[Dixielandjazz] What's a "32-20"? (was More Jazz Musicians whocarried Guns.)

[OArkas at aol.com]

Hi:
.32 is the nominal size of the bullet (usually a bit smaller than that 
number), and the 20 does refer to the grains of black powder originally used for the 
cartridge.   For example, the .30-30 was originally to be a black powder 
cartridge of .30 caliber with 30 grains of black powder.   It became a smokeless 
powder cartridge, but like so many of the others (.44-40) it retained the 
original nomenclature and the second number did not indicate the amount of powder 
used any more. 
John


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