Inhearited a Colt 32 20 what now?

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cappo

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Excuse my ignorance but this is new to me. I inherited my grandfather's Colt 32-29. I am going to take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out before I take it to the firing range. What do I have and any suggestions?

PAT Aug 5 1884 June 5 1900 July 4 1905
Colt Police Special 32-30 WCF
 
Resist any overtures to sell it to the smith IF he tells you it is old and obsolete etc. then offers you some small sum to take it off your hands. Assuming it is safe to shoot, then by all means take it to a safe range and have fun. It is a fine weapon. The old 32-20 was a common law enforcement caliber at one point. It has quite a cult following among reloaders these days.
 
If you don't reload yet, now is the time.

Buy the Lyman manual, and you'll see how simple it can be. Any gun is more rewarding with the right ammo.

No need to get raped for rare ammo.
 
My colt OP says colt official police 32-20. I'm guessing you have a D frame police positive special....great shooter, I want one too. What length of barrel does it have? Probably for the price of a 2 or 3 boxes of shells you could get set up to reload for it. If you aren't interested in reloading, spring for a box of cartridges and take it to the range, make sure everyone knows what you have, early Colt double actions are chick magnets. Arriving in your 356 porsche might help tho.
 
There are two 32-20 loadings. Don't put anything in your gun that says high velocity, high speed, or anything like that.

Welcome to The Firing Line!
 
Ken,
After loading a few thousand for my wife to shoot in her caboy days, I'd differ with you.
I find the .32-20 quite easy to handload. :)
Denis
 
There are two 32-20 loadings. Don't put anything in your gun that says high velocity, high speed, or anything like that.
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I think a little more explanation is in order...

Back when .32-20 was one of America's most popular varmint cartridges, ammo manufacturers marketed extra-hot "Rifle" loads to give shooters a little extra effective range- kinda like a .32-20+P+. :) Many handloading books would also have a separate "Rifle" section. These loads are not safe in older revolvers like your Colt, and for that reason, the packaging for the commercial ammo would usually be clearly marked "Rifles Only", "Not For Revolvers", or something like that.

AFAIK all of these "Rifle" loads were taken off the market several decades ago. Current-production .32-20 ammo is usually marketed towards the Cowboy Action Shooting crowd and is loaded on the soft side of standard pressure to minimize recoil; it is perfectly safe for your Colt. OTOH .32-20 ammo is such a slow seller that you may still find a mom'n'pop gun store out in the boonies with a few boxes of the old "Rifle" loads in the back room- hence the warning. :)
 
Think I've lost less than a dozen, mostly my own fault in the press.
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Though hast the hands of an artiste.:D
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Im going to load some up maybe this week...whats your load with a 115 cast? 1930s S&W

WildsoftleadAlaska ™©2002-2011
 
Ken,
You WOULD have to ask. :)
She had to give up her caboy shooting about five years ago. Still have about 1500 NBC 118s & a couple thousand brass in the basement, but it's been so long I can't recall what the powder or charge was.
Winchester primers, Starline brass.

I'd have to try to look it up, if you'd asked back when I was doing them regularly I could have told you right off. :)
Denis
 
Next time you're in the neighborhood.... :)

I do apologize, but I cannot find the specific 118-grain load listed, or my notes in working it up.
Probably 1680 powder, but can't recall the charge.

And- sorry for hi-jacking this thread. :)

Denis
 
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