Author Topic: So i just purchaced my 1st Win. mod94 in .32 cal, questions. (Read 876 times)

creekfreak · « **on:** May 22, 2006, 02:43:00 PM »

:grin:

I have wanted one of these since i was a kid yano, watching john wayne and clint eastwood shoot em up...any ways i purchaced a pre64 (its a 48-49 manufacture) and am really happy about it. paid $350 and dont feel bad about it at all as ive been looking for a reasonable priced one for years (lots to be found in .30-.30, and i dont do gun shows) and when i stumbled upon not one but two at a pawn shop today i ponied up. he was asking 400 i offered 300 he said 350 i said ill take it.
are there any good rounds out there other then the 170 gr win core-lokts?
What kind of maintenece? is there an online guide to disassembling this to clean, grease etc?
I pushed 40 of the core lokts out of it this after noon and kept everything within 6 in at 100 yrds (im not a big time shooter or hunter,but im no dummy either, but spend alot of time alone in the mountains and am tired of being un-armed)
how big of game can i hunt should i want with this. im in washington state . i know itll knock a deer down no problem, how about elk? cougar? bear?
the bluing is wearing thin shoud i redo it? the stock is in very good condition with only a few bruises and a small knick. the finish is good and i will not redo it.
hey thanks for your help guys

Chad

Oldtimer · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:17:25 PM »

I still kick myself for letting a .32 Special with a large lever loop pass me by some years ago. Literature from the factory at the time the .32 was introduced said that they were trying to make a cartridge that was intermediate in power between the .30-30 and the .30-50 Krag. No mention of reloading with black powder.
If you can shoot with it, it is adequate for any game you will encounter. The major problem will be if you leave the ammo at home and then have to find a box.
There was a recent post that listed a site that had an illustrated takedown of a Model 94. It will show you how to do the job. Give the bore a good cleaning, take it to a gunshop to have the barrel electronically cleaned if you don't have the equipment at home, and then try her again. You will probably shoo even tighter groups, though what you did is not out of line for a rifle of that era.
Don't even think about rebluing that rifle. A gun of that age reblued reminds me of a woman who can't admit she has gotten old and has a pound of makeup on her face. It came by its looks honestly and every scratch and shiny part tell a story. Put some good paste car wax on the metal and you will be all right.
Enjoy your rifle and good hunting!
Oldtimer

Siskiyou · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:51:10 PM »

Years ago a friend sold a model 94 to a guy at a fair price. The buyer then dissembled the rifle. A couple of months passed and my friend bought it back for around $20 and then re-assembled it.

The first rifle I recall my Dad having was a Winchester M64 with a tang peep sight. It was in 32 Special Caliber. I remember him collecting a few Blacktail bucks with it. If I recalled he used Silvertips at the time. Most likely that was the brand the local feed store carried.

Federal also loads a 170 grain flat point for it.

http://www.federalcartridge.com/ballistics/Ammo_Search.aspx?act=choose&firearm=1&s1=1

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2006, 02:34:19 AM »

I've been looking for a .32 special in a 336 Marlin.......haven't seen many really nice ones, but the few that I've seen have been priced in line with your winny......

Seems they're running $100 to $150 higher than a .30.30 or .35 around here, but I really don't know why. I guess they just aren't as "common"......

Let us know how you like it!

Siskiyou · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2006, 05:46:24 AM »

As a .32 Special fan I found this to be an interesting read.

http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm

http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/winchester-1894-saddle-ring-carbine.htm

ScoutMan · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2006, 10:00:11 AM »

Chad,

You didn't mention your sights. But, that Winchester deserves at least aperture (peep) sights. See the following manufactures: Lyman, Williams, XO.

Make sure that your front sight is a post and not a bead. If you need an idea of what good iron sights look like, look at the M-1 Garand. Make sure the front post is wide eneough. As you become an "old geezer" you'll appreciate a wide post. I use one that .100 but .125 would be OK also.

Cleaning: You don't have to disassemble the rifle in order to clean it. For action cleaning here is what I do: take the stock off the rifle so that you can see the innerds. Get a can of carb cleaner or brake pad cleaner and spray the living sh$t out of the action. Go to your friendly mechanic and borrow his air gun to blow out the action. "Lightly" lube all moving parts. Make sure all screws are tight, but don't get too aggresive.

Enjoy your toy!

SM

creekfreak · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2006, 04:19:32 PM »

what great feedback.

those are great reads siskiyou.

scout...my next question was gonna be on sights.
I believe they are open dovetail? made by king. the look old and original, but i have no idea. the front post is a bit narrow and pretty hard to see with safty glasses on. i was gonna use an orange marker to brighten it up....

thoughts?

ScoutMan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 10:07:51 AM »

Chad,

You and the rifle deserve "ghost" aperture sights. Look on the left side of the receiver. There should be two holes that are drilled and tapped for an aperture sight. Lyman and Williams makes them.

If you want to use me as a benchmark-I have a Ruger Compact, that has been retrofitted with XO ghost ring rear and post front. The aperture opening for the ghost ring is .190. The width of the front sight post is .100.

Don't forget the trigger. It should break at 3 lbs or a little under. If yours does'nt, have it fixed.

SM

kevin.303 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2006, 08:04:05 PM »

remington also makes a .32 loading. all i've run through my 336 so far is the federal loads, they are pretty good

grousehunter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 29, 2006, 03:58:03 PM »

What year was these 1st produced? My father has a Win. 32 win spec. that I thought was built in the 1870's! was told it was one of the 1st round barrells! Is this true?

kevin.303 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2006, 07:15:09 PM »

the .32 Win Special was introduced in 1902, originally chambered in the Winchester 1894 and probably the Marlin 1893, but don't know about that one for sure.

T.R. · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2006, 01:10:45 AM »

This is my friend Bill (age 77) and his 32 Special. Many decades ago, his wife gave this carbine to him on their 1st wedding anniversary. Since then he has toppled several dozen bucks with it. Note the factory sights. Bill told me he has never changed the original factory setting as it is "dead on" at 100 yards.

Bill hunts with any ammo he can find. He told me that brand name doesn't matter.
TR

unspellable · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2006, 05:19:21 AM »

The above referenced article about the antique '94 dates the manufacture to 1898 which is four years before the advent of the 32 Special. A bit puzzling.

I would view the 32 Special cartridge as perfectly adequate for deer out to 150 yards (Limited by the typical '94 sights as much as anything.) and I'd put the cougar in the same category as the deer, they are a bit lighter in body weight than northern deer and they do not have a reputation for being particularly tough as large cats go. (Classical cougar hunting is done at pretty short range anyway.) I'd view it as a bit light for elk or moose. The old Silvertips had a reputation for opening up a bit too quickly for elk or moose too.

As currently loaded by the factories there isn't a dime's worth of difference between the 30-30 and the 32 Special, but the 32 Special could be handloaded to out do the 30-30. I've been able to pick up older boxes of 32 Special pretty cheap at gun shows although brand spanking new at the sporting goods store isn't all that steep.

For moose or elk that wildcat 30-50 might be interesting.

(Yes, I now it was a typo.)

ScoutMan · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2006, 10:09:26 AM »

Quote from: T.R.

This is my friend Bill (age 77) and his 32 Special. Many decades ago, his wife gave this carbine to him on their 1st wedding anniversary. Since then he has toppled several dozen bucks with it. Note the factory sights. Bill told me he has never changed the original factory setting as it is "dead on" at 100 yards.

Bill hunts with any ammo he can find. He told me that brand name doesn't matter.
TR

I notice in the pic, that Bill has a pair of binoculars hanging around his neck. This is my way to hunt: binoculars to see but aperture sights OK to shoot.

SM