.32 Winchester Special

[MJFlores]

Is anyone here loading the 32 Win Spcl? It's a really great cartridge that I've recently fallen for. I've been messing with 165 grain Hornady FTX and 170 grain round noses. The FTX is quite accurate, and extremely dramatic on melons and 2 liters. I'm wondering what powder others are having luck

 

[rburg]

Well, I've got dies, primers, shell holder and bullets. Just no empty cases to stuff. My M94 is prewar, and I have little or no reason to bump up against the limits. My understanding of the cartridge is that it was an attempt to mimmick .30-06 power in the M94. The .30-30 is a full step down in power from that level. Instead of boosting velocity, they just did a slight increase in bullet diameter. That in keeping with the woods gun close range needs of hunters.

Sorry, but my loads will probably be designed to step back down to the lighter levels.

 

[Speedo2]

I loaded some up back in March, but haven't got around to chrono testing them yet. Actually, haven't shot my Win-94 in several years now. Anyways, my load is: 170 FSP (Hornady) over 29.5 IMR 3031 w/ CCI200 primer. Lyman 48 estimates around 2100 FPS for that load. As I recall, IMR 3031 is sort of difficult metering. -S2

 

[Bruce51]

The 30-30 and .32 Winchester Special are basically ballistic twins as far as velocity and bullet weights are concerned.

The 32 was developed in the time when black powder was still being used for reloading. With the popularity of the 32-40 it was reasoned that a larger case and a gentle twist would be a great combination with black powder and cast bullets.

To get the best results a slower twist of 1 in 16" was used and the bullet diameter was .321". Ken Waters did a great write up in Volume II of Pet loads with data.

I have yet to try cast bullets but 30 grains of IMR 3031 seems to be a decent load and that is all that I have tried with 170 grain bullets.

There is a myth that the .32 was not accurate in a shot out bore. In the Pet loads write up some vintage .32 WS ammunition was checked and the bullets were found to be .318". Far to small for a .321 bore and probably the reason for accuracy problems.

I hope this helps with your load selection. There should be some nice cast bullets to try for plinking loads. I have found some online but really don't need 500 or more at this time.

BLM

 

[Bruce51]

I loaded some up back in March, but haven't got around to chrono testing them yet. Actually, haven't shot my Win-94 in several years now. Anyways, my load is: 170 FSP (Hornady) over 29.5 IMR 3031 w/ CCI200 primer. Lyman 48 estimates around 2100 FPS for that load. As I recall, IMR 3031 is sort of difficult metering. -S2

Velocity really depends on your barrel length. In the 30-30 even 32 grains of WW748 only gets me 2000 fps with a 170 grain bullet in the 20" barrel.

I consider any powder and any load for the 30-30 good to go in the .32 WS.
Pressure should be slightly lower due to the larger bore size.

That's just MHO but is based on published load data.

irh

 

[2152hq]

Mine;s a 1913 vintage rifle. I never load max no matter what I'm loading for,

I load 170gr FNJSP and 32,5gr H4895
Right off the Hodgdon reloading site.
32.0 is starting,,34.5 is max
Vel should be about 2250/2300 I'd guess out of the rifle but I don't have a chrony to verify. Website says 2122fps for starting load 32.0gr out of a 20"bbl.

Accurate and comfortable to shoot.
I used to use 3031 but ran out. It is pretty much the go-to powder for the 30-30, 32Special but there are plenty of others.
I use it in (3031 and H4895) in 25 & 30Remington too.

 

[Bruce51]

Cast bullets

These should be very interesting to load. Use Unique or IMR 4198 for some fun loads.

Ideal #321427<br>145 gr.

BLM

I think I'll order 200 and give them a try.

 

[DWalt]

Finding .32 WS cases is not a problem. Just run a .30-30 case through a .32 WS FL sizing die with neck expander. Finding .32 WS dies might be a little more difficult, as there's probably not much demand for them these days. Loading data for the .30-30 would work OK with jacketed bullets. Any propellant in the burning rate range of IMR 3031 is good. The usual powder used for factory loading of .30-30 back in the day was Hercules HiVel #2, which is ballistically very close to IMR 3031. Too bad HV#2 is no longer available. I still have a little of it on the shelf.

 

[venomballistics]

I have played with it.
It runs in the top five cast bullet launch platforms in my book.
It seems to do a better job of it than the 30-30, possibly due to it's slower twist rate.
In fact, my particular specimen actually showed a preference for a cast rn over jacketed.

 

[Skeet 028]

I have one in a 64 Winchester. Get good velocities with the 170 RN. As good or a bit better with the 32 as opposed to the 30-30 in the same rifle. It may actually be a bit more accurate than the M-64 30-30. No cast in the 32 though. I shoot the 311-041 in the 30-30 with 11 gr of unique. Shoots good. I feel the 32 seems to have a fair amount more recoil... May be what's tween my ears though

 

[gwpercle]

A 170 grain cast bullet , gas checked , with 10 grains of Unique is my favorite target , tin can and plinking load.
Gary

 

[jag22]

I've always used BL-C2 with good results shooting 170 gr soft points. For a while l tried 170 gr cast lead and it was a disaster. I thought something happened to the rifle, accuracy was that bad. Put the soft points back in, problem solved. I think it was just pushing lead too fast. One of the many reasons l'm not a fan of lead.

 

[Bruce51]

A 170 grain cast bullet , gas checked , with 10 grains of Unique is my favorite target , tin can and plinking load.
Gary

I've been shooting Unique with heavy cast bullets in the 30-30 Marlin with good results.

I've ordered some of the bullets in my previous post and will run them with Unique in the .32WS.

BLM

 

[cooperduper]

32 grains of IMR 3031 pushes a Hornady 170gr FP at 2081fps from my Model 94 carbine. These are the old double cannelure bullets crimped at proper length with a Lee 30-30 factory crimp die. Works like a dream.

 

[REM1875]

Well, I've got dies, primers, shell holder and bullets. Just no empty cases to stuff. My M94 is prewar, and I have little or no reason to bump up against the limits. My understanding of the cartridge is that it was an attempt to mimmick .30-06 power in the M94. The .30-30 is a full step down in power from that level. Instead of boosting velocity, they just did a slight increase in bullet diameter. That in keeping with the woods gun close range needs of hunters.

Sorry, but my loads will probably be designed to step back down to the lighter levels.

If ya got 30-30 cases ya got 32 WIN Spl brass- just run em thru the sizing die and dremel mark the base.
Whole lot cheaper than 32 Win Spl brass,

 

[REM1875]

Finding .32 WS cases is not a problem. Just run a .30-30 case through a .32 WS FL sizing die with neck expander. Finding .32 WS dies might be a little more difficult, as there's probably not much demand for them these days.

Oddly enough Hornady found out differently when they came out with their FTX bullet and there was a surprising demand for a 32 FTX.

 

[DWalt]

The .32 WS using lead bullets may be a better performer in the grouping department than the .30-30. My experience in using lead bullets for the .30-30 has resulted in abysmally poor grouping for every loading I have tried. Good for nothing other than making noise.

 

[Bruce51]

The .32 WS using lead bullets may be a better performer in the grouping department than the .30-30. My experience in using lead bullets for the .30-30 has resulted in abysmally poor grouping for every loading I have tried. Good for nothing other than making noise.

Is your gun a Marlin? If so there is only one bullet that works well in cast loads.
The rest go sideways or all over the target. Marlins with Micro groove barrels need long heavy bullets with a long bearing surface.

I'll look up the mold number if anyone wants to know.

BM

 

[Nemo288]

Or possibly an oversized cast bullet.
Us 444 shooters have found only 44 cast bullets sized .432" (or larger) shoot well at all in the micro groove barrels.

 

[Nemo288]

Finding .32 WS dies might be a little more difficult, as there's probably not much demand for them these days.

Midway has a nice selection from cheap to expensive:
32 Winchester Special | Rifle Reloading Dies | Reloading Dies