My buddy gave my son a near new set of RCBS dies dated '89 with it too. Problem I encountered trying to reload 32/20's is the dies will not set shoulder back like unfired factory cartridges and hence when chambered in the No2 when you go to shoot hammer binds on breech bloack because it's not all the way forward. Tried a little leather mallet and two taps and she shoots fine and extracts fine. I colored two cases with a sharpie and it is the shoulder on the brass causing this issue. So I ordered a set of Lee dies to see if this rectifies it. I have had problems in the past with RCBS dies in 7,65 argentine and 6,5 Carcano where they would not set shoulder back properly and caused hard chambering. I got Lee dies and problem was solved. Though I did send RCBS dies back and they said they were in spec - I got rid of them. I had multiple rifles back then in each caliber so it was a die issue and not a one off tight chamber in a single rifle in each caliber. As much as I like RCBS they seem to have made the most mistakes on dies. Had a buddy with a new 8mm mauser RCBS die set that was so bad off it was useless. Sent it back and they sent another set - 8mm-06 , sent it back too until they got their head out of their backside.

I'm a great fan of RCBS....but sometimes they have dropped the ball with me in my almost 45 years of reloading.

THIRTEEN of these neat little buggers !. What calibers are they in and do you shoot them all ?.

You might want to have a gunsmith or machinist cut a small amount off the base of your .32-20 sizing die if the shoulder doesn't set back enough. That will give the die a but more adjustment to lower the shoulder. I've had this issue once or twice with some die sets and it fixes the problem.

The .32-20 is one of my favorite cartridges. I have two revolvers in it, and three rifles. An original #2 Rolling Block, a Hepburn, and a full size #1 Rolling Block rifle. I've played with some long range shooting in my rifles, and found the .32-20 hits the 18" steel at 500 yds. pretty regularly.

ndnchf wrote on Dec 28^th, 2025 at 4:13am:

That's a beautiful line up and to see so many different barrel lengths too !.  I did note on the No2 my son has it has the remington address and patent info on the left side of the receiver. Does that place it in a certain time frame of manufacture ?.

Gew98 wrote on Dec 28^th, 2025 at 11:00am:


That is the most common patent markings. Your rifle is post 1888.

ndnchf wrote on Dec 28^th, 2025 at 1:49pm:

PS , I did watch your vid on a link you posted a bit ago, was excellent !.

I looked there and you are correct - looks like 34524. It was rusty before the smithy refinished it and it's there clear as a bell hadI checked again.