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New to me lever gun on the way

3K views 14 replies 8 participants last post by  M1894 
#1 ·
Just bought a Winchester 94 levergun in 32 WCF off of Gunbroker. Gun has 80% finish with some burred screws and some small dings. It should clean up real nice and make a good carry gun. Got it at a price I couldn't pass up. Serial number shows the gun was made in 71. I will post pics as soon as I get it. Never owned a 32 WCF before. Looking forward to loading some cast rounds for it. Now I need to make my list of reloading stuff to buy.
 
#2 ·
Good luck with your new 94. I just picked up a pre '64 locally as well. My Dad had one that I hunted with in high school back in the 70's, and I always wanted one of my own. I always felt the 32 had a little more power than the 30-30, but I guess they are really pretty close. I haven't fired mine yet, and I don't reload so I'll be sticking to factory loads. Just gotta find one that it likes.
I'll be interested to see how you make out with yours. All the best!
 
#4 ·
I hope to take it hunting this year if I can get it fixed up in time. My first deer rifle was a 94 Winchester in 30-30. My uncle had a pre 64 94 in 32 Win and I was always fond of it. I have several Marlin lever guns in all types of calibers and really enjoy loading cast bullets for them. Makes for some inexpensive plinking. I figure the 32 will fit right in between the 30-30 and 35 Remington.

Baddad, what does it take to resize 30-30 casings to 32 WCF. I have a bucket of 30-30 brass.
Thanks
John
 
#6 · (Edited)
There are some nominal differences but yes, all you do is run a 30/30 case through a 32WS die and you're ready to load. Given that you'd have to run brass through a die anyway, this doesn't even add work to the overall process.

Just like the 30/30, a full case of 3031 under a 170gr bullet is just what the (reloading) doctor ordered. Other than that, just be sure to get bullets that are the right size; .321". Since you're going to be casting your own, that won't be too much of a concern and I imagine you'll go with .322" or even .323"

Something I would be willing to try is the LeverEvolution ammo in 32WS. By all accounts, it turns this obsolescent cartridge into a 250-yard deer round. Granted, you'd need a scope to really make that work and scopes just aren't conducive to a light, handy lever-action gun, IMHO. Still, the added MV and BC add up to a worthwhile increase in power and range, should either be indicated.

My grandfather has an old 32 Winchester Special that has harvested an untold number of deer and at least one bear. I used to think it was an anemic round that was hardly fit to take in the woods, but as the gray hairs slowly outnumber the brown on my thick skull, I'm developing a better understanding of just how useful the 32WS has always been. Maybe someday I'll talk grandpa into letting me sight in his old '94 with the LE loads and head back into the thick stuff with it.
 
#7 ·
I don't think I will scope the old girl but will probably install a peep sight. My old eyes just have a heck of a time focusing on a buckhorn type rear sights. The peep sight should give me a 200 yard gun which is all I need in the thickets around here. I am able to pretty consistantly break clay pidgeons at 100 yards with my Marlin 336 30-30 with peep sights so it should be all I need on the 94. Thanks all for the advice on sizing the 30-30 brass to 32 WCF.
 
#8 ·
Jodum; You know that I am a big fan of the 444, but, I have always wanted a 35 Win in a lever gun...for as long as I can remember. If I ever came across a "beater" that was still in good mechanical shape, and the price was reasonable, I would most likely buy it....not that I need it, but, just because I want it. Sounds like you got it right on your 32 Winny...I know you will enjoy it! Congratulations!
 
#9 ·
In 1940, my father bought a new Winchester 94 carbine in .32 Winchester Special. He gave it to my uncle, before going off to World War II. My uncle was unable to serve because of bad eyesight.
My uncle planned to have two boys. He had two girls, instead. That .32 languished in my uncle's closet until 1971, when I was 16, and he gave it to me.
I still have it.
It's had some minor wear since, but still shoots true.
The first round I ever reloaded was for that .32 Winchester Special, with a Lee Loader, about 1972.
At last count, I reload for 22 rifle and handgun calibers.
Through the years, I've learned a few things about the .32 Winchester Special:

IMR3031 is probably the best powder for the jacketed, 170 gr. bullet. It duplicates the factory, or nudges the bullet a wee bit faster with judicious, carefully crafted handloads.

Factory .32 WS cases are usually slightly too long. Size them, then trim to 2.030 inch.

.32 WS dies can be used to reload .32 Remington ammo. I did so years ago, for a friend who had an old Remington auto rifle. They worked fine. Empty .32 Remington cases are rare. You'll have to buy a different shellholder to fit .32 Remngton cases, they're rimless.

The .32 WS can be very accurate with cast lead bullets of .321 or .322 inch. A moderate load of Unique powder makes a good plinking and small game load.

The 8mm Nambu pistol cartridge uses full metal jacketed bullets of about 100 grains. I've never experimented with this bullet, but it seems like it would make a good rabbit or squirrel load.
Gad Custom Cartridges sells 8mm Nambu bullets. An internet search may also reveal cast lead bullets for the 8mm Nambu.
The 8mm Nambu bullets are pointed, so it's probably best to use them singly in the chamber and not load more than one in the magazine tube. However, a light load would probably lack enough recoil to set off the primer of the cartridge ahead of it. You'll have to decide for your own on that matter.

The .32 WS is reportedly better-suited to using black powder than the .30-30, owing to the .32's rifling pitch of 1 turn in 16 inches, compared to the .30-30's of 1:12. The slower pitch shrugs off black powder fouling more readily, or so I hear.
If you use black powder, you'll need to use a very soft lead bullet with SPG or Lyman Black Gold bullet lubricant. Black powder doesn't work well with hard-cast bullets employing lubricants designed for smokeless powder.

Speer and Hornady both make 170 gr. jacketed softpoints for the .32 WS, for deer hunting. I have no preference.

The .32 WS is straightforward to reload. Use only a trace of lubricant on the case to resize it, or you'll get oil dents from lubricant being trapped around the neck during sizing. However, small dents won't hurt anything. They'll get ironed out when you fire the case.

The .32 WS is a fun round. Few shooters today have ever heard of it, let alone seen one. I don't believe that it offers any more power than the .30-30, but it certainly prompts more comments.
Decades ago, it was common to argue the merits of either the .30-30 or .32 WS -- rather like the 9mm vs. the .45 argument -- but you rarely hear the .32 mentioned today.

Have fun with that rifle. There's nothing wrong with the caliber, and much to recommend it.
 
#15 · (Edited)
hey,how goes. on the 32 ws=is it different than a 32-40 ? ive got a 94 in 32 ws and also would like to reload. that tip on using 30-30 brass is going to save ne a mint!!
learnmore>>>livmore
Yup! they are diferent, but cases for the 32/40 can be formed from .32 Special or 30/30 brass. They are a little short, but are acceptable. I couldn't find any brass for my 32/40, and formed up several from some .32 Special. Well I found a mint condition Model 1893 Marlin Sporting carbine in .32 Special, but didn't have any cartridges, so I went to the range with some of the 32/40 configuration cases, and proceded to confuse a few shooters when they saw the .32 Special headstamp and the odd 32/40 case shape. Ended up that that particular load was more accurate than the factory .32 Specials out of that Carbine.

[Note] The 32/40 is a straight taper case while the .32 Special is a bottleneck case.
 
#14 ·
Finally go to shoot the 94 32 Win Special the other day. Rifle shot to point of aim with open sights out to 125 yard. The gravel pit where I shoot has a far bank at 125 yards. I set up a number of four inch clay pigions on the bank. I was able to break three out of five while shooting offhand. I still plan to put a peep sight on it to help with my old eyes.
 
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