Thoughts on a 32 special in a lever gun

[spiff]

Buddy of mine has a winchester 32 special in lever action up for sale. Says it is pretty good shape. What is this caliber close to? 30-30 , .35 Remington? I'm not familiar with this cartridge, is it an old favorite? What size game is this used on and at what range? Is this a cartridge that is found in every store around the world or is this a hard to find special caliber? Any thoughts would be helpful.

[HEAD0001]

Pretty close to the 30-30 in performance. However the ammo will be considerably more expensive, and considerably harder to find. Unless you are getting a really good deal on the rifle I would pass. Unless you reload. However even if you reload your bulet choices are slim. However it is a great cast bullet cartridge. Tom.

[Wingbone]

I've had a .32 Spec. for years. It's a great performer. The factory loads are slightly ahead of a 30-30 and pretty close to a .35 Rem in performance. I've never shot anything, including a 400# black bear that didn't drop immediately. HEAD... is right about the reloading. I do reload for it and use cast bullets a lot. I've worked up some rabbit and squirrel loads with it using a light powder charge with a toilet paper wad topped by a 150 gr. cast bullet. Using scrap lead or wheel weights to make the bullets, it cost about the same as a .22 to shoot. It's on at 30 yd. when my deer loads are on at 100 yd. It's a fun and cheap gun to shoot. I'm working up a lead deer load so that I don't have to buy jacketed bullets any more.

[bugsNbows]

I also have one (handed down from my dad) and I say grab it if the price is right. I've not had any trouble finding ammo (I don't reload) and Hornady has even come out with165 grn. LeverEvolution ammo for it. It's ballistically similar to a 30-30, but was supposedly originally marketed as black bear medicine. It's very low recoil and a hoot to shoot.

[eldeguello]

As head says, this thing is a 30/30 with slightly fatter bullets. It was made with a 1/16" twist like the 32/40 so it could be reloaded with black powder. The 30/30 has a 1/12" twist, which cruds up too fast if loaded with BP.

As a handloader, I would try it. I have a good 8mm bullet mould for 165-grain flatnose bullets. Those would work well in it. Cases can be made by neck-expanding 30/30 brass.

[Pawildman]

ORIGINAL: spiff

Buddy of mine has a winchester 32 special in lever action up for sale. Says it is pretty good shape. What is this caliber close to? 30-30 , .35 Remington? I'm not familiar with this cartridge, is it an old favorite? What size game is this used on and at what range? Is this a cartridge that is found in every store around the world or is this a hard to find special caliber? Any thoughts would be helpful.

If I were you, I'd buy it. The old 94 Win. in 32 Spl. is getting harder and harder to find. Lots of people are picking them up. It's a great round, and ammo is not really that hard to find. But you may want to buy several boxes for it. It's a terrific woods gun. Short, light, and will definitely KO any deer or Black bear at reasonable ranges. It's what I normally take to bear camp for my back-up gun.

[wolverine72]

I now have my father's Pre-64 Win 94 .32 Special, and love it. I've hunted with it for 25 years, and have never had a problem finding ammo for it (I have not bought any in this current market, however). When .30-30 ammo was $9 per box, I think I paid around $13-$14 per box for it. I've shot deer with Winchester Super X silver tips from 25-75 yards and they've performed great. I can always shoot 1-2 inch groups with mine at 50 yards, open sights. More than adequate for deer hunting in Michigan's forests.

Buy it -- you will not be disappointed. As others have stated, they are hard to come by and more and more sought after. It is my favorite gun.

[halcon]

I havethe 32 specialin a 1893 marlin , it was my first deer rifle . Says smokeless powder on the tang .