.455_Hunter
Member
Greetings,
Lets say for the sake of argument that you have two Smith and Wesson M&P revolvers, both with the 5” barrels, produced in 1910 (non-heat treated cylinders) , and in good firing condition. One is chambered in .38 special, the other in .32/20. According to all sources, it is perfectly OK to shoot standard velocity factory .38 Specials in the .38 Special M&P, such as the 158 LRN at nominal 755 fps for 200 fpe. Indeed, the gentleman at Gunblast.com had no concerns about loading his 1900 production 6” M&P with a 158 gr. LWC handload launching at 860 fps for 260 fpe.
It seems to me that .32/20 version of the same gun should be able handle, without any issues, a load firing a 115gr. LFN at 885 fps for the same 200 fpe. However, everybody seems to start wringing their hands about any .32/20 loads that even approaches 150 fpe, let alone 200 fpe in these guns. I have even seen folks worrying about shooting current factory .32/20 (Rem and Win) loads in their guns.
These wimpy factory loads usually hit 750-780 fps out of revolvers- squarely in .32 S&W Long county!
Why is it that as soon as somebody talks about loading the .32/20 in these guns that they turn into weak elderly dinosaurs that can barely handle a 100 gr. slug at 750 fps, but the .38 Special version (which has thinner cylinder walls) can shoot all day long with a load that has nearly 2X the energy?
For reference, the black powder loading of the .32/20 was 20 grains and the .38 special was 21 grains. Big difference!
Thanks for your input.
Hunter
Lets say for the sake of argument that you have two Smith and Wesson M&P revolvers, both with the 5” barrels, produced in 1910 (non-heat treated cylinders) , and in good firing condition. One is chambered in .38 special, the other in .32/20. According to all sources, it is perfectly OK to shoot standard velocity factory .38 Specials in the .38 Special M&P, such as the 158 LRN at nominal 755 fps for 200 fpe. Indeed, the gentleman at Gunblast.com had no concerns about loading his 1900 production 6” M&P with a 158 gr. LWC handload launching at 860 fps for 260 fpe.
It seems to me that .32/20 version of the same gun should be able handle, without any issues, a load firing a 115gr. LFN at 885 fps for the same 200 fpe. However, everybody seems to start wringing their hands about any .32/20 loads that even approaches 150 fpe, let alone 200 fpe in these guns. I have even seen folks worrying about shooting current factory .32/20 (Rem and Win) loads in their guns.
These wimpy factory loads usually hit 750-780 fps out of revolvers- squarely in .32 S&W Long county! Why is it that as soon as somebody talks about loading the .32/20 in these guns that they turn into weak elderly dinosaurs that can barely handle a 100 gr. slug at 750 fps, but the .38 Special version (which has thinner cylinder walls) can shoot all day long with a load that has nearly 2X the energy?
For reference, the black powder loading of the .32/20 was 20 grains and the .38 special was 21 grains. Big difference!
Thanks for your input.
Hunter
