32-20 question for King Medallion

[Black River Smith]

Your last posting about your new 32-20 pistol was end of February.

So have you had a chance to load for it and shoot it, yet?

Just curious to here a function and shooting accuracy report before you do a 40-60 shoot.  

[King Medallion]

BRS, yes, I have shot the 32/20! It is much fun to shoot, and would been even much more fun had my hand not hurt so much. My hands have a bit of arthritis and damage from a lifetime of abuse from my job, but I won't let it stop me! I have loaded 14 different test loads with 3 different bullets, 120g MBC RNFP coated, 115g Oregon Trail RNFP, and 115g Quality Cast RNFP coated. This day I had only a short time to  shoot so I loaded up my last 25 pieces of empty brass with the last of the Quality Cast coated bullets over Be86 powder, don't remember the amount. It rang the little 4" walking target at almost every shot, and kept the golf balls flying! It put a big smile on my face to be sure. Can't wait for a good windless day for real test load shooting.
Now, to add to the story, I had ordered a set of Wolf reduced power springs for it. which promptly managed to get lost in the mail for a couple weeks. Finally got them, got to put them on and the main spring was 3/16ths too long! called Wolf and after explanations and confirming I had the correct springs, was told to file down the spring to fit. Did so, and not with a file either, got it to fit and was disappointed to find that it didn't feel reduced to me at all. I'll have to mess it with more later as I had to get the grip frame in the mail to Sack Peterson for 1 piece stag grips.

So long story short, yes, I shot it, yes I love it, and am stoked to get it back and shooting again.
The 40/60 is starting it's own set of headaches already, but I'm up to the challenge with open checkbook, per usual.   

[Black River Smith]

Sorry to hear about the arthritis but I too have rheumatoid arthritis but still enjoy shooting.  Just not the fast pace of CAS like before.

The bullets you are using are in the correct range as the original Winchester 115 gr mold I have for the 32-20 experimenting.
ns
For the lighter spring tension, years ago when my arthritis started I posed the question about lightening up the hammer pull.  I bought some springs from Cimarron that where on sale at the time.  They had the same issue as yours, they were too long and needed filing, I did not do that.  Instead Abilene suggested putting a washer (plain or lock), I do not remember.  But I will go back through the posting to the 2017 - 2018 to find the correct washer and post it here for you to try.  For me it did lighten the pull and still set off the Winchester primers.  I have one in every SAA now.  Give me sometime.

[Black River Smith]

Found the posting about reducing the tension.  Here you go::  https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=58832.msg702686#msg702686

Abilene's #10 split washer was an easy 'try' and I thought it worked enough for me.  I never did install the bought springs because they did require 'filing or grinding' and I was not up to it, because it was a month after the arthritis diagnosis.  Bad time.

Good luck and thanks for shooting update of your new 32-20 caliber.

[Abilene]

BRS, haha as I was reading King's post I was thinking I needed to tell him to do the washer, then saw your reply    .  I've always thought Wolff SAA springs weren't very light, I've used a few but always put a washer under them.  And lots of springs are too long and need to be trimmed some.  Heck, in the Pietta '58's I recently got the factory springs were too long.

related trivia - on the Cimarron Thunderer there is not enough space between the mainspring screw head and the grip center piece to fit a washer under the mainspring unless you oogle out some wood to make room.

I always enjoy when I shoot my 1st gen 32-20.  Little bullet, lotsa steel, very mild!  Not really mine, my brother's but he's never shot it but I have a lot. 

[King Medallion]

When you say "split washer", do you mean a lock washer?

[Abilene]

yes!

[King Medallion]

Ah, that explains things a bit easier to this Midwestern dunce. Years ago I had used a piece of leather on my 1st saa, which I still have, a wedding present from my bride of 31 years. It worked fine till I saved up enough cash for a proper tuning.

[Black River Smith]

Abilene, I don't forget good ideas and I really needed this one back in 2017 with the onset of that physical issue.

Even with the hammer spring fix, I did not feel comfortable to fire off any rounds until well within the 2019 year.

Did not think you would mind, the sharing of that idea with King.

[Black River Smith]

King Medallion,

I did not miss or forget about the last line of your 2nd paragraph in your original response, so STAG grips on this revolver?  Can't wait to see a picture of the finished look.  If you, please!

I have real stag knife handles but always wanted a set on a SAA, just could not justify them on the revolvers I own.  Thought about doing fake plastic/polymer but just not the same.

Hope they turn out perfect for you.

[Abilene]

I've seen some very good ivory imitations, but very few good stag or bone imitations, most are pretty fake looking.