Marlin 32 Win. Special

[Dr. A]

Hello all,

Been lurking for awhile, and frankly trying to learn. I have shot CB for about 3 years, and so far only use the Lee sizing system. I tumble lube and have good luck, so that is what I am staying with. My newest aquisition is a Marlin 32 Win. Special built in 1952. The older rifleing appears in great condition and the thing has yet to be slugged. Any ideas on what the average groove size is? I am no expert, and will be questioning any results I get. I size .311, .460 and .359 on my other various Marlins, and feel that all fit and are served well. I noticed on the thread below that .321 sizing was what was accepted as appropriate. That seems small to me. Would this apply to Marlins as well?

Looked at the RCBS 170gr. mold and will probably get it. I have ordered several molds from Dan at Mountain Molds, and prefer his. I am hesitant to order any bore riders, as the measurements are a bit beyond me. Any easier designs appropriate I could just copy and hope for the best? Many thanks

David

[Scrounger]

Oddly enough, it seems the .32 barrels in the Marlins run to a smaller size, .318" to .319". At least two members here have posted about their barrels and I have talked to other owners in other locations that have confirmed it. Obviously you want to slug your barrel to see what you're working with before you order a mold. Fishing sinkers from the local K-mart or WalMart are usually pure soft lead. Just find one of the appropriate size and slug your barrel.

[beagle]

Dr. A...I'm getting good results from the 32-170-FN RCBS sized to .321 in my old Marlin 336A.

I have two additional sizers on hand. One that runs .3224" and one that runs .3228". I've tried both and my old Marlin don't like them.

My .321" sizer was sizing .3206" and I opened it a bit to get an actual .321". The smaller diameter bullets were shooting all right but it was an itch that had to be scratched.

This tells me that my barrel is probably somewhat less than .321".

I've had no luck, or very little with the 323470, for what it's worth. I have two 321297s. Ones a DC and one's a SC HP. The HP shoots well but the "solid" don't shoot near as well.

Sounds like you've embarked on the right path. Good luck with a good rifle. That old Marlin should shoot good./beagle

[BruceB]

My rifle is one of those tight-bored ones referred to above.

It's a 1947 Model 36, NOT 336, with the flat bolt carrier like a '94 Marlin. Ol' Gringo and I have similar-vintage rifles, and he contacted Marlin directly, where he learned that the tighter bores and FASTER TWIST were standard in their .32 Specials. Instead of the Winchester .32 Special twist of 1-in-16", we have 1-in-10" in our late-'40s Marlins, which means (as I think sundog pointed out) we really have fat .30-30s!

I'm using the RCBS 32-170, which casts well-oversize for this .318" bore. My sizing die is a custom Stilwell .319" and it works quite well for this rifle. Also, there's a .321" die on hand but I haven't tried it yet. Just two weeks ago, shooting during the Nevada Shoot, I discovered that I have throat issues with this combo, because I had serious trouble chambering a very few rounds...one was so tight in the throat that extracting the round pulled the bullet right through a heavy crimp and left it jammed in the throat.

Slight variations in seating length were at least partly to blame, because by trying to chamber all 100-plus rounds on hand, only three or four made it difficult to get the bolt closed. All the others chambered and extracted freely. The jammed bullet clearly showed the marks of the throat (NOT rifling origin) on the nose.

Although I test-chambered a number of loaded rounds before loading-up the whole batch at that over-all length, I clearly didn't test well enough. I used a heavy-ish crimp because I intended to use the rifle for the rapid-fire Team Rifle shoot, which I did with no problems using the 100%-test-functioned rounds. Seating deeper may be a problem, because the crimp groove on the bullet may be inside the case mouth. Might be some die mods coming up. I do prefer using a crimp for mag-feeding the rounds, but some test-firing may show it's not really needed.

The accuracy is darned good! With 12 grains of Blue Dot, firing from 100 yards on a 50-yard pistol target, I had four rounds inside the ten-ring and under an inch in a ragged hole...the fifth shot blew it. The rifle has a Redfield receiver sight and Lyman 17A front sight with interchangeable elements, and these REALLY help my eyes a lot.

[Dr. A]

Thanks for the help. This sight is indeed unique. Will the old steel withstand 40000 CUP or do I play it safe and stay down low pressure? I'm not a speed demon for plinking all year long, but I will take my hunting to a reasonable max if accuracy is included. Most of my maxing out is done with modern firearms. I guess these are now antiques, although I sure don't feel like one, and they are not that much older than I am. (also got a 35 of nearly the same vintage) I love those longer barrels.

David

[9.3X62AL]

I wouldn't hesitate to use your Marlin to the full reasonable potential of the 32 Special cartridge. Let's not forget that the caliber's forerunner (the 32-40) did a fine job on deer to 100 yards and did so with about 500 FPS less velocity, too. In the rifle-length barrel, most powders should safely enable 2100 FPS with the 170 grain J-words, and similar velocities with castings if accuracy stays around at the high end. One of the truly cool things about the 30-30, 32 Special, and 38-55 is that bulletmakers can create reliable controlled-expansion bullets using "old-school" slug-and-jacket technology. Impact velocity ranges of 1600-2000 FPS are very friendly to these classic bullets.

[bruce drake]

I shoot my father's Model 1894 Winchester in 32 Special using an as-cast 8mm 170gr RN from Lee. It drops out at .323 from the mold but my rifle's barrel mikes at .322 so it shoots fine with a 10gr Red Dot load. I don't bother to gas-check the bullet but I probably could if I wished to load it up a little more on the velocity side.

Bruce

[StarMetal]

Bruce that's just great your rifle shoots that bullet good without the gas check. Sure makes for an economical load.

Joe

[Dr. A]

Not to shortchange Dan, but I went ahead and ordered the RCBS and got it today. Will go home and try it out tonight, as we are getting some weather. Any recommendations for loads? Still have not gotten the gun, so will size them later. Want to get a good supply of bullets made up. I have been liking Benchmark quite a bit. Speed about like 3031 and meters much better. I get good moderate loads in the 45-70. Any recomendations? I shoot my 30-30 at around 1800 or 1900 usually. Have had good luck with H4198 and IMR4198. Thanks.

David

Impatiently waiting on the gun.

[KCSO]

My current favorite for a hunting load is 30.5 of W/W 748 and a 170 gr. bullet. For plinking I like either Red Dot or Unique behiind the same bullet. In my M94 the difference between loads is just 2 steps on the elevator. I haven't had time to do much more than work up a couple of loads for the 32 Special.

[Mel-4857]

Hi, been working with my 32 Special Marlin rifle circa 1950. Currently using a 321 magna cast 170 gr 32/40 boolit that I bought at a gun show. These are plain base. I use a load out of Richard Lee's second manual for the 30/30 which uses 335 powder. I tried 17gr of WC845 listed as a 335 equivalant. It only clocks 1350 but shoots really well. I use a dacron filler . Only downside it shoots dirty. Lee's 323 mould also shows promise . Mel

[carpetman]

DrA---You shoot your 30-30 around 1800 or 1900 usually. Doesn't this disturb the neighbors watching news at that time?

[felix]

No, they did not have TV's at that time. ... felix

[StarMetal]

Hey Felix.....good one!

Joe

[bruce drake]

I forgot to mention that the Lee 170gr .323 bullet is gaschecked behind my 10gr of RED DOT. I don't want to lead anyone's barrel up.

Bruce

[drinks]

I have a 1894 long rifle, made in 1900 with the nickle steel barrel, Federal factory 170's get 2250fps, WW's 170 factory gets 2100fps, I have used 20gr IMR4227 at 1730fps with the Lee .323gc 175 and 26gr Varget with some pulled 170 gr .320 silvertips, only got 1560fps and have no more of those to try.
My barrel is .319+ , so very close to the Win. advertized .320