A Pair of 32-20 Revolvers

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Sometimes a little bit of time goes by between when I acquire a revolver and when I actually shoot it.

The Colt 32-20 Police Positive Special at the top of these photos was made in 1926. I picked it up last year. The S&W 32-20 Hand Ejector at the bottom of the photos shipped in 1916. I picked it up a few years ago.

I took them to the range for the first time yesterday. I had chanced across a box of Ultramax 32-20 Cowboy ammunition and I felt confident shooting this light stuff through these old girls. I have a couple of boxes of old 32-20 ammo, but since that stuff was also made for rifles I have been reluctant to shoot it in these old revolvers.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I ever fired a 32-20 revolver. The recoil was very mild, less than a similar gun chambered for 38 Special. Not surprising since the bullets only weighed 115 grains and it was Cowboy ammo. I had my Model 14-3 along with me for comparison, and the recoil from it with standard 158 grain bullets was stouter. The 32-20s did not recoil much more than a 22.

Accuracy was slightly better with the Smith, but I attribute that to the fact that the Smith has a slightly better trigger than the Colt. Now that I have messed with them a little bit I need to get off my butt and load up some more ammo for them. Keeping the pressure down of course.

 

[J-Bar]

You have the coolest toys!

 

[Mn Fats]

Well those are just plain pretty. Im leaning towards the Smith but Im jealous of both

 

[Tallball]

I really like your old revolvers. Old guns, old cars, old houses... that's the kind of things I like. The new ones don't appeal to me as much.

 

[Gordon]

I really like 32-20, I like them in heavier frames like the Army Special 6" or SAA 7.5" I have as I like to shoot factory full throttle loads in it that my Marlin 27 pump or my Winchester 92 rifle eat. The amazing truth of that type load is they were so popular in the old days around here at least in California is they took small game, mountain lion and the Blacktail deer very well along with being a good self defense weapon. You can hit 50 yard targets with it well with long barreled pistols and double that with the rifles. My standard load is the
Lyman Bullet Mold #311008 32-20 WCF (312 Diameter) 115 Grain Flat Nose lubed with ALOX
over 4.5 grains of Unique with std. primer .

 

[GBExpat]

Very nice, DJ, thanks for the report & pics!

For my vintage .32-20 Colts & S&Ws I have settled on Trailboss loads with 100gr or 115gr leads that run 800±fps out of 5" and 6' barrels. In my Marlin 27-S pump the 100gr loads break 1000fps and the 115gr trails that by ~100fps.

I also load rifle-only rounds with 85gr or 100gr XTPs over IMR-4227 which run 1400±.

All of these are very accurate, low recoil and a real pleasure to shoot.

 

[bannockburn]

Driftwood

Thanks for the photos of two fine vintage revolvers. Always have had some unexplained hankerin' for a Colt or S&W in .32-20. Don't know why; I just do.

 

[Jim NE]

What a great pair of revolvers from a great era of revolver making!

 

[DDDWho]

How bout some 32-20 Delta Blues

 

[GBExpat]

The thing that I do not like about my Colt Police Positive Specials is the tucked-forward grip.

Perhaps that works for someone with small hands but in mine it feels somewhat unnatural & uncomfortable.

And, yes, I have tried adding a Tyler T-Grip style accessory and it provides me no relief.

Good thing the .32-20 is such a light round else that odd grip would be a real problem.

 

[BobWright]

I have always, in the back of my mind, wanted either a Colt New Frontier or a mid-frame Ruger Three Screw in .32-20. I don't remember ever having any experience with the .32-20, but remember an old Victory Model (or equivalent) in that caliber. This belonged to a defense plant guard during WW II, and almost traded for it. I've always thought such a revolver would make a dandy varmint gun.

Bob Wright

 

[cpt-t]

DJ: Thoes are two Drop Dead Gorgeous 32-20 pistolas you have there. I grew up shooting my Grandfather's 32-20 SA Colt. I truly loved that old gun, it was Nickeled Plated, with Ivory Stocks, and a 7 1/2 inch barrel. That gun was so very special to me, growing up with and it was supposed to be mine. I killed my first Coyote with a handgun with that Old Colt. I always wondered what happened to it, and just who has it now. And I hope who ever has had it all these years has taken good care of it. I have and shoot a Ruger Blackhawk 30 Carbine with a 7 1/2 in barrel, that shoots very well for me. But it will never even come close to taking the place of my Grandfathers old SA 32-20 Colt. I hope You really enjoy your two new pistols, and thanks again for sharing.
ken

 

[sean m]

Really dig the Smith. Never shot a Colt before, How does the grip frame angle point? I would think it would feel front heavy.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

It may not be obvious from the photos, but a K frame S&W such as this 32-20 HE is a slightly larger gun than a Colt Police Positive Special. I'm not up too well on the different names of Colt frame sizes, but a K frame Smith is a bit bigger than a Colt Police Positive Special, and a bit smaller than a Colt Official Police or Army Special.

In this case, both revolvers have six inch barrels.The Smith weighs 2 pounds 1 ounce empty and the Colt weighs 1 pound 12 ounces empty. I can't comment on muzzle heavy, that is an individual thing, Neither one feels muzzle heavy to me. The swept forward grip of the Police Positive Special is not uncomfortable for me, but I always feel right at home with any K frame Smith. Completely natural grip for me. That may also have something to do with why the Smith was a little bit more accurate than the Colt.

Interestingly enough, just yesterday on my way to the range I stopped into a shop to ask if they had any 32-20 ammo. No, was the reply, but he did have a very nice Winchester Model 1892, with an octagon barrel, chambered for 32-20. I'm afraid I'm going to think long and hard about that. I really don't need another lever gun, and a 32-20 would be very heavy if I decided to take it Cowboy shooting. Maybe if I wait long enough it will be gone and I won't have to decide.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I have a similar Colt Police Positive Special in 32-20. 5" barrel. Made in 1930. It's a family heirloom.

As you already aware, there were, at one time, two different commercial loadings, one of which was "rifle only." Do not fire those in your revolver; the frames won't take it. Modern commercial ammo (The Ultramax you have, HSM, and, last I heard, Winchester and Remington still made a very limited run each year-and is the most expensive option) are all safe for those old revolvers. The vintage ammo is clearly marked "Centerfire Rifle Ammunition" (Winchester) or "High Velocity" (Remington). I have a box of the Winchester rifle ammo. "Some day," I will pull the bullets, dump the powder and reload using the old primers.

Commercial 32-20 ammo is spendy (for what it is-CAS is the only thing keeping this caliber alive), comparable to 30-06 in cost. Midway is a good source for reloading components. Starline Brass is a good deal. (be careful when resizing-the mouths will bend, fold etc if rushed or not lubed properly etc. Very thin case at the mouth, and this is true of all brands) Hunter's Supply hard-cast bullets are good, but, as someone already mentioned, this gun is great for casting your own. Refer to the Lyman reloading manual for powders and charges; start at the bottom.

I love mine and have taken a few grouse with it. It's the only handgun I own.

 

[bannockburn]

Driftwood

No, was the reply, but he did have a very nice Winchester Model 1892, with an octagon barrel, chambered for 32-20. I'm afraid I'm going to think long and hard about that. I really don't need another lever gun, and a 32-20 would be very heavy if I decided to take it Cowboy shooting. Maybe if I wait long enough it will be gone and I won't have to decide.

That's still got to be the best kind of decision making dilemma to have!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Commercial 32-20 ammo is spendy (for what it is-CAS is the only thing keeping this caliber alive), comparable to 30-06 in cost. Midway is a good source for reloading components. Starline Brass is a good deal. (be careful when resizing-the mouths will bend, fold etc if rushed or not lubed properly etc. Very thin case at the mouth, and this is true of all brands) Hunter's Supply hard-cast bullets are good, but, as someone already mentioned, this gun is great for casting your own. Refer to the Lyman reloading manual for powders and charges; start at the bottom.

Thanks

I have everything I need to load 32-20, just did not get around to it yet, and wanted to run a box of ammo through those old girls before I started reloading for them.

 

[Walkalong]

The thing that I do not like about my Colt Police Positive Specials is the tucked-forward grip.

Perhaps that works for someone with small hands but in mine it feels somewhat unnatural & uncomfortable.

Me too, cool guns, but uncomfortable for me to shoot. I sold the one I had in .32 Long.

I do have a S&W in .32-20 similar to Driftwoods (Not that nice) , and enjoy shooting it a lot.

 

[JTHunter]

This is a .32-20 I inherited from my father. According to the people who looked this gun up for me, it is a Smith & Wesson “Mod. of 1905 – 4th change” and has a 6" barrel.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

“Mod. of 1905 – 4th change” and has a 6" barrel.

Howdy Again

Mine is also a 4th Change. The 4th Change was made for a long time, from 1915 until 1940. Roy Jinks told me mine left the factory in 1916. Judging by the mushroom shaped knob on the front of the extractor rod, yours is fairly early. I'm guessing 1915 to the early 1920s.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

Couldn't stand it, went back to the shop and put $100 down on the 1892.

Probably pick it up next week.

No more excuses, gotta start loading 32-20 now.

 

[GBExpat]

Couldn't stand it, went back to the shop and put $100 down on the 1892.

Hahaha! Good for you!

 

[Officers'Wife]

32-20 is a wonderful little cartridge both fun to shoot and versatile to use. Your two revolvers should serve you well but now you needed the carbine to keep them company.

 

[PO2Hammer]

There should be a tab for really like.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Nice guns, as usual Driftwood. Glad you got to shoot them. I'm more of a Smith fan, but that Colt is in damn fine shape.