32 special

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brybenn

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Any love out there for pre 64 Winchester lever in 32 special?
I can't ever recall seeing any bullets in this diameter on any shelves.
Surpassed by the 30/30 by so much is there even a following for the 32?
 
It's got its fans.

Wiki says:


Ballistics are similar to the .30-30 cartridge and its .308 caliber (7.62mm) bullet, but the larger diameter .321 (8.15 mm) bullet of the .32 WS will create a larger wound. However, given the same weight of bullet in both calibers, the .30 caliber would have a greater sectional density, and correspondingly greater penetration.[5] According to Winchester's original claims, the .32 WS has about 5-10% more energy than the .30-30 at point-blank ranges, and less at longer ranges due to increased drag due to the .321's greater diameter and reduced sectional density.[6]
 
The .32 Special is so similar to the .30-30, without any advantages, that it just ceased to be have any point in continuing to exist.
I owned a nice pre-64 carbine in .32 Special that was very accurate, and should have kept it.
I once accidentally fired a .30-30 round through it that was mixed in with a loose bag full of ammunition. It made a different sound, which alerted me, but only had the effect of blowing out the case to .32 Special, which I consigned with the other .32 empties for reloading.
Speer and Hornaday still produce suitable bullets for reloading, but I suspect that you will have a hell of a time finding them in Canada.
 
The ammo is not that hard to find if one looks a little deeper and further off the mainstream big box stores.
It seems to me that the .32 is a region popular rifle in lever action Winchesters.
Who has got one or more?
Rob
 
Count me as a fan of the 32 SP. I was always a big 30-30 fan and remain so, but after taking a bit of a flyer on a 1947 M36 Marlin in 32 Special, I've become a fan. In fact that old Marlin is fast becoming my favorite lever gun, with its Lyman peep sight it shoots lights out accurate with both the 170 gr Remington Core Lokts and the new Hornady Leverevolution loads, keeping 3 shot groups at 110 yards at about 1.25-1.5" which is basically as well as I can see to shoot with irons. I don't think the 32 Special is obsolete just yet, at least around here in BC ammo is easy to find from all big 3 Fed/Win/Rem as well as the Hornady LE but it does cost more than 30-30 ammo about $35-38 vs $25-30 for 30-30. I think people forget that the 32 SP was the second most popular chamber in the Win 94 and Marlin 36/336 lever guns, there are a lot of 32 Specials still around and being used. Many of the old timers felt it was a little better cartridge for use on bigger than deer game and perhaps it is, I look forward to using it hunting and comparing it to my well used and loved 30-30s. :)
 
I have 32 Winchester Special ammo on the shelf right now - three choices. In my piece of deer country where a good few hunters use Dad's/Granddad's rifles it's not unheard of.

I was just reading a piece on the Winchester collectors website where they were discussing calibers and (the author) suggests that the 32 Win Spec did not become "as popular" for a couple reasons. The first being the availability of 30 cal projectiles compared to those used in the 32. Second, Winchester made the 32 is a (considered to be) slow twist of 1:16 giving the rifle worse ballistics, and penetrates "less" then the 30-30 and no noticeable advantage over the 30-30 elsewhere.

Winchester did however chamber the model 94 in 32 Win Spec from 1901'ish well into the 1980's (or maybe even a little later). So there must be a few of them kicking around out there...
 
shootist1876 said:
The .32 Special is so similar to the .30-30, without any advantages, that it just ceased to be have any point in continuing to exist.
I owned a nice pre-64 carbine in .32 Special that was very accurate, and should have kept it.
I once accidentally fired a .30-30 round through it that was mixed in with a loose bag full of ammunition. It made a different sound, which alerted me, but only had the effect of blowing out the case to .32 Special, which I consigned with the other .32 empties for reloading.
Speer and Hornaday still produce suitable bullets for reloading, but I suspect that you will have a hell of a time finding them in Canada.
Click to expand...
While not as common as the .308 dia. 170 gr bullet for the 30/30, I have had little difficulty in obtaining .321 170 gr. bullets designed for the 32 Special, at least in my experience.
 
Components and ammo are not hard to find.

My 1959 M94 is the most accurate open sighted rifle I've shot.
 
This one will be posted in the EE eventually. I'll check it out and have several boxes of shells for it it needs a good cleaning its dusty. Hasn't been fired in 40 something years
 
Oh the arguments and #### between​ old timers at my dads bar when I was a kid was priceless.... which is better the 32sp or the 30-30? At one point I was probably 5 or 6 I asked two guys arguing to show me the cartridges. I looked them over, compared the best I could being a 6 year old, and told them THEY ARE THE SAME GODDAMN CARTRIDGES lol.
Neither one is bigger​ or longer enough to make any difference in performance.
 
Well I took it out and shot several rounds thru it today. Fine handling rifle. Super accurate. Gentle to shoot. Swung by my buddies place for a beer and pulled it out to show him. Quick trip to the bush for a few more round and it's sold. Hopefully it'll get a chance to knock over a bear this fall for him
I do love old lever guns but I think I'll hold out until I find one in 25/35
 
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