32 special

Shot my first dozen whitetails with a Win Pre-64 94 in .32 Special, it was a gun passed from my Grandfather, to father, to me... so I have a soft spot for the cartridge.
 
My first center fire rifle was a Win. 32 Special , and I still have it today . I bought the rifle when I was a teen prior to the big gun control push . Bought it at the local hardware store for 170 bucks brand new with no questions asked . That store is gone now , torn down over time.....but the rifle is still in new condition .
 
I have a well used 32spl rifle , barrel is 26" hexagon, with an original tang peep. It was passed down to my brother from a mutual good friend, who got it from his father,the original purchaser in 1909, and later passed down to me. took a nice WT with it the first year I had it. Love the old gal, and no need to ever carry extra ammo with that long tube under the 26" barrel it holds half a box. It shows over a hundred years of use, not abuse, and is tight as a drum, and slick as snot on a log to cycle. It has lots of bluing wear from being carried all those years. The story behind it tells that it fed 2 generations in it's early years.
 
This 32 I had to sell went to a good buddy just starting out. He just got his hunting papers and is awaiting his pal so it's still sitting in my gun room. I admit I need to get a lever gun of my own to match my 9422
Hopefully he can get the time off work to take it bear hunting with me this fall.


Those new case colored Henrys keep calling me in my dreams. I may have a 30/30 sooner or later
 
I have a nice Marlin waffle top in 32 Win Special, which I picked up back in the spring. Dies,brass and bullets were easily sourced at Epps to get loaded up for some range time. With a Williams peep sight, this thing is accurate out to 100 yards. This is one nice piece of history in an interesting chambering. I will use it for deer here on the woodlot.
 
I use a nice old mid 50's ..32 WS 94 for my main whitetail rifle. I am not a mighty hunter, so the old .32 does me just fine. Can't say that it is any better or worse than a 30-30. I just like the idea of carrying it around. Great old cartridge, as are most of the "old ones". :)
 
I like carrying my double rifle so much I doubt I'd use a lever gun much. I bow and ml deer 99% of the time so it's only bear hunting I get to carry my rifles mostly and I have my favorites. However 2019 I'm planning on a hunt in Maine over hounds so a lever gun would be perfect. Load the mag and run. Fast an simple to rack one in when needed
 
I didn't read all the thread but mine was bought for cast bullet performance. The 16" twist (versus the 30-30 12" twist in the Win) and the lever action rifle makes a dandy shooter. The dedicated cast bullet sites like the 32 a lot.

Mine is a '51 with a steel Lyman 66. The Lyman was added as Win didn't D&T for receiver sights in 51. I scored a lifetime of older CIL, Dominion, and IVI KlingKor ammo when I bought the rifle (it is NOT for sale). Ammo and components are available as many thousands were sold and remain active.
 
Winchester envisioned the .32 Special being used with both BP and smokeless ,hence the 1=16 twist to reduce BP fouling.It also wore quicker than the 30-30 1-12 so many were re-bored to 38-55 when shot out.......Harold
 
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