My Dad recently gave me this. It belonged to my grandfather. He kept it under his pillow. It came into our home in the 60's after he passed away. I can remember Dad and my brother shooting it when I was a kid, not being able to hit anything. Now I think its because we never used the right ammo. Probably everything we shot in it was dangerous.
This is an H&R Young America. These were made from 1884-1941. A ton of them were made, in 32 S&W, .22 rimfire, and few in 32 rimfire. After lots of research, I've concluded mine is a first model, 3rd variation, which means it was made between 1897-1904, made for black powder 32 S&W round. The later versions for smokeless powder were marked with .32 S&W on the barrel. Mine is not marked. Later models had 6 digit serial numbers. I'm not sure if some even have 7 digits. Mine is SN# 2481.
This gets back to dad and my brother shooting it in the backyard. They simply bought ammo for "a .32". .32 S&W was later called .32 SW Short, after they came out with a 32 SW Long. These would have been too long to function, so that wasn't a concern. There was also a .32 Colt Long and Short. The .32 Short Colts will fit in this gun, but as I found out, very sloppy fit. I know because I almost fired some in it! Cases would have badly distorted or split. Of course, my biggest concern is that Dad (and probably Grandpa) probably bought and fired the then common .32 ACP in it, which aside from being a smokeless round, produces a lot higher pressure than Short or Long .32 SW or .32 Colt! Thank God the gun is still intact.
Anyways, it's neat to have such a nostalgic piece of American history in my possession. I may whip up some ultra light handloads and fire it.
.32 Short Colt!
This is an H&R Young America. These were made from 1884-1941. A ton of them were made, in 32 S&W, .22 rimfire, and few in 32 rimfire. After lots of research, I've concluded mine is a first model, 3rd variation, which means it was made between 1897-1904, made for black powder 32 S&W round. The later versions for smokeless powder were marked with .32 S&W on the barrel. Mine is not marked. Later models had 6 digit serial numbers. I'm not sure if some even have 7 digits. Mine is SN# 2481.
This gets back to dad and my brother shooting it in the backyard. They simply bought ammo for "a .32". .32 S&W was later called .32 SW Short, after they came out with a 32 SW Long. These would have been too long to function, so that wasn't a concern. There was also a .32 Colt Long and Short. The .32 Short Colts will fit in this gun, but as I found out, very sloppy fit. I know because I almost fired some in it! Cases would have badly distorted or split. Of course, my biggest concern is that Dad (and probably Grandpa) probably bought and fired the then common .32 ACP in it, which aside from being a smokeless round, produces a lot higher pressure than Short or Long .32 SW or .32 Colt! Thank God the gun is still intact.
Anyways, it's neat to have such a nostalgic piece of American history in my possession. I may whip up some ultra light handloads and fire it.
.32 Short Colt!