SWC= Semi-WadCutter, FMC= Full Metal Case, FMJ= Full Metal Jacket, JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet.Loads for .32-20 Winchester:
This necked cartridge has been around since the 1880’s and was originally black powder only. If you have an old gun, use very mild loads, something that produces speeds around 550 fps for starters in pistols. The newer Ruger is stronger for the normal loads and T/C guns can handle much higher pressures and speeds in the vicinity of 1500 fps.
The OLDER guns were chambered for bullets of .312″ for jacketed and .313″ for lead. The newer guns have been chambered to work with .308″ jacketed bullets. You must determine what the bore of your guns is and choose the correct bullet. If you used the older guns, you could use the smaller diameter bullets with some loss of accuracy. Do NOT use .312″ or .313″ bullets in the newer and smaller bore guns. However, one of the Ruger Blackhawk guns I came accross, had a .312″ grove diameter.
Do not use anything but light loads and lead bullets in these older revolvers.
The Thompson Contender (T/C) has the smaller .308″ grove. Don’t use larger bullets for the T/C.
(Note: Most ARE MAXIMUM loads (except where noted), you may want to use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.
Most are MAXIMUM LOADS: Start at 10% less and work up! Some very old 32-20 guns as well as some imported copies are very weak and may blow up with even the mildest of loads. If you load for originals, use lead, slug bore first, and be VERY careful to work up the loads.
85 Grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) .312″ dia
| HP38 | 3.3 gr. | 780 (starting load) |
| HP38 | 4.5 gr. | 1,050 (MAX) |
| HS6 | 6.5 gr. | 1,071 |
| HS6 | 7.0 gr. | 1,182 MAX |
| H110 | 15.5 gr. | 1,617 MAX (Strong Guns Only) |
| 231 | 3.2 gr. | 745 (mild load) |
| 231 | 4.7 gr. | 1,022 MAX |
| Unique | 4.1 gr. | 742 (mild load) |
| Unique | 4.8 gr. | 967 MAX |
| AA No. 5 | 4.2 gr. | 554 (mild load) |
| AA No. 5 | 5.7 gr. | 948 MAX |
90 Grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) .312″ dia
| HP38 | 3.3 gr. | 811 (starting load) |
| HP38 | 4.3 gr. | 1,023 (MAX) |
| HS6 | 6.2 gr. | 1,011 |
| HS6 | 6.8 gr. | 1,081 MAX |
| H110 | 15.1 gr. | 1,482 MAX, Strong guns only |
| 2400 | 11.0 gr. | 1,270 MAX, Strong guns only |
| 231 | 3.4 gr. | 679 (mild load) |
| 231 | 4.5 gr. | 937 MAX |
| Unique | 3.6 gr. | 639 (mild load) |
| Unique | 4.8 gr. | 864 MAX |
| AA No. 5 | 4.7 gr. | 697 (mild load) |
| AA No. 5 | 5.4 gr. | 875 MAX |
100 Grain Lead SWC Lyman #313631 .313″ + Gas Check
| 231 | 3.2 gr. | 793 |
| 231 | 4.1 gr. | 990 MAX |
| Unique | 3.5 gr. | 689 |
| Unique | 4.3 gr. | 888 MAX |
| AA No. 5 | 4.2 gr. | 650 |
| AA No. 5 | 5.0 gr. | 891 MAX |
| AA No. 7 | 5.8 gr. | 869 |
| AA No. 7 | 6.1 gr. | 924 MAX |
| AA No. 9 | 6.7 gr. | 869 |
| AA No. 9 | 7.0 gr. | 924 MAX |
| AA 5744 | 8.4 gr. | start load |
| AA 5744 | 9.3 gr. | 900 MAX |
100 Grain Speer Jacketed “Plinker” .308″ dia.
| HS6 | 3.3 gr. | 811 (starting load) |
| HS6 | 5.6 gr. | 849 |
| HS6 | 6.6 gr. | 992 MAX |
| HP38 | 3.7 gr. | 838 |
| HP38 | 4.1 gr | 922 MAX |
CONTENDER ONLY BELOW
| HS6 | 10.1 gr. | 1713 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
| 2400 | 13.0 gr. | 1793 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
| AA No. 9 | 14.0 gr. | 1833 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
110 Grain JSP or JHP .308″ dia
| HS6 | 5.4 gr. | 803 |
| HS6 | 6.5 gr | 900 MAX |
| HP38 | 3.6 gr. | 770 |
| HP38 | 4.0 gr. | 869 MAX |
CONTENDER ONLY BELOW
| HS6 | 9.1 gr. | 1539 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
| 2400 | 12.0 gr. | 1594 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
| AA No. 9 | 13.5 gr. | 1739 MAXIMUM and T/C ONLY |
115 grain LEAD RN/FP (Lyman #311008 .313″ dia)
(Bull-X makes a 115gr. RN/FP bullet )
| 231 | 3.1 gr. | 782 |
| 231 | 3.8 gr. | 905 MAX |
| Unique | 3.2 gr. | 684 |
| Unique | 4.0 gr. | 835 |
| AA No. 5 | 3.8 gr. | 649 |
| AA No. 5 | 4.5 gr. | 825 |
These are ALL MAXIMUM LOADS unless noted or a lower amount
is shown. Start at 10% less than max. and work up!
Discussion: Again, there are TWO different bore sizes in use: The .308″ used in the Thompson Contender and perhaps some other modern guns. But the original bore size was .312″ so you need to make sure which size you are loading for. The RIFLE loads are closer to the T/C loads, than are these milder pistol loads.
A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air.
*
Power Pistol, Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
N100, No. 2, No. 5, No. 7, No. 9, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WAP (Winchester Action Pistol), WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.
References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet – – Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders’ Guide (1995) – – Hodgdon’s Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) – – Speer Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition – – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy Company,reloading booklet (1995) – – Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.
4 Responses
i have some 95 grain lead flat nose cast performance bullets and cant find any load data for the 32-20 just wondering if anyone has experimented with that size ? if not why not ?
I have a Marlin pump .32-20 rifle & a s&w medium frame revolver, same caliber. Both acquired in 1980’s. The rifle shot factory loads quite accurately & several hand loads also. Tried AA#9 & AA#5 both gave amazing results at 25 yds. Tried reduced loads of AA#5 in revolver with good results. Factory loads shoot very well in revolver also. I haven’t shot,
Nor reloaded anything since 1993. I cannot find anyone selling AA9 or #5.
Should keep trying to find a supplier or try a different powder that works great in both guns?
Does anyone have load data for 60gr or 65gr JHPs?
This is exactly what I needed for a Colt Army .32-20 that I inherited from my father, which he got from my Grandmother 35 years ago. I’m gathering all the components and reloading dies I need to reload. Thank you for this information and all the tips.