.32 Winchester Special Marlin

[richhodg66]

A couple of years ago, while perusing used guns at various shops, I ran across this late '40s vintage waffle top in .32 Winchester Special. She's very well-worn and some DPO had cut the stock way short and badly installed a recoil pad for a kid. It had also been drilled and tapped, but it seemed sound and I like pre-Micro Groove Marlins.

Anyway, it's been a long journey, had to replace the stock, broke it all the way down and scrubbed every part, went through one failed bullet type that didn't want to feed, finally got a plain based mold for the .32-40 which shoots and functions well for plinking, but I want to deer hunt with it, so not long ago I got a NOE 325-180 FN from a member here and today was the second range session and the first time I've had time to carefully scrub the bore between groups and let the barrel cool between shots. Load was 30 grains of IMR 4320.

The scope is an old steel Weaver with the big post reticle. This group at 100 yards was the final result after getting her zeroed and settled in. First shot is my fouler (I think) the other five make for a quite nice group considering the big reticle and shakey old home made fold up shooting bench. I think this one will make it into the woods with me at least once this Fall.


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[Scharfschuetze]

Nice effort on the restoration! Just got 'a love 32 Winchester Specials, Marlins or Winchesters.

[TXGunNut]

Very nice, old steel Weaver was a nice touch as well.

[6pt-sika]

I had a circa 1951 336SC in 32 Special for a few years . Old gun was in very nice shape when I got it and I shot RCBS 32-170GC , Lyman 321297 and RD 323-170GC bullets in it . All did well on paper with SR4756 , SR7625 and XMP5744 . No do gooder ever D&T'd this one and when I got it I put a Lyman receiver sight on the gun . Later that year I killed a fat doe at about 40 yards using the RCBS 32-170GC bullet . Think the deer wobbled 10 yards after I shot it and it was all over .

[tdoyka]

gotta luv them 32 specials!!!

nice effort, real nice gun!!!

[TXGunNut]

Just loaded up some ammo for my 32's and put a receiver sight on my latest 32 (circa 1950) yesterday. Love shooting that cartridge in those rifles.

[richhodg66]

I have an older steel Lyman receiver sight I contemplated putting on this one, but since it was aready drilled and I had an age appropriate scope, I opted for this.

I have another old Marlin with the long barrel, wide forend and half mag about this same age in .35 Remington which does wear such a sight. It's one of my favorite rifles, maybe my very favorite. Never letting that one go, they'll probably bury me with it.

Funny, this .32 never demonstrated itself to be a great shooter, decent, but not great. Maybe that group is a fluke, I'll keep working with it, but I have modern scoped bolt actions I can't expect groups like that out of.

[TXGunNut]

Good call on the scope, all my Marlins (except one) wear them. I don't think it's unusual for a Marlin levergun to shoot like a bolt gun. All I had in my parts box was a Williams sight, it's served me well on other rifles. A good old sight would be a nice touch on my latest 32, maybe someday.

[OverMax]

Oh I'd have take this one in and have its barrel shortened to a SC model dimensions. Cute little 32 carbine for the woods then. ~~~
Just kidding with yaw.
Nice clean 32 you got there richodg66.

[GrumpyBear]

Nice job on the restoration.

I have a "53" 32 Special waffle top , recently acquired, and have only been to the range once, for a brief session due to work.

It has the Williams peep on it, and needs adjusted before the next trip. (Shooting left) Or it might just be my old eyes.LOL

Anyway, beautiful rifle and good shooting.

[358 Win]

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Grand%20Lodge%20Tour/IMAG0024.jpg[/URL
[URL="http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Grand%20Lodge%20Tour/IMAG0023.jpg.html"]http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Grand%20Lodge%20Tour/IMAG0023.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Grand%20Lodge%20Tour/IMAG0024.jpg.html)
http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/bobddville/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/004.jpg (http://s824.photobucket.com/user/bobddville/media/Gun%20Collection%20Photos/004.jpg.html)

Above are photos of targets and my four .32 Win Specials. First target is the RCBS 08-170 bullet @ 2300 fps using LVR powder. Bullet weight is 182 grains checked, lubed, and sized to .3225".

Second target is the Ranch Dog 323-175 bullet also at 182 grains checked, lubed and sized to .3233 and shot @ 1744fps with Alliant 2400 powder. Both targets were shot with my 1957 vintage 336SC using a Leupold VXI 2x7x33 with ballard rifling.

The order in the photo going left to right is: 1968 Win Model 94 with a Lyman 66 receiver sight. 1949 Win Model 94 with factory issue sights and sling added. 1957 Marlin 336SC with the above mentioned Leupold VXI and the last is my 1951 336SC wearing a steel Weaver 4X.

A .32 Win Special can be very special when shooting cast boolits!

358 Win

[richhodg66]

"Second target is the Ranch Dog 323-175 bullet also at 182 grains checked, lubed and sized to .3233 and shot @ 1744fps with Alliant 2400 powder. Both targets were shot with my 1957 vintage 336SC using a Leupold VXI 2x7x33 with ballard rifling."

I believe this bullet I am using to be a copy of the Ranchdog. Weighs 179 grains checked and lubed. Gonna have to try some 2400 loads now. Thanks for posting, that is a brace of very neat rifles you have there.

[TXGunNut]

Very nice, 358 Win. Thanks for sharing.