Winchester 94 Eastern Carbine 32WS

[paul s]

Hi, I was lucky and got a deal on a 1929 vintage 94 carbine in 32WS. I was thinking about the cast bullets offered by Midway with about 8gr Unique. Does any one have experance with these bullets? Happen to have about 100 rnds fresh factory ammo so im interested in some light plinkin loads. TIA

[Hick]

I haven't tried Unique, but my 32 WS really seems to like 170 gr CB from Hunter's Supply that I bought at Midway. So far, I've only used plain based, but I've used 25 gr H380 (chronograph says 1425) and 23.8 of IMR4064 (1399 plus or minus 12). The 4064 load is the better of the two-- more consistent. As soon as the weather warms up a little I'm going to go the pistol powder route (700x-- couldn't find any Unique). The 32 WS has that slower twist (1 in 16") that cast really seems to like. Looks like a good find! Enjoy!

[Scharfschuetze]

I'm not sure what those boolits from Midway are, but I'll assume that they are plain base 170 grain boolits from your load of 8 grains of Unique.

My experience with PB cast in the 32 Special and pistol powder is:

6.5 grains of Bullseye with a 170 grain PBFP cast hard. 10 shot string.
Ave: 1165 fps
Es: 55
Sd: 15.4

6.5 grains of Hodgdon's Tight Group with the same boolit. 10 shot string
Ave: 1171 fps
Es: 59
Sd: 17

Accuracy for both loads is right at 2 1/2 MOA for 10 shots. 200 yard accuracy is pretty good if it's a calm day.

I can't get much faster than the above loads with a PB boolit in my Model 64 before leading at the throat starts to build up.

[358 Win]

I've got four .32 Win Specials. Two 94's and two 336SC Marlins. Cast my own RCBS 08-170's and the Ranch Dog C323-175. Both weigh in at 182 grains lubed and checked.




Here's a photo of my four .32 Win Special rifles. Both targets were shot with my 1957 Ballard rifled 336SC at 50 yards. First target is the Ranch Dog bullet sized .323 on top of 16.0 grains of Alliant 2400 and sparked by a FED215 primer for 1744 fps. Second target is the RCBS 08-170 sized .3225 on top of 38.5 grains of Lever Evolution powder and sparked with a CCI250 primer for 2300 fps. Not too shabby for an old guy with failing eyes!

358 Win

[dikman]

Out of curiosity, how do those .32's cycle? The reason I ask is that my '94, in .44-40, will not cycle fast without jamming (apparently a known issue, due to it being designed for rifle cartridges).

[Scharfschuetze]

Out of curiosity, how do those .32's cycle? The reason I ask is that my '94, in .44-40, will not cycle fast without jamming (apparently a known issue, due to it being designed for rifle cartridges).

Mine is as fast and as sure as my Model 94 in 30/30. Absolutely no issues with a well crimped boolit of the proper design.

I've never owned a Model 94 or Model 64 Winchester in any calibre other than the 30/30 and the 32 Special, so I guess I'm just speculating; but the model 94 first came out in what... 38/55? Of course the 30/30 and the 32 Special are based on that round so trying to make an action designed for these rounds operate with the short 44/40 must be a challenge.

[dikman]

My apologies, for some reason I thought the .32 was in a shorter case, otherwise I wouldn't have asked.

[A pause for the COZ]

I have a 1941 Marlin model 1936. It shoots the same load as my 30-30's.
16 gr of 2400 pushing the cast bullet of your choice. Hitting around the 1700 fps range.

[salvadore]

I own a 94 32 win spec. I use an accurate gc mold that claims 165 gr. I was told by some know if all that the 32 spec. lead likes likes to be pushed fast. Turns out he did know it all. My BLC2 load works nicely at 1800+.