.32 Win Special question

[irondavy]

I am looking to begin reloading for the .32 Win Special and am having a hard time finding brass and bullets. I am already loading for my 30-30 and was wondering how hard it would be to open up the neck of some of my 30-30 brass to .32 win special.
I already have the dies for .32 win spec, thanks to a generous gift from my loading mentor. He has never dealt with this problem and I can't seem to find any info on specific 30-30 to .32 win spec conversion on the world wide interwebs.
The cases seem to be very similar and I am wondering if this is possible and if it will cause excess wear on my dies and press. If it will be a pain I would be happy to just buy some new .32 brass on midway, but I have 3-400 pieces of 30-30 brass sitting on my reloading bench now and would be happy to convert some of them to the .32 win spec.

Thanks in advance for any help
ID

 

[jcwit]

30/30 and 32 Win. Spec are infact the same case with a different caliber bullet. I've necked up 30/30 cases for 50 years to 32 Spec. with no problems.

 

[MMCSRET]

Speer and Hornady make and market 170 gr. soft point .321 diameter bullets for the 32 WS. I use both and they work well.

 

[rcmodel]

Seems like it would be asking for a mistake in ammo somewhere down the road if you have rifles in both calibers.

Those factory headstamps are kind of handy to look at when you grab a 30-30 rifle and a handful of 30-30 ammo that is really .32 Spl. ammo
Or vice versa.

rc

 

[MMCSRET]

32 Special cases are standard production by Winchester. Shouldn't be hard to find. I have two 32's and several 30-30's. I would never form cases, too easy to confuse, and cause serious problems.

 

[rcmodel]

Zactly!

Powder Valley has them in stock 50 for $24.75 - 250 for $119.00.

http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

rc

 

[jcwit]

Right you are RC, but being as I only own a 32 Win. Spec, 30/30 does not enter into the picture for me.

Furthermore I'm not certain one could chamber a 32 Spec into a 30/30 chamber, plus its another reason to never shoot someone elses reloads.

 

[ants]

I appreciate the warnings, but...

We enthusiasts have been forming unusual brass from parent brass for decades.
I would hate to sound like it cannot be done safety by anyone, anywhere.
And discourage a new generation of loaders from the practice.
Hundreds of thousands of us do it safely, and economically.
Would it be good to buy new brass for everything we do?
Sure, but each reloader is responsible for his/her own decisions,
and responsible for everyone's safety.
Adopt safe practices, and make your decisions accordingly.



If you form brass, mark the bases with die, nail polish, paint, sharpie, etch with a Wenn electric pen, whatever it takes to mark them as unique.
Adopt practices to keep all other brass off the bench when dealing with formed brass.
Permanently mark certain ammo boxes, and ONLY use them with formed brass.



It is right to advise the guy to buy new brass if he can find it and afford it.

It is also right to advise him on safe practices, should he wish to form his own.

 

[W.E.G.]

I'm not certain one could chamber a 32 Spec into a 30/30 chamber

I'm sure its possible.

A guy who is now blind in one eye sued the Olin corporation at my local courthouse.
Seems that he fired a 30-06 round in a .270 rifle that was produced by (then) the Olin Corp.
Had him a jury trial, and the jury returned a verdict of liability against Olin.
Problem is though for the blind fella, the jury awarded him damages of ONE DOLLAR.
True story.

Midway has .32 Special brass in stock, ready to ship
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/110394

 

[jcwit]

I'm sure its possible.

A guy who is now blind in one eye sued the Olin corporation at my local courthouse.
Seems that he fired a 30-06 round in a .270 rifle that was produced by (then) the Olin Corp.
Had him a jury trial, and the jury returned a verdict of liability against Olin.
Problem is though for the blind fella, the jury awarded him damages of ONE DOLLAR.
True story

Yes I.m sure its possible to chamber a 30/06 round in a .270 cal. rifle. More than likely done with a bolt action rifle and also pushing the bullet into the case.

Much, much harder to do with a lever action rifle, and we're talking about a cartridge exactly the same dimensions except for diameter of the bullet itself.

The 30/06 and the .270 have totally different case dimensions

 

[Ed Lacy]

Yes I.m sure its possible to chamber a 30/06 round in a .270 cal. rifle. More than likely done with a bolt action rifle and also pushing the bullet into the case.

Much, much harder to do with a lever action rifle, and we're talking about a cartridge exactly the same dimensions except for diameter of the bullet itself.

The 30/06 and the .270 have totally different case dimensions

The .270 and the 30/06 aren't that much different.
"The .270 is merely a necked down 30/06. with the same shoulder angle and head-to-shoulder dimension. 270 case necks are a bit longer than the '06, but the latter is easily reformed by full length sizing '06 cases in a .270 die. The slight difference in length of reformed cases doesn't make any practical difference."
That is a direct quote from Speer Reloading Manual #11, page 159.
I'm not saying it would be easy to put an '06 round into a .270, but to say there are totally different case dimensions, is simply not true.

 

[jcwit]

Well perhaps "totally" was a poor choice of words. But there is a difference in the distance from the base to the end of the shoulder also, let alone the overall length of the case. However either one can be made from the other case.

Info gleaned from "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" or if unavailable check out "Lees Reloading Manual".