Took the K-32 and Marlin to the range

[peyton]

My son and I had a hoot shooting the K-32 my wife had bought me two years ago. It was sad it took two years to get to shoot it. The range faces due south so we had problems with the sun in our eyes.
I also had my Marlin 1894 32 Magnum converted to 327 Federal magnum so I shot it at 50 yards. Brockman's did the job and functioning was great, he also put the sights on. My groups were strung horizonally, I attribute that to the sun.
I included a comparison picture of the .327 versus the .32 long. We had the range to ourselves and got to practice good marksmanship, gun safety and checking out the targets frequently. My son got pretty good calling his shots.
We also verified our zero's with our deer rifles, both are in 270. He outshot me, with a 1 inch group.

[canoeguy]

Welcome back, and glad you finally got that Marlin to the range, have fun with it!

Canoeguy

[PMRet]

Glad you finally got to shoot that K-32, and especially glad you got to do it with your son!

[Speedo2]

removed PC

[walnutred]

That is a nice combo. I have a Marlin CL in 32-20 and would love to find a M&P 32 WCF target to go with it. I know they are out there but not in my price range ;-D

[peyton]

My son commented that he liked the 631 4 inch better versus the K-32 because it was not as heavy. I left the J frames at home, we both got reasonable groups with the K-32. This was the maiden voyage with the Marlin however I did mess up a little. I forgot to take 32 magnum ammo along, I wanted to verify it would feed in the marlin after the conversion. I did not even try to load the marlin with the 32 long wadcutters, I did not know if I could just slip the round into the chamber or if it had to go through the magazine tube. I was shooting the AE .327 85 grain bullets and it had a little kick to it. My son commented that the lever was built for people with small fingers. I shot off a magazine full (10 rounds) as fast I could while maintaining a good sight picture, and it did well.

[Hammerdown]

Hello Peyton
I have alway's wondered "WHY" Marlin did not come out with a 1894 .327 Magnum CB Rifle ? I guess the conversion that you had done will handle the Much Higher pressure of the Federal .327 Magnum round ? I would love to locate a 1894 CB In .32 H&R Magnum to have it converted promptly to the Much Hotter Federal .327 Magnum round. if you don't mind me asking what did the conversion cost ? Regards, Hammerdown

[peyton]

Here is the contact info, I have 3 more to send to him!!

Jim Brockman [email protected]

February 08, 2011 12:58 > Subject: Question about converting 1894
We do the conversion . The cost is $165 plus return shipping.
Thank You & Have a Nice Day!
Brockman's Rifles
208-934-5050

[Hammerdown]

Hello Peyton
Thanks for the response on the caliber conversion price. Do they just lengthen the cartridge throat area in the rifle breech like Bowen does to the Revolver cylinders when converting a revolver ? The cartridge pressure of the Federal .327 Magnum is Much higher than the H&R .32 Magnum so I suspect they have checked to see if the Marlin Barrel will hold up to the Increased pressure of the round ? I see Marlin is again Offering the .32 H&R Magnum in their 1894 CB rifle but still no Federal .327 Magnum and find that Kind of strange with all the new Interest in The Federal .327 Magnum cartridge. Regards, Hammerdown

[peyton]

Please provide us with more info on Marlin making 32 mag again, I could not find anything on there web page.

[PMRet]

So with the conversion, the Marlin will now chamber .327 Fed, .32 mag, and .32 long ammo, same as the .327 revolvers?

[W.E.G.]

I don't think you can just bore-out, or lengthen, the chamber of a 32-20, in order to convert it to .327 Federal or .32 H&R.

The 32-20 shell casing is "fatter" than either of those modern rounds.

Seems to me, the only way you do this conversion with the Marlin factory barrel, is to pull the barrel, chop-off the fat 32-20 chamber area, and re-chamber for the skinnier cartridge.

.327 Federal dimensions
http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC...l%20Magnum.pdf

32-20 dimensions
http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC...Winchester.pdf

[W.E.G.]

While the re-chambered Marlin will surely "chamber" the shorter cartridges, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting it to CYCLE the short cartridges without a lot of finesse.

[peyton]

Mr. Brockman said you could convert the 32 mag and it would shoot the 327, 32 mag or 32 long. He could not convert the the 32-20 because it was fatter at the bottom. I will try to get out this week to try the 32 magnum and 32 long (I only had the .32 long wad cutter available at the last range visit. From what I understood the only change was the barrel was reamed out to accomadate the longer cartridge. I got a deer with my .270 Winchester and I am going to see what happens with the 327 mag next!!!!!!!!!!