My parents gave me a 1948 .32 for Christmas when I was 16. If I shot it or my freind's 30-30 I couldn't tell the difference. I like the fact that mine's a .32 Special rather than the omnipotent 30-30. Your BIL has a nice gun there. Hopefully it's old enough to still have a saddle ring, if it's a carbine, that is.