.32-20 Winchester

.32-20 Winchester
.32-20 (Left), .32 ACP (Right)
TypeRifle, revolver
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerWinchester Repeating Arms Company
Designed1882
Produced1882–present
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter.3125 in (7.94 mm)
Land diameter.3051 in (7.75 mm)
Neck diameter.327 in (8.3 mm)
Shoulder diameter.342 in (8.7 mm)
Base diameter.354 in (9.0 mm)
Rim diameter.408 in (10.4 mm)
Rim thickness.065 in (1.7 mm)
Case length1.315 in (33.4 mm)
Overall length1.592 in (40.4 mm)
Rifling twist1 in 20 in (510 mm)
Primer typeSmall pistol
Maximum CUP16,000[1] CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
85 gr (6 g) JHP 1,100 ft/s (340 m/s) 228 ft⋅lbf (309 J)
115 gr (7 g) CL 900 ft/s (270 m/s) 207 ft⋅lbf (281 J)
100 gr (6 g) CL (Rifle) 1,210 ft/s (370 m/s) 325 ft⋅lbf (441 J)
Source(s): "Cartridges of the World", Chuck Hawks [2][3]
disassembled .32-20 Winchester cartridge with 100 grain lead bullet

The .32-20 Winchester / 7.94x33mmR, also known as .32 WCF (Winchester center fire), was the first small-game lever-action intermediate cartridge that Winchester produced.[4] It was initially introduced as a black-powder cartridge in 1882 for small-game, varmint hunting, and deer.[5][6] Colt produced a single-action revolver chambered for this cartridge a few years later.[7]

The name .32-20 refers to the 32 caliber bullet of .312-inch-diameter (7.9 mm) and standard black-powder charge of 20 grains (1.3 g).

  1. ^ Saami pressures. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm
  2. ^ "The .32-20 Winchester". Chuck Hawks. 2013.
  3. ^ Barnes, Frank C. (1997) [1965]. McPherson, M.L. (ed.). Cartridges of the World (8th ed.). DBI Books. pp. 64, 91. ISBN 0-87349-178-5.
  4. ^ "Levergun loads: the .25-20 Winchester" by John Taffin, Guns Magazine, April 2004
  5. ^ ".32-20 Winchester (HV-92) Archived 2005-05-22 at the Wayback Machine" from Accurate Powder
  6. ^ "The .32-20 Winchester" by Chuck Hawks
  7. ^ "32-20 Winchester Centerfire 1882" by Paco Kelly at Leverguns.com