M1894 Winchester in .32-40

[ndnchf]

I just picked up this carbine that dates to 1929. By this time the .32-40 had been largely superseded by the .32 Winchester Special in the 1894. This one is somewhat of a rarity. In addition, it has the desirable nickel steel barrel. While this one has some bluing loss, the bore is mint - that's what's important to me. I slugged the bore, it came out at .3205" . I'll start out with .322" 170gr bullets.

So does anyone have a good pet .32-40 load? Thanks.

[ATCDoktor]

My 32 40 is a Marlin and shoots shoots very good with 165 grain boolet sized .321 and 14.5 grains of IMR 4227:

Velocity runs 1450 fps with this load.

10 shots at 100 yards.
https://i.postimg.cc/50HpS6Vk/A3363D78-5B8C-4456-A73F-AC7CB19105CD.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The same charge of IMR 4227 with a 180 grain boolet doesn’t shoot quite as tight of groups but still very respectable:

Velocity with 180 grain boolet is 1400 fps.
https://i.postimg.cc/nrPP6qKn/A2D1C5CC-FA93-4B08-9A0E-3A5DBEA01395.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[pietro]

.

A .32 gun is nothing but fun ! . :D

.

[ndnchf]

I agree Pietro. I'm at the point in life where the big crash 'n boomers aren't as much fun to shoot as they used to be. Nowadays I shoot a lot more .32-20, .32 Extra Long rimfire and .32 Ballard Extra Long. With the 94, I decided to move up to the 32-40 for a little more range.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I just about wet myself at the gun dealer today, from a deceased estate, an original Winchester '94 in 32/40. By the serial number it was made in 1906 probably a "special order" 1/2 magazine and 26" 1/2 octagonal 1/2 round barrel.

In non-firing condition (won't cock) I made an offer of $AU150, Get an answer tomorrow. Here is hoping.

[ndnchf]

I just about wet myself at the gun dealer today, from a deceased estate, an original Winchester '94 in 32/40. By the serial number it was made in 1906 probably a "special order" 1/2 magazine and 26" 1/2 octagonal 1/2 round barrel.

In non-firing condition (won't cock) I made an offer of $AU150, Get an answer tomorrow. Here is hoping.

Sounds sweet! Did you get a photo?

When I looked ar mine, I found it would not hold half cock. I negotiated the price accordingly. I tore it down and found both the hammer notch and sear badly abused. I have a new sear and good original type 2 hammer coming now. That one should be any easy fix too.

[Gunlaker]

That's nice! If I every buy another Win 1894 I'd want it to be a .32-40, or maybe a .38-55.

Chris.

[bob208]

I have 2 94 carbines in .32-40. also 2 rifles 1 a round barrel takedown the other a octagon. I won a few matches with takedown the load was the 165 gr lyman bullet for the 8mm lubed with spg and 35gr of 2f through a 24 inch drop tube cases were formed from .30-30.

[ndnchf]

I have 2 94 carbines in .32-40. also 2 rifles 1 a round barrel takedown the other a octagon. I won a few matches with takedown the load was the 165 gr lyman bullet for the 8mm lubed with spg and 35gr of 2f through a 24 inch drop tube cases were formed from .30-30.

Thanks. I just formed 50 cases tonight from 38-55 brass. I hope to get to the range next week.

[ndnchf]

I installed the new sear and replacement original type 2 hammer to resolve the damaged sear and half cock notch problem. Works as good as new now. The old 1929 vintage .32-40 is ready for duty!

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello ndnchf,

I have a Marlin 1893 which is 32-40, I shoot 30-30 cases formed & trimmed to 2.045", I know correct length is 2.120".
I use the RCBS 32-170-FN bullet mold, which is for the 32 Special. But it crimps in the groove & makes O.A.L. under 2.5".
I've been loading 22.0 gr of HercRx 7, starting load from the Lyman Reloading Manual 44th Edition (1967) for jacketed bullets.

AntiqueSledMan.

[ndnchf]

Hello ndnchf,

I have a Marlin 1893 which is 32-40, I shoot 30-30 cases formed & trimmed to 2.045", I know correct length is 2.120".
I use the RCBS 32-170-FN bullet mold, which is for the 32 Special. But it crimps in the groove & makes O.A.L. under 2.5".
I've been loading 22.0 gr of HercRx 7, starting load from the Lyman Reloading Manual 44th Edition (1967) for jacketed bullets.

AntiqueSledMan.

Thanks. I've read good things about the RCBS 32-170FN. I've used RX7 in my 32-20 loads. Glad to hear of succesd with it in .32-40 also.

[ndnchf]

I ordered 100 pieces if new 32-40 brass. But 30-30 brass is 1/3 the cost. What do you do to form it to 32-40?

[AntiqueSledMan]

ndnchf,

I ran a .32 expander through first (32 Special), then just ran through my LEE 32-40 sizer.
The reason I expanded first is because the LEE expander would pull out of the die while forming. Probably not necessary with other dies.
The 32 special bullet crimp groove groove is lower than the original 32-40 bullet,
and the 30-30 cases are long enough to make O.A.L. with this bullet.

AntiqueSledMan.

[ndnchf]

ndnchf,

I ran a .32 expander through first (32 Special), then just ran through my LEE 32-40 sizer.
The reason I expanded first is because the LEE expander would pull out of the die while forming. Probably not necessary with other dies.
The 32 special bullet crimp groove groove is lower than the original 32-40 bullet,
and the 30-30 cases are long enough to make O.A.L. with this bullet.

AntiqueSledMan.

I just ordered 100 off GB, It just so happens I have RCBS 32WS dies and Lee 32-40 dies. Now to find the best price for that mold :-) thanks!

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Get my hands on the '94 tomorrow (cooling off period) but meantime I have formed 50 pieces from 38/55. Going to try some commercial cast boolits as well as some Saeco 8mm sized to 0.322"

https://i.imgur.com/kAWVgGk.jpg

[Old-Win]

At our club, we shoot lever guns to 300 yards. I've been wanting to pick up a 94 Winchester and every now and then one shows up in 32-40 but I've been passing on them waiting for a 38-55. If my information is correct, the 32-40 has a 1 in 16 twist, same as the 32 Winchester Special. Bad ***, with your assortment of bullets that you show, I would be interested to see how yours shoots if you can shoot it past 200 yards. That might help me make a decision on what caliber to buy. If one of those bullets does shoot accurately to 300 yards , could you take a measurement of the length of that bullet for me? Thanks.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hey Guys,

I had to dig out some of my 32-40's.
The one on the left is a 32-40 case trimmed,
Center one is a John Wayne factory load,
the one on the right is my 30-30 case formed & trimmed.
Both cast loads are with the RCBS 32-170-FN with gas check.
One could use the LEE C324-175-1R 8mm, but I wanted a flat nose.

AntiqueSledMan.

[ndnchf]

I just measured the twist of my 1929 carbine - its 1 in 16". To get started I bought a box of Hunter Supply .322" 170gr flat points. I've got about 50 rounds loaded in brass formed from 38-55. To start I loaded 12.5gr if 2400. Half I sized to .321", the others I left as us at .322". Groove size of my carbine is .3205". I also have a Lee 8mm mold. They drop at .324" so will need to be sized if I try them. Lee bullet on the left, Hunter Suuply on the right and with a loaded round.

[veeman]

Interesting. When forming from 38-55 or 30-30, do you anneal first? I have a box of 100 32-40 brass I bought from Midway 30 or so years ago, with the intention of getting a 1894 in that caliber, still haven't got one, but it's getting closer. Like, next on the to-get list.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hey veeman,

I never annealed any, just ran the 32 Spl expander through, then sized in the 32-40 Die.
It's a fun one, little recoil.

Hey ndnchf,

Looks like it has a little longer nose, I never tried to see how long a cartridge would still function in my Marlin.

AntiqueSledMan.

[turtlezx]

i just run 30 30 thru the lee die to make 32 40
use the lee 8mm mold 170gr shoot as cast .325
.321 boolits would tumble in the 1893 marlin even though the rifling looks good

[dverna]

Those old cartridges do look neat.

Just curious, I see a number of 1894's in .32 Special. What makes the .32/40 so desirable? It's history as a match caliber? The long neck for cast bullet?

[ndnchf]

I just made up a dummy round using the Lee 8mm bullet. It will work in my Win carbine. I sized it to .321" and loaded it to an OAL of 2.525". It cycled fine.

Is there any concern with the nose shape? It doesn't have as large a meplat as the typical 32-40 bullet. Here are the two side by side. 8mm on the left.

[ndnchf]

Those old cartridges do look neat.

Just curious, I see a number of 1894's in .32 Special. What makes the .32/40 so desirable? It's history as a match caliber? The long neck for cast bullet?

Everyone has their own reasons. I've always liked the old hyphenated cartridges because they are from the black powder era. I've been shooting black powder cartridge guns since I got my first one in 1981. Before getting this carbine, I'd never had a 32-40. But I was intrigued by this one because it has a mint bore and a nickel steel barrel. Nickel steel was typically used for smokeless cartridges, while these had Ordnance steel barrels. By 1929, they werent making a lot of 32-40 94s. The 32 Win Special was more powerful, so it was a bigger seller.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello turtlezx,

I mix 7 parts Wheel Weight to 1 part 60/40 Solder, they keyholed with my 1893.
So I mixed it 3 parts Wheel Weight to 1 part 60/40 Solder, they shot straight, as did the John Wayne's.

hey ndnchf,

I was always told flat nose in Winchester & Marlin, round nose in Remington tube feed.
That's why I went with flat nose, lots of people use round nose.

Hello deverna,

I paid about $95 for mine back in 1990. Sad part was some idiot put Silver Dollars in the buttock, one on each side.
Then another, maybe the same idiot popped them out. So when I found it, it had & still has these two ugly holes in the stock.
One day I always planned on getting it re-stocked & cleaned up. It is quite different from the usual, it has a 20" octagon barrel
with a serpentine buttplate, and a nose cap like a rifle would have. I did use it deer hunting one year,
shot a doe at 60 yards, clean kill. Fun rifle to shoot. A 32 Special would be fun also.

Forgot to mention, mine says "Special Smokeless Steel".

AntiqueSledMan.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

A bit off topic, but 32/40 brass is as rare as in this part of the world. A small shipment of Winchester brass came through last year at $AU75 for 50, which I thought was robbery!

Like a lot of shooters, I tend to get the brass then look for a rifle. I have a small supply of 38/55 and 32 Special, enough for this job!

[ndnchf]

I took the .32-40 back to the range yesterday. This time my load was 17.0gr of RL-7 behind the gas checked, Lee 8mm, 172gr bullet sized to .321". I didnt bring the chrono, but this load should run 1475-1500 fps. This is at 100yds. Not a great group, but not bad considering my aging eyes, the short barrel and big ivory bead front sight. It about covers this bull at 100 yds. I am liking this bullet.

[ndnchf]

I replaced the too tall ivory bead front sight with a new, original style blade. After a little bit of trimming, it shoots right to point of aim at 50 yards now. It really seems to like 17.0gr of Reloader - 7 under either a Lee 8mm, 175gr bullet, or a Hunter Supply 170gr bullet. Next time out I'll move to 100yds and see how close the ladder sight markings are.

[ndnchf]

Today I was casting bullets and decided to try out the 100+ year old Ideal 32-40 hand tool's integral mold.

It took a while to get up to proper casting temp due to the mass of steel. But once warmed up, it cast beautiful bullets. I was expecting them to be around .320"-.321" diameter, which would barely be large enough for my carbine's .3205" groove size. It was a very happy surprise that they came out at .322"-.3225" with my 96/3/1 alloy. So I sized them to. 322" and loaded them up over 14.5gr of IMR 4227. It should be good for 1400-1450fps.