.32-20 Obsession

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Well, maybe obsession is the wrong word, but I really like the .32-20 caliber, and would like to increase examples of it in my collection.  

Here's what I have.

Pistols  (SASS Type)

Colt SAA 1st Gen Antique
Colt SAA 3rd Gen

Colt Bisley x2.

 

Pistols  (Non-SASS type)

S&W M&P

 

Going forward, I think the most logical things to obtain would be a non antique 1st Gen SAA, and a 2nd Gen SAA.   If I can ever find one that's legal for sale in Massachusetts, that scaled down SAA clone marketed by Cimarron and other that comes with dual .32-20 and .32 H&R Magnum cylinders is attractive.  I suppose a generic SAA clone in the caliber is also an option, especially if it's not very expensive.   But finding one in Massachusetts would be hard.    I think that if I can find a Colt 1878 in the caliber, I'd be hard pressed to pass on it.    I know there have been more than a few DA revolvers made for the caliber by Colt, S&W and others, but that's more peripheral interest.   I'm more interested in stuff I can use for our game, or at least peripheral to it.

I'm not really interested in the Ruger.   Well made guns, but not of personal interest.   I assume they offer it in .32-20, but don't know.   Can anyone confirm?

I know that S&W never chambered the Model 3 for the caliber, and in fact, as far as I know, only Colt did anything in pistols with it back in the day.   As far as modern made guns go, when I first got into CAS, I believe it was Taylors who was marketing a 58 Remington "converted" to the caliber, but I never actually saw one anyplace other than on their website.   Anybody ever see/obtain one of these?   Or perhaps any other "conversions?"

Now, for rifles, it's far more interesting.    I don't yet have any single shot rifles in the caliber, but I am interested in one of the BSA rifles that started out as a .310 Cadet rifle that has been rechambered to .32-20.   They are not hard to find, and fairly inexpensive.   Also the Remington Rolling Block would be on my list.   But I don't know if anything else was chambered for it, or if any single action pistols were.  Anybody know?

For SASS type rifles...
Winchester 73
Colt Lighting
Winchester 92

Uberti 66

Marlin 1888

I guess the most obvious "gap" here would be a Marlin 94.   Don't know if anything else was ever made, or if any replicas in a caliber that originals, like the 66, didn't have are out there.

Something else I'd like to find is a short barrel Winchester 92, but dang, those are expensive!   I did see one at auction a couple of years ago, but I lost out when it got too expensive for my wallet.  Not seen another one since.  

Now, granted, I am mostly a .45 Shooter, but for some reason, I find breaking out the .32-20 now and again to be "fun" for some reason.   Maybe it's cuz the guns I have for are all wicked cool.   I don't know.   

Okay, with all of that in mind, who else finds .32-20 to be strangely addictive?   What else might be out there to add to the collection that I am unaware of.

An inquiring mind who's currently loading up truckload of brass for the caliber wants to know.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

I dont know anything about the 32-20.  But what you said about the 92 got me excited.  I too have always wanted a true 92 trapper.  I like the 16" trappers I have, but I really want one of the shorter ones.  But, I will have to wait for retirement and getting out of this particular state because short barreled rifles are a no-go here.  But man I really want one!!

[Jim Brown]

You did not list the Browning 53 in 32.20.

They are very nice however, if you want to shoot matches with it you would need to change the Mag Tube.

[Spiritmaker]

I'm A .32 WCF junkie. There I said it. They are great fun to shoot and easy to load for. Ya just have to be careful with the thin brass. I have a couple of older Uberti SA that I shot with a 1894 Marlin for several years till I went to 45 Schofield in black powder FCD. Remington and Marlin made pump guns in that caliber along with the original Colt Lightning.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

H.K., you mentioned the Winchester '73, don't forget the Uberti '73.  And you also mentioned the Colt Lightning rifle, but apparently Uberti made a 32-20 Lightning rifle.  I never heard of it, but Taylors has the bolt on Clearance: https://www.taylorsfirearms.com/lightning-bolt-32-20-discontinued-par-u7204097.html  

 

I recall when Driftwood Johnson posted pics of his original '58 converted to 32-20.  A '58 converted to .38 already weighs a ton, I'll bet his is a ton and a half.   As for the 32-20 '58 conversions that Taylors sold at one time, I vaguely recall hearing about that.  I'm wondering if it was a kit similar to the Kirst .22 conversion where there is an insert to slide inside the .44 barrel that is essentially like a 2" barrel?

[Three Foot Johnson]

3 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

I'm not really interested in the Ruger.   Well made guns, but not of personal interest.   I assume they offer it in .32-20, but don't know.   Can anyone confirm?

Back in 2004, they made a convertible Vaquero in .32 H&R mag/.32-20 in very limited numbers... something like 250 - the auction description says about 230. Other sources vary, but regardless, there weren't many of them.

There's one on Gunbroker right now, and with the scarcity of this model, I'm rather surprised it's been through several re-listings without a single bid. 1101963317

[Cotton Eye Joe]

I have a Marlin 1894 and 1889 in 32-20. Those are my only ones currently. I'll hopefully find an 1888 as well, but odds are against me.

 

A single shot 32-20 that comes to mind is a C. Sharps made 1885 Low Wall rifle. That'd be a fine rifle, though potentially a tad limited in power at range. 

 

A Uberti 1873 or 1866 would have to be the easiest rifles to find. One thing I'd like confirmation on is that Uberti uses the same magtube for 357mag and 32-20. I recall reading that it can cause hang-ups, but again, I'd want confirmation from someone who owns one. Could be completely unfounded!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

3 minutes ago, Cotton Eye Joe said:

I have a Marlin 1894 and 1889 in 32-20. Those are my only ones currently. I'll hopefully find an 1888 as well, but odds are against me.

 

A single shot 32-20 that comes to mind is a C. Sharps made 1885 Low Wall rifle. That'd be a fine rifle, though potentially a tad limited in power at range. 

 

A Uberti 1873 or 1866 would have to be the easiest rifles to find. One thing I'd like confirmation on is that Uberti uses the same magtube for 357mag and 32-20. I recall reading that it can cause hang-ups, but again, I'd want confirmation from someone who owns one. Could be completely unfounded!

 

There are a couple of 1888's on Gunbroker right now, for reasonable prices at the moment.   In fact, if I didn't already have one, I'd be going for one of them.  

I will confirm that the magazine tube on the Uberti 66 looks to be the same size as the ones on the .44's and .45's.   Haven't loaded it up yet to see how it works.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

The magazine tube on ALL Uberti toggle rifles is sized for 45 Colt.  So .32-20 zigzags even worse than .38's in the tube.  That's why some folks use the tube liner.  I have a carbon fiber liner in my .32-20 '73 and it does help but a thicker aluminum liner (not available when I got mine) would be better.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

14 minutes ago, Cotton Eye Joe said:

...A single shot 32-20 that comes to mind is a C. Sharps made 1885 Low Wall rifle. That'd be a fine rifle, though potentially a tad limited in power at range....

Oh yeah, Uberti made a 32-20 low wall as well.  Doubt they still do but there's some out there somewhere.

[Warden Callaway]

I can't say the 32WCF is my obsession but I have several.  A couple of Marlin 1894, Winchester 1892, first generation Colt SAA and a pair of Cimarron Lightning.

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

16 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

Back in 2004, they made a convertible Vaquero in .32 H&R mag/.32-20 in very limited numbers... something like 250 - the auction description says about 230. Other sources vary, but regardless, there weren't many of them.

There's one on Gunbroker right now, and with the scarcity of this model, I'm rather surprised it's been through several re-listings without a single bid. 1101963317

Ruger made it in 4 and 5 barrels.  Best part i have one of each!  If i recall about 500 total units.

[largo casey #19191]

I have a 73 in 32/20 ,A Uberty lightning in 32 & 32/20 And a S&W I believe a model 10 in 32/20.Don't shoot much but I got em.

                                                                                                                                                                   Largo

[evil dogooder]

Here is a low wall made in 1889 that is a track driver.  I play with it from time to time rabbit hunting

[PowderRiverCowboy]

I have a few 32wcf including a Model 1894 built 1902(?) as well as a few Newer pistols ect. 

 

I do know dont clean 32-20 brass with 300 black out brass LOL 

[largo casey #19191]

There is a pawn shop here that has a 32/20 Colt revolver if anyone is interested.Contact me if interested.

                                                                                                                                                                      Largo

[Timothy]

Who do you suppose the big heavy expensive saa chambered in 32wcf was marketed to in the 1880s primarily?

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I love the 32-20 also! I have a few. In fact I'll be shooting 32-20 at a match this weekend. My collection includes:

(2) Taylor Uberti 1873 Cattleman pistols

Browning 53 with extended magazine tube

Uberti 1873 rifle with magazine tube liner installed

Winchester 1892 made in 1906

 

I'd like to add a Marlin 1894 in 32-20 to my collection. I just missed out on one about 3 years ago.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

On 4/21/2025 at 6:45 PM, Cotton Eye Joe said:

A Uberti 1873 or 1866 would have to be the easiest rifles to find. One thing I'd like confirmation on is that Uberti uses the same magtube for 357mag and 32-20. I recall reading that it can cause hang-ups, but again, I'd want confirmation from someone who owns one. Could be completely unfounded!

You are correct on the oversized magazine tube size. I installed a tube liner in mine and it works just fine.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

3 hours ago, Timothy said:

Who do you suppose the big heavy expensive saa chambered in 32wcf was marketed to in the 1880s primarily?

More than likely people who had rifles in the caliber.  I'd guess that they were primarily used for varmint control and maybe small to medium game hunting.  Back in the day, .32-20 was considered suitable for deer, for example.  

I doubt it was many people's primary defensive caliber, but I'd be surprised if at least a few people didn't use it for that.  The caliber had a reputation for excellent accuracy, so perhaps some target shooters as well.

I've seen for sale, and own 2, .32-20 Bisleys, which was a target gun, for example.

[Dungannon Gunner]

One fine rifle, CPA  remake of Stevens 44 1/2

https://www.cparifles.com/pages/calibers

[Savvy Jack]

That is a good obsession

 

44-40

38-40

32-20

38-55

 

Those are my top four

[Griff]

On 4/21/2025 at 12:32 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Well, maybe obsession is the wrong word, but I really like the .32-20 caliber, and would like to increase examples of it in my collection.  

With four handguns & just 5 rifles in the same chambering?  I don't think that amounts to serious "dabbling!"  Heck, all four of my 45 Colt handguns are Colt SAAs, but I show a little more variety in my long guns with 3 Ubertis,along with  one each Marlin, Mroku & Rossi, and 2 of them are the same model, albeit, having different features, namely bbl length.  And that's sorts overshadowed by my battery of eleven .36 cal. percussion handguns divided heavily in favor of the 1851.  And if I could find a gunsmith to slick up the 3 Patersons, they'd likely become a favored match gun.

 

But, bordering on obsession is my penchant for the Winchester mdl 94 in .30-30.  While my collection of them includes a mdl 64A, it also includes 3 trappers,16 carbines and 11 rifles w/3 different bbl lengths common to "rifle" configured mdl 94s.   Of the total, I built 7 of them from both used & NOS parts.  Mine are all top eject models, and lest you think I'm fixated on the .30-30, my 2nd lever-action was a mdl 94 in 44RemMag.  The 1st being that mdl 64A I won in a raffle while aboard a destroyer off the coast of VN, during that little soiree.  About a year after returning home that 44Mag & 64A were stolen.  I've never felt the need to replace the 44Mag.   There are 5 "commemoratives" among the total;  1 short rifle, 2 carbines and 2 trappers, although one of them started life as a '67 Canadian Centennial.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

3 hours ago, Griff said:

...But, bordering on obsession is my penchant for the Winchester mdl 94 in .30-30...

I would say that qualifies as obsession. 

[Seldom Seen #16162]

I was driving by looking for another topic when I saw this one. The 32-20 is my favorite cartridge also. Only my guns are modern manufacture. I have two Single Action revolvers. A unfired.Cinnamon 4 3/4" barrel and ugly EMF 7 1/2" barrel that shoots like the house is on fire. My long gun is a Uberti carbine which is also accurate.

 

As commented until Al Gore invented the Internet and the Internet 'xperts told us otherwise the 32-20 was considered a deer cartridge. Now these same 'experts say the..223 is enough to kill a deer.  I could survive easily with my 32-20' s as long as I can reload ammunition for it.