Factory .32-20 For The Police Positive Special?

Me, I always recommend reloading. Always will. And we need pictures. Remember without pictures it didn't happen.

IIRC Starline is making 32-20 brass. It should be about as good as it gets. Do you reload already?

The Black Hills and HSM loads are widely available and not too expensive. Never seen the express rifle loads you mentioned, only read about them. How much are you looking to shoot?

Howdy

This Winchester Model 1892, S&W 32-20 Hand Ejector, and Colt Police Positive are all chambered for 32-20. Even though I have all the dies to load the cartridge, I must admit I have not actually sat down to load any. But I have fired several boxes of HSM 32-20 Cowboy loads through them and they all seem to like it just fine.

I have an 1890's vintage Winchester 1873 and a 1921 or so S&W K-frame, both chambered in 32-20. I load soft ammunition for both. I enjoy shooting them but am not willing to press the envelope. I have too many other modern guns to shoot if I want "wrist snapping recoil."

To answer the OP, if you are concerned the factory ammunition may be too hot for your vintage Colt revolver, start reloading 32-20. Starline has cases and there is lots of load data out there for handgun ammunition.

Although the Remington.32-20 is labeled "Express Rifle" the SAAMI spec is maximum 16000 CUP which is less than .38 Special. I don't think they have made the High Velocity 1892 only ammo that terrifies the gunzine writers since the 1960s and it would take a search to find any.

If you are just going to shoot it on "ceremonial occasions" an occasional box of the "cowboy" stuff would get you by. Maybe you can work up enough of an order for free shipping.
https://www.midwayusa.com/32-20-wcf...%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1&customerSelectedSort=False

I use this stuff. Its very mild.

My Dad carried a sawn off Police Pos .32-20 when city bus drivers were subject to holdup for their change boxes. (They eventually went to exact fare and tokens into the bolted down fare boxes so drivers did not have to make change.)
His loadout was a dukes mixture. I know he had some JSPs. Were they 80 grain hot loads or 100 grain standards? I did not know the difference at the time and doubt he did.

I've also shot the ultramax stuff and it's very mild although I always load my own since 95% of what I shoot or more is black powder. I have loaded a lot of smokeless too. It's a thin case with a slight shoulder it's about like reloading 44-40. Not hard but does require more caution and proper setup than your standard straight wall pistol cartridges to prevent crushing the cases. seat and crimp in separate stages and factory crimp die works great on these.

Congrats on the nice score, krinko!

The two loads that I have settled into for my vintage .32-20 wheelguns involve Trailboss and lead SWCs (100gr & 115gr).

These also shoot well in my Marlin 27-S, but I have developed a couple of rifle-only XTP +IMR4227 loads.

GBExpat said:

Congrats on the nice score, krinko!

The two loads that I have settled into for my vintage .32-20 wheelguns involve Trailboss and lead SWCs (100gr & 115gr).

These also shoot well in my Marlin 27-S, but I have developed a couple of rifle-only XTP +IMR4227 loads.

Click to expand...

I too have the really neat Marlin 27s and wonder about your loads. I have a partial box of the old "Hi Speed" stuff and with the almost completely jacketed round nose 80 grain bullet it doesn't look scary. I have it on good sources that that load worked safely in Colt Army Specials which is the Python frame , and the post 1920 Colt SAA were ok with the Hi Speed load . I also have a Nice 32-20 Winchester 92 octagon rifle. but the barrel seems to be worn so only .315+ cast bullets shoot well with out tumbling at 100 yards I am not gonna reline it,and it is in a local gun store for sale . My Marlin 27S is cherry and I would like to work up a load with a little more umph for the 115 cast bullet. I have a .315" lyman Mold 311316 but have sizing dies down to .311 , 312 and 313 . I have used it in all kinds of pistol and rifle cartridges.
The Colt Army Special is second one up from bottom, the Colt PPS the top, both 32-20


Winchester Model 92 32-20 rifle on top (1890 .22 WRF cherry on bottom, and that one matches the Colt .22WRF Target G model on the bottom of above picture.)

I have a box of the rifle & revolver loads.

And I found this at Remington.com. Shows ballistics for the rifle ammo only.

Shows a muzzle velocity of 1,210 fps, which would be about 1,100 fps in a handgun. Within the level 1 loads listed for pre-1900 handguns, and safe to shoot in your level 2 gun. See this site for the specifics:
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

Here's a nice mellow load I shoot out of my Police Positive Special. Little recoil, quite accurate and easy on the gun. Substituting a 100gr. bullet won't change much, if those are easier to come by.

96gr. LRNFP, 3.7gr. Unique, Federal #100 primer

4″ Barrel 744 fps. 118 ft./lbs SD: 35

Krinko,

Are you looking for a plinking load for shooting tin cans or a defensive one?

I think you should just shoot the pistol load (NOTE: THE HIGH VELOCITY LOAD WAS ADVERTISED ONLY AS RIFLE AMMO AND NOT FOR USE IN REVOLVERS) and enjoy it as a range gun and collectible. If you want a carry gun, get another, newer COLT Official Police in .38 Special or better yet, get a mid-size .357 magnum. Then you have a gun with cheap and effective ammo and not have to worry about the gun failing or getting damaged.
Also, how effective will a 100 grain SOFT POINT, NOT A HOLLOW POINT be when traveling at 650 to 750 feet per second. This was the velocity a test of a .32-20 with a 6 inch barrel in GUNS & AMMO found, a few years ago.
This is also a 100 year old gun!
If you want to handload and use it for rabbits, the range or tin cans, just stick with factory pressure loads listed in a manual and use lead semi-wadcutters, but I would rule it out as a self defense gun. It ranks no better and maybe less effective than a .32 H&R magnum.
I would never consider using handloads for a defensive round. Aside from legal problems, it is hard to believe you can outdo FEDERAL, REMINGTON or WINCHESTER. I use FEDERAL HST ammo in my .38 Specials and it is far more effective than a "SAFE" 32-20 load in a 100 year old gun.


Jim

Dang it, guys the LGS has one, and I've been trying to be a good boy, and you, Krinko post this, and you Tinker, of course have a good load for it, you're all cruel, just cruel........

Those Remington loads aren't the high velocity rifle loads of old. Safe for any .32-20. If you're going to shoot it in any volume, I'd highly recommend handloading and suggest using nothing but Starline brass.

I have 10 of so rounds of the High Velocity ammo I bought 60 + yrs ago. Was thinking about shooting it in my Gary Reeder 327/32-20 revolver. So far all I've done is think about it. Can not find it at this time but it is here somewhere.

I wouldn't come at my old lady with a .32-20 if all she had was a butterknife but that's a conversation for another day.