32 special
- Thread starter Ronnyboy342
- Start date
Polish-Jack
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kelowna, B.C. Canada
I've shot both out of levers and with deer in mind I'd pick 30-30 simply because of availability. The 32 is a touch more powerful, but that's really just on paper. You or deer won't notice.
I have them both. I don’t find any difference in them. Their performance is almost identical and not really enough to matter on deer or bear. I reload so ammo isn’t an issue. Both are good calibers for short range deer.
I have both. When Winchester introduced the 32 spec black powder was still commonly used for reloading. The 30 WCF was designed and rifled for smokeless powder so Winchester, wanting to cover the market demand, brought out the 32 spec having a slower twist in the rifling designed for those who still wished to use black powder but the 32 spec would also perform well using smokeless powder.
I hunted whitetail for a few years with a 1957 94 carbine 32WS, mostly for the nostalgia of an old time rifle and calibre. As most have said, there is no noticeable difference. I reload, so no problem with ammo, although I've always used factory for hunting. I don't think I even fired off a whole box of factory at game. I also have a 1918 rifle 32WS that came from an old friend whose father used it to supply meat for his family.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I’ve had both and given a choice I’d stick with the 32 for the slight bit more power it offers.
I like the .32 special best however both offer small things over the other. .30-30 ammunition and bullets are plentiful however I think the .32 is fantastic with cast bullets due to the slower twist rifling and I like that. I have lots of factory .32 ammunition and it’s been my personal pick. If I were just getting into these calibers, the .30-30 may be the sensible choice. Myself, I’ve never much cared for sensible when it comes to rifles and calibers. 
I have all 5 calibers offered in the 1894 rifle. All 5 are the very early ones with the tear drop hammer, original roll stampings and no proof marks. The toughest one to obtain was the 25-35, in that time frame, with so many having poor bores. Finally found a nice one. My 32 spec appears to be first year offering. It's a great shooter with either cast or jacketed bullets. Yes the rifling runs a tad slower than the 30 WCF but the 32 spec doesn't lose any ground with the other calibers and was commonly used here on the west coast.
