Marlin 1889 in 32-20

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I need someone with expertise about this rifle. I have the opportunity to purchase a Marlin 1889 in 32-20 to add to my collection made in 1890. It's in pretty good shape with decent bore. I understand this is a "use black powder cartridge" rifle made before smokeless powder became prevelent. I read conflicting reports from don't use smokeless at all to light smokeless loads with cast bullets can be used. Anyone out there have one of these rifles that can give me your assessment about using smokeless powder? I don't shoot black powder, and I have no interest in starting. My 32-20 cowboy load is 2.3 grains of Trail Boss under a 100 grain cast bullet. Thoughts?

[Spiritmaker]

I have the same rifle in that caliber. Your loading should be fine. It's a hoot ta shoot!

[Cotton Eye Joe]

I obviously keep it reasonable, but smokeless/cast bullets have been fine in all of my 1889s. Very glad that starline made so much in the last year or so. 

 

That's a 32-20 in the photo, but I've also used smokeless in my 44-40 and 38-40 1889s as well. 

 

 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

There's a lot of steel around those little .32 holes!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I would use that load in that gun.

I USE that load in my Marlin 1888.   (And my antique Lighting.)  I will shoot *light* smokeless loads in old rifles, especially in .32-20, that I would not let near an old pistol.


 

 

BTW, should you decide that you don't want it, I'll pay you what you paid for it.  Or, just let me know where it is.  I wish to have more .32-20's

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

And for giggles, here's the Lighting...

 

 

[Bailey Creek,5759]

I have two Marlin 1889's in 38-40.

The ejectors have a lot to be desired.

Fun to shoot wish they would throw brass farther. Just barely clears the frame.

[Bullett Sass 19707]

I also have an 1889 38-40 I shoot light smokeless loads.  Bullett

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

2 hours ago, Bailey Creek,5759 said:

Just barely clears the frame.

That's what my Marlin 1897 does with .32 Shorts/Longs.  They get very gently spit out of the side and fall straight down.   But considering how I've seen other more modern Marlins shoot the brass far away forward, I think this is better. 

 

[Tom Bullweed]

Not Marlins, but I have owned four original Win 1873s, three in .38 and one in .32.  I shot only BP subs in the .38/40s, but I have no issues with lighter smokeless load in the .32.  There is significantly more metal and less powder than the .38/40.

[Doc Eagle]

I have an original 1894 in 32-20 and have zero issues shooting mild smokeless loads out of it and have may friends who do the same with their original vintage Marlins.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

8 hours ago, Tom Bullweed said:

Not Marlins, but I have owned four original Win 1873s, three in .38 and one in .32.  I shot only BP subs in the .38/40s, but I have no issues with lighter smokeless load in the .32.  There is significantly more metal and less powder than the .38/40.

.32-20 has rapidly become a favorite caliber because a lot of cool guns were chambered for it, and, for whatever reason, originals seem to be less expensive in this caliber, both rifles and pistols.

[Doc Eagle]

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

.32-20 has rapidly become a favorite caliber because a lot of cool guns were chambered for it, and, for whatever reason, originals seem to be less expensive in this caliber, both rifles and pistols.

That's because during the last ammo draught 32-20 as well as the other Winchester "dash" cartridges dried up and you needed to sell your kidneys to buy ammo form private sources on GB.  I remember seeing NICE S&Ws on GB going for $200-$300 because no one could feed them!  Same with rifles, that's when I picked up my early 1900s 1894 for a song!

 

Prices have gone up since then but folks are now (still?) very afraid that this will repeat or at some point become a permanent issue.  My solution?  Stockpile components so I NEVER have to worry about these things.  32-30, 25-20, 38-55, 45-60, 45-70 and such are all too much fun for me to give them up.

[Bailey Creek,5759]

My Marlins 1889s in 38-40. One was manufactured in 1889 it has a round Barrel. It likes 401 diameter bullets.

The other one was manufactured in 1894. It has an octogen barrel it likes 403 diameter bullets.

I use 6.8 grs of 231.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I picked her up at a gun auction today. Everything seems to check out fine. I'll be taking her to the range next week!

 

[Doc Eagle]

Beautiful gun!!!!!!

[Dapper Dave]

Beautiful, sir. I have a hankerin' for .32 myself, but no cash yet to scratch that itch.