Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 32-40

Ploughman,

While you're correct (as I mentioned in the article), a lot of "cultural appropriation" went on back in those days--and even later. The reason the .30-30 Winchester became the ".30-30" (it was introduced by Winchester as the .30 Winchester) was that when Marlin chambered it in the Model 1893, they stamped their rifles .30-30--or .30-30 Marlin.

This sort of thing continued for quite a while, even after SAAMI was formed in the late 1920s, partly due to so much conflict in cartridge names, and even slight dimensional differences in ammo for the same cartridge made by different companies. After Remington submitted their version of Ned Roberts' .25-caliber wildcat to SAAMI in 1934, Remington called it the .257 Remington Roberts, because the shoulder angle was slightly different than the .25 Roberts. When Winchester started chambering the .257 Roberts, they called their "version" the .257 Winchester Roberts--not because there was any difference in chamber or ammo dimensions, but because they wanted the Winchester name out there. Which is also why so many 19th-century cartridges developed by companies other than Winchester eventually got appropriated as W.C.F. rounds.

This also why I pointed out in my Rifle magazine article that my 1893 Marlin's barrel is simply stamped .32-40, with no company designation.

Yes, like the 44-77 Sharps bottleneck, I think they stole that from Remington, a lot of that cut throat chicanery going on back in the day.

My oldest frined I met at 16 is a Canadian who had a Sprite along with a book called "How to modify your Mini." which put all sorts of notions in his head. We removed that engine , without exaggeration, a dozen times. Unbolt, wrap rope around it, suspend from wight bar and carry it into his Dads garage at first but later and far more often into second floor apartments. Ok- not the best tenet but he had gotten married young. Fond memories. His wife would ask how long we would be messing with the car r- then very cutely she would double the time estimate he told her - and made sure to have chile or sloppy joes + corn on the cob ready for us. I should have bought Michelob stock back then. Sigh.....good times.

His younger sister was my first love (still a looker in my book) and she now owns a beautifully rebuilt MGBGT We still call her Mowy- her nickname derived from "MOWOG"- nearly 40 years later so how is that for an MG story?

Oh- that 32-40 thing looks kinda cool too. .

Of course...... late to the party. Just got my “Rifle” magazine today, must be the last one to get it in the northern hemisphere.
Good article, very enjoyable. Lots of information and that rifle is very nice!! I always thought a .32-40 would be fun, now I want....no need one badly.

Any of you guys bloodied your .32-40s yet this season? I have carried my TCR five times so far and can't seem to connect yet. I had a decent 6 point stand there and pose at rock throwing distance but he wasn't big enough to shoot in this new club I joined this season. Maybe I can at least bust a doe with it before the season is done.

Wasn't in the cards for me yet. Ranges too long in the area I hunted deer. Still have a bear tag. Called a cougar in this evening but no shot opportunity, he came in behind us.

Bear season starts here the weekend of the 21st and deer season the following week.......so I have to wait a little longer!

PennDog

Just picked up a Winchester Model 1894 Sporting Rifle chambered for the .32-40 with a full octagon barrel and take down frame. All original gun with condition that was serialized in 1908.

That one I'd like to see!

Uh-Oh, I gotta go bump that 32-40 hunting thread.

Congrats on the rifle Jack.

That sounds like a nice one Poconojack!

PennDog

When I got out of the service I bought a MG Midget which seemed like a copy of the Austin Healy. I’m 6’5” and my girl friend was 6’2”. But that MG had more leg room and head room than a Corvette back then. I own a 1955 model 94 32 Special which replaced for the 32-40, I suppose.

I drove that MG pretty hard and maintenance was expensive. The engine had to be pulled to work on the clutch...

I’ve been looking for a 32-40 for a while