Marlin 1893 32-40

[lpel]

A while back I purchased a Marlin 1893 32-40 Special Smokeless Steel made in 1900. I bought it from a fellow in his 80’s. According to him he got it from his dad who got it from his dad as well. It was in definite need of some TLC with a badly broken stock and a dark bore. I completely stripped it down and got the bore a clean as I felt I could. Glued the stock back together.

Now that I know I can shoot it I have sourced some dies, brass and cast bullets all of which can be a challenge in Canada. I’ll eventually pick up a mold for it. Here’s a few photos of the process:

309429 before

309430 the cleaning process
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309432
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309427 the finished product
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I think it turned out pretty well. I wanted to keep it as original as possible as a number of the parts including the stock have matching serial numbers. I’m hoping to hunt deer with it some day.

[JRD]

Nice work mate. I appreciate that kind of project. I hope you do get to take a deer with it.
Well done.

[turtlezx]

i have 1 also with good rifling BUT WOULD TUMBLE 321 boolits went to 8mm 325 s and shoots well as cast

about the same story on its history as yours

[barkerwc4362]

I have an 1893 that the receiver was made in 1905-06 in 30-30. I bought it from a gun shop in New Mexico. It was a basket case. The barrel had multiple dovetails cut and was a sewer pipe. E-gunparts had at that time NOS 93 Marlin barrels. The 38-55 barrel I bought is a light round 26" from about 1906 or slightly later. A friend of mine did the restoration. See photo.

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[Bad Ass Wallace]

32/40 is a wonderful cartridge and in an original vintage Marlin !!!!!!!

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

[Ajohns]

Looks very nice! Glad you were able to fix and restore it, now it's your heirloom to begin.
32/40 is a fine old round!

[lpel]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I’m looking forward to shooting it soon.

I just ordered dies, brass and a Lee mold for it. Just confirming what is in stock. I’ll likely order a couple hundred .321 bullets (170 gr) to try as well. I thought if they tumble I’ll just remove the lube and powder coat them.

As for powders I have on hand Unique, IMR 4227, Alliant 2400 and a few others. So I’m sure one of them will work. I’ve consulted some of my cast reloading manuals as well.

I’m curious to know what powders and bullet weights are working for you?

turtle do you have any problem those 8mm bullets (324?)?
barker that is a beautiful restoration.

[ATCDoktor]

The work you did in getting your Marlin back into shooting condition will be well worth it.

The 32/40 is one the easiest cartridges I have found to get exceptional accuracy with in a lever gun.

This is my restored Marlin 1893 chambered in 32/40:
https://i.postimg.cc/L4cQvBhk/0F3EC29D-C8B5-417D-9FDA-6AA6DECD04FF.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/BnghqrpN/0F50661A-0609-4D9E-8316-3137E751318B.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
10 rounds at 100 yards with 14.5 grains of IMR 4227 and 170 grain coated bullet
https://i.postimg.cc/50HpS6Vk/A3363D78-5B8C-4456-A73F-AC7CB19105CD.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Exceedingly pleasant to shoot and superb accuracy make the 32/40 my favorite levergun cartridge.

[lpel]

Wow that’s beautiful. Love the case hardening on both of those. Thanks for the load info. I’ll be sure to try out.

[lpel]

Lee dies, Lee bullet mold and 200 cast bullets on their way. I’ll use 30-30 brass for the time being. I refuse to be held ransom for ridiculous shipping on 32-40 brass. More to ship than the cost of the brass. I may eventually cave for 100.

[lpel]

https://i.postimg.cc/90F39jRx/271-F7-F25-10-AD-4367-AB4-F-5-BB03-C9-A917-A.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Feels like Christmas all over here again today. Had to resize the Winchester brass as the mouths were damaged during shipping. Also made 10 32-40 from 30-30 just to try out. Tomorrow will be loading a few test rounds.

Will be a while before heading to the range as it’s nasty cold here right now. Will be even longer for casting as I do that in my insulated but not heated garage.

[OverMax]

I got one too. Got to liken mine allot. It's a 200 yrd. hanging steel ringer with open barrel sights. All that's needed to do that type of shooting I found is a sturdy tree for a feller to lean up against.
Mine is a 1894 long barrel. Really in nice shape it is. A Grandpa's favorite so told. Bought from a old preacher man of the cloth down in the church basement one Sunday morning after services.. 1000 for the 32-40 a couple boxes of John Wayne 165 gr cartridges thrown in to sweeten and a East coast 1937 model saddle carbine in 30 wcf. For those not knowing there are two types of Pre 64 94 Saddle carbines. Eastern and Western models. Just one accessory different between the two. A "that-a-boy" from this neck of the woods to the fellow here who knows what it is that differs the two?

[LIMPINGJ]

Saddle ring

[missionary5155]

No 32-40s but at least one in 38-55.

[OverMax]

A that-a-boy to LimpingJ.

[lpel]

So I’m starting to have some success with my Marlin 32-40.
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I received my Winchester 32-40 brass. First bullet was a .321 170 gr that I purchased. As someone mentioned they tumbled in my rifle a well so I removed the lube and powder coated. They measured .325 after PC and shot just fine. Second bullet is the Lee C324-175-1R as cast with 50/50 WW and pure lead they measure .330. They chamber and shoot fine. Last bullet is .323 jacketed and they shoot fine as well. My bore slugged .325.

I intend to shoot the last 10 of the jacketed bullets that I was able to find as the bore is still pretty rough. I’ve tried Unique, Alliant 2400 and IMR 4227. 4227 shows the best promise. Groups opened up when the velocity increased. Velocity is 1220 fps with very mild recoil. Next will be to load a few more to try at 100 yards. I’m looking for minute of pie plate at that distance.

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[Rockindaddy]

Nice lookin' Marlin! The short magazine really gets it! Beautiful case colors! Looks as good if not better than factory. Never owned a 32-40 The shell holder is a 30-30 Win Have a 38-55 93' Marlin that is fun to shoot with cast boolits. It's great you put up the photos.

[Rockindaddy]

Did you have to anneal the 30-30 Win brass ??? I am always making odd cartridges out of 348 Win. Have to anneal them or I get split necks.

[lpel]

Rockin that beautiful one with case harden and short mag is unfortunately not mine it’s ATC’s. Mine is the very well used one way up top of this post.

As for 30-30 no I did not anneal. I simply used a little imperial wax on the case then just start sizing up slowly while regularly turning the case. Case is to go slowly and not try to size too much at a time.

[Garand]

I'm running a Winchester M 94 John Wayne Commemorative in .32-40. My go to load is a 170 grain LRNFP pushed by 14.0 grains of IMR 4227 for an MV of 1391.5 fps and a 2 1/4" group at 100 yds.

[lpel]

Thx Garand. Weather is finally starting to cooperate up here so I’ll be hitting the range soon. Will definitely try your recommended load.

[Garand]

Thx Garand. Weather is finally starting to cooperate up here so I’ll be hitting the range soon. Will definitely try your recommended load.

Where in Canada are you located? 2 Commercial bullet casters just closed shop in Alberta & Saskatchewan due to personal medical conditions. I've also used Prairie Projectiles in Stettler AB, excellent quality products and good customer service. He has a website.

[Old-Win]

I was at a small gun show this past weekend and was looking at an 1893 Marlin in 32-40. It was about 80 to 85% and I was thinking about buying it but it still had "for black powder"on the barrel. It had a 1905 date and I would have thought by then that they would have dropped the black powder barrels. Does anybody have any history on why they would still have a black powder barrel and not a smokeless steel barrel by 1905 and when the switch might have made. Thanks

[freakonaleash]

They made a run of the black powder only guns to use up the old barrels. they were cheaper by a couple bucks. I bought a 32 40 last weekend that was made in 1900 that has a smokeless steel barrel. They were both being manufactured at the same time.

[turtlezx]

does it really matter if its black powder barrel if your shooting light loads ??

[freakonaleash]

does it really matter if its black powder barrel if your shooting light loads ??

You could try it and find out.

[Old-Win]

I looked at the bore and it was quite good. The rifling seemed quite shallow though, not near as deep as a smokeless barrel.

[lpel]

Garand I am located in Manitoba. I purchased a couple hundred cast 170 gr .321 from Rusty Woods. They tumble as is. They work fine if I remove the lube and PC. Makes them .325. I also use the Lee 8mm PC after casting at .330. They seem to shoot as well. But I still need to do more testing. I’m “not there” yet!

Interesting information on the black powder barrels. Mine is marked as smokeless.

[lpel]

So I’ve had some success at 100 yards with jacketed Hornady 8mm (.323) 170 RN Interlock and 15.0 of IMR 4227 (1214 fps). I’ve also had success with 170 RNFP cast .321 bullets that I purchased. I’ve removed the lube and am using PC to give me .325 with 13.0 4227 (1374). I’m not having much luck with my Lee 180 8mm as cast and PC (.330). I’m thinking I need to size them to .325 but as usual things not easy to obtain in Canada. I’m really wanting to shoot cast not jacketed.

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[lpel]

I’ve been told I should perhaps invest in new paper plates! Guess I’ll take out a loan and invest in a few more. Finally paid those off ��*♂️