The 32-20 Winchester (also called 32-20 Win, 32-20 WCF and 32-20 Marlin) is a small-pistol-primer cartridge designed for use in rifles and single action revolvers and used in cowboy action shooting.
SAAMI lists the 32-20 Winchester but does not establish a maximum pressure for it, so there is no SAAMI pressure limit to quote for it. This guide charts what the makers of the loads we stock publish for them instead, and compares the 32-20 Winchester with the 32 H&R Magnum, which SAAMI does standardise.
32-20 ballistics chart: manufacturer-published loads
These are the manufacturers’ own figures for specific loads we stock, taken from each maker’s page for the item number shown. There is no SAAMI reference for this cartridge, and each maker chose its own test barrel, so the figures should not be laid directly beside another brand’s.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load | Item no. | Bullet weight | Bullet | Muzzle velocity | Muzzle energy | Ballistic coefficient | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Lead Flat Nose | X32201 | 100 gr | Lead Flat Nose | 1,210 fps | 325 ft-lb | 0.166, drag model not stated | Not published |
| Remington Lead Round Nose | 28410 | 100 gr | Lead Round Nose | 1,210 fps | 325 ft-lb | .166, drag model not stated | Not published |
| Black Hills Ammunition FPL | Not published | 115 gr | FPL | 800 fps | Not published | Not published | 5.5″ |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (test barrel) | Muzzle | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd | 400 yd | 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester 100 gr (barrel not published) | 1,210 fps / 325 ft-lb | 1,021 fps / 232 ft-lb | 914 fps / 185 ft-lb | 835 fps / 155 ft-lb | Not published | Not published |
| Remington 100 gr (barrel not published) | 1,210 fps / 325 ft-lb | 1,021 fps / 232 ft-lb | 913 fps / 185 ft-lb | 834 fps / 155 ft-lb | 769 fps / 131 ft-lb | 712 fps / 112 ft-lb |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (zero) | 50 yd | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester 100 gr (100 yd zero) | Not published | 0 in | −32.3 in | Not published |
| Remington 100 gr (100 yd zero) | +2.8 in | 0 in | −31.5 in | −103.9 in |
What the numbers mean for a shot
The 3 loads charted above, from Winchester, Remington and Black Hills Ammunition, run from 100 to 115 grains, with published muzzle velocities of 800 to 1,210 fps and published muzzle energies of 325 to 325 ft-lb. Each maker fired its load in its own test barrel, so a difference between two brands can come from the barrel as well as the load. Downrange velocity, energy and drop appear only where a maker publishes them, and only out to the last range it publishes.
None of this is SAAMI data. Each product in our 32-20 ammo range lists whatever its maker publishes for that item.
Chamber and pressure
This page states no SAAMI pressure limit for the 32-20 Winchester. Fire 32-20 Winchester ammunition only in a firearm chambered for it, and follow both the ammunition maker’s and the firearm maker’s instructions. Several unrelated cartridges share a number, so match the full designation on the box to the marking on your barrel.
32-20 vs 32 H&R Magnum: what the data supports
A like-for-like comparison needs both cartridges measured the same way. SAAMI standardises the 32 H&R Magnum, so its figures come from one standard test barrel. The 32-20 Winchester has no SAAMI figures, so its numbers come from individual makers and their own barrels. The table sets them side by side with the source of each figure stated, and should be read that way.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Specification | 32-20 Winchester | 32 H&R Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| Listed by SAAMI | Yes, but no maximum pressure is established | Yes |
| Maximum average pressure | Not established by SAAMI | 23,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Bullet weights | 100 to 115 gr (loads we stock) | 80 to 95 gr (SAAMI reference loads) |
| Muzzle velocity | 800–1,210 fps (manufacturer-published, each in its own barrel) | 1,020–1,140 fps (SAAMI reference, standard test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | 325–325 ft-lb (where the maker publishes it) | 219–237 ft-lb (computed from SAAMI velocity) |
What this cannot settle is which cartridge is more powerful in your rifle: the two columns come from different sources and different barrels. We stock the other side of this comparison too: 32 H&R Magnum ammo.
32-20 ballistics questions
Does SAAMI standardise the 32-20 Winchester?
SAAMI lists the 32-20 Winchester but does not establish a maximum pressure for it, so there is no SAAMI pressure limit. The figures on this page are the ones each maker publishes for its own loads.
What muzzle velocity do manufacturers publish for the 32-20 Winchester?
For the 3 loads we stock from Winchester, Remington and Black Hills Ammunition, the makers publish muzzle velocities from 800 to 1,210 fps, for bullet weights from 100 to 115 grains. Each maker measured its own load in its own test barrel, so these are not reference figures and are not directly comparable between brands.
Is the 32-20 Winchester more powerful than the 32 H&R Magnum?
The two cannot be compared like for like, because SAAMI publishes reference data for the 32 H&R Magnum but not for the 32-20 Winchester. The 3 loads charted here for the 32-20 Winchester publish muzzle energies of 325 to 325 ft-lb, each in its maker’s own barrel, against SAAMI reference loads for the 32 H&R Magnum that compute to 219 to 237 ft-lb from a standard test barrel.
What is the effective range of the 32-20 Winchester?
Effective range is not a published specification for the cartridge; it depends on the bullet, the load and the shooter. Where a maker publishes downrange velocity and energy for a load, the tables above show it, and only out to the last range that maker publishes.
How much does the 32-20 Winchester drop?
Where a maker publishes a trajectory, the trajectory table above gives the drop with the zero range stated. A drop figure is unusable without its zero, so use the table for the specific load.
Where to buy these loads
Hilltop Armory carries 32-20 ammunition from Ultramax, Winchester, Black Hills Ammunition, Goex Black Dawge Black Powder, HSM Ammunition and Jamison Brass and Ammunition. Browse the full 32-20 ammo range.
