OT, ammo info

Is ammo still available for 32/20 rifles or does one have to rely on reloading ? I have a chance to purchase one of this caliber but dont want to rely on having to reload only.Any opinions out there of the value of a Marlin 32/20 in good to excellent condition.

Yes they still make it..
32/20 ammo

Go to reloadbench.com. THey have a bulletin board there, post your question in the miscellaneous page. The guys there know about most anything shooting related.

Coboy action shooting has brought it back. Any good gunshop should be able to get it.

Cheaper Than Dirt has plenty, $36-41 per 50 rds.

Cabelas has it. They have Black Hills Cowboy, Remington and Ultramax.

Thanks guys , helps me alot , still looking for opinions on value of the rifle by Marlin

also try www.cheaperthandirt.com

You didn't say whitch model 32/20 you were looking at. If its one of the reproductions they run around $100.00 in poor condition and $550.00 for new in box. If its one of the old ones it can be $150.00 in poor condition to as much as $6000.00. I took these figures out of a two year old collecter price list.

To check quickly go to these websites.

www.gunbroker.com---ammo all over the country for sale.

www.ammotogo.com----A place in Texas.

Just type in the caliber you want.

Not a good cartridge. fussy to reload.Most Winchester 92s were sold in 38/40 and 44/40.New ammo is high priced,Better look for a 357.The 25/20 and 32/20 are called a poachers gun here.

I have a model 53 winchester in 32/20 and it is a blast to shoot. I'm not sure what it would be good to hunt with but just to shoot at targets it is a blast, almost no recoil and not loud but just lays 'm into the target at less than 100 yards. A real smooth gun.

There are some people listed below that still make the cartridge in smokeless but unfortunately the prices have gone up.

Its a fun cartridge, I can't say that I know anything about a Marlin but if it is affordable and you want a lever action to fire away at targets then go for it.

If its an original 1894CL in true "excellent" condition I'm guessing in the $1500 to $2500 range.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/-4813-Marlin-1894-HOFMCB-w-PG-32W-32-20-fine-bore.cfm?gun_id=100088678


If its a "new" 1894 classic in excellent condition - about $400 to $700.

Here is one in "as new" (unfired?) condition they are asking $899.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Marlin-1894CL-Classic-in-32-20-WCF.cfm?gun_id=100226437

I own 4 32-20's. Very handy cartridge on the farm. If you want good info I suggest you google "cast boolits" and go to that forum. Even though it's dedicated to handloading cast the guys there will be more than happy to help you out. Don't bother listening to the armchair experts that no nothing of the cartridge and tell you it's no good or unavailable.

Do you handload the 32/20?

ammo is available at the larger stores here,I really like the 32-20, i have a colt that was carried to the alaskan gold feilds in 1902,that i carry around the farm,and i used all the time when trapping.Excellent cartridge for up to coyote size game and will do the job very well on deer up to maybe 50 yards (best turkey gun ever!).Believe it or not it was reported to be one of the premier loads accuracy wise back in the day,and it won several competitions.A few of its users were the navy,police,target shooters,farmers and ranchers swore by it.Literaly every firearm manufacturer chambered for it,and it is reputed to be the single most accurate round ever(of the pitol /rifle cartridges) for a lever gun. It lost favor with police when they found it wouldnt always penetrate a car of the day,and was only really replaced by the 357 mag for that reason.It actualy was more popular than the 38 special at one time,because of its accuracy.And it still can be had in the detective models I believe.BE WARNED though,there was at one time two loads for this cartridge manufactured,one for a rifle that was loaded to higher pressures ,and one that was for pistols.Today ,to my knowledge, theres only one load offered, probably loaded way down I would think,but some folks say its still loaded too hot for a continual shooting in some revolvers. But ive shot mine a lot with no problems.If you had a really old collector gun you may want to go with the modern cowboy action shooters loads though. I've shot both a single action colt and my 1895 double action colt extensivly with modern loads with no problems,but a few years ago i bought a 1892 saddle ring winchester in this cal that has even the barrel loose in frame,that could have been caused by this.I cant say for sure, but its something to be aware of.Other than that rifle ive never found a gun of any brand that didnt shoot it well.And had a SW once that was a literal tack driver that i sold to a competition shooter for use in matches.while not as popular as it once was,theres literaly hundreds of thousands of guns out there chambered for it. So ammo should be available for a while.The fairly recent 32 mag tried to cash in on its thunder,but it never realy went over too well. it has been a very poular gun for many many years, and even in the old west a great portion of the firearms were chambered for it.while the 44 and 45 seemed to take all the glory,just as many folks carried a gun chambered for this round.think of it this way,those rounds back then were considered large heavy game rounds,most folks didnt need a large caliber gun and the 32-20 filled their needs quite well.Guns were lighter for every day carry,more eaily concealed,ammo cheaper,basically everything that still makes them popular today!if you really look at old revolvers and things much,it will surprise you how many were chambered in this cartridge.

Yup,and a whole slew of others.

Jack is right, at one time the 32-20 (aka 32WCF)was reported to have been the most popular centerfire cartridge. I believe that was based on ammo sales and that would have been back around the turn of the 19th century. It's still a great little medium power cartridge.

I've never really understood why the 32 cal as a whole suddenly just fell out of favor.if you look at the old guns of the era of the old west,or the whole settlement of the US, the vast majority were 32 cal.And this at a time when your very survival from day to day could at any time depend on it.Just a few i can think of off the top of head ,32 short,32 long,32 colt,32 SW,32-20 (32wcf),32 winchester special,32 ballard,32 marlin,32 remington,32 auto,literaly dozens of cartridges made in other countries,even the 32 cal squirrel guns that helped win the revolution.All gone it seems overnight.Guess folks are bigger,and animals tougher today than in the old days LOL.to hear folks talk today ,you would believe that if you had a 32 auto sitting on your bed when a intruder broke in ,you may as well throw it at him!

I have a box of 32 auto cartridges.One look at the tiny cartridge makes me keep a 357 handy and carry a 38 special.I checked every gun shop on a 250 mile trip.Couldnt find a box of 32 Remington ammo for a fellow.32 short,32 long,32 Colt,32 SW are gone.Elmer Keith tells about a local cop who was shot during a hold up.32 bullet hit a note book in the cops pocket.That stopped the bullet.If you study you will find the 38/40 44/40 and 45 Colt settled the west.A 32 caliber black powder rifle wouldnt put out many shots before it needed cleaning.

Just looked at Gun broker.The are many 30/30 Marlin and Winchester rifles selling for 200 bucks.The 30/30 can handloaded for small game hunting.You would have a much better choice of bullets.New 30/30 ammo costs less and can be found every where.

32 Remington. or 25 or 30 Remington for that matter, haven't been produced for some time. You can still get 30 Rem brass if you catch the seasonal production right. The 25 and 32 can be formed from 30.

As for the 32 Auto, it may not be an elephant gun, but do you want to get in front of one? Loaded right with a good cast FN they make a fine small game round.

Don't forget there are stories floating around about guys who had 45 ACP rounds stopped by a belt buckle or heavy coat and other calibers too. If you know you're going to a gunfight I suggest an M1 Abrahms is the minimum you should carry!

Time for some straight talk.I looked at Gunbroker, not many 32/20 lever action rifles for sale.Very high prices.Same with ammo.Looked at 30/30, many guns near 200 bucks.Got out my old can of mixed cartridges.Found 1 25/20 cartridge.Very small case 1.250 inches long Bullet is 31 caliber in the 32/20.32/20 ammo is 50 to 60 bucks a box.Buck a shot. 30/30 60 cents a shot.Dixie Gun Works list Colt revolver calibers produced.32/20 35000 38/40 40000 44/40 41000 45 colt 150,000.Best buy would be a Winchester 94 Ranger in 30/30.Ranger has a different front sight and stock wood.Ranger weighs a pound less than a walnut stocked 94.Sears sold a Model 94 that sells for a low price at shows.Winchester nuts look down at the Ranger and Sears 94.Thats good,gives shooters a nice gun for a low price.If you insist on Marlin a 357/38 special would be a good choice.

36,, your post shows why so many of us reload and cast our own boolits. I can reload my 30-30 for a few cents, same with my 218 Bee, 25/20, 32/20, 45/70, 308, 35 Whelen, 357, 45ACP, etc.

If a person finds a particular gun and cartridge appealing, then there is no logical argument against getting it if he is willing to go beyond the typical, "If I can't get cheap ammo at Walmart I'm not buying it!" mindset. This is the Golden Age of reloading. Don't let a lack of knowledge stop you from enjoying your hobby.

Bret,You cant even spell bullets so I question your claim to doing reloading.Reload a cartridge for a few cents,I think not. primer cost 3 cents, jacketed bullet 20 cents powder 10 cents.I started reloading in the 50s ,components have gone up a lot.Times are hard.No time to waste money on a little gun.

Unlike you I won't try to be insulting. "Boolits" isn't "bullets" misspelled. It's just a slang term we use. If you were really into cast and handloading you'd know you could reload for a few cents a round. No need for jacketed bullets when you can make your own boolits! No need for large doses of expensive powders when there are surplus powders and commercial powders that only take a pinch to get the job done and there are lots of lower priced primers out there if you know where to look. I'm still burning up primers from the mid 70's, so while you have some time on me, I'm hardly a noobie at this. I went through the "gotta have the biggest, fastest, loudest, kickingest gun around" stage 30 years ago. Maybe you ought to consider that you might just be in a rut. Time to think out of the box.

Try midway usa or gunbroker.com