New Levers in .32-20?

M

Model12Win

Moderator
Well how-DEE!!! :D

I've become tremendously interested in the little .32-20 WCF cartridge. I'm going to start reloading for it and casting bullets as well. I've read it's one of the cheapest centerfire cartridges to reload for, and is in a sense, a "centerfire .22" if you will. Also it can be loaded light or a little warmer (in some guns) to hunt everything from squirrel to coyote.

In short, I'm in the market for a levergun in this chambering. I've tried looking for used, but everything I've seen is either so expensive or worn out, or BOTH, that I've had not luck at all in this department. As for new production lever actions in .32-20, I just haven't been able to locate a one. I've read the cartridge is still reasonably popular, so what are you guys shooting them with??

Does somebody, ANYBODY out there know of a .32-20 lever action being currently produced?? If not, where to get a used one in good shootin' shape that won't break the bank?

Thanks so much all, I really want to make this cartridge a staple of my shooting hobby but I've been having a whole mess of trouble. Just looking for some good old fashioned advice, thanks! :)
 
i bought the marlin 94 CL in 32-20 when they came out and it is a very good rifle in a small package. and handles the hi-speed reloads with out a wimper. i think a few italian winchester clones are made in 32-20. eastbank.
 
Oh WOW!!! That's a nice Cimarron! :eek:

I'll have to shoot them an electronic letter to ask about availability! Looks JUST like what I'm wanting! I was hoping for one with about a 20" barrel, should hold about 10 in the magazine??
 
The Ubertis are nice, but to warn you- very heavy in the .32-20.
Had mine cut down to 16 inches, just too much weight out front. :)

If you can wait, I suspect Marlin will be doing something in the caliber again within the next year or two.
Denis
 
Howdy

I saw a real nice original Winchester Model 1892 chambered for 32-20 just yesterday. Sorry, I don't remember what it cost, probably a bit more than the Uberti.

If you haunt the auctions and guns shows you could probably find a nice antique in reasonable shape for not too much money. Don't be put off by a pitted bore. I have lots of antique guns with pitted bores. As long as the rifling is still strong they usually shoot fine.

And yes, a 32-20 rifle is going to be heavy because the hole is so small.
 
If one is willing to haunt some guns shows and accept a lesser exterior appearance, good, shootable 1892's in .32-20 can be had for under $1000. If the barrel is bad, it can be lined at relatively low cost.

Jim
 
32/20 Levers
I have a couple a Marlin and Win. I had a new 94 Marlin a few years ago but
I traded it off. I hunted squirrel with it, scoped with 4x, would shoot into a quarter at 40yds. I've seen them at shows for around $600. The ones I have
now are originals. Cast my own slugs RCBS mold, easy she'll to load and
fun to shoot. Don't make any more noise than 22.
65ffd93838b45af2f9addcb4943736dd.jpg
 
My wife has two Marlins in .32-20, absolutely loves 'em.
We had .357 magazine tubes installed for max capacity over the 2/3 mags they came with, she's pretty good with those rifles.

Had to load down for her CAS use, my lead reloads were cratering our mild steel plates & running a little fast for competition rules. :)

Marlin says they're planning to expand the calibers in the leverguns, and when I mentioned the .32-20 I was told that's the most repeated request they get.
Denis
 
Plenty of 32-20 lever guns (and revolvers) on GB. If you don't want to spend the money, look for an old Savage 23. They don't come up as much, but they don't command the price the Marlins and Winchesters do. If you are more interested in the cartridge than the gun, that might be the way to go.
 
Had an original Marlin 94 full length octagon barrel 32-20 for a while. I had an old Colt Police Positive in the same caliber because I thought I needed the same caliber in rifle and pistol rig. Traded them both away for a restored '62 IH Scout. The other guy got the better part of that deal for sure.

I shot one white tail doe in the neck with that rifle at about 50 yards and she dropped stone dead, even if the 32-20 is a bit light for deer.
I got a big bag of brass with that rifle and loaded cast bullets and Bullseye powder. Some of the brass was pretty old and I had the only case separation I've ever experienced. The powder gas came back through the firing pin hole in the bolt and toasted my nose and cheeks. Luckily I was wearing sunglasses because they looked like they'd been sandblasted after that shot. Coulda been my eyeballs.
Moral of the story: only use good, new brass for reloading the old cartridges.

Wish I still had that rifle.
 


This is a Browning Model 53 in 32-20. They were only made in 1981, but this is what you should look for in a lever 32-20. Very slick action, extremely well made.

Here's a link to one. Mine's not for sale.



Not a lever, but while we're on the subject of 32-20, this is a Savage 23C bolt action wearing a Weaver K3 with an R.A. Litschert "Varmint Master" objective.

I've been toying with the idea of loading a 000 buckshot pellet with a light load into a 32-20 case to use for hunting squirrels. The pellet should be deadly with 40 yards or so and slow down rapidly thereafter, making tree shots much safer.

Anyway, there are few to none 32-20 levers being built these days. Ammo and brass are both hard to find. A word about reloading - it's possible to hot load a 32-20, but the brass is very thin in the neck and won't last long if you do. Given how hard it is to find it's probably best to stick to stock level loads and shoot a 357 magnum if that's the level of performance you want.
 
Model12Win,
You might also try looking for a .25-20 Win in a pump rifle, same case only necked down to .25 cal. Both calibers came in a Marlin 27 or Remington 25 pumps. You can find them cheaper than the old lever actions. A year or two ago, I got a Marlin 27-S pump for $220.00 in an on-line auction, advertised as rough condition. It was a real mess, but I restored, had the barrel re-lined and shortened the barrel to 19". It now wears a Burris Mini 4 power scope. I drive a 1988 restored Suzuki Samurai and it lays right behind the front seats for coyotes and porcupines. My only rifle short enough to do that. Weighs about 5 pounds or less. Its a hoot to shoot!!!

I have three molds for 65gn and 85gn bullets and about 1300 JSP bullets. Picked up 1,000 pieces of .32-20 brass and just neck them down to .25 cal. With cast bullets I can load rounds cheaper than buying .22LRs. Last year, I shot over 2,000 rounds through it between developing loads and just having fun. No louder than a .22Mag.

Here is a link to my post, sorry the pictures are gone; http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537486

Marlin27-Sbluedleftside_zps30829d16.jpg


Marlin27-Sblued2_zps8007afc6.jpg


Marlin27-SbluedMarlin27-S_zps776f0bc4.jpg


Marlin27-SbluedMarlin_zpsae2aac65.jpg
 
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I'm going to side with all the folks who recommend the Marlin 1894cl. It's as strong as you'll ever need, and allows for numerous sighting options.

I spent two years hunting for one at a reasonable price before coming up with mine...no regrets.
I even threaded mine to take my 9mm pistol silencer, heresy, I know, but it's a LOT of fun. And the looks you get with a suppressed lever gun are priceless.

I run lead bullets at about 1000 fps, and Hornady jhp's at 1550 or so. I know the latter load isn't traditional, but they're death on armadillos.

On a side note, I did have a Marlin 27-s like Wachtelhund, but mine was in .32-20. The bore on mine was beyond bad, and it had been reblued, but it was a sweet handling little gun. Seeing his, I wish I'd had mine relined rather than selling it.
If you can find one and are willing to run low power loads, they're a lot of fun.
 
On a side note, I did have a Marlin 27-s like Wachtelhund, but mine was in .32-20. The bore on mine was beyond bad, and it had been reblued, but it was a sweet handling little gun. Seeing his, I wish I'd had mine relined rather than selling it.
If you can find one and are willing to run low power loads, they're a lot of fun.
March 17, 2015 07:22 PM
Click to expand...

I reload for my Marlin 27-S and don't reduce loads. I hard cast bullets and load them to 1,500 fps. I also load 75 and 85 JSPs and push them between 1,700 and 1,800 fps. The gun handles them fine. The re-lining cost me $150.00. I bought the liner and drill, let my gunsmith keep the drill, and gave him a little for his work.
 
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