1894 Cowboy 32 H&R

[WARD O]

A new toy followed me home yesterday - been working on one of these for some time and finally acquired one of the Marlin cowboy rifles in 32 H&R. I have enjoyed my Ruger Single Sixes in the same caliber and now have the companion!

As these have been around for a couple of years now - some of you must have some preferences. What should I be shooting in this rifle?

(I prefer cast bullets.)

Thanks and Happy New Year
Ward

[Dave B]

I shoot the RCBS 90 gr Cowboy style bullet with 4gr Unique. This gets about 1400fps. It is accurate and will feed in your rifle. Mine doesn't feed swc smoothly, and won't feed 32 longs at all. The only problem with the RCBS mold is that it is only a 2 holer. And also, I use bullets sized at .314. I tried some Magtech .313 rn with the same load without much luck. Neat rifle.

[Dark Helmet]

GB 314 120 Rf If'n I had the rifle.

[Wayne Smith]

Original Winchester mold. Waiting on the Catshooter .32 Keith mold.

There is one on eBay now: Item number: 150318240312

OK, that's not how you post a link! Anyway, this one looks OK but has been coated with mold prep so its hard to say.

[Seafarer12]

I wrote Marlin and Ruger and said they needed to Chamber a 94 and a Blackhawk in the 327 mag. That would be a slick combination. I told Ruger they neded to make a 327/ 32-20 convertible. I always liked the 32 caliber guns.

[WARD O]

I have been loading a 120 gr RNFP .313 diameter 32-20 bullet over 5.5 grains of Winchester 540 (which is supposed to be pretty much identical to HS-6) for use in my Ruger Single Six. This load was written up in one of the magazines some time ago but I can not seem to find my source at this time. I have not run it over a chrono so don't know it's velocity but it sure is accurate!

Ward

[KCSO]

I use Unique powder and the Lee soupcan g/c bullet. Makes a great shooting load and functions just fine.

[19112TAP]

I purchased one this past summer and absolutely love it. A friend give me a few hundred .32 S&W longs and they function just fine in my gun and have been using them for squirrel hunting, with the 32 S&W longs the noise factor is less than a 22lr. I did start to load up some 115 gr .313 cast I got from a friend (don't know manufarture or mold) and using Unique I have been able to get under 2" groups at a little over 50 yds. using .32 H&R mag cases. The bore on mine is .312. I did shoot a few Federal 85gr jacketed bullets I got with the gun and they shoot just fine.

A couple of weeks ago I was able to pick up a Ruger single six Bisley, I think I'm going to have alot of fun with the two guns.

I did pick up a Lyman 311008 mold for a Marlin 1894 32-20 I got and will also try in the 32 mag also.

[Jon K]

Lyman 311008 or 311316.

[home in oz]

Do you have a picture of the rifle?

Thanks,

[KCSO]

1911, That is my combo i have had the Ruger 32 Mag Bisley for over 20 years and IT shoots like a rifle. The Marlin will shoot as close as you can hold and I have gotten groups as small as 2" at 100 yards with a scope on the gun.

[joatmon]

You lucky dogs!! I have never even seen that rifle in person. I gave up looking for one
awhile back. I do have a nib stainless babyvaquero with the round grip frame and a
blue one with reg grip frame that is a lot of fun to shoot.

[WARD O]

I am not good on pictures but this rifle looks the same as any of the Marlin Cowboy rifles with the 20" octagon barrel except that there is no loading gate on the side of the receiver. This rifle loads like the Marlin 39 in 22 caliber - you load the magazine tube in front of the forearm. This is the same method Marlin used on their 32 rimfires 100 years ago.

Ward

[Dave B]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/dbeeson3/DSC00888.jpg

[home in oz]

Wow! Nice gun!

Thanks for the photo!

Is that a peep sight? or hammer extension for scope?

[Dave B]

Thats a Williams FP rear sight. I have since, put on a Lyman 17 globe on the front. I'm not sure if I like the globe yet., but the rear peep will spoil you.

[WARD O]

Dave
Does that Williams FP attach to the top of the reciever with the scope mount screw holes or did you have to drill and tap for side attachment?
I use globe front sights on some of my BPCR's and find them to be very accurate but they are slow in acquiring moving targets. This is especially true in woods or brush shooting.
Ward

[Dave B]

Ward, they mount in the rear two scope mount holes on all later Marlins. Couldn't be easier.

[hyoder]

I have one with the Marble's tang site that I have added the Merit adjustable aperature to.
Front site is a Lyman 17 with post insert.
I've used it for a couple of years in Pistol Cartridge Cowboy Leveraction Silhouette wit good results.
I shoot Lyman 311419 boolits sized .313 pushed by 6.3 grs. AA No. 7.

[tomf52]

I had been searching for one of these rifles for many a moon, and then one day on a walk through Cabela's in Chandler AZ I stumbled across three brand new in their used rifle rack. Needless to say one came home with me. Still working on loads, but the most promising looks like the 90 gr RCBS cowboy bullet with 3 gr (+ or -) W231 pushing it. Early attempts with Bullseye I couldn't put 10 out of 10 rounds in a 2' x 4' backer board at 50 yards. Down to 1 1/2" groups now and still trying. Unique didn't work very well for me but others swear by it with this combo.

[WARD O]

I took my new toy to the range yesterday - it was 8 degrees and overcast - but not much wind. With 120 gr rnfp loads the gun shot about 6 inches low at 50 yards with the rear sight all the way to the top for elevation. I think I will have to find a lower front sight to get this guy to shoot to point of aim. I think I will probably throw a scope on it and do a little group testing and then go with either the open sights or maybe a reciever sight like Dave has. I tried some .311, .312, and .313 diameter bullets and it seem to like the .313 the best keeping five shots in about 1.5 inches at 50 yards. What a fun gun to shoot!

Ward

[Junior1942]

Well, I finally saw a Marlin rifle that I like!

[Dave B]

If I was out shooting in 8 deg temps, I'd be shootin low too. Try a lighter bullet or speed it up.