I recently acquired an S&W Model 1905 in .32-20. When I picked it up at my FFL dealer, I bought the one box of .32-20 ammo he had on the shelf. It was Remington brand (green and yellow box, so modern ammo) 100 grain cast bullet ammo. (As an aside, it cost a bleeding fortune.)

The ammo box is marked "Rifle". I have a dim recollection that at one point there might have been a sort of +P version of the .32-20 ammo for Model 1892s and other similar stronger actions that was not to be fired in weaker actions like handguns.

So, my question: Can I safely shoot this ammo in my new (to me) revolver, or do I need to put it on the shelf pending acquiring a long gun companion to the S&W and reload before I can take the revolver out for a test fire?

Thanks.

Rem

IT is a swaged, not a cast bullet[projectile].
THE Hi performance 32-20 ammunition of years past was ALWAYS a jacketed bullet[projectile].

The "rifle only" ammo I have seen has always been jacketed. It was an 80gr hollowpoint or 100gr softpoint. It said on the back of the box "Not Safe for 1873 rifles or any handguns". It bent the crane on my Colt Police Positive Special when I fired one in it. I would NOT shoot it in the S&W if it is that. However, I don't believe they have made any of that ammunition since the beginning of WWII.

More recently, they have been making halfjacketed 100gr flatnose, softpoints that is labeled "High-Velocity", but is says "Safe in all rifles and handguns" on the back of the box. That stuff can be used in your handgun. The lead and plated lead "Standard Velocity" factory loads can be used also.

Actually, they have reduced the velocity of 32-20 cartridges between the 1950's and the 1990's. The velocity of the "High-Velocity" cartridges now is very close to where the "Standard Velocity" cartridges were in the 1950's. It used to be Standard Vel = 800fps and High Velocity = 950fps. The latest High Velocity = 850fps. I have not chronoed the REAL High Velocity ones that were unsafe in handguns (I did not get a chrono until years after that ammunition was disposed of).

all i can tell you is this: my pipsqueak 32wcf loads from a 6" smith of about the same vintage as yours, COMPLETELY destroyed Glen Fryxells chronograph!

Would I be wrong to guess that it was not muzzle blast that caused the damage but rather an errant projectile?

....shot placement is everything!

one of the more expensive shot placements I ever made!

We both know that that 180 grain Partition that I watched you put through that Yak's heart (in a 40 mph crosswind!) cost you a heckuva lot more than that Chrony did!