32 winchester

[Paladin]

picked up an old s&w d/a pistol, the top of the barrel is marked 32 winchester, is that the 32-20 cartage? last patten is in o6 whitch makes it almost 100 years old, so I'm assuming it's black powder gun. any info appricated

[unspellable]

Yes, that's the 32-20.  The revolver is meant to take smokeless loads but not hot ones.  For many years the factories loaded this cartridge to two levels, the hotter one being marked "For Rifles Only".  Stick to the other one, or if you take to hand loading the manuals will indicate which loads are for which.

BTW, this cartrdige is the reason for the K frame having so long a cylinder if you happen to have ever noticed it.  I ran into this with a 173 grain 357 mag load in my S&W 19.  Found it would not work in a Python as the bullet nose stuck out the front of the cylinder.

[Paladin]

Thanks unspellable
I was sure it was a 32-20, just needed a second opinion. I'll have to find some cases and dies and load some up and see how it shoots. Thanks