Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 32-40

I too prefer to travel back in time. I suspect that I’m in the minority preferring that Marlin 32-40 over the 27 Nosler.
I never owned a 32-40 and I thought that it would be nearly identical to the 32 Special which I like. I have older Lyman manuals that would have 32-40 loads...
I suspect that you know Mike V. Did an article on the 32-40 some time back.

Very accurate cast bullet cartridge and a comfortable one to shoot.

Bugger,

Yes, I know Mike did an article the .32-40--in fact I am sure he has done more than one. So have a bunch of other people. My article was primarily about the rifle, the reason it appeared in RIFLE, not HANDLOADER.

However, these days RIFLE articles are listing more handloads, because many readers are interested in them--especially in a specific older rifle.

A .32-40 is one of the few I still lust for. Lever gun would be cool as heck, especially a Savage M1899. A Stevens 44 1/2 or Winchester High Wall target rifle would have me scheming to own it.

Had a High Wall sporting rifle .32-40 back in another lifetime. Y'all are welcome to take turns kicking my butt for letting it go in a moment of weakness. (It did help finance an Austin-Healey, but...)

I don’t have one.

Yet.

-sniff-

Have only known a few people who owned Austin-Healys and .32-40s, but all reported Austin-Healys wore out quicker than .32-40s, either mechanically or emotionally.

I picked up a Savage 1899B octagon barrel 32-40 a couple years ago and have yet to fire it. I do love the romance and feel of it.

That would be a nifty one! How's the bore?

Hush your mouth!! At least a Healey has more velocity than a .32-40.
(I'm as much of a British sports car loonie as I am a rifle loonie. Currently running a pristine 1970 MGBGT, on nice days while waiting for the next thing to break...) MG-TC hopefully in my near future- if you see me selling off a bunch of guns you'll know why.

Bore's good. I've got quite a few rounds for it. Just haven't made the time.

That’s what she said



Happy Trails


Bob

I bought a MG (newer version of the Austin Healey) new in ‘73. $2,480 for list price.

Not a .32-40 guy, but I've humped a .32 Remington Model 141 around in the northern woods of Pennsylvania and never felt undergunned. 170 grains at 2100 fps will kill any deer that ever lived if placed in the right spot. I suspect a .32-40 in a strong action could get pretty close to that. I wouldn't use it on a big bear, but I remember a photo of an Alaskan living off the grid with three dead grizzlies (mama and two nearly grown cubs) that had tried to raid his farmstead and which he had dispatched with a Winchester Model 94 in .32 Winchester. Same ballistics, different case.

I don't think the 32-40 was ever loaded to the same pressure as a 32 Spcl is and NO it maybe the same rim size but not the same case. MB

My .32-40 is a modern T/C TCR. I use AA 2015 and in that action can take the old cartridge to another realm.

I picked up a 32-40 barrel for my CPA Schuetzen rifle. I have used it in the last couple matches and have shot pretty well. The recoil is noticeably less than my 38-55. I have been loading 16.5gr of RL 7 (16.5 gr of 4227 shoots just as well) with a Winchester Large Pistol Primer. I am breech seating a 165 gr Saeco bullet. It made a huge difference when I switched from a 20-1 to a 30-1 alloy with the softer bullet shooting way better. The 5 shot group in the picture was fired off the bench at 200 yards. The rings on the target are 3/4” apart.

My deer rifle for the past year has been a 1899 Remington- Lee sporter 32-40. It's a great rifle and wonderfully accurate. I have been using 170 gr bullets made for the .32 Special.

Phil how fast are you shooting them? MB

The 32 40 in single shot rifles used to be the king of the old time shooting matches.

IIRC, the Healey had a good bit more engine than MGs, maybe a 6? Liked the Healeys and Triumphs, never bought one, sadly.

I foolishly paid $3500 for a new '72 SS396 Camero RS, when 240Zs could be had for just a bit more, if you could find one.