.32-20 for white tail

[Old Time Hunter]

Back in the day, when I first pulled on a heavy wool pants and a red argyle wool coat and took to the woods, my Grand Pa handed me a single shot 32-20 Stevens. That was many, many moons ago. He instructed me to learn by experience under the tutalge of a gent named Horace Aubry. Horace had, by all accounts that knew him, taken more venison than any man alive in the North Woods. Since he and his brood lived on what he got, he did not take hunt'n lightly. He was also of very modest means, never mak'n more than twice his property taxes in any given year. His tool of choice was a '92 Winchester 16" barrel chambered for .44-40. When he saw me standing there with my single-shot 32-20, his first words were "boy, that pea shooter you have there is a little on the weak side, guess I'll have to teach you by learn'n ya how to walk up 'n touch 'em". The first day, and Horace only believed in still hunting (said God did not intend for us to wait in ambush, he thought it was some kind of sin), we "spooked" up four deer the entire day. Horace would not let me take a shot, cause use'n that gun, if you could not hit by throw'n a rock, you don't try and take the chance on waste'n my future dinner. Through out the first season, I saw a total of 18 deer, but did not pull the trigger in the direction of any of them, cause they were all farther away than I could through a rock when I was 12. Horace on the other hand, he waited until noon of the last day, and took a dressed out 200# Doe. He had his chances all week long, but felt this one offered more for the dinner plate. His shot was at around fifty yards.

When he handed my back to my Grand Pa, they had some discussion, and Grand Pa took back the Stevens. He put it above the mantel and said "from now on that's a varmint and target gun", Horace thinks it's not well adapted to the modern terms of Deer hunt'n. When I asked why, Mr. Aubry stated "youse only got's about 10 days of legal hunt'n now a days, years ago we had the better part of a year, how many deer did we see within a rocks toss these last 10 days?"

The next year, Gramps gave me his '92 .44-40 that his father (my great grand dad) bought new in '97, thats 1897. Still have it, got my first deer that year with it, two shots from about 35 yards.

Moral of the story, under the present rules of engagement, why limit your opportunties by handicapping your self with marginal equipment.

[Graybeard]

Present "rules of engagement" here in Bama allows one to go out daily from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until Jan. 31 of the following year. In about 2/3 of the counties in the state you can shoot two does or a buck and a doe on everyone of those days. I think the least such days any county has now is about 43 of them. On all of those days in all of those counties you can legally shoot one buck per day.

Iffen that ain't enough chances bow season starts on Oct. 15 and with it you can take two does or a buck and a doe all over the state from Oct. 15 to Jan. 31.

So I think today is as good a time as there ever has been to take out a gun that is a challenge should that be what one wants to do.

[coyote trapper1928]

Present "rules of engagement" here in Bama allows one to go out daily from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until Jan. 31 of the following year. In about 2/3 of the counties in the state you can shoot two does or a buck and a doe on everyone of those days. I think the least such days any county has now is about 43 of them. On all of those days in all of those counties you can legally shoot one buck per day.

Iffen that ain't enough chances bow season starts on Oct. 15 and with it you can take two does or a buck and a doe all over the state from Oct. 15 to Jan. 31.

So I think today is as good a time as there ever has been to take out a gun that is a challenge should that be what one wants to do.

Did I read that right? Over 60 Deer can be taken by one person during the open Deer Season?

[35Rem]

Check your math. 60 deer could feasably be taken in 30 days by one hunter....so it could be 216 in all (I think)

[Lloyd Smale]

its far from marginal equipment if used properly. Its not a 200 yard deer rifle and probably not even a 100 yard rifle. What it is is a nice light little carbine for sneeking around in the woods with. Used by a man that CAN SHOOT not someone that needs a 300 short mag with a 12 power scope to hit a deer at under a 100 yards. Im not a ballistics expert by a long shot but i find it hard to believe it will bounce off of deer and that if i put a 100 grain bullet into the lungs or heart of a 100 lb deer that the hole will heal. Id about bet id be gutting it just as quickly as i would if i was shooting it with that magnum.

[Keith L]

My concern is much like those who advocate shooting yotes with a 17HMR.  While it will work well for someone who understands the limitation of the light rounds and keeps hunting distances within them it is not a chambering one should give a new shooter or one who lacks control.  Long shots, and marginal shots will lead to wounded game, and often that means lost game that does no one any good.

[Lloyd Smale]

kieth you make a good point but its something that really cant be factored into the deal. You cant control an idiot. The same guy that takes a marginal shot at 100 yards with a 3220 would blast away at 500 yards with a 270 but in my opinion for what its worth the avearge guy in the woods with a 3220 anymore is probably a more experienced hunter and knows the limitation of his gun and for the most part anyone on here is either knowlegable or at least has enough interst in what will work to find out and live by these limitation.

My concern is much like those who advocate shooting yotes with a 17HMR.  While it will work well for someone who understands the limitation of the light rounds and keeps hunting distances within them it is not a chambering one should give a new shooter or one who lacks control.  Long shots, and marginal shots will lead to wounded game, and often that means lost game that does no one any good.

[Old Time Hunter]

Wow! Did not anticipate the antagonistic bent. I am a rabid bow hunter and understand quite substantially the art of shot placement, that being said, I would venture to say that I would be more confident with some one using a bow instead of a .32-20. My son actually harvested a very nice 8 pt Buck a few years back with my M1 Carbine, one shot from 40 yards away. After congradulating him on his fine accomplishment, I told him that if he ever took that M1 out in woods hunting again, he would have to do it in a skirt! Those little calibers are woman's guns. Now, if you all want to use that sissy stuff some where else, that's all fine and dandy, but in my realm bring a .270 or larger, with at least a 1000 lbs of muzzle energy. Since it's my 2400 acres, I guess that might put me in a position to make my rules. Personally, I like single shot's, hand loaded Sharp's, '85's and the like, along with lever guns. My actual favorite, first rifle to grab, go anywhere is a '94 Trapper chambered for .44 Mag. Any new hunter to my camp, whether they are 16 or 60 starts out with a single shot, heck I even allow them to use one of mine, but they are of at least 45-70 in caliber. Make's 'em think about where to place that shot, since they don't get a second. The second rule is, everyone is allowed a 10 acre cushion, no crowding. I have around 15 core group every year, including myself and my boys, and there are five principles that are allowed one guest each, so we never have more than 20 at any given time. Our rifle season lasts 9 days, Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after. We are allowed one either sex tag and if you win the lottery, a bonus antlerless tag. Based on the DNR's calculations last year AFTER the season, they gave our area deer population at 41 per square mile. Therefore, on any given day, there should be at least a 160 deer roaming my property. Still, I do not advocate the use of "marginal" equipment, that increases the chance for a wounded deer not to be recovered. Since my land is 100% virgin forest, there is plenty of space for them to lay down and not be found by humans. What they do, do though, is increase the amount of Timber Wolfs that migrate on to the land, which eventually depletes the deer herd.
Regarding my personal skill in shooting, I have traveled over most of North America and I can count on one hand the amount of times that I did not make it to at least the final round in open sight competition.

[Jerry Lester]

My concern is much like those who advocate shooting yotes with a 17HMR.  While it will work well for someone who understands the limitation of the light rounds and keeps hunting distances within them it is not a chambering one should give a new shooter or one who lacks control.  Long shots, and marginal shots will lead to wounded game, and often that means lost game that does no one any good.

I can, and do agree 100% with you on the 17HMR/coyote argument, as well as the tons of other such caliber/game arguments.

I judge a calibers potential by basically one standard. If a caliber/combination won't bust through a facing shoulder, and make it "at least" through the vitals on a quartering towards the shooter angle consistantly, then it's definately "not" enough for whatever animal it's intended for. After meeting that standard, it's then a matter of how much damage it imparts to the vitals, and how "quickly" it'll bring about death to the animal it's intended for. The caliber in question here, as far as deer are concerned will not only do all you really need to the vitals on any decent chest shot, but with the "proper" bullet will more often than not give you an exit to boot for ease of tracking if need be.

Wow! Did not anticipate the antagonistic bent. I am a rabid bow hunter and understand quite substantially the art of shot placement, that being said, I would venture to say that I would be more confident with some one using a bow instead of a .32-20. My son actually harvested a very nice 8 pt Buck a few years back with my M1 Carbine, one shot from 40 yards away. After congradulating him on his fine accomplishment, I told him that if he ever took that M1 out in woods hunting again, he would have to do it in a skirt! Those little calibers are woman's guns. Now, if you all want to use that sissy stuff some where else, that's all fine and dandy, but in my realm bring a .270 or larger, with at least a 1000 lbs of muzzle energy. Since it's my 2400 acres, I guess that might put me in a position to make my rules. Personally, I like single shot's, hand loaded Sharp's, '85's and the like, along with lever guns. My actual favorite, first rifle to grab, go anywhere is a '94 Trapper chambered for .44 Mag. Any new hunter to my camp, whether they are 16 or 60 starts out with a single shot, heck I even allow them to use one of mine, but they are of at least 45-70 in caliber. Make's 'em think about where to place that shot, since they don't get a second. The second rule is, everyone is allowed a 10 acre cushion, no crowding. I have around 15 core group every year, including myself and my boys, and there are five principles that are allowed one guest each, so we never have more than 20 at any given time. Our rifle season lasts 9 days, Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after. We are allowed one either sex tag and if you win the lottery, a bonus antlerless tag. Based on the DNR's calculations last year AFTER the season, they gave our area deer population at 41 per square mile. Therefore, on any given day, there should be at least a 160 deer roaming my property. Still, I do not advocate the use of "marginal" equipment, that increases the chance for a wounded deer not to be recovered. Since my land is 100% virgin forest, there is plenty of space for them to lay down and not be found by humans. What they do, do though, is increase the amount of Timber Wolfs that migrate on to the land, which eventually depletes the deer herd.
Regarding my personal skill in shooting, I have traveled over most of North America and I can count on one hand the amount of times that I did not make it to at least the final round in open sight competition.

 

I commend you on your vigilance with taking care of your property, and maintaining order with the people you allow to hunt there. I also understand your desire to not let a bunch of deer end up wounded, or dead, and not recovered. I do have to kinda scratch my head though at the whole concept of trusting a bow more than a 32-20 as far as it's killing power.

In the hands of a "true" hunter, even the lowly 30 carbine is deadly on deer, although I don't particularly care for it myself. I'd a whole lot rather see a greenhorn carrying a 32-20 than a bow. I can't count the times I've found dead deer with arrows, or arrow wounds stuck in various places other than the vitals. At least with a rifle, an un-experienced hunter can still put a bullet where it needs to go if he's not totaly irresponsible.

As far as you caliber minimums on your hunters; If they put a 270, or 45-70 bullet through a deers guts, it'll be no different than if they did it with a 32-20, or 50-BMG. You'll still have a bad situation either way. On the flip side, if they put a 32-20 through a shoulder, and into the vitals, it'll drop just as quick as if they used a 270, 45-70, or a 50-BMG. The only time a bigger, more powerfull caliber is required for deer is when a hunter decides that a shot through that hind quarter, or that patch of deer fur he sees through the bushes is "good enough".

[Cheesehead]

Back in the day, about 80 years ago, the 32-20 was not considered marginal equipment on the rural WI farm, it was the only equipment available. Not using the gun meant somebody did not go hunting. I just did not work that way. Somebody took that gun hunting every year. I still happens today. None of these guys are girls or sissy. About the "womens gun" thing. My daughter shoots a 44 mag 29 and a 45/70 lever with enthusiasm, 100 pounds of petite 15 year old girl.

Cheese

[Lloyd Smale]

guess im one of those there girly men and im proud to wear the title if means i can sneak around in the woods and stalk up on a deer under 50 yards and take it with an ACCURATE shot with my 3220. Its going to be chilly wearing a skirt in november up here though.  guess too id better not use the 3030 at 100 yards on a deer or its going to run off wounded as i would imagine the ft pds of energy of one of those underpowered things compares to a 3220 at 50 yards. Thank God i can still hunt with my bow and still do it with a pair of pants on!! Wouldnt want anyone looking up my skirt in my bow scafold!! and most of all i glad i dont live where the deer are so bullet proof. These northern bucks must be a little more light boned as ive seen cast bullets out of a 3220 blow through the shoulders of quite a few. Guess it all comes down to you have to hunt with what your comfortable with. Me i do 99 percent of it anymore with a handgun or a bow. Found out i like to hunt deer not shoot them out of a blind at 5o yards with a 270 with a 4x12 ballistic compensated lazer rangefinder scope and i think my grandpa and his grandpa are smiling down from heaven watching there girly boy do it.

[Syncerus]

I don't know why everyone wants to use .25/20s on deer and .45/70s on lions and elephants. I think people get hypnotized by borderline conditions. If you want to shoot at close ranges, use an iron sighted .35 Remington on your deer and have at it. That's humane AND sporting.

If you want to use a .22 RF on a deer to prove that it's possible, go for it, but don't call it sportsmanship. It's an ego thing, plain and simple. Unless you don't have another rifle and can't borrow an adequate rifle, there's no excuse for using marginal equipment on game.

I know, your great-grandfather shot 900 deer with a .22 short in the Great Depression.

You owe it to the game animals to use equipment suitable under all conditions; not equipment that will work if everything goes absolutely perfectly.

Syncerus

[Old Time Hunter]

Thank you Syncerus! The point seems to be lost on some people.

[Lloyd Smale]

you guys have stirred me up and i took the 3220 out today and shot it. I think it will have to speak this deer season again.

[Graybeard]

Better watch out Lloyd, the ammo police are among us and will no doubt have you arrested or whatever for such an act.  I'm thinking some folks have forgotten how to hunt and think they can make up for it by using super duper magnum party poopers.

[Keith L]

You should hunt with whatever trips your trigger.  Lloyd, you know the limits of your weapon.  Sadly many don't.

Two guys I know only have one gun each and they use it for everything.  One has a .223 and shoots deer with varmint loads.  He and his buddies sit at the table in his cottage and play cards.  When they see deer out the window they shoot them in the boiler works, and the fragging bullets liquify the deer's lungs.  End of story.  They are at fairly short range, and the system works.  The other guy has a .338 that he uses for everything.  It brings down deer as well.  My shoulder hurts just thinking about it.  Me, I am at home in the woods with my Marlin levergun and 170 grain Federal Premium 30-30s.  And I hear from the 7mm Mag and the 300 Mag boys every year about my old fashioned gun.  So be it.  But I know how it shoots so I can take my 50 yard shots (all I can see from my stand) and am happy.  We just ate the last of last season's venison the other night, and I am ready for the season to start...

[Lloyd Smale]

Bill i guess the differnce is i dont buy into all that ftlbs of energy crap or quote some writer in guns and ammo magazine or even quote a decent gun writer. All of them have predudices. I try not to bring anything into a post that isnt from my real life experiences. To many internet experts out there allready. Granted a 3220 isnt the ultimate deer rifle for every circumstance but it surely doesnt bounce off of deer either. Ive yet to see a deer that didnt die with a hole in its heart lungs or brain and if your not a good enough marksman and hunter to put that bullet there id suggest you modify your hunting style or better yet just stay home. I dont want to have to run out there with my 3220 and put down a deer that was guy shot a 300 yards with a 338 mag!! I know some of you that posted agianst this do have experience hunting and have your own opionion and are surely allowed that but I wonder how many of you have actually had real life experience with the 3220. If i didnt i wouldnt have posted in the first place because i wouldnt have known the answer. Believe me a 3220 in the hands of a good hunter is a hell of alot more effective then even a 460 weatherby in the hands of a keyboard expert.

Better watch out Lloyd, the ammo police are among us and will no doubt have you arrested or whatever for such an act.  I'm thinking some folks have forgotten how to hunt and think they can make up for it by using super duper magnum party poopers.

[Old Time Hunter]

Unfortunately, most people have this romantic idea of what is a great hunter, in reality most people are not near the hunter they think they are. That being said, why would any city slicker, with thoughts of grandeur, be allowed to use marginal equipment that magnifies their potential for a mistake? If you hunt big game only once a year, specifically deer, why not follow tradition and at least use a .30-30. I do know that some legislators are presenting bills to make a minimum caliber/power law in some states. I hate for it to come to that, but unfortunately again, the self important prima donna's force it by their own visions of over estimated ability.

As the 32-20 being the caliber of choice, did you ever wonder why it was superseded by the 32-35? And then the .30-30. I guess our fore fathers were just too dumb to realize a good thing and messed it up by coming out with more powerful options.

[Keith L]

A few years ago Wisconsin went the other way and removed the size restriction on deer hunting equipment.  Now the only requirement is that they be .22 or larger and centerfire in the rifle zones.  And a centerfire .22 is good plenty in the hands of an expert hunter.  A .338 won't do it in the hands of a slob hunter.  The guy that disturbs me the most is the guy who only shoots during deer season and wonders why he wounds animals and never finds them.  Sadly there are plenty in the woods each fall.  There is a joke around here about the guy who goes hunting and when he gets home his wife shows him that she replaced the rifle in his gun case with a bb gun.  He never knew because he spent his whole hunt in the saloon.  Lots of the folks in the woods here in November I wish stayed in the bar and never made it to the woods.  They couldn't cleanly kill a deer with an RPG.

[Lloyd Smale]

I would guess the 3030 was designed to increase the range of a deer rifle and it did just that what the 3220 will do at 50 yards the 3030 will do at a 100. I dont think every hunter all of a sudden decided there 3220s and 4440s were now underpowered and ran out and bought them. As i doubt if a ton of guys went out and bought 300 win mags and sold the 06s when the 300 hit the market. First as in my last post have any of you actually taken a deer with a 3220 and seen what damage the little round does. I have quite a few times. ITS FAR FROM SHOOTING DEER WITH A 22!! The only post on this hole thing that had someone else shooting one with the 3220 i beleive it resulted in a very dead deer. Im not beyond using big armament to kill deer ive done it with 500 linebaughs and 458 mags too. Was it need? Hell no! A whitetail deer doesnt weight much more then a big dog. Would i take something bigger like a black bear with one? No. But then ive taken them with bows 3030 45 colts and 44 mags and truely believe you dont need a magnum rifle to take them with either. Another thing i get a kick out of is people (and i personaly no some) that think deer rifles start a 270s and that there on the small side but think nothing of strapping on a 38 snubby or a 9mm and feel there protected against the most dangerous animal on earth. Ive done enough ranting on this post and know in my heart that im not going to change anyones mind and dont really give a **** Go forth with your big magnums and slay the deer. Ive heard they can be pretty dangerous when they get indigestion from hunters feeding them to much. Im out of here.

[Flash]

The 32/20 is head and shoulders above what i've used already. A local spot had some tough places to hunt due to the human population increase and noise was definately a factor. I decided to use my 22 Hornet on an evening hunt and a well placed neck shot dropped her like a sack of potatos. I knew  a policeman who hunted on the outer fringes of a state park with a Ruger Single Six 22 Magnum out of a tree stand. He got more deer than I got.

[Flash]

I don't know why everyone wants to use .25/20s on deer and .45/70s on lions and elephants.

Talons and Tusks...........if you ask me.

[S.S.]

A better way to ask a question like the initial post may be.
"How many of you would hunt Whitetail with an old
32-20 if you had one"... I believe some Truth stretchers
would be exposed if they said they would not if THEY had it!
I am not gonna' lie, You better believe I would hunt with it.
I am not a sport hunter, I hunt for meat! So What ever I have at the time to
bring that meat home will be used ! Am I Unethical? Maybe, Depending on
how one defines it, Do I care? NOPE, if it puts meat in my families freezers,
Not one Bit! I shoot well and I stalk well so there should be no reason that a
.32-20 should not be enough for Whitetail if I do my part.
I think anything much over a .30-30 is overkill for most things in the lower 48 anyway!

[KSR]

 I have hunted with a 92 in 25-20. It will work fine within its limitations. I shot a six point buck at 35 yards once in the chest, went
through the top of his heart. He turned and ran about 35 to 40 yards and over he went. I normally use an 30-06, 243, 7mm mag
or something else simular but smaller cartridges will work fine if you do your part and shoot game within their range limitations.
I have been thinking of using my Browning 53 in 32-20 this year because where I m planning on hunting about 75 yards will be the
max distance I can shoot.
 

[DOUBLEJK]

Not with today's factory fodder I wouldn't....
But with good handloads in modern strength 92's it werks fine within' its limits...
It sure is not a cartridge for those that havta shoot at em if they can see em tho....

[S.S.]

In all honesty, I am actually switching to less powerful cartridges for most of my hunting needs,
As I get older, I really do not like getting smacked around by hard kicking rifles like I used to.
I still have some bruisers, I just do not use them quite so much. My Lever action .30-30s
or my .35 Rem. are just about right.. My model 92 in .357 mag. will see a lot more of the woods
this year too.