.308" Or .312" Bullets In .32-20 Contender/Encore ?

[Landngroove]

T/C uses a .308" groove diameter in thier .32-20 Contender/Encore pistol barrels. The industry standard has been a .312" groove diameter. Other than handloading my own with a .308" bullet, standard .32-20 ammo comes with .312" bullets. Just wondering what others who shoot these T/C .32-20 pistols use for ammo.

[GregP42]

I used handloads when I had one, .308 dia. 147gr FMJ BT bullets.

[Johnly]

I have a 10" 30-20. What a fun round in a Contender.

I shoot 5.0 gr. of 800X and a .314" 100 gr. lead bullet for general plinking and 110 gr. V-max bullets and WW296 for a varmint load.
I tried standard 32-20 dies and couldn't get enough neck tension with .308 bullets, so I purchased a set of Redding 30-20 dies that work great.

Speer manuals have "hot" 30-20 loads for use in Contender pistols should yo be looking for some loading data.

[RonF]

Landngroove, if you're asking if it's safe to shoot factory ammo in the Contender, the answer is yes.  Factory ammo is loaded lightly and the .312" bullet is thin jacketed, so the Contender easily contains the pressure.  Accuracy may not be all that great, though.

RonF