Principally kept alive by cowboy action shooters and metallic silhouette handgun competitors, the now-134-year-old .32-20 Win. has capabilities that are seldom realized. For shooters with a T/C Contender, or another modern rifle with a strong action, such as the Marlin Model 1894CL Classic used here, the modest .32-20 can take on a new persona. The load below propels the 0.312"-diameter Hornady XTP to 2028 f.p.s. from the Marlin’s 22" barrel, resulting in 913 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle and maintaining 450 ft.-lbs. just beyond 150 yds. When zeroed at 100 yds., the bullet impacts 4" low at 150 yds. and 7.5" low at 175 yds. That makes the round useful for hunting predators and, in the hands of a skilled marksman, feral hogs and whitetail deer, too—provided that shoulder shots are avoided.
