Silver Dollar Drifter Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Thinking about changing since getting older & wondering if a Browning Model 53 will fit in any category with 32-20. I know the 32-20 is doable but nor sure about Browning model 53. What do you say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
July Smith Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 (edited) Very fine rifles. For this game you will need to have a longer mag tube installed or plan on loading extra rounds on the clock. Not legal for classic cowboy because of the 40+ caliber requirement and the fact that it is a 92 action, but legal for every other category. That being said... What is your desire to switch to a Model 53 in 32-20? For this game the 32-20 offers no advantages over a 38/357 and comes with quite a few draw backs. Edited August 28 by July Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Dollar Drifter Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 Thanks for the quick response. I have since found not enough room in the tube for 10 rounds. Thinking about switching rifle cal. because just got two 32 H&Rs & love 'em. Brownings will be omitted from my watch list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 3 hours ago, July Smith said: ...For this game the 32-20 offers no advantages over a 38/357... July, as a black powder shooter you should know better. I call clean actions an advantage. I just got my 32-20 '73 (Uberti) running properly and it will replace the .38 '73 for BP use. I've heard of some folks replacing the magazine and converting a 53 to a 92, but that is an expense and hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 I have a Browning 53 in 32-20, and I love it! I just shot it in a match this past weekend. When I bought mine used it was already set up for cowboy. The action is as slick as butter, and it had a full length magazine tube installed. The only thing I didn't like was the hammer spring was lightened and only Federal primers would work. I fixed that by adding two #10 flat washers on the hammer spring. If you decide to purchase it I don't think you'll regret it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 The Browning 53 is a copy of the Winchester 53, which is just a Winchester 92 with a pistol grip stock and a half magazine. Might be easier to get a 92 in .32-20, as no mods needed. That said, the Browning Winchester copies, especially the ones with no safety, were great guns. And a 92 (or 53) of any stripe in .32-20 is a great gun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 (edited) One other thing... .32-20 itself is a great caliber. Normally, I am a .45 Colt shooter, but there is something about the .32-20 that just brings a smile to me when I decide to break out the guns chambered for it. I can't say what it is, but it just has an undefinable "fun factor" for me. And here's something bizarre about it. It's a very LOUD caliber. It makes a bigger BANG than anything else. I don't know why. What is really interesting is that the exact same load when fired out of my 7.5" Colt is noticeably louder than it is from shorter barreled revolvers. I can't explain it, but it is fun. And another thing is that vintage .32-20's for some reason tend to cost less money than the exact same guns in other calibers, so it's a very easy one to get addicted too. To whit.... Winchester 73. My first gun in the caliber. 1st Gen Colt. Letters as a .44-40. Antique. Fun to shoot 3rd Gen Colt Winchester 92 Colt Lightning. 1st Gen Bisley 1st Gen Bisley. Both of the Bisley's date to 190something. Both were obtained for about $1200 at a time when comparable 1st Gen generic SAAs were all but impossible to find for less than $2000. At the time, Bisley's seemed to be going for less than an SAA, but a Bisley .32-20 was a LOT less expensive than a comparable SAA. Marlin 1888. Yes, the TOP eject Marlin. So, what else? I side eject Marlin? A Marlin 27 pump? I don't know. Time will tell. As far as I know, only Colt made revolvers in the caliber, and I don't know if any of the reproduction makers have chambered other pistols for it. (I'd love a S&W Top Break or a Remington 58 Conversion) Other rifles? Again, I just don't know. At least not ones that would be SASS legal. I'm pretty sure Remington made their early hammerless pump from the early 1900's in the caliber, but that's not for us. It is fun to wonder about though. Edited August 29 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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