.32 Winchester Special Comes 'Round Again
Hi all.
Well, I got my dies and brass together, and found that a local shop had 170-grain .321 Hornady Interlocks on the shelf (of all things). This happy alignment of the planets allowed me to put up my first 40 rounds of .32 Winchester Special handloads using IMR3031.
IMR3031 had the signal virtue of being a powder I had on the shelf, but isn't a bad choice for all that. I put up some rounds with 31.0 grains and some with 32.0 grains... I think 32.0 is as high as I'll go. Parker Ackley says you can go 34 grains, but he was crazy.
This activity raised a bit of a question in my mind, namely: Was .32 Special ever chambered in any rifle other than a Winchester 94?
Seems to me it would have been a dandy in a Ruger No. 3. Of course, we are a nation of .30-caliber shooters or so I'm told. But I'd go 34 grains in a Ruger No. 3.
-AaronB
Other Winchesters and a Marlin
According to Gunbroker one could get a Model 64 in the chambering as well, and apparently Marlin made a few 336's for it also.
I've seen Winchesters and Marlins for sure.
by Hoot 
, Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Saturday, January 01, 2022, 09:48 (846 days ago) @ AaronB
Was always going to pick up a 336 as the start of "a set"...seeing as how a fella already has the .30-30 and a .35 Rem. Seems only fitting.
I've seen Winchesters and Marlins for sure.
by Tom Richardson , Clarksville, Arkansas, Saturday, January 01, 2022, 10:53 (846 days ago) @ Hoot
I had a good start on a set. 45-70, 450 Marlin, 444, .35, 30-30, 25-20. Jason talked me out of my last .444.
Yep, there's a .45-70 and a .25-20 here too.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Saturday, January 01, 2022, 19:17 (846 days ago) @ Tom Richardson
As well as a couple of 39A's.
Waiting to see what Ruger will release next.
Martini Cadets were re-chambered to it.
No thanks.
The only 32 Special Marlin I ever saw...
by Sarge 
, Central Misery, Friday, January 07, 2022, 07:57 (840 days ago) @ cas
edited by Sarge, Friday, January 07, 2022, 15:58
was an old peep-sighted Model 93 which had long ago been converted from 32-40 to 32 Special. Its owner was known for hammering a buck 'by the second jump'. I also watched him hit a coyote with it at a good 150 yards like it was nothing- just raised the rifle and shot. He was in his late 50's then and had lived with that 93 since his teens.
I handled a .32 WS M336A but the owner wouldn't
by Hobie , Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Wednesday, January 05, 2022, 18:49 (842 days ago) @ AaronB
sell. I don't blame him. I think that he has since passed away but I never saw his many neat things come up for auction/sale. I imagine his daughter got the whole deal.
--
Sincerely,
Hobie
i have a model 36 marlin made in 1947 in 32 special
the 36 was the predecessor of the 336, has the square bolt like the 93s and 1893s
since i was also made in 1947, i really appreciate it.
pictures are here:
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/HrvkhPt.jpg)
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/184KbaL.jpg)
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/FC2knrp.jpg)
That's a dandy!
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Friday, January 07, 2022, 19:42 (840 days ago) @ cable
***
thanks ! it is a beauty and the tang sight is nice
That is one nice lever Gun. I bet you made Hoot l
by Tom Richardson , Clarksville, Arkansas, Friday, January 07, 2022, 20:43 (840 days ago) @ cable
lust and covet simultaneously both at the same time. Me too.
thanks ! it’s a looker. really nice wood .
Pretty accurate reading there Tom.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Saturday, January 08, 2022, 17:17 (839 days ago) @ Tom Richardson
Cheers!