barrel over the 308 is really only about 5.

One of the things that makes the WSM and 284 lines the wonder cartridges that they are isn't all in the short fat case . Part of it comes from the other 1/2" of useful barrel over the 06' performance in the same length of barrel .

Dad loved his M12 with the 32" barrel at the range there was little to no MV difference between it and my preferred 26" BPS . No doubt the longer forcing cone and slower choke played a roll in the BPS . The 28" OU is a full 3" shorter than the BPS and almost dwarfed by the M12 ....... It's faster than either with less muzzle flash than the BPS . The theory is that 28" is very close to powder apex length in 12 ga with 2-3/4" 1-1/16 to 1-1/8 oz loads . I'm sure the 32" would shine with real 3" mags under 1-1/4 oz .

 

[Glaciers]

I’ve always figured that the extra you get from the WSM and RUM cartridges is not worth the effort. There are times when you need all the velocity you can get, for the long range shots you probably shouldn’t be taking anyway.
I’ve got over the ultra high velocity hype and actually never been in that camp. If you need more stopping power go up in caliber and weight.
That’s my mileage and it’s worked for what I need.
Your mileage on your particular highway may be different.

 

[Bret4207]

A little off topic: My hunting buddy decided to have his "perfect all around hunting rifle" built on a MarkX Mauser action. He poured over the ballistic charts and decided that his just had to have the greatest whiz-bang magnum 7mm. He had a 7mm Weatherby Magnum built. Now he was not enamored with long barreled guns and since this was going to be a custom build he also wanted a handy rifle in the woods. He had it built with a 20" barrel.

While at the range working up a load for a hunt out west he saw my chrono set up. I was working with my 24" bbl. 7mm Rem Mag. We chronoed my rifle and his, both loaded with rather warm loads of 154 Hornady spire points. The look on his face when he discovered his Weatherby was considerably slower than my Remington was priceless. To be honest there was not a bit of practical difference in killing power or trajectory between the two. Advertising hype and speed sells. Common sense rides somewhere in the back seat.

He would have been better off going with a 280 or 280 Ackley.

 

[Bret4207]

I’ve always figured that the extra you get from the WSM and RUM cartridges is not worth the effort. There are times when you need all the velocity you can get, for the long range shots you probably shouldn’t be taking anyway.
I’ve got over the ultra high velocity hype and actually never been in that camp. If you need more stopping power go up in caliber and weight.
That’s my mileage and it’s worked for what I need.
Your mileage on your particular highway may be different.

AMEN Brother!!!! Long shots taken by people who never, ever practice at long, unknown ranges should be the last thing anyone tries to do! Especially with a gun they are scared to death of!!!