32-20 works again

rost495 · Post by **rost495** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:45 pm

Sorry no photos this time but I did not hit exactly where I wanted to and thought I'd pass this along.

1902 manufacture of an 1892 IIRC, running 11-12 grains of something... hows that... my load stuff is packed up for moving... haven't loaded for it since last December... 90 grain hornady xtp bullets.

Anyway we brushed in next to a trail the other night. First deer came from downwind and busted us, finally a group of four came crosswind on the trail, and passed by at about 30 yards with big doe in the bunch. I figured she'd see me swinging with her and stop, it was really late and tough to see sights, and I could'nt clearly see the bottom of her chest, I figured I was up a bit too high but when I realized she wasn't stopping, I just kept swinging and mashed the trigger.

Here is what kinda surprised me, after her 50 yard dash we went to look at the damage. Wife says kinda high there... yep I knew that going into it. But it was appx 100 pound live weight doe, went through the middle of the shoulder blade going in, kept going, went through the tail of the lower blade on the way out(we were higher by a bit than the deer...) and exited and kept sailing evidently....

It did manage to be high enough to clip the aorta which didn't hurt, but both lungs had decently nice holes and damage to them. It was getting dark and cold so we just got her home and gutted and cleaned...

Sorry for no pictures but once again I"m impressed. I did have an almost shot at around 70 yards but the doe turned to face me, and I won't take that shot with this gun, and I really knew I shouldn't as the gun shoots high at 30 yards and I was not totally sure of how high it would be at 70... though maybe on its way down already...

Thanks for your time. And all the input this sight has given me to make my 32-20 safe and fun and lethal.

Jeff

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:51 pm

A little '92 in .32-20 kept a couple of us in camp meat for several seasons, back in the "old days..."

Deer, antelope & rabbits -- it didn't seem to matter much to the great little rifle and cartridge.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:24 pm

Thanks for posting. It is always interesting to get actual field reports.

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:15 pm

A 32-20 ain't enough to kill a deer with - you must've been halucinating!

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:40 pm

O.S.O.K. wrote:A 32-20 ain't enough to kill a deer with - you must've been halucinating!

Just enough to keep a couple bellies full...

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:20 pm

Buck, you do recognize sarcasm don't you?

rost495 · Post by **rost495** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:27 pm

Been told the same thing a few times. Seems to work just fine, assuming some common sense is used. Even worked with puny cowboy loads I was warned to not use.

I also suspect it has a lot to do with distance limitations and shot placement, and the fact that I haven't taken anything over say 125 pounds with it yet..

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:40 pm

Good to hear that it worked for you. I'll be carrying mine for a nice fat doe in a couple of weeks.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:04 pm

Didn't get a chance to shoot a deer with mine this year. But I need to do something different with the sight . It hard to to see in the woods in low light. By next year I'll get a peep for it.
Good report on bullet performance. I shoot 100gr XTP's in front of 12 gr of H110 and small rifle primers. The 100gr XTP is all I can seem to find at any of the shops. Actually I only know of one shop that carries .312 bullets locally.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:48 pm

Nice to hear the old cartridge can still get er done. My exwifes granddad homesteaded on the eastern side of the North Park in Co. He didn't own anything for a gun except a Marlin 94 in 32-20, he kept the family fed with deer and bear.....
If I was to go on a tare with the 32wcf again, I'ld sure give the rcbs 98 swc bullet a try. Good swc bullet that looks for all the world like Mr. Keiths 44 bullets, shoots really well out of the 32 H&R.

Tumbleweeds II · Post by **Tumbleweeds II** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:32 am

Speaking of Mr. Keith, he claimed to have killed a running mule deer with a .32-20 revolver. It was what he happened to be wearing when opportunity knocked.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:45 pm

rost495 wrote:Been told the same thing a few times. Seems to work just fine, assuming some common sense is used. Even worked with puny cowboy loads I was warned to not use.

I also suspect it has a lot to do with distance limitations and shot placement, and the fact that I haven't taken anything over say 125 pounds with it yet..

Well done rost495 and as you say "common sense", that can not be bought!

You have kudos with your choice of gun as far as I'm concerned

Nath.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:56 pm

Congrats! and thanks for sharing. It's amazing what you can kill a deer with!

rost495 · Post by **rost495** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:55 pm

Locating a bullet in the right place, I recall my mentor saying his dad always took a pipe and tobacco with them on a hunt, smaller whitetails, and the 22, with a solid short. Would poke one in the ribs at say 20-30 yards around a water hole spring they had, then smoke a pipe and listen ....usually could hear the deer bleed out and thrash a bit in the ensuing minutes....

Will be getting to cast bullets to try at some point but want to slug the barrel before I custom order some. Gun has been ridden hard and put away wet....

WANT a peep SO bad, but on the worn gun I really want it to blend better, so I may have to figure out which peep, and then "distress" it some first to blend it in. Not sure if the gun actually has much real blueing left... but I love the gun. Wish I had a couple more like it, old wear and tear etc... 25-35 for some reason I have the itch for, or is it 25-30? I love the looks of that round.

Jeff

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:39 pm

O.S.O.K. wrote:Buck, you do recognize sarcasm don't you?

Sure I do. I even used a 'smiley' in my reply...

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:50 pm

Jeff maybe think about using a rear sight off of a post 64 94 to be the recipient donor for a One Ragged Hole sight for that rifle?

rost495 · Post by **rost495** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:14 am

wouldnt that give me a simple open rear again instead of a peep? I have a semi buckhorn rear and man can you get to searching for the front sight at times... I"m sure its why I"ve consistently hit higher than I wanted to on everything but a javelina I shot mid day when I could see the sights really well for an offhand 50ish yard head shot.

Jeff

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:24 am

Well its not exactly a peep, and its not open, but does not mess with the lines of the gun or clunk up the rear of the reciever. Does allow for better accuracy than the standard rear sight tho.

One other option might be to get one of the Lyman 21 copies from Providence tool and die(think Buffalo Arms carries them?), may have to punch a hole in the side of the ol girl tho...

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:39 pm

Never fear --- no dead deer will ever sue you for choosing one over the other... .357/.32-20/.30-30/.379 Wallsmasher Magnum...

The little .32 will do its job, within its limitations, and do it well.

32-20 works again

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