[woodwright]

A friend of mine has an old Colt 32-20. I would like to start loading for him, and i had a few questions. What loads have you guys had success with? I don't want to load it too hot and risk damaging his gun. My plan is to get some new starline brass, and probably a Lee bullet mold. What size and shape of bullet should I get? I've got lots of wheelweight lead. Before I order anything I was gonna get his gun and slug the throats and barrel. Thanks in advance.

 

[unclenick]

With wheel weights, assuming you are not heat treating the bullets, I would start with Trail Boss and see how it does. Pressure-wise it should easily handle filling the case to the bottom of the bullet (this stuff isn't supposed to be compressed).

Obligatory disclaimer language: I'm assuming you've heard the usual liability warnings about loading for others rather than teaching them to load for themselves on your gear. Also that you know you'd need a license to sell anything you reload.

 

[jodum]

I shoot a lot of 32-20 from several rifles and pistols. You didn't say if your friends Colt was a single action or double action. The single actions were somewhat stronger than the double action guns built. I use the Lee 115 gr rnfp bullet a lot with WW231 or HP38. I keep pressures around 15K and speeds around 850 fps which should be safe in any 32-20 in reasonable shape. Be careful when seating bullets as the 32-20 brass is extremely thin walled. Don't try to hot rod any of these older guns. There are to few left to shoot as there is.

 

[woodwright]

I'm pretty sure it's a single action. Thanks for the info. I wasn't gonna charge him for the rounds if he pays for the components.