32 Special....

[Bailey Boat]

First post, please be kind since I'm out of my "element" here.

A friend has recently acquired a Winchester levergun that is chambered in 32 Special and since I'm the reloading dude he came to me for advice. I checked all of my reference material and the only thing I can find is the correct diameter of the bullet (.311 according to my Speer #12)

What I can't find is a source for brass and bullets, can anyone help me out????? :confused:

[StarMetal]

First post, please be kind since I'm out of my "element" here.

A friend has recently acquired a Winchester levergun that is chambered in 32 Special and since I'm the reloading dude he came to me for advice. I checked all of my reference material and the only thing I can find is the correct diameter of the bullet (.311 according to my Speer #12)

What I can't find is a source for brass and bullets, can anyone help me out????? :confused:

First the 32 Special shoots a jacketed bullet of .321 diameter. The groove diameter should be that ( .321) may be more. So myself I shoot my cast bullets sized to .323.

As for brass just use 30-30 brass which is very abundant. Just keep it separated from 30-30 ammo if you have such. You can fire a 30-30 in a 32 Special. Won't hurt anything, just don't advise it. A 32 Special should not chamber in a 30-30.

The cast bullet to go for it is the RCBS 170 grain, BUT.....I used the Lee 175 grain round nose meant for the 8mm Mauser with most great results!

Joe

[Bailey Boat]

Thanks Joe, I did notice the close tolerance between the 32 spec and the 8mm but being unfamiliar with cast bulletz (everyone else spells it funny) I wasn't sure how much larger I could go without having a boo-boo...... I TOLD you I was a newby to this stuff.....

[StarMetal]

Thanks Joe, I did notice the close tolerance between the 32 spec and the 8mm but being unfamiliar with cast bulletz (everyone else spells it funny) I wasn't sure how much larger I could go without having a boo-boo...... As for the brass, you say "300" meaning 300 savage or something else?????? I TOLD you I was a newby to this stuff.....

Sorry, I didn't proof read my post.. The 300 brass is incorrect, I meant it to say 30-30 brass, thus the reason I gave info on both the 30-30 and 32 special. I'll go back and edit that.

Joe

[sundog]

Joe's got it. One pass through a .32 Win Spl die and 30-30 brass is ready to load (check case length just to be sure it's not too long, but it shouldn't be). The goto boolit is the RCBS 32-170-FN. Use 30-30 load data for the 311041 and pressure (and velocity) will be a bit lower in the .32. That Win lever gun your friend has is most likely a 16 twist which is very cast boolit friendly. I consider it better than 30-30.

Other moulds are available that will work such as several of the 8mm and especially the RD 32-170-FN which I think can be now ordered from Lee is Ranch Dog does not have any more.

[Bailey Boat]

Okay Joe, so if I had 30-30 brass I would fire form and trim to 32 special specs???? I don't think this guy is going to be shooting the gun a whole lot but he is anxious to shoot it a few times so I think the quantity will be fairly low. If I have him buy new, unprimed brass I know it will be low count.... Thanks for the guidance in the correct direction..... :)

sundog, there you have me as I don't cast anything, I'm at the mercy of the open market for stuff like bulletz. Is there a good, quality source to order them from????

[corvette8n]

.32 Winchester Special brass can be bought online from Midway USA, Midsouth shooters supply, Natchez, Grafs, Weidners.
I shoot .323 sized 180gr FNGC I bought from Bullshop under 10gr of Unique for a fun,fine plinker load.
I also have the Ranch Dog mold which I have yet to cast with.
Lee has a .323 size mold but it casts a somewhat pointy bullet, I know some have used it in their lever action guns, not sure I would recommend it.

Here is an interesting link

http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm

[sundog]

Bailey Boat, can't help you a bit on where to find cast boolits for sale, as I do not buy any. I make all that I shoot. I do not sell boolits. I can look around and see if I have any made up that I might share with you, but I won't be casting any for awhile now as temps here have gone back into the high 90s and 100s. I'll let you know. BUT, I'll warn you, if you start shooting cast and they work good for you, you might have a new pasttime.

[sundog]

I can share a hunert RCBS 32-170-FN already checked and loobed with you if you want to try them. That is, if your are in the good ole USofA. You pay the postage only, on receipt. PM me with your name and address. Oh, and you take me up on the offer you have to give us a loading and range report. Is that fair? We've got a pretty good bunch of folks on this board, so join in and have a good time.

[Bailey Boat]

Sundog I sincerely appreciate that offer. Let me wait until I actually see the gun and verify the caliber before I take you up on the offer as I wouldn't want those gems not being used. I guess I should have gone to my control panel and finished my profile. BTW, I'm in Concord North Carolina......

[sundog]

A tar heel !!!???? Aw, crap. A tar heel? I might have to rethink this....


Let me know.

[Char-Gar]

I got my first 32 W.S. a few years back and turn to this board for advise. I chose the RCBS 170 FN which I cast from No. 2 alloy and sized .323. I loaded this over 30/H335 and went to the range. This load is at or close to full snort factory level.

The 1959 Winchester 94 carbine produced three shot .60 - .75 inch fifty yards groups every time. This with a Lyman 66 rear sight.

Thus ended load development. I keep 100 round of this stuff loaded and it is my grab and go rifle. It is a wonderful cast bullet friendly round that gives all the rifle design has to give.

[Throckmorton]

Welcome to the friendliest board around !
You might post a WTB on the classifieds for some brass,I prefer to have brass with the correct caliber headstamp myself,especially since you are doing it for some one else.
The plinker loads using Unique give a whole new meaning to the wird fun,and the lever gun is happier being used than collecting dust,lol.

[Jumptrap]

First post, please be kind since I'm out of my "element" here.

A friend has recently acquired a Winchester levergun that is chambered in 32 Special and since I'm the reloading dude he came to me for advice. I checked all of my reference material and the only thing I can find is the correct diameter of the bullet (.311 according to my Speer #12)

What I can't find is a source for brass and bullets, can anyone help me out????? :confused:

It's a shame I didn't know about this last Friday.....you could have met me at IHOP in Salisbury for breakfast and I could have gave you some bullets to try. My mother lives in Lexington, NC.

[felix]

If I had to look at head stamps to determine what the loaded "round" was, I would be is sad shape today. I grew up using cases with various head stamps. ... felix

[6pt-sika]

I've been loading and casting for the 32 Special for a number of years now .

There are three molds I use regularly for this cartridge .

First and foremost the Ranch Dog 323-170GC , secondly the RCBS 32-170GC and finally the no longer made Lyman 321297 .

I cast all three from aircooled WW's and size them thru a .323" die as well as lube and check of course .

I've used these bullets in a trio of Marlin 32 Specials , one Winchester 32 Special and another Marlin in 32-40 with very decent to great results all around .

I've also I am sorry to say only used XMP5744 and IMR's SR powders to date in any cast bullet loads for the 32 Special or 32-40 .

[Bailey Boat]

Thanks to everyone for the wealth of information about this. As I said up front, with the exception of Speer 148gr HBWC's I'm a total newbie and stranger to cast loads.

Until I can inspect and verify the caliber of the rifle and it's condition I'm at a stand still, but a much more informed position that I was yesterday..... That's good news..... Thanks again, I'll be back........

[Newtire]

I just started loading the .32 special myself and only had just the RanchDog mould but now have an RCBS thanks to TrapperP!

Those RanchDogs were designed for Marlins. In order to get the RanchDogs to fit (a Winchester 64) I had to trim the case down to 2.010" and then I was able to crimp it in the crimp groove and it seated far enough in to where the action closed easily. I only had some loaded with some H335 and some Unique and both shot pretty low so will try again with my newer loads using the 30 grain H335 load that chargar used. I used that load in my 30-30 with the 311041 and it got great accuracy.

I think the .32 special should be a fun one.

[sundog]

Newtire, I think that 3031 is a premier powder for 32 Win Spl..., if it will work in yours. I agrre with your assessment of t he RD boolit, but Michael designed it for Marlin. Some of the rest of us tried to make it work in Win. It does, sorta. Just gotta get it right. It's a good boolit. I've still got one of the 2 prototypes that I need to have the GC shank trimmed out of to make a plain base RD 32-170. Any machinists out there wanna try that free gratis?

[Newtire]

Hi Sundog,
Yeah, I use the .35 RD mould in my Marlin of that persuasion and it is the ticket for sure.

I'm saying that the RD .32 fits and feeds great in my Winchester 64 once I get it seated right in a trimmed case. No big deal to trim them down for what yu get. That's a nice big flatnose boolit for sure. After Felix converted me into a believer with the H335 load in 30-30, I am a believer in that stuff. It works great in .35 Remington also. I don't have any 3031 on hand but aim to get some more as I used that stuff before in .30-30. Will have to try it out in .32 now.

I'm going down to the cave now to cast up a few .32 FN RCBS from a mould I got from TrapperP. Looks like a winner also.

[StarMetal]

Sundog I sincerely appreciate that offer. Let me wait until I actually see the gun and verify the caliber before I take you up on the offer as I wouldn't want those gems not being used. I guess I should have gone to my control panel and finished my profile. BTW, I'm in Concord North Carolina......

You're not far from me, I'm in Unicoi County, TN.

Joe

[felix]

3031 shoots in more calibers/cases than you can shake a stick at. More different boolit/bullet styles and weights too, in those same cases. ... felix

[MTWeatherman]

I've said it before and will reaffirm it. 3031 is my favorite powder for the .32 Special. I load it with the RCBS bullet which weighs in near 180 gr. from my mould.

It's hard to find good cast loading data for the .32 Special. My load is actually based on the early Lyman reloading manual from the '50s. Although likely considered hot if you could find a listing in current manuals, my .32 handles the load well with no excessive pressure signs and has done so for years. The early Lyman manual lists 33 gr. of 3031 as max with their 321297 180 gr. bullet. I worked up to 32 gr. with no problems. Both 31 and 32 gr. shot equally well so I split the difference at 31.5. Obviously, I'm not advocating that load as a safe or even accurate load for everyone...you'd have to carefully work up to it to try it yourself. However, in my case, it works very well indeed for a full performance load.

The bullet is moving at about 2100 fps as it exits my '94 carbine and delivers under 2" groups at 100 yds.

Only complaint about 3031 is that I wish it metered better. However, have used that load with satisfaction for so long that I'm not about to switch powders now.

[StarMetal]

3031 shoots in more calibers/cases than you can shake a stick at. More different boolit/bullet styles and weights too, in those same cases. ... felix

I believe one can say that about 4895 also.

Joe

[McLintock]

I've got a bunch of 32 Winchester Special brass and factory loads, totaling about 130-40 rounds. If you're interested, I'll total 'em up again and make a price. I did it once for a fellow on the SASS wire and he found some brass locally at the last minute, so I still have these. Never had a .32 Special and don't figure I ever will, so they're expendable.
McLintock

[Cowboy5780]

McLintock if the others arent interested send me a pm or post it in Swap and Sell i may be interested too.

[Nrut]

What would be the heaviest boolit that you could in in a 1:16" twist .32 Special?.. Does any body make a 200gr. plus mold that would fit in a Winchester throat?...
Thx

[jtaylor1960]

I had a 200gr. made by Mountain Molds.It will fit in my Marlin but is too long to eject.A little work could probably fix that.It worked through the action of my Winchester but the throat would not let it chamber.I think it would be a great bullet in the 32 if the twist will stabilize it.

[26Charlie]

Nrut - I had Mountain Molds make a 190 gr. FPGC which is just about perfect. I had used the lighter 160 gr Lyman Loverin design with good accuracy. The Saeco and RCBS 200 gr. designs for the 8mm don't do very well, seemingly on the edge of instability. I have a mould for Lyman's 321297 GC in hollow point which is also very good, casting at about 175 gr.

[Nrut]

Nrut - I had Mountain Molds make a 190 gr. FPGC which is just about perfect. I had used the lighter 160 gr Lyman Loverin design with good accuracy. The Saeco and RCBS 200 gr. designs for the 8mm don't do very well, seemingly on the edge of instability. I have a mould for Lyman's 321297 GC in hollow point which is also very good, casting at about 175 gr.

Thanks 26Charlie for your reply..
I have one of our 8mm/195gr. group buy boolits loaded up for the range to try...From your experience it looks like the 200gr. plus are not going to work..I have a LEE 8mm/240gr Max. boolit loaded in a dummy round that is deep seated to feed...Man that would be a killer if it could be stabilized...

jtaylor1960..
I had to taper size the nose on my 8mm group buy boolit mentioned above to make it fit the throat...kinda of a long process but I don't have a dedicated .32 Special mold ...I bought this rifle originally to have it bored out to a .35X55 or .375X55 as I want to shoot heavier boolits...

[TonyT]

I had a Win 1894 and a 94 carbine in 32 WS. Both shot the Lyman #321297 well using IMR 3031, IMR 4895, IMR 4227 and SR 4759.

[Newtire]

I had a Win 1894 and a 94 carbine in 32 WS. Both shot the Lyman #321297 well using IMR 3031, IMR 4895, IMR 4227 and SR 4759.

Could you give me a rough idea of what kind of charges worked? I have a bunch of SR 4759 and some H 4895 as well.

[StarMetal]

Could you give me a rough idea of what kind of charges worked? I have a bunch of SR 4759 and some H 4895 as well.

I'm using H4895 in my 32 Special. I'm using the Lee 175 grain 8mm bullet sized down to .323 for the 32 Special over top 28 grains. This is my plinking load. It's not full hilt. The velocity in my rifle is almost 1800 fps.

Joe

[Newtire]

Thanks Joe,
That gives me something to work on. I used the RCBS and 10 grain Unique load today and impressed me! I also loaded up some with IMR 4064 and the Ranch Dog but didn't get a chance to shoot em cause I left them at home on the bench. Next weekend!