32-20 WCF

Larry Potterfield • May 07, 2022

Some cartridges just deserve an award. Let's chamber another round in the Cartridge Hall of Fame. The 32-20 Winchester Centerfire also known as the 32 WCF, was introduced in 1882 for the model 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle. A medium power cartridge for target shooting and small game, it generates less than a thousand pounds of muzzle energy. The 32-20 derives its name from the old convention of caliber with grains of powder: a 32 caliber bullet over 20 grains of black powder. The cartridge is of a rimmed bottleneck design, the rim being used to control headspace. While first chambered in the Winchester 1873, it was also popular in a Winchester 92 lever-action and the Colt single-action Army. Originally loaded with black powder, it made the transition to smokeless in the 20th century. Current loadings are available with both 85- and 100-grain bullets. While originally used for small game and self-defense, today's use is mostly cowboy action and plinking. Nearly as popular in the 21st century as it was in the 19th, the 32-20 Winchester deserves a place in the Cartridge Hall of Fame.

--Larry Potterfield