Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors .32 Win Special

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.