CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have had two of my 32/20's out in recent weeks. I forgot how much I enjoyed them.
CW
CW
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32/20 fun
- Thread starter CWLONGSHOT
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oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Have 3. Love them. The Browning 53 is a piece of art!
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
The 32/20 WCF is WAY FUN! The high-order loads meant for rifles are DEATH on small and medium varmints, and there are no better coyote rifles on earth than the 32/20 and 30 Carbine.
Even in the black-powder levels safe for revolvers, the 32/20 makes a good accounting for itself. A 115 grain bullet at 1250-1300 FPS from a long gun and 875-900 FPS from a revolver is no slouch.
The 30 Carbine's ancestry is obviously from the HV 32/20 WCF. The 30 Carbine has never had a reputation for being accurate, and most of that fault lies with the Carbines themselves. I had ownership of a Marlin Model 62 for a time, and even with the rough iron sights I could manage 1.5" to 2" groups at 100 yards with cast reloads that fit well. Same story with all three of my 30 Carbine Blackhawk revolvers I've had over the years.
Ruger has made bolt rifles in their '77' series in 22 rimfire, 357 Magnum, and 44 Magnum calibers. It seems a shame that they haven't opted to try a variant in 30 Carbine that would fit surplus M1 Carbine mags.
Even in the black-powder levels safe for revolvers, the 32/20 makes a good accounting for itself. A 115 grain bullet at 1250-1300 FPS from a long gun and 875-900 FPS from a revolver is no slouch.
The 30 Carbine's ancestry is obviously from the HV 32/20 WCF. The 30 Carbine has never had a reputation for being accurate, and most of that fault lies with the Carbines themselves. I had ownership of a Marlin Model 62 for a time, and even with the rough iron sights I could manage 1.5" to 2" groups at 100 yards with cast reloads that fit well. Same story with all three of my 30 Carbine Blackhawk revolvers I've had over the years.
Ruger has made bolt rifles in their '77' series in 22 rimfire, 357 Magnum, and 44 Magnum calibers. It seems a shame that they haven't opted to try a variant in 30 Carbine that would fit surplus M1 Carbine mags.
StrawHat
Well-Known Member
I have always wanted to build a bolt action 30 Carbine using an action scaled for the cartridge. Something like the mini Mauser chambered in 22 Hornet. Pick the proper twist for the rifling and it should be a lot of fun!
Kevin
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Kevin--
If Marlin had made their Model 62 leverguns to fit the beaucoup M1 Carbine magazines at large during those times I think the rifles would have been a lot more popular. I'll say this--my present 30 Carbine Blackhawk is one of my most accurate handguns, and it LOVES the Lee Soup Cans all the way to 1500 FPS. It is every bit of the 327 Federal, perhaps slightly more.
If Marlin had made their Model 62 leverguns to fit the beaucoup M1 Carbine magazines at large during those times I think the rifles would have been a lot more popular. I'll say this--my present 30 Carbine Blackhawk is one of my most accurate handguns, and it LOVES the Lee Soup Cans all the way to 1500 FPS. It is every bit of the 327 Federal, perhaps slightly more.
Outpost75
Active Member
I have two .30 Carbine Rugers a stock 7-1/2" and another professionally shortened to 5-1/4". Both can also shoot .32-20. So I had John Taylor make a .32-20 barrel for my small frame pre WW1 H&R Bunny Gun rough chambered with the .32-20 reamer so there was a Rim seat, bushed firing pin and finish chambered with a .30 Carbine reamer. Shoots accurately with either round and interchanges brass with my Ruger revolvers. I use .30 Carbine dies and .32-20 shell holder.
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RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
No problem at all to convert a Remington 580 series 22LR to 32/20 or 30 carbine, as a single shot.
StrawHat
Well-Known Member
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
PM me your email address and I will send you the nine pages of instructions that I have.
I am envious every time I read a thread about the 32s.
Would be a neat little rifle in about any configuration, break-open single-shots preferred, but any of them would be cool.
I guess they gotta make what sells the most, but I always thought H&R should have offered the "WCFs" and anyone making a 92 Winchester copy as well. The Ruger 77/22 Hornet worked. You'd think they could have done the 32-20. Maybe.
Would be a neat little rifle in about any configuration, break-open single-shots preferred, but any of them would be cool.
I guess they gotta make what sells the most, but I always thought H&R should have offered the "WCFs" and anyone making a 92 Winchester copy as well. The Ruger 77/22 Hornet worked. You'd think they could have done the 32-20. Maybe.
This. The Browning lever gun copies are beyond "pretty good" rifles. They do approach artwork. My model 53 (left in picture) pairs with a 1911 or 1914 vintage S&W 1905 with a 5-inch barrel. Later this summer when the grass gets longer these will get taken out after gophers that are up sitting on rocks above the grass. Ever since I began reading about rifles/pistols and guns in general back in the 1970's it's been suggested the Winchester dash cartridges (25-20,32-20,38-40,44-40) should be retired, that would be a shame.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
We are kindred souls!
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
The first centerfire handgun I ever shot was by great-grandfather's Colt Bisley Model S/A in 32/20. It was during hunting season with my Dad, and I was 7 years old. It was 'A cowboy gun' to my young mind, and the 15 shots I fired sparked a passion that remains en fuego to this day. Dad and his partner at the Coroner's Office Leo Reyes patiently familiarized me with the workings and that old boat anchor was kinda heavy--still is--but the vignette is etched in my memory. I was along on their quail hunt at Las Flores Ranch in Summit Valley, just east of the Cajon Pass.
I have some history with the 32/20 WCF, in other words. I know have that Bisley Model in my safe at home, in later years I learned its history, which I have mentioned in the past. Over the years I have added more 32/20 arms to the safe--I still have 3 of the 5 others I've owned.
The single-best upgrade to the caliber was the onset of Starline brass in this caliber some years back. The W-W and R-P brass we were saddled with for years was mediocre at best--weak, thin, and will tweak and fold when stared at intently. I'm all Starline these days.
32/20 chambers vary from gun to gun--like Duesenbergs, no two are alike. The tiny shoulder varies in placement, and segregating brass-to-gun shows no discernable accuracy gain over just resetting the shoulder to RCBS-die-OEM position. Been there/done that/got the T-shirt. In my experience, my 25/20 and 44/40 arms have similar shoulder position poetry, and only the 25/20 WCF gets the 'Partial F/L resizing' gymnastics, owing to its more prominent shoulder. I suspect the 38/40 might need similar treatment, but I have no experience with that caliber. Brass life may be affected by all of this reworking eventually, but my lots have 3-4 cycles through them now and haven't shown flaws yet.
I have some history with the 32/20 WCF, in other words. I know have that Bisley Model in my safe at home, in later years I learned its history, which I have mentioned in the past. Over the years I have added more 32/20 arms to the safe--I still have 3 of the 5 others I've owned.
The single-best upgrade to the caliber was the onset of Starline brass in this caliber some years back. The W-W and R-P brass we were saddled with for years was mediocre at best--weak, thin, and will tweak and fold when stared at intently. I'm all Starline these days.
32/20 chambers vary from gun to gun--like Duesenbergs, no two are alike. The tiny shoulder varies in placement, and segregating brass-to-gun shows no discernable accuracy gain over just resetting the shoulder to RCBS-die-OEM position. Been there/done that/got the T-shirt. In my experience, my 25/20 and 44/40 arms have similar shoulder position poetry, and only the 25/20 WCF gets the 'Partial F/L resizing' gymnastics, owing to its more prominent shoulder. I suspect the 38/40 might need similar treatment, but I have no experience with that caliber. Brass life may be affected by all of this reworking eventually, but my lots have 3-4 cycles through them now and haven't shown flaws yet.
todd
Well-Known Member
you know, i'm still jealous because i didn't buy the 25/20 when my friend's grandfather died back when i was 18yo. it was a Win m92 and i don't what year it is. dummkopf should have taken his wallet out and bought it ($150 ?). but noooooooo, he thought it wasn't fast enuff (3000+ fps to eh, it will get there). i didn't know about old lever rifles and they cost. the 25/20 and his grandfather were a deer killin' medicine. it also was a cow, rabbit, grouse, feral cat & dog, turkey, squirrel, groundhog and whatever else he pointed at, a killer too.
L Ross
Well-Known Member
I have 3 .25-20s. A Low-wall, a 1892 round barrel rifle, and a sweet little perfect poacher's gun, the Model 25 Remington pump with the Lyman peep. I foolishly let a M23 Savage with the receiver sight slip through my normally acquisitive fingers. I'll get one some day. I should get a .25-20 barrel for my Contender carbine now that I have one.
The closest thing I have to a .32-20 is a Martini Cadet so re-chambered but it still is mostly the .310 Cadet with a .320" bore.
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oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
David - My "Winchester" model Smith 32-20 looks almost identical to yours!