32 Win Special - Worth reloading?

Airspeed-Alive

Airspeed-Alive

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I recently acquired a Winchester 1894 in 32 Spl. Now, I've been looking around like crazy to find the gear to start reloading this round but am having one heck of a time. I'm starting to think about just buying factory ammo instead.

This is what I figure I'd need to reload:

Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit
Lee 32 Win Spl dies
32 Win Spl Case Length Gauge <--- this is holding me up, cant find one anywhere. The only option is to have Lee make me a custom one, which too me is too much hassle (not sure what trim length I need and such).

Might just reload the 303 Brit instead and keep some sanity here... What do you all think?
 
The case length gauge is just a luxury and not needed for reloading your 32 Special.
Check the length of the case by putting it side by side with a factory loaded round, or a new brass case. If the old case appears to be longer, file some off, then make it neat, inside and out, with your jack knife.
Please don't tell me this won't work, is dangerous, or whatever. It was the system used for 70 or 80 years for reloading such cases.
 
You should also buy a loading manual - say Lyman, Speer, or Hornady. The info section is full of useful info. You can buy a cheap vernier caliper for around $10. this will measure cases and loaded rounds to the thou of an inch.
 
I think loading 32 special is a great idea, IF you're going to shoot more than 40-50 rounds a year. Less than that there's no advantage, so just stick to factory fodder.

You don't need any custom trimmer gauge. I'll share a trick with you - The 30-30 and 32 win spl are the same length, and 32 spl will fit in the 30-30 holder.

To trim 32 spl, use the Lee 30-30 trimmer with a piece of tape around the trimmer gauge shank where it will index inside the 32 spl neck.

The tape adds a few thousandths of an inch OD to centre the 30-30 gauge in the wider mouth of the .32winspec. Problem solved for well under $10. :)
 
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WOW - I love this community. Thanks very much guys. You've saved me more hours of wondering what to do. I'll definitely be shooting more than 50 rounds per year as well... more like 500 if I can get the time!

Thanks once again.
 
Airspeed-Alive said:
I recently acquired a Winchester 1894 in 32 Spl. Now, I've been looking around like crazy to find the gear to start reloading this round but am having one heck of a time. I'm starting to think about just buying factory ammo instead.

This is what I figure I'd need to reload:

Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit
Lee 32 Win Spl dies
32 Win Spl Case Length Gauge <--- this is holding me up, cant find one anywhere. The only option is to have Lee make me a custom one, which too me is too much hassle (not sure what trim length I need and such).

Might just reload the 303 Brit instead and keep some sanity here... What do you all think?
Click to expand...
I have no idea why you are having so much trouble , I bought the same model rifle and was reloading within a week. Buy the gauge from cabela's or bass pro, or better yet buy the Lyman case trimmer , comes with everything you need to trim any caliber to whatever length you want , cost you around 75 $ for it !
 
32 Win Spl is what I've been using for the last few years of whitetail hunting. I use storebought, mostly beacuse I only fire a couple or three rounds a year. I have dies and a good supply of new and used brass, though. As above, don't get in a tizzy over case length, but full length size if you are going to use the rounds for hunting. If a round gets a little sticky due to less than full length sizing, it won't matter if you are target shooting or killing rocks. But it will when you are hunting. Having said that, I reloaded for my first 30-30's with a Lee Loader (read neck size) and only had a few sticky cases. Have fun and enjoy the old cartridge.:p:p
 
Reloading (once your setup) as many advantages... I like it because;

- I can make ammunition to suit my need, as in Target grade stuff, Plinking stuff and Hunting stuff...
- I don't have to rely on not so reliable local stores... hopping they'll have what I want in stock (I just make it)
- It gives me something else to do that's gun related.
- Cost per round is lower (if you don't factor your time and the fact that you'll probably shoot more)
- Reloading allows me to take avantage of some stupid-good deals... because the gun is made in a not so common caliber and the regular Joe don't want to deal with the trouble of finding factory ammo... I just need one more set of dies and I'm good to go!

If and when you start to reload, invest in a few good reloading manuals... it's always good to have more then one reference.
 
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