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Old .32-20 Ammo
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Bo Rich
Ohio
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May 7, 2025 - 12:20 am
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Went to my local gun shop to see what was new.  There I found some loose old .32-20 ammo in a plastic box.  There was eight rounds of WRA Co. 32 W.H.V.M-92 cartridges.  I read in the 1931 Winchester catalog that they were not to be shot in a revolver, or the Model 1873.  115gr. Hollow Points at 1635 FPS, and 685 ME.  Also in the box were 44 Peters .32-20 H.V. Marked cartridges.  With a Metal Case Hollow Point bullet.  I’m not sure what the bullet weight on the Peters cartridges are.  I don’t think that we will see this type of ammo made Today.  Since a lot of folks don’t read or follow instructions!

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TXGunNut
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May 7, 2025 - 2:16 am
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Bo Rich said
Went to my local gun shop to see what was new.  There I found some loose old .32-20 ammo in a plastic box.  There was eight rounds of WRA Co. 32 W.H.V.M-92 cartridges.  I read in the 1931 Winchester catalog that they were not to be shot in a revolver, or the Model 1873.  115gr. Hollow Points at 1635 FPS, and 685 ME.  Also in the box were 44 Peters .32-20 H.V. Marked cartridges.  With a Metal Case Hollow Point bullet.  I’m not sure what the bullet weight on the Peters cartridges are.  I don’t think that we will see this type of ammo made Today.  Since a lot of folks don’t read or follow instructions!

  

I agree but some brave folks (Buffalo Bore, et al) have made ammo in historic calibers that was never intended for vintage rifles. For pistol ammo I think you can find 9mm and 38 Spl in “+P” and even “+P+” with all the appropriate warnings on the box. Many years ago I heard of “Super Vel” ammo that was well beyond the normal loading for the 38 and maybe other cartridges. Some folks always want to go faster and someone will probably accommodate them. Lawyers gotta eat, too.

Sorry, Bill!

 

Mike

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Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe
I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove
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UpInTheBigTrees
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May 9, 2025 - 6:48 pm
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TXGunNut said

Bo Rich said

Went to my local gun shop to see what was new.  There I found some loose old .32-20 ammo in a plastic box.  There was eight rounds of WRA Co. 32 W.H.V.M-92 cartridges.  I read in the 1931 Winchester catalog that they were not to be shot in a revolver, or the Model 1873.  115gr. Hollow Points at 1635 FPS, and 685 ME.  Also in the box were 44 Peters .32-20 H.V. Marked cartridges.  With a Metal Case Hollow Point bullet.  I’m not sure what the bullet weight on the Peters cartridges are.  I don’t think that we will see this type of ammo made Today.  Since a lot of folks don’t read or follow instructions!

  

I agree but some brave folks (Buffalo Bore, et al) have made ammo in historic calibers that was never intended for vintage rifles. For pistol ammo I think you can find 9mm and 38 Spl in “+P” and even “+P+” with all the appropriate warnings on the box. Many years ago I heard of “Super Vel” ammo that was well beyond the normal loading for the 38 and maybe other cartridges. Some folks always want to go faster and someone will probably accommodate them. Lawyers gotta eat, too.

Sorry, Bill!

 

Mike

  

You’re right, many folks only look at velocity or energy tables. The real truth is that increased velocity often accomplishes nothing in the way of performance, and can even reduce performance. The lightweight Super Vel’s and later various +P+ type ammo, often failed in the field due to bullets over expanding and fragmenting, reducing penetration to below what was needed. Poorly constructed rifle bullets would often do the same when driven to extreme velocities.

 

And I don’t know that I’d call the companies hot rodding 100+ year old cartridges brave. Thankfully, most of those companies price their ammo so high, nobody shoots much of it.

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