Getting back into the old standard lever cartridges: From 1873

[sav250]

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From bottom to top

1. 1873 Winchester (circa 1890) in .32-20 WCF
2. 1873 Winchester (present) Miroku Japan in .357 and .38.
3. 1873 Winchester (present) Uberti Italy in .357 Magnum only
4. 1873 Winchester (present) Uberti Italy in .45 Long Colt.

I saw a deer that did not see me who had four points (whitetail) less than a week ago. I was standing and he just came into view from the trees and brush at 10 yards and then glided to an open area 25 yards away before stopping again at 50 yards away before going down a ravine out of my view.

When this happened in Illinois, my first close up experience with whitetails (I came from Nevada and California where the Mule is the one), I thought I could have used a .32-20 WCF with factory sights. I guess out of the four 1873s I have I felt I wanted to use the original 1890 manufactured 1873 Winchester with the .32-20 having the same cartridge in a Colt SAA:

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I know a .30-30 would have been way too much compared to the .32-20 for this deer hunting in Illinois.

Well they did use the .32-20 successfully on elk in the days shooting straight was more important than blasting an animal without aim.

Yesterday I polished up the .32-20s feeling it'd be nice to carry both on a hunt. So I ordered a holster and gun belt for the Colt SAA .32-20 to ride my hip while I carry my 1873 Winchester in the same caliber.

It seems so much simpler to do so.

[jonbearman]

The 32-20 is an anemic cartridge at best and for deer a head shot perfectly placed might work but I would choose something more powerful for sure. Is the 32-20 even legal?

[handirifle]

Those are nice guns, but for me personally, the 44 rimfire was a long used military cartridge, but wouldn't select it for that purpose today. There is a reason the 30-30 was developed, they wanted and NEEDED more power.

Not to be critical, but the .357 is not what I would call a standard lever cartridge from 1873, just saying! :)

[sav250]

Today .357 can be got in a Colt SAA and many 1873 style rifles. Okay I got it and have two .357s from FN Winchester and Uberti. The .44-40 in a rifle is not a pip squeek. It is like a .44 Magnum handgun.
The .32-20 will out penetrate most high velocity rifles that turn meat and lungs into jelly.
Poke through with a .32-20 and the bullet exits with a .32 caliber hole stem to stern. I think if marksmen and huntsmen knew the simplicity of sending a .32 bullet at 1300 excess fps to go on through like an arrow from a compound bow then we'd give up the ultra magnums.

[Hotolds442]

Today .357 can be got in a Colt SAA and many 1873 style rifles. Okay I got it and have two .357s from FN Winchester and Uberti. The .44-40 in a rifle is not a pip squeek. It is like a .44 Magnum handgun.
The .32-20 will out penetrate most high velocity rifles that turn meat and lungs into jelly.
Poke through with a .32-20 and the bullet exits with a .32 caliber hole stem to stern. I think if marksmen and huntsmen knew the simplicity of sending a .32 bullet at 1300 excess fps to go on through like an arrow from a compound bow then we'd give up the ultra magnums.
Doubtful that many would choose to give up their Magnums for the round you suggest. If it works for you, cool. I shot my first deer with a 44 Magnum Winchester Model 94 that was built back in 1968. Range was 125 yards. I hit him every time I fired at him, and had to empty the magazine to kill him. The 200 grain JHP's I was using wouldn't even penetrate the hide. Under gunned at 125 yards. No thanks, I'll keep my high velocity rifles and bring out the novelties for showtime and special guests.

[sav250]

Doubtful that many would choose to give up their Magnums for the round you suggest. If it works for you, cool. I shot my first deer with a 44 Magnum Winchester Model 94 that was built back in 1968. Range was 125 yards. I hit him every time I fired at him, and had to empty the magazine to kill him. The 200 grain JHP's I was using wouldn't even penetrate the hide. Under gunned at 125 yards. No thanks, I'll keep my high velocity rifles and bring out the novelties for showtime and special guests.

Blow up bullets from a .44 Magnum Rifle sounds more like handgun bullets opposed to .32-20 WCF the old cartridge. No superficial wounds occur with a .32 20 WCF in a rifle. It will go all the way through with a 100 gr full lead bullet without a copper jacket.

Yes I have a .257 Weatherby Magnum perhaps more the style for those expecting intense damage on the game they shoot:

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but the .32-20 for the accuracy, lack of noise, lack of recoil, is like shooting a .22LR in a Long Rifle chambering.

Except the .32 bullet is 100 instead of 40 grains. Everyone knows a .22 LR can go a mile and how penetrative it is.

Think of shooting the game with an arrow. Where would you send a bullet that matches the compound arrow razor sharpened quadrangle? Heart and lungs. Do the same with a .32-20 WCF Colt Single Action Army then you are the hunter who knows how to place your shot right the first time. No magnum recoil or noise or expectation the power of the magnum will overtake your inadequacy to place an arrow or bullet.

Then the .32 20 comes back to memory for those who know what the past was.

[handirifle]

Ok you said "traditional cartridges from 1873." You didnt say ones that are CURRENTLY chambered in an 1873 rifle. Big difference.
just because someone uses more power than your beloved 32-20 doesn't mean its a magnum, or that they blast away at any point on a deer.
sure a .32 cal hole in the heart will kill, but just because you shoot a lightweight does not mean you are a better hunter. Cmon get off your self made pedestal and face reality.
in the last 3 years I killed 3 deer at ranges from 15yds to 180yds, with my '06 and my 308. I could use either my 375 win or my 45-70 but since ranges can be point blank to 400 yards, I want to bring meat home.

By the way, a bullet that passes thru vs one that blows up in the lungs, isn't a caliber issue, its bullet choice.
A 223 using a Barnes TSX will out perform your rifle many times over, and several states will not allow them for deer hunting.
Also, I would never compare a bullet to a razor sharp broadhead. A 2 blade or 3 or 4 for that matter, will leave a FAR larger wound channel than a non expanding slow moving. 32 cal bullet.

[BobT]

The .32-20 will out penetrate most high velocity rifles that turn meat and lungs into jelly.


As much as I like the .32-20 and its siblings the .25-20 and .218 Bee, the above statement is pure nonsense. Yes a .32-20 will kill deer or almost anything else for that matter but they are far from ideal. If that were all I had to hunt with and it was legal I would use it but I would be very careful about shot placement and would get very close.

Bob