Newest addition to my Winchester family (.32-40)

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Matt74

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Hey guys,

Just thought I'd share some pics of the newest addition to my very small Winchester family. It's a Winchester 1894 32-40 manufactured in 1920. Full octagonal barrel and full mag, and in really nice shape. 90%+ blue on the barrel/magtube, about 70% on the receiver. Flat-top rear sporting sight. Very happy with it and looking forward to doing some shooting with her someday after I get all my reloading gear and get set up. She's got a great shiny bore, so I'm optimistic. Anyone know if you can still pick up 32-40 ammo? I thought I heard someone say they weren't making it anymore, but I see it is listed on Epps site...haven't had a chance to call yet. Also interested in knowing if anyone else shoots / hunts with this caliber.

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Shres a beauty. You can still find ammo at gunshows but it is a pretty expensive way to shoot. Better to reload. I have a 32-40 similar to yours but a little older and not so pretty, but it's a sweet shooter.

Congrats, nice purchase.

Welcome to the club ( pretty small so far, just you & me ).

KTK
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm very happy with it.

Ken: Do you reload for yours? I may have to chat with you about it down the road if so...i.e. brass / bullets, loads. I really don't know much about the cartridge...ie/ bullet weight, ballistics, etc. What kind of groups are you getting with yours? Welcome to the club? We can't be the only one's on here with 32-40s???
 
Nice rifle, congrats, and no you're not alone, I own 2 32/40s and reload and shoot them alot. The 32/40 started out as a target round in some of the most accurate target guns of the day. Interestingly, that is where it is most popular today, in super accurate shuetzen rifles which are used for 200yd. off hand target shooting. Most folks using the 32/40 in single shot guns like the Ballard, Stevens, or 1885 like mine, breech seat their bullets and load a charged case behind it. Leverguns don't allow that and the orig. factory load was a .321" 160 gr. lead flat point with 40 grs of Black. M.T. Chambers makes 3 bullets for the .32/40 including a 200gr. flat pt.
 
Well with Ben that makes a club of 3.

Matt I have the pieces to reload, brass, primer, powder, recipie and bullets but have not yet run out of my factory. I believe the brass came from Marstar and the bullets from the guy on Hasting St. in Burnaby. I'll check the stuff out for you the next time I go downstairs to do some gun stuff.

It sounds like Ben is by far the most knowledgable and we both could learn from him.

KTK
 
That's a beautiful old 94 :)

I used to hunt with a 32-40 in a 1899 Sav.
If I remember correctly the OAL when useing standard Horn .32 special bullets would give some problems if crimped in the groove. I used .32S brass sized in 32-40 dies & trimmed so when the 32s bullet was crimped it was correct OAL.
Remember too, the 32-40 was one of the downloaded factory cartridges although for a while they did make a high velocity load more suited to hunting & the Win 94s & Savs. I loaded mine to come with-in a 100fps or so of equalling the Specials ballistics.
I could try to look up my loads if you'd like, should be written down......somewhere ;)
 
I have an old listing for Winchester's factory offerings for this cartridge. They had two:

165 grain bullet at 1,430 fps
165 grain bullet at 1,750 fps (called the W.H.V. cartridge)
 
Just read an article on the .32-40 a while back. Cartridge length is critical, and the cannelure on .32 special bullets is too far back. They must be seated deeper.
As to whether anyone hunts with one, I talked to a young feller working the counter at Brushey's in Powassan a couple of years back; he had just shot a blackie with his Marlin 1893 in .32-40.
 
Hunting with the 32-40

I forcast it will soon be brought up here, what game can be hunted with it?
When I was a kid growing up in the boondocks, a neighbor hunted with a 32-40. He used to walk through our yard, to and from his hunting area. I can remember seeing him the next day after he went hunting, he would come through the yard with his team and sleigh, returning with a moose or elk in the sleigh. End of my knowledge of the 32-40.
 
Thanks guys for all the great input on reloading and the compliments.

Ben: what kind of guns are your 32-40s? May chat you up someday once I get into the reloading scene myself.

Rod: Thanks! Appreciate it.

Kirk: Thanks. I'll have to bring her out to your place someday to do some shooting! It's got a great shiny bore.

Senior: Thanks. Sure, if you can find your load info, I wouldn't mind seeing it.

Kilo Charlie: That's good to know about the cannelure. Blackie? Is that a mulie? All we have home are Whitetail...

Noel: Thanks! Yes, I'm definetly hoping to harvest some game with her next fall. Will keep you posted. The problem is, all these old Winchester I get (well, I've only got a few really)...I want to hunt with them all!! I think if I could find a nice 38-55, that's what I'd really like to carry for deer. My dad told me that all the old guys back home, way back, swore by the 38-55. Must be something right with it!

H4831: I was going to ask the same myself, being new to the cartridge. What game can one safely hunt with this cartridge? I'd say if it is safe for Elk and Moose, I'll be ok for anything I'm going to hunt. Like I said, bullet placement is everything. I've heard lots of stories of old timers (many long gone) taking deer (even heard one story about a guy taking a polar bear up North with one :eek:) with the 25-20. Sure, with the proper placement, no problem at all. But, I wouldn't be doing it:)

Matt
 
Matt74 said:
Kirk: Thanks. I'll have to bring her out to your place someday to do some shooting! It's got a great shiny bore.
Matt
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I'll look forward to that Matt. You are always welcome to come again some weekend for another reloading/shooting session. Next time, I'll have to make double sure the local range is free.
 
Matt: My .32/40s are a John Wayne Commemorative which i shoot alot and a Winchester 1885 Single shot which i use with both smokeless and Black Powder and usually breech seat my bullets.(except when hunting)
 
Senior: Thanks. Sure, if you can find your load info, I wouldn't mind seeing it.

K Waters lists 28gns of 3031 with 170 jacketed bullets for approx 1800fps

I was useing 30gn in my old Sav with Speer 170 FPs & .32s brass trimmed so when the bullet was crimped in the cannuler it was correct overall length for the 32-40. I didn't see any velocity notes on that load but I suspect it was pushing 2000fps quite safely in my 1899 Sav. I would however suggest you start a lower & slowly work up :)
 
Win 38-55: Sounds good Kirk, but after my trip home to NS in the ol' Jeep, my back and neck need a rest! Definetly take you up on the offer again sometime. Hopefully I'll have a nice 38-55 by then as well to bring down!

Ben: I'm very new to reloading....can you tell me what it means to "breech seat" bullets? I'msure once I get my own gear,and do some reading first, I'll learn all this stuff in no time at all.

Senior: Thanks very much. I'll be writing this one down for my future reference as I do plan on doing some shooting with this one! Is 1800 ok since mine doesn't have the nickel steel barrel? I would think they'd be a decent deer cartidge, but I read they didn't sell that well....

Gibbs505: Thanks! Post 'em when it happens.

Kilo Charlie: Cool. That makes perfect sense now! Well, I guess if it's good enough for black bear, I'll have no worries for the game I come across. Any idea how big the bear was or what kind of shot it was?

Matt
 
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