Author Topic: 32 Special (Read 1743 times)

bigswede · « **on:** July 31, 2012, 12:32:07 AM »

Saw a couple of different Marlin lever guns in 32 Special at a pawn shop the other day. Not usually my cup of tea, I like bolt guns. But something about them old 32 specials, one was a 20" barrel the other 24", piqued my interest. I like the 24" better. What do you guys think of the old 32? Also, anybody know what those Marlin 336's oughtta be worth?

Nobade · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2012, 01:27:20 AM »

If you are a bullet caster and reloader, the 32 has a lot to recommend it over the 30-30. More power (slightly), easier to get to shoot cast bullets due to the slower twist, works way better with black powder, throws a heavier bullet, etc. If you buy factory ammo the 30-30 is the way to go since it's so much cheaper and more readily available.

As for value, they are getting more valuable every day. 10 years ago people were nearly giving them away. Now they are getting expensive enough to be kind of serious. Especially the rifle length one, if it is in good shape it's likely a good investment if you can get it for less than $400 now. Doubly so if it has a tang or old receiver sight on it, or the dual scale sight that worked with smokeless and black. Those sights alone are worth quite a bit.

us920669 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2012, 01:33:45 AM »

I had an old 94 and I loved it. I loaded with IMR 4198 and got the most uniform ballistics my chrono ever read. It's just a slightly bigger and better 30-30. I think Winchester figured it would replace the 30-30, but there were so many of them out there that it held on and 32 became sort of a shirttail cousin, or whatever, just totally useless. Some people absolutely hate the cartridge, since it needs all new tooling and components, but like I said, I loved it. The 336 is also great, but they never bring the money of a 94.

mauser98us · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2012, 05:08:06 PM »

I have a Marlin with the 24 tube. Really shoots well with the cast boolits.I think it is a superior round to the 30-30,even if only in my mind.

mauser98us · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2012, 05:10:21 PM »

I have one with the 24 inch tube.If you are going to shoot cast, I really think it is superior to the 30-30,even if only in my mind.

336SC · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2012, 12:04:39 AM »

Presently I have two Winchester Model 94's and two Marlin 336SC's in .32 Special. Easiest caliber to shoot cast bullets accurately and
hammers deer great. My Marlins get used the most because of the easy scope mounting. Old eyes are not great with open sites anymore. Factory ammo is not hard to find at all. Here in NE Pennsylvania it was more popular than the 30-30 Win at one time. No
problem here finding used rifles or ammo!
336SC

bigswede · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2012, 12:32:10 AM »

Quote from: mauser98us on July 31, 2012, 05:08:06 PM

,even if only in my mind.

Thats gotta count for something

mauser98us · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2012, 04:33:21 AM »

In theory,due to the bigger diameter bore size same velocities@lower pressure.In practice this holds true. I handload,and can push the velocity of 170 grain slug quite a bit more than the book recommends. All with no issues with the rifle. Can't seem to do this with my 30-30 as easily. It tends to pressure spike .

45-70.gov · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2012, 04:49:30 AM »

my 32 WCF was shipped in 1895
according to the cody museum

couldn;t sell it for what i wanted....so guess i will keep it
if i am going to keep it i should get a mold and some loading dies
if i do sell it....it will be even older

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2012, 06:37:14 AM »

Swede, I have two 94's one in .30-30 one in 32 spl..cant see much diff. b etween them..my Marlin is a 24 in barrel in .30...I like that rifle better than either of the 94's..if it were a 32 spl..I would still like it better than the carbines...

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2012, 08:49:50 AM »

When the 32 came out it was for the reloader which at the time was a black powder only option. The 30-30 bore was to small for reloading BP . So the 32 came out and you could buy factory ammo loaded with white powder or reload with black powder is what I have read from several sources. Mine is a mod 94 from 1958 so I would guess it offered more than just BP loading options .

AtlLaw · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:11:23 AM »

Seems to me I remember, as a kid drooling over the gun section of the Sears catalog, the writeup saying the 94 in 32 Spl. was for hunters who might hunt bear as well as deer. $:-\$

Dunno for sure, that was a while back.

tacklebury · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:32:22 AM »

I have a circa 1926 Win 94 in 32 Special. Sweet little rifle to carry all day hunting compared to many. It's taken its fair share of game, but if you don't reload, these can be hard to find ammo for. Remington and Winchester have made small runs of them in the fall of each year, but lately, these have been stopped or disappear quickly. I started loading for mine using the .32 special FTX bullets and have had the best accuracy from these.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:35:44 AM »

Try gun shows , I found 5 boxes a while back for $16.00 a box .

bigswede · « **Reply #14 on:** August 05, 2012, 04:54:20 PM »

Well, the 32 Special idea is gone. I traded into a 1968 Winchester model 94 30-30, it come from my neighbor down the street. Jim is 84, only has one leg left, and says he only hunted with it a few times years ago. He figures he can't hunt anymore anyway so, "I can't hunt anyways, so you might as well take the damn thing." The ammo that come with it cost, $4.00 when it was bought. I've never owned a 30-30, so it should be a fun little rifle to shoot. Sorry, ole 32 Special. Maybe some other time.

justashooter in pa · « **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2012, 08:59:44 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on August 01, 2012, 08:49:50 AM

When the 32 came out it was for the reloader which at the time was a black powder only option. The 30-30 bore was to small for reloading BP .

more so that the 1-16 bore twist typically given the 32 spcl was better for use with semi-smokeless powders, like Kings.
the 32 also left the option of re-boring 30-30 rifles that had bad bores, which was an eventuality in the age of corrosive priming.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2012, 09:06:35 AM »

I was going by what I saw as factory lit. in an article a few years ago.

soli · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:44:50 PM »

What type of lead bullet[type,mfg.,weight] do you load?

Ranger99 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:50:45 PM »

i don't think you'll regret it b.sw.

i wouldn't mind a .32 sp ,but i've already
got 1& 1/2 lifetimes supply of 30/30 stuff
and i'm trying to cut down on different
calibers anyway.

good luck with it

336SC · « **Reply #19 on:** October 12, 2012, 02:44:48 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on August 01, 2012, 04:49:30 AM

my 32 WCF was shipped in 1895
according to the cody museum
Sounds to me like you have a Win Model 1892 in 32-20 as the .32 Special was not developed until 1901 and introduced in the Model 94 in 1902. Original barrel markings on the 32-20 was "32 WCF".
336SC

45-70.gov · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2012, 02:42:47 PM »

it shipped as a 30-30

don't know when it was re-barreled

336SC · « **Reply #21 on:** October 14, 2012, 10:47:53 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on October 12, 2012, 02:42:47 PM

it shipped as a 30-30

don't know when it was re-barreled

Gotcha. Might just be rebore job. Done often on 30-30's ruined by corrosive primers and not cleaned properly.
336SC