Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors .32 Win Special

Was asked to go on a bear hunt this spring and given I hadn't done much archery shooting in recent years I decided I would use a rifle. Didn't really have anything set up for close range shooting until a buddy borrowed me his 1951 Model 94 carbine in .32 Win Special. Come time to give it back and he asks me if I would like to buy the gun?

Don't have much use for it but at $600 plus he is throwing in 2 boxes of shells, he has me thinking...

Good deal or not?

Depends on condition.

Can you post a photo?

Probably
Condition, all original, I like to add Lyman steel aperture sights and therefore I like the two factory supplied holes in the receiver for such sights.
My 1954 94 32 Win Special is worth more than $600 to me.

I'd say at $600, you give him the money and thank him for loaning you the gun.

Winchester began d&t M94’s for a receiver mounted peep as a standard feature at serial # 1,920,000 (1952).

This.

Not sure how to post a pic.

Wish I could help. I've never figured it out either.

I use an iPad and have been unable to post single pics in any of the forums except the Image Gallery where I am able to post multiple images....

If the bore is good, I would buy it at that price. Order a case of 170 grain CoreLokts (200 rounds) and you will be good to go for the rest of your days.

easy to get 2200 fps with the 170 gr'ners out of a 94 winny carbine, wish I would never sold my flat band!

I'd be willing to spend $600 if it was in great shape, but not if bubbaed or neglected. I'm partial to the .32 over the .30-30, but there is no real difference. Well there didn't used to be, but now the factory ammo is a lot more expensive.

If the gun is in good original shape that is a fair price.

Yep. Pictures would be nice. I damn near bought a 1942 model 94 32 winchester a few minutes ago. The local gunshop just took it in today and the owner told me she would take $700.00 for it. It's in all original condition. To me, the OP's rifle is a steal at $600.00 if its all original. However, I don't know exactly what they are worth/selling for in todays market...

I sure hope he lasts longer than 200 rounds... Ha ha.. I burned up more than 300 rounds earlier today, with practice and a competition. Just sayin...

300 rounds out of a 94 in one day sounds more like work than fun.

The Lever Evolution powder is the way to go on the 32 special. I use the
165gr Hornady tipped bullets.

Picked up a sweet '94 Carbine in 32 Special at the Winchester Gun Show in Cody, Wyoming last weekend. What kinds of load suggestions would you folks recommend?

A little off topic, but sometimes I think we worry a bit too much about "value?, is it worth it?, good deal or not?", especially about vintage items. Even when it is a buyer's market, there are only so many old rifles to be had. The number gets smaller the better the condition you want, or specific caliber, configuration, or date of manufacture. So, I say grab the great deals if you know they are great deals, but don't pass up something you have always wanted unless the deal is just stupid out of line. Suppose I pay $1500 for something that "the market" says is worth $1200. So, I paid 25% too much. But it is $300, not paying $150K for a $120K house. In a couple of years (assuming it is old to start with and I don't change the condition), maybe it is worth $900, $1200, $1500, or $1800. Who knows? Point is, if I am getting and enjoying something I always wanted, within reason, who cares? If I can afford it, I don't.

Now, what IS kinda of silly is paying too much for commonly available new stuff because you haven't done your research. I sometimes do that too, but in order to support local family owned businesses.

Just a thought. You may not agree.

Back to the original topic, I inherited a 1948 '94 .32 Special, "flat band." Condition is a mixed bag. It was standing on the butt during some sort of minor household flood (before it came to me.) The wood is not too bad, swollen a very minor amount, and the original butt plate has some rust. Rest of the wood and bluing are pretty nice. It is D&T for a one-piece side mount of unknown brand that holds an old El Paso Weaver K2.5. The mount has "U 3" stamped on it if that means anything to a more knowledgeable reader. Even worse, as for the D&T, it is not the common Weaver side mount hole pattern. If it were, that might prove marginally useful. Either the mount had to be "bent" around the scope or the ocular (eyepiece) had to be removed to install the mount. I think it was the latter. The scope is not clear and has some sort of dirt on the inside. Someone ground on the ears of the rear sight and the corner of the hammer to clear the scope. (Dammit! Really?!) Weirdest thing is the front sight ramp (part of the barrel forging in 1948) is offset like the barrel wasn't quite indexed correctly. One might think someone backed the barrel off a "scosh" to help the rear sight clear the scope. But the extractor cut lines up, which argues against that idea. I contacted an expert from the national Winchester Collectors Association (whatever it is called) about the barrel indexing. He told me I must be mistaken until i sent him some pictures. He agreed I wasn't nuts, but allowed as how he had never seen such before.

So, let's just say it is definitely "shooter grade" if you are someone who really loves the .32 Special.

I get your point about over paying. I once bought a Marlin 336A in .35 Remington that I still have. The rifle is an uncommon but not rare one. It was priced as if it was in top condition, but the exterior was slightly beat up including poorly done d&t for a scope. It was one the rack, I wanted one, and I had the money. I haven't regretted it yet.

I put an image in the "Image Gallery" but can't figure out how to make it show up here.

Forgive me, I'm technically challenged.

BwanaND, I hope you get an answer, because I'm in the same boat! You can upload images directly to your posts, but the size is limited to something like 97KB, and most of us want to see better images of our gun porn. I use Imgur, but I think it might be more secure if we could get the large Image Gallery files to attach to our posts.

I am a fan of the 32 Win Spcl. I own several ; Marlin and Winchester. Here's an excerpt from -

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
By: M. L. McPherson

"Enough history, let us compare the 32 WS to its vastly more popular parent and see if we can figure out why the newer chambering never caught on. It has been stated by many pundits - including some who should know better - that these two cartridges are ballistic twins; this just is not true!

The 32 WS and the 30-30 use the same basic case. Both are loaded to the same nominal pressure and are chambered in virtually identical rifles. Here the equality ends.
The 32 WS bullet has an 8.6% greater cross-sectional area. Consequently, it can be loaded to generate significantly more power. This is a matter of basic physics: Equal pressure acting on a greater area through an equal distance will accelerate an equal mass to a greater velocity.

Another significant factor: The 32 WS has more usable powder capacity! This may seem odd, since the cases are nominally identical, excepting neck diameter. The explanation is twofold: When these have the same nose shape and are the same weight, a 0.321-inch diameter 32 WS bullet is shorter than a 0.308-inch diameter 30-30 bullet. Since both cartridges must be loaded to about the same overall length the 32 WS bullet does not enter as far into the case; the difference is worth about 1.2 grains of usable capacity. Furthermore, standards call for 0.01-inch greater overall cartridge length for the 32 WS. This adds another 0.2 grains to usable case capacity. This is a total difference of about 1.4 grains. Since the 30-30 holds about 35 grains of powder, this difference exceeds 4%.

Finally, the slower rifling rate in the 32 WS spins the bullet slower. Spinning of the 32 WS bullet consumes on about 60% of the energy that spinning the 30-30 does. With less energy used to spin the bullet, more is available to accelerate it. This effect, while minor, is real.

Unquestionably, and despite contrary claims by so-called experts: the 32 WS, when properly loaded to the same pressure and when used in rifles with the same length barrel, will easily generate 14% more muzzle energy than the 30-30. That significantly exceeds the difference between the 280 Remington and the 7mm Remington Magnum! "

I couldn't tell a damn bit of difference in effectiveness between a .30-30 and a .35 Remington. I damn sure doubt a .32 is gong to bedazzle me with it's devastating deadliness.

A 22 rimfire can be devastating behind the ear. In the real world of hunting, no two shots can be truly duplicated. The question was whether there is a difference between the 30-30 and the 32 Spcl. There is. Is it evident in the field? In most instances, probably not. On occasion, perhaps.

T.S.

I seriously doubt even on occasion, at least as far as deer are concerned. I've killed over 80 of them with a .30-30 and 12 with a .35 Remington and never saw a discernable difference in effect. But then I've killed another 120 plus with everything from a .222 to a .30-06, 12 gauge slugs and 50 caliber muzzleloader and honestly see very little difference except the bigger guns more often produce an exit and better blood trail. Other than that, shoot them high shoulder/spine/head and they drop right now. Shoot them lungs/heart and they generally run 30-60 yards and fall over. Doesn't much matter whether you shot them with a .223, .30-30, .35 Rem. 30-06 or 12 gauge slug.

I know we all can split hairs when discussing different cartridges, but this guy takes hairsplitting to a whole new level!

I got my first .32 Special a few weeks back. Reloading it with Hornady 170 grainers and Varget. It's a 1955 manufacture.

I find that the .32 Special kicks more than a .30/30, and I can get a bit over 2200 fps with it, while the .30/30 hangs around 2000 fps. Interesting to note that in the .303 British, both PRVI and Winchester 180 grainers only get between 2100 - 2200 fps. So a .32 SPCL is basically doing the same job as factory .303 and in a much lighter handier rifle.


(On the drilling and tapping at the factory for peep sight: I had a 1952 manufacture 94 that did not have screw holes for a peep sight. I think they must have added sometime in 1951?)

Blackheart, your experience exemplifies the importance of bullet placement. I confess that I often take the high shoulder spine shot so I won't have to go looking for it. Bottom line, if you shoot them right, dead is dead.

As for splitting hairs, probably more discussion over the years has surrounded comparing the performance of similar cartridges than any other topic. It's a lot of fun. :-)

T.S.

I just recently chrono'd 170 grain Federal Power Shok .30-30 factory loads at 2004 fps average for 5 shots with a low of 2190 and a high of 2016 fps.. On the same day 150 grain Remington Core- Lokt's averaged 2375 fps for 5 shots. This is from the 20" barrel of my Marlin 336.

My 2 best loads in the 32 Special with 20" barrel are the following.

1. 38.5gr of LeverEvolution 165gr FTX Hornady WLR primer Hornady case
2.55 OAL Average was 2274 FPS SD 22.2 good accuracy.

2. 32.5gr of Accurate A2495BR WLR primer Hornady case 2.360 OAL
Average was 2175 FPS SD 23.0

When I go hunting with it I will use 38.5gr of LeverEvolution.

In .30-30 the PRVI 150 grain load is a good one, that gets an honest 2350 fps

I was surprised how low the Winchester factory goes both in .30-30 and .303. I might try some Federal - I just cannot get Remington CoreLokts mostly, and when I do find it its priced like it was special premium ammo.

That was a misprint above on the Federal 170 velocity. It should have read 2204 fps average for five shots with a low of 2190 and high of 2216. Good load. Shoots sub MOA groups out of my 336 and kills deer very well.. They're good out of my Winchester's too. So good that I don't bother with handloads anymore and buy the Federal's by the case.

I now own three .32WS. Two pre-64 carbines and a 1918 rifle. I just bought the second carbine online and don't have it yet. It appears to be in excellent condition. My other one is in good shape, but just a good old shooter. The rifle has had the strap brazed, but shoots good. It has a peep sight.

I paid $525 Cdn delivered for the second one. The old rifle cost me $325.

It is more the nostalgia and "romance" of shooting the .32's more than anything that attracts me to them. I do have a Canadian Centennial 30-30 carbine. The matching rifle was stolen some years back. As far as the differences in ballistics, it matters not to me.

BD's 32

Thanks for posting the pic deerstalker, but what is the secret?

Looks to be in pretty good condition. Like someone said early on - give your friend $600 and thank him for loaning you the rifle.

Also, according to Blackheart's post, he's killed at least 212 deer. Assuming 50 years of hunting, that averages over 4 deer every year! Wow!!

T.S.

I love the .32 Spl. killed a 305 LB. Black Bear with my old Marlin SC .32 Spl in 2016 one shot down and dead.
I have a nice Winchester Model 94 made in 1940 .32 Spl. on hold pick it up tomorrow.


This link is picture of the Bear:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11912114/my-first-black-bear

I have a 1903 .32, oct. rifle with the .32 Spl. sight and use 170 gr. Hornady's (are there any other choices beside 'red tips' and cast?) over 35.8 grs. of #748 with good results.

I've got three 32 Winchester Specials: A 94 made in 1949 (my first rifle), a 94 made in 1957, and a Marlin 36 made in 1947. Remington, Winchester, and Federal factory ammo out of these 20" barrels is 2070 to 2080 fps, except one box of Remington from the early 90's that was about 100 fps more. My handload for these is the 170 gr. Speer and 36.0 gr. W748. The velocity and POI matches the factory ammo. Other handloads have gone faster, but none as accurate nor matching the factory ammo POI.

Don’t mean to go off topic, but since we’re already there, a small clarification to the implication that BH’s deer numbers are impossible. I have no dog in this fight, only a bit of relevant information.

Not impossible or unlikely in a place like Central AL, at least when I hunted deer there every year. Seasons then were long and liberal - 1 buck/day and 1 additional doe/day during doe days. The deer season then, IIRC, was about 140+ days. Not hard to kill 10 deer in a few weeks if you hunted the right places.

I haven’t hunted there recently so haven’t followed regulations. However, friends who live there and have hunted a lot have shot several hundred WTs. BTW before anyone goes nuts, all the meat was used by their families or needy people in the community.

Back to the OP’s topic. I’ve always been intrigued by the 32WS and on the fence about getting one. Ads like this one always test my restraint to grab a Win M-94 32WS in good condition.

Very tempted by this one!

I think that 32 win special is worth $600.

I also totally agree with Texas shooter about the 32 Winchester special for reloading.

I have a " collection " more like an accumulation of 30/30 s. Vintage stuff. Usually load lever evolution powder. Usually found they liked bottom of the chart. Some needed even lower loading.

Not so with the 32 win special! I have not chronographed yet, but going by amount of powder being able to use per round I predict the 32 win special is a very special cartridge!

They were available as an option before that, I believe.

I've used several bullets in my 32, all 170 grain. several jacketed and one cast.

gentlemen, posting pictures from the gallery is simple. has to be a cave man like me can do it.
first type [img] then paste the image address , then [/img]

I have four 32 Win Spl rifles. To me they are the cast bullet king as you can get full 2250 velocity and clean bores with that slow twist. I find them to be more accurate across the board than 30/30's and with no load development. They seem to shoot any load well.

Nice bear!