.32 Winchester Special

ronecol

ronecol

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
67   0   0
Location
Orillia, Ontario
For discussion.

Given current circumstances - rifles in .32ws are no longer produced and near absence of ammo.

Model 94s remain popular but is the model 94 in .32ws still a viable and / or desirable purchase option? I don't think so.

A few are being offered for sale.

If you were shopping for your first 94 at this point in time would you consider a .32WS?
 
Last edited:
MiG25 said:
I'll take a pre 64 32 Special over ANY post 64 rifle.
Click to expand...

X2 you have own and use a 32 and the 32 ammo is no big deal for a good hand loader 30-30 brass works the hardest but not impossible to source component are jacketed bullets lead not so much as they can be cast. Lots of more obscure ammo than 32 special being loaded out there these days.
 
Last edited:
From my experience as a west coaster, the true love for the .32 Special seems to lie more with easterners than us out here.

The .30-30 or .30 WCF seems to be the "go to" on this side of the continent.

Thoughts?

---------
NAA.
 
My question for those in Ont (or elsewhere).As a pure brush/dogging gun, which Cal is the more beneficial or are we just splitting hairs between the two?

Dollars to Doughnuts, here in Ont I’m sure Pre 64 30-30’s have accounted for a vast sum of Whitetail, Bear and Moose over the decades.
 
NAA said:
From my experience as a west coaster, the true love for the .32 Special seems to lie more with easterners than us out here.

The .30-30 or .30 WCF seems to be the "go to" on this side of the continent.

Thoughts?

---------
NAA.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree NAA, this caliber is generally a regional thing.
But, there are a few die hard lever fans who just have to have both.
Nothing is difficult if one is wiling to do some homework/legwork to source consumables.
Rob
 
It's just so similar to the 30-30, I remember the arguments and fights at my dad's bar when I was a kid over which was better, I was like 8, said show me these 2 cartridges, 2 guys pulled them out, even at 8 I said they are exactly the same lol.
 
I can't think of any reason for preferring a .32 Special over a .30-30, unless it was a really nice rifle that happened to be in that calibre. Really kind of a pointless cartridge even way back when it was first introduced.
 
ronecol said:
If you were shopping for your first 94 at this point in time would you consider a .32WS over a 30-30?
Click to expand...

Mint, pretty wood, sure, I reload so ammo is never a problem, but I'd probably ask for a reduced price because of the chambering.
 
ronecol said:
If you were shopping for your first 94 at this point in time would you consider a .32WS over a 30-30?
Click to expand...

I reload so the 32 is no handicap. At this point in time I'd look for an VG+ pre 64 rifle regardless of chambering.
 
Here be some good info on the 32 Special.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_Winchester_Special

I feel Winchester missed the boat a tad on that chambering. They should've gone with the .35-30/30 (35-30) which was on the scene back then as a
wildcat chambering from the turn of the century for folks that needed a rebore on worn out 32-40 & 32 Special barrels. They could've beat Remington
to the punch a few yrs before they came out with the 35 Rem. Winchester would have sold a pile of 35-30's and the chambering would be a popular
one to this day I reckon.
 
ronecol said:
For discussion.

Given current circumstances - rifles in .32ws are no longer produced and near absence of ammo.

Model 94s remain popular but is the model 94 in .32ws still a viable and / or desirable purchase option? I don't think so.

A few are being offered for sale.

If you were shopping for your first 94 at this point in time would you consider a .32WS?
Click to expand...

I’d get myself a pre-64 in 32spec, a decent set of dies and never look back. Also, you can get ammo for it, but you need to buy lots when you see it. There’s no real advantage to that chambering, but I like to handload and play around with something different.

Now, if you want to just be able to go to crappy tire, grab a box of ammo and go hunting, no fuss/no muss, the 30-30 is going to be the way to go.
 
Last edited:
ShrtRnd said:
My question for those in Ont (or elsewhere).As a pure brush/dogging gun, which Cal is the more beneficial or are we just splitting hairs between the two?

Dollars to Doughnuts, here in Ont I’m sure Pre 64 30-30’s have accounted for a vast sum of Whitetail, Bear and Moose over the decades.
Click to expand...

Splitting hairs. I have shot deer with both, couldn't see much difference. When I was a kid I used to sit in a corner at deer camp and listen to arguments that almost came to blows over what was the better gun; 30/30, 32 special, 35 rem, 300 Savage, 303 british, 38/55 etc. My grandfather never said much and someone asked his choice, he said, " I like the 32 special cuz it kills em so dead."
Pretty well sums it up, dead is dead.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom