.32 Win Special

[schotzfyred]

Where has all the 32 special brass gone ?
I need to reload for my 32 1894 SRC as most of my reloaded ammo have seen better days.
Is it a good idea to resize 30-30 brass to 32 win?

 

[.308 Norma]

Where has all the 32 special brass gone ?

Midway has some Hornady 32 Win Special brass - thirty-five bucks for a box of 50.

Is it a good idea to resize 30-30 brass to 32 win?

Probably not a good idea for me - I have a 30-30, and my wife has a 32 Special. When I look at a headstamp, I want to know that's really what it is.

 

[Slamfire]

When the tide comes in, things are available and life is great, and when it goes out, the beach is dry. Unfortunately the brass tidal cycle has nothing to do with celestial bodies. It is not regular and you cannot predict when the tide reverses flow. It was a long time till I was able to buy new 257 Roberts brass, and it was not the cheap, 500 in a bag, that was available 10 or 15 years ago. I was glad to get what I got. If you can find it now, get it now, it only gets more expensive the longer the stuff is out of production. And, if you have noticed, ammunition manufacturer's are not exactly telling us when they plan to make the next batch.

 

[FROGO207]

I also have rifles chambered in both calibers so I do keep the headstamps correct. The 32 SPL is not nearly as popular as the 30-30 so it is subject to seasonal runs of making brass/loaded ammo. If you only load one then using 30-30 brass would work but I would be marking the rim with a file mark or two so someone can see something is different. FWIW I doubt the lever on the rifle could force the bullet into the case or into the throat so it could be fired anyway.

 

[bobinoregon]

Having 30-30, 25-35 and 32 spl I want the headstamps to be correct. Other than seasonal runs of brass there also seems to be seasonal runs of bullets, last time I saw 25-35 bullets I bought enough to last me forever.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Post a WTB thread in the component forum and see what turned up. You might get offers for small lots of brass. Add them up and you will get what you need. (possibly)

 

[Bfh_auto]

Just search 32 special brass on Google. I found it in stock at 3 vendors.
Price isn't cheap like 30-30.

 

[schotzfyred]

That is one reason I looked to 30-30 brass....the other; I only have the 32 spec 1894. The 30-30 is one of a very few levers I didn't have over the years.
And then there's this.............

Hornady Brass 32 Winchester Special Unprimed Box of 50
$41.99

 

[schotzfyred]

Versus this................

Hornady Brass 30-30 Winchester Unprimed Bulk Bag of 100
Item #: HRN8655B
Price: $47.99
$0.48 per round
Shipping: One flat fee of $7.95 per order.
Exclusions apply. Click for details.
Availability: In Stock
Volume Discounts:
Rounds Units Savings Price per Unit Total Price
100 1 <none> $47.99 $47.99
500 5 Save 5%

 

[FROGO207]

I know it sucks to have to pay that amount but it could be worse. I have a Stevens 44 1/2 in 25-20 Single Shot and the only way to get brass today is to buy a 20 round box of loaded ammo that goes for $80.00. Shows 3 boxes left. No stray brass around and no other parent brass I can make the brass out of.
A suggestion is to sell that rifle if it is not something you are particularly attached to and get a WIN pre 64 in 30-30. At least the brass and projectiles will be easier to source and cost less.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not to speak for anyone else but most reloaders are, ummm, frugal. (yep, I'll go with frugal lol)

Spending that much in what should be inexpensive brass goes against my way of thinking. Resizing 30-30 brass is just fine as long as you have a way to be sure not to mix up you resized 30-30 brass and real 30-30 brass. It would be ideal if you only load for the 32 Special and not the 30-30 but you didn't elaborate on that.

The 32 Special's parent case is the 30-30 and they are identical in shoulder, base and rim diameter, have identical rim thickness and both cartridges generate the same pressures. There is no reason not to use necked-up 30-30 brass when it comes to performance. IMO there is no reason for the additional costs either since only the neck diameter is different.

 

[schotzfyred]

My 1926 .32 Special SRC '94 will never be sold....so many memories connected to it. One reason I bought it 50 years ago was that it wasn't a 30-30.

 

[Hondo 60]

Hmmm .32 Win Spl, that's a new one on me.
I thought I knew a thing or 2 about the 32 cal guns.

Sounds interesting
( famous words the wife hates to hear )

 

[Catpop]

My 1926 .32 Special SRC '94 will never be sold....so many memories connected to it. One reason I bought it 50 years ago was that it wasn't a 30-30.

That’s the reason I wanted a 35 Remington Marlin 336 straight stock for Christmas in 1963—— the other choice was 30-30. Knew nothing about the 35 other than the fact everyone else had a 30-30. I always took the road less traveled—— and I have never looked back!
Nothing wrong with 30 WCF, a great cartridge. I now have a 30-30 Marlin 336 straight stock also!

 

[schotzfyred]

Yep,
So for that same reason I've owned a 25-35, 38-55, 44-40 [Winchesters of course] and still have the 45-70

 

[Catpop]

My favorite old caliber is 38 WCF. It probably would have been 44 WCF, but I haven’t been lucky enough to nab one yet.
I do have an 1887 Win 1873. It will still print 4” groups at 100 yards and thats with iron sights- if I do my part!
I also like to shoot 32 WCF, 32-40, 38-55, and 45-70.
Alas I do not have a 32 special!

 

[J-Bar]

Ignorant question here, trying to learn as well as maybe help.

It’s my understanding that the 38-55 uses the same brass as the 30-30 and 32 Win. Special. Would it be possible to neck down .38-55 to 32 WS? If so, both Starline and Midway USA are advertising.38-55 brass online pretty cheap.

The 38-55 head stamp would help prevent getting them mixed up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ignorant question here, trying to learn as well as maybe help.

It’s my understanding that the 38-55 uses the same brass as the 30-30 and 32 Win. Special. Would it be possible to neck down .38-55 to 32 WS? If so, both Starline and Midway USA are advertising.38-55 brass online pretty cheap.

The 38-55 head stamp would help prevent getting them mixed up.

While not really the same brass it is very close. I'm not sure if it will work or not. No one I know has done it but that doesn't mean it can't be done. The base diameter is only off by 0.001". I'm sure someone here has tried it and can tell you first hand.

IMO resizing 30-30 brass will be the most economical path and not all that problematic if you are a little careful.

 

[Toprudder]

The other way to go would be to buy factory ammo, shoot it, save the brass. I can find 32 WCF for $1.20 per round. That is about what I paid for factory 450 Bushmaster. The components added up to that amount.