.32 Special, Anyone?

[TXGunNut]

Local Cabelas had seven of them a little while ago, never seen that many in one case. IIRC all were made in the '40's and '50's. All 70-80% and one very strong 90% gun with nice contrast and a little figure in the wood.

[runfiverun]

they will do cast from just barely falling out the barrel to as fast as anything the factory has ever put out.
i run a 324 sized boolit [i also use in my 8 mauser] from an old ideal single cavity mold it does everything my 30-30 does, only bigger.

[TXGunNut]

I have a post-64 32WS that I really enjoy shooting. I use a RD mould and you're right, it's just as happy with the Universal plinker loads as it is zipping along @ 2100 fps or so. I can't use another 94 but the one made in 1957 had a pretty awesome trigger on top of being purty.

[6pt-sika]

I had three if them ! A Marlin 1893 of about 1916-1920 vintage with a 26" round barrel . A Marlin Model 1936A and a Marlin 336SC that was made in 1952 . When I first started I used the RCBS 32-170 . Ranch dog sent me one of the 4 original test molds for his 323-170GC and I fired a good many of them in the 336SC at silhouette with very nice results . Also used the Lyman 321297 to a lesser degree but it did well also .

[GARCIA]

Only have one and it was made in 1941. Honest working gun that has seen some use. Still shoots good and still goes to the woods. Strictly a cb shooter. I use the same load data as the 30-30 uses for the 170gr. All are sized at .323.

Tom

[bob208]

for a long time every 94 i picked up was a .32 spl. alot of my spl. order rifles are .32spl.

[358 Win]

I have four .32 Win Specials. A 1949 Win Model 94, a 1968 Win Model 94, a 1951 Marlin 336SC, and a 1957 Marlin 336SC. Both my Marlins have ballard style rifling and both are scoped. I shoot the older RCBS 08-170 GCFN in all of them. I also shoot the Ranch Dog 323-170 GCFN bullet. I tried the Lyman 321-297 boollet but could not get it to feed in any of my .32 Win Specials. The .32 Special has been the easiest caliber for me to get super accuracy from cast boollets. Whether I launch them at 1650fps or 2300fps, accuracy is match grade. My most accurate .32 Special is the 1957 Marlin 336SC due it's 3lb trigger pull and the Leupold scope mounted. Shot my first deer with my 1949 vintage Win Model 94 when I was 12 years old. My Uncle Jack loaned it to me for that rainy November morning and then he sold it to me when I returned home from overseas in 1973. I truly enjoy my .32 Win Specials a lot.
358 Win

[Marvin S]

I have a Win 64 not a 64A. The ergonomics are about the best of any lever gun. I shoot alot of 32-40 so I have plenty of molds to choose from.

[hondo1892]

I have a 94 winchester made in 1927 or there abouts. It has a Lyman tang sight on it also. I haven't shot it abunch yet but it has been lots of fun so far. I hope to get's me a deer with it this fall. I shoot the RCBS 32-170 in it with 5744. I couldn't find any loading data for 5744 except from Mike V's levergun book. He was shooting 16-17grs. of 5744. That seems kind of slow to me. I also just read a article in American Rifleman but can't remember what weight they were using. It was twenty something but my memory is too short these days. Anyone here know of any loading data for 5744 in the 32 WS? Accurate powder doesn't show anything.

[6pt-sika]

I have a 94 winchester made in 1927 or there abouts. It has a Lyman tang sight on it also. I haven't shot it abunch yet but it has been lots of fun so far. I hope to get's me a deer with it this fall. I shoot the RCBS 32-170 in it with 5744. I couldn't find any loading data for 5744 except from Mike V's levergun book. He was shooting 16-17grs. of 5744. That seems kind of slow to me. I also just read a article in American Rifleman but can't remember what weight they were using. It was twenty something but my memory is too short these days. Anyone here know of any loading data for 5744 in the 32 WS? Accurate powder doesn't show anything.

My RD 323-170GC load with XMP5744 was 20-22 grains depending on which rifle I fired it in . Also used it in a now deceased friends Pre 64 94 .

[Vtnam68]

I have a 94 Win I got when my grandmother died. Her and my grandfather raised me. My grandfather bought it for her sometime in the 30's. He was a faller and lived in alot of logging camps with my grandma. He taught her how to shoot and she was good. She shot alot of deer, elk and bear with that gun! She was only 4' 11. She hunted alot by herself. Granpa taught her how to bone out the animals if she was to far from a road. They both taught me how to hunt and fish. Every time I hold that gun it brings back alot of memories.

[OverMax]

No difference than a 30-30._ "Just easier to pick up those boolit tip with your fingers is all."_ Knowing Cabelas. They do have some nice old rifles collections in their Gun Rooms. As for powder used. I've been using Alliant 2400 and 321297 cast in my Specials. Seems to work well in my 32-40 also.

O/M

[richhodg66]

Well, I just made another impulse rifle buy. Went over to another town with the wife and stopped in the one shop open on Sunday and there it was. My favorite rifle in the world is an old Marlin .35 Remington with a 24" barrel and the 3/4 magazine, this one is the same except for a short barrel and full magazine. Big, forend, I think it's called a perchbelly???

It is a pre-Micro Groove, so that's good. Only problem is someone cut it short for a kid and installed a recoil pad, I may try it as is, though. One thing I have been noticing during deer season is that the stocks on most rifles seem to be too long. I'm a wuss where cold is concerned and dress accordingly in our December season, so maybe a short rifle will help with the heavy coat adding an inch or more to my length of pull.

Now I need a mold and dies. I never have owned a .32/8mm, so this will be interesting.

[hondo1892]

Thanks 6pt. I did see that my Lee loading manual has the same load for the 30-30.

[bruce drake]

Rich, I own a Win94 32WS as well. It really likes LEE's 170gr RN 8mm (.323 sized and checked ) mold. Your's will probably like it as well since it has the standard rifling and not Marlin's Micro-groove foolishness.

And every hunting season I get all the brass I need from the folks shooting their 30-30s and leaving the brass on the ground. Its a simple neck-up of the brass and then I sharpie a black ring around the cartridge body to separate the brass from my 30-30 brass.

Bruce

[richhodg66]

Bruce, I may do that, but if I can get .32 Special headstamped brass, I prefer that. Pluss, I have a bunch of .30-30s.

I think I'm gonna do something weird with this one and standardize on ONE bullet and ONE load (weird, I know) and use this one for deer hunting. I've been kind of focusing on Model 99 Savages lately, but just couldn't pass on this one.

Truthfully, I have no experience with the Micro Groove, for all I know, it may work just fine. I do have a .30-30 Micro Groove that I will most likely give my son. Haven't worked with it much yet but if it doesn't like cast, I'll just load him a bunch of jacketed stuff up.

You on terminal leave yet? I saw you on the MCTP Facebook page the other day, you should be getting close.

[6pt-sika]

Thanks 6pt. I did see that my Lee loading manual has the same load for the 30-30.

I shot a rather large pile of the Ranch Dog 311-165GC in variouse Marlin 30-30's using 21 or 22 grains of XMP5744 .

[6pt-sika]

Truthfully, I have no experience with the Micro Groove, for all I know, it may work just fine. I do have a .30-30 Micro Groove that I will most likely give my son. Haven't worked with it much yet but if it doesn't like cast, I'll just load him a bunch of jacketed stuff up.


Some folks like to make a big deal about Micro Groove rifling . I've used it in every cartridge Marlin chambered a gun for with that rifling and didn't have all the problems some folks would lead you to believe .

At the present out of the 16 or 17 lever actions I have all but two are Micro Groove .

When I was shooting alot of silhouette I was using Marlin 30-30 with both Ballard and Micro Groove and the Micro guns shot as well if not better then the Ballard guns .

After all think about the little Marln 39A 22's !
All of them since about 1957 have had Micro groove they shot all lead bullets and they shoot very well usually !

[sundog]

Years ago I shot a bunch of RCBS 35-200-FN in a Marlin 35 Rem w/MG rifling (belongs to a friend). No leading and superb accuracy, even pushing it really hard. Sure would like to have that rifle.

[bruce drake]

damn close. under 30 days Rich. even got a job waiting in Indiana as well. just waiting on resolution on a home lease until we get the lay of the city for a home purchase.

[windy]

swapped my lgs a couple of ho-hum oldies fer a 1907-built winchester "extra light sporting rifle" in 32 special monday night. it's "patinated"--brown, mainly--with a full-length mag tube scabbed onto the 26" octagon-to-round barrel. it has other issues, but the bore is fairly crisp, though possibly not enough to shoot cb's with. so far the accuracy has been so-so; best hope so far is with the speer 170gr j-bullet and about 35 grains of 4320. once i figger out the jay-birds, what's a good source for a variety of cast boolit styles and sizes--say 115gc to 190 or 200 plain-based? my old ideal no. 37 book shows a jacketed 110gr load at 2825 ft/sec., but i've no clue how to find a stash of those old hotties. love to have a varmint boolit cruisin' at 2500, and a bear-thumper about 195gr at 2000 outta that long, long barrel.
mind yer topknots!
windy

[missionary5155]

Greetings
My first center fire was a Marlin Waffletop in 32 Win. Special. Used it on fox, groundhogs and one muskrat. That was a bit overkill. Had it for years till I went to Bible School and it had to go for moving. Always thought I get another but discovered the caliber 38's and just seemed to be for me. Every Marlin I get in the 32's smaller cousin gets turned into a fatter caliber. No regrets either. Mike in Peru

[jonp]

Well, I just made another impulse rifle buy. Went over to another town with the wife and stopped in the one shop open on Sunday and there it was. My favorite rifle in the world is an old Marlin .35 Remington with a 24" barrel and the 3/4 magazine, this one is the same except for a short barrel and full magazine. Big, forend, I think it's called a perchbelly???

It is a pre-Micro Groove, so that's good. Only problem is someone cut it short for a kid and installed a recoil pad, I may try it as is, though. One thing I have been noticing during deer season is that the stocks on most rifles seem to be too long. I'm a wuss where cold is concerned and dress accordingly in our December season, so maybe a short rifle will help with the heavy coat adding an inch or more to my length of pull.

Now I need a mold and dies. I never have owned a .32/8mm, so this will be interesting.
I found one just like that for $150 several years ago. I ordered a blank from Brownells and spent several weekends on the porch with a file, some sandpaper and a couple of woodworking tools fitting it then used some oil on the hardwood. Came out nice.

[pls1911]

I managed to find a curious slab sided Marin in .32, virtually unused little beauty, and carried what looked like a factory threaed muzzle and knurled thread cover.
Never fire it yet.
Plan to get a can to use on this and .30BLK next year.

[roharmon]

Congratulations Bruce, and thank you for your service to our Nation.


damn close. under 30 days Rich. even got a job waiting in Indiana as well. just waiting on resolution on a home lease until we get the lay of the city for a home purchase.

[richhodg66]

I have four .32 Win Specials. A 1949 Win Model 94, a 1968 Win Model 94, a 1951 Marlin 336SC, and a 1957 Marlin 336SC. Both my Marlins have ballard style rifling and both are scoped. I shoot the older RCBS 08-170 GCFN in all of them. I also shoot the Ranch Dog 323-170 GCFN bullet. I tried the Lyman 321-297 boollet but could not get it to feed in any of my .32 Win Specials. The .32 Special has been the easiest caliber for me to get super accuracy from cast boollets. Whether I launch them at 1650fps or 2300fps, accuracy is match grade. My most accurate .32 Special is the 1957 Marlin 336SC due it's 3lb trigger pull and the Leupold scope mounted. Shot my first deer with my 1949 vintage Win Model 94 when I was 12 years old. My Uncle Jack loaned it to me for that rainy November morning and then he sold it to me when I returned home from overseas in 1973. I truly enjoy my .32 Win Specials a lot.
358 Win

I now have a Lyman 321297 mold on the way. I just now read your post closely and saw you had problems getting it to feed, can you elaborate on that a bit? My old Lyman manual lists it as a good bullet for the cartridge, I was hopeing it would work out well in this Marlin. Guess I'll have to try it and find out.

[Gaucho Gringo]

.32WS was made with black powder reloading in mind. It was never manufactured as a black powder cartridge but the thought was that is was to be reloaded with black powder. This was in the very early days of smokeless powder and old habits die hard. I have been looking for a LA in .32WS just to shoot black powder out of. Also the twist of the barrels is more friendly towards cast boolits.

[OverMax]

Nobody should have 15-16 Marlins unto themselves. Darn >Life's so unfair!!
BTW I was actually given a Marlin model 36-A__ 30-30 by a widow Lady a few years back. Apparently it was her fathers favorite. A pretty decent looking closed sided flat bolt. Reason received: I was asked to sell off her recently deceased husbands weaponry at a fair market price because she no longer wanted them in her house. I was given the 36-A rifle as a unwanted favor for my efforts. Have never shot the 36. Reason not too: Got a couple pre-64 >94s here for that purpose. 32 S. & 30-wcf.

O/M

[OverMax]

richhodg66 said: I just made another impulse rifle buy. Went over to another town with the wife and stopped in the one shop open on Sunday and there it was. My favorite rifle in the world is an old Marlin .35 Remington with a 24" barrel and the 3/4 magazine, this one is the same except for a short barrel and full magazine.
Your number #13 post. A bit confused here.___ Did you buy a 35 Rem or a 32 Special Sir? ___As you later commented in the same paragraph you were looking to purchase 32/8mm dies & a mold in the same thread. In no way am I intentionally critiquing your thread Rich. Just looking for little clarity is all.

BTW: I hope you bought a 32 special rifle instead of a 35 REM. Many who already own a 35 are now having trouble finding brass at this time & date.

O/M

[richhodg66]

I bought a .32 Special. My older .35 is sitting quietly in the safe, but it's an awesome rifle. I also have a .30-30 Marling (sold under the Sears name), and it's a micro groove, the other two have Ballard rifling.

I have a mold and brass coming now for the .32. I still need dies and a sizer and gas checks. I'm looking forward to shooting this one.

I have a good bit of brass for the .35 and haven't shot it much in the past few years, so it should last a while.

[TXGunNut]

BTW: I hope you bought a 32 special rifle instead of a 35 REM. Many who already own a 35 are now having trouble finding brass at this time & date. -OverMax

I'm greedy, seems I have to have both. If he has a good supply of brass on hand he's good, the 35 Rem is easy on brass. If not WW is still making them and this is one rifle cartridge that WW seems to do a good job making brass for. Have to smile every time I pick up a new Remlin in 35 Rem, someone didn't get the memo!

Interesting theories, Gaucho Gringo. Have heard both, cast boolit theory makes some sense but BP is a bit of a stretch for me. Biggest problem with both is why would a company that makes ammo and rifles do anything to make it better for the reloader? I think it's a round that happens to work quite well for CB's but I think the BP theories are a bit off the mark.

[OverMax]

TXGunNut: Do you happen to know what the twist rate is in a 336 32 special? __(I've often wondered if it was the same as a 94s)

[Lead Fred]

I have two hunting buds, one uses his gramps 32 special, the other my old 30-30 Marlin.
The 30-30 shoots the pants of the 32sp over 70 yards, inside 70 yards the 32sp knocksem down better

Ive passed on several 32sps after getting my 1941 winnie 30 wcf

[Nobade]

TXGunNut: Do you happen to know what the twist rate is in a 336 32 special? __(I've often wondered if it was the same as a 94s)

Mine is 1:16.

-Nobade

[bob208]

any one ever seen the special smokless sight on a .32 spl. rifle ?

[dakota]

One of the rifles that I'll keep to the end is a 94 made in about 54 - 32 Win Special. Some rifles just seem to feel right in every way. This is one. I have 30-30's - one in a 64 deluxe that I'll be using in silhouette shooting. So far though I've not been able to shoot that as well as the 32 -- ???

[358 Win]

I now have a Lyman 321297 mold on the way. I just now read your post closely and saw you had problems getting it to feed, can you elaborate on that a bit? My old Lyman manual lists it as a good bullet for the cartridge, I was hopeing it would work out well in this Marlin. Guess I'll have to try it and find out.

The Lyman 321297 boolet would get hung up coming out of the magazine and onto the carrier in all my four .32 Win Specials. Did not matter if I trimmed the cases short and loaded to a shorther COL. Funny, the same bullet functioned flawlessly in my buddies five pre war Win Model 94's and his two .32-40's.
http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0023.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0023.jpg.html)http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0024.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0024.jpg.html)

If my photo posting worked it should show my 1957 Marlin 336SC used to shoot both targets shot with my cast boolets. The large round black target was shot with the Ranch Dog .323-170FNGC @ 1744fps using Alliant 2400 powder and the square block target is the RCBS 08-170FNGC boolit @ 2300fps using the new LVR powder from Hodgdon. Both boolits weigh 182 grains fully dressed ready to shoot. Ranch Dog boolit is sized .323 and RCBS bullet is sized .3225. Both groups are five shots @ 50 yards.

358 Win

[OverMax]

Both the 94 & 336 32s do have the same twist apparently. (1-16) Thanks Nobade

[roberto mervicini]

My son Eric second rifle, and the first that he bought with his own saving, almost 25 yrs a go was a win. 32 spl. He paid 150 dollars and the rifle was almost like new, and still look as good ( I offer him a 6.5x55 as first rifle ) .
About a year after with this gun he impress the hell out of me and couple hunting buddy, we where in a big sand pit shooting; at the end we all standing when a friend tossed a can of pepsi and told Eric: kid show me how that new gun work.... Eric of hand took a shoot that send the can dawn range, same with the second shoot, the third flip the can up in the air, and he keep it up with the next 2 shoots just like in some old western movie!!!!

Till present I reload with Speer 170 FP since had a tremendous deal at the time, a store going out of business on the last day in reloading had only 15 boxes of .32flat point and few die left I purchased all of them, still have couple left, but I read here that boolits from a .324 mold could produce good results. This is the same I use on a mauser 8x57. 324-175R-GC
Two questions:
-round nose is ok, not dangerous to set off the next round in the tube magazine .?
-from your experience couple of powder giving good results with the 175 grain boolit at around 1900 fps
thanks, regards
roberto

[TXGunNut]

TXGunNut: Do you happen to know what the twist rate is in a 336 32 special? __(I've often wondered if it was the same as a 94s)

I'm sorry, but no. Will see if I can find out.


Edit:
Thanks, Nobade. Don't recall seeing a 336 in 32WS. Now it's definitely on my wish list.

[richhodg66]

The Lyman 321297 boolet would get hung up coming out of the magazine and onto the carrier in all my four .32 Win Specials. Did not matter if I trimmed the cases short and loaded to a shorther COL. Funny, the same bullet functioned flawlessly in my buddies five pre war Win Model 94's and his two .32-40's.
http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0023.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0023.jpg.html)http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0024.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/IMAG0024.jpg.html)

If my photo posting worked it should show my 1957 Marlin 336SC used to shoot both targets shot with my cast boolets. The large round black target was shot with the Ranch Dog .323-170FNGC @ 1744fps using Alliant 2400 powder and the square block target is the RCBS 08-170FNGC boolit @ 2300fps using the new LVR powder from Hodgdon. Both boolits weigh 182 grains fully dressed ready to shoot. Ranch Dog boolit is sized .323 and RCBS bullet is sized .3225. Both groups are five shots @ 50 yards.

358 Win

Well, I guess I'll try it and see. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll feed and shoot fine. I wish could still buy a Ranchdog mold, I like the .30 caliber one I have a lot.

That's some good shooting there, hope mine will do that.

[semtav]

I've got both a 94 and 64 in 32 Special. Haven't shot either much yet, but the 64 shoots really low with Cast boolits so I have to figure something out otherwise I have to put a huge shim under the rear sight to get on target at 100 yds.

[Scharfschuetze]

Semtav,

Easiest solution for the low shooting rifle would be to pick up a lower front sight. That should bring your POI up to where you need it. There are some good math formulae that will help in your selection of a lower sight. If you remember how low the group was to the point of aim, at what range, your rifle's sight radius, we can do the math quickly.

[TXGunNut]

I wonder if that nice 1957 vintage 94 32WS is still stuck in a corner on the Gun Library? May keep the checkbook out just in case.

[Riverpigusmc]

I have a Model 94 .32 Win Spl that belonged to my great uncle..have black and white pics of him, the rifle, and dead elk out in Montana. That was before I was born, so it had to be in the early fifties, I guess. Love that old levergun

[leeggen]

Had one for 4 yr. back in mid 70's. Mod 94 32 WIN SPL. Arrig. owner bought in 1954. Even had the 2 bx of ammo he purchased at the time, 3 shells missing from sight in by him. Kick my own pants for selling it. Tha t steel butt plate left some wonderful mem.....and bruses.
CD

[semtav]

Semtav,

Easiest solution for the low shooting rifle would be to pick up a lower front sight. That should bring your POI up to where you need it. There are some good math formulae that will help in your selection of a lower sight. If you remember how low the group was to the point of aim, at what range, your rifle's sight radius, we can do the math quickly.

If the front sight has to go down anywhere near what the front sight had to go up, I couldn't get it low enough. I'm not where my gun is and won't be for another month or so.
thanks
Brian

[Sixgun Symphony]

.32WS was made with black powder reloading in mind. It was never manufactured as a black powder cartridge but the thought was that is was to be reloaded with black powder. This was in the very early days of smokeless powder and old habits die hard. I have been looking for a LA in .32WS just to shoot black powder out of. Also the twist of the barrels is more friendly towards cast boolits.

I too have been wanting to get one for use with blackpowder and pyrodex.