Marlin .32 Special Ammo vs. Winchester .32 Special Ammo

[frenchy1957]

Hello Folks, I have been gone for a while. To the question. I have an old Marlin 1936, .32 Special. I picked up some .32 win ammo and it will not chamber. What is the differance between the .32 Winchester round and the round that will fit the Marlin 32 Special? Any help on this would be great. Who makes the ammo that will fit the Marlin. Its a great looking rifle and I only paid $225.00 for it.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR again, frenchy1957.

It should fit, unless there is something obstructing the round. Check the bore and chamber for being clear. There was no other 32 caliber round chambered in those rifles but 32 Winchester Special.

Here's a little story on your model rifle.

http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm


NCsmitty

 

[MMCSRET]

I would be willing to bet that the chamber in the Marlin is dirty, rusted. I had the same thing happen with a 2nd year 336 in 32 Winchester Special. Inspect closely and take corrective action. The ammo should not be the problem if the chamber markings are correct. Good shooting!!!!!!

 

[Runningman]

First thing I would try is giving the Chamber and bore a good cleaning with some bore cleaning solvent and the right size cleaning brushes and patches if you have not already done so.

 

[rcmodel]

Make sure the extractor isn't stuck in place in the bolt too.

The round can't chamber if the extractor can't get out of the way.

rc

 

[RonE]

Here's a little story on your model rifle.

http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm

Thank you NCSmitty for posting a great article.

 

[frenchy1957]

Thxs for all the advice(I had alrady done all of it before posting ) but would tell you when I took the rifle apart I could have planted entire crops in the receiver and chamber. It will chamber a .30-.30 round and extract it no problem. As Far as I can remember the base of a 30-30 rd and a .32 rd are the same, as is the length of each rd. the only differance is the necking of the round, so my therory in all of this wind is...That if it will chamber and extract the 30-30 rd the bolt and extractor are in working order and I can not see any chamber or barrel obstrction of any kind. I have had this fine firearm since @ 04/15/2009 and have had time to investigate it but I am afraid to no avail, to this point. Thanxs again for all the help and advice, the saga will continue.

 

[Runningman]

A Coupe things come to mind here. You might want to do a chamber casting and check and see if it is a 32 Special and not a 30-30. Because it is possible that the barrel was mis marked from the factory. If it is a 32 special bore it is also possible the neck is to tight or the throat is to short from the factory for todays Winchester ammo.

Chambers and in some cases bores from various manufactures were not to standardized back before WWII. You might try and find some old Remington or UMC ammo in 32 special and see if they will chamber. There is a chance the total neck thickness with bullet was smaller on older Remington and UMC ammunition due to brass wall thickness or they used the .318 diameter bullets or both. Back than when your rifle was made .318 diameter bullets were more common in the 32 Special. These days .321 is more or less the standard for bullet diameter in the 32 Special. The difference in total neck diameter with bullet could be causing an interference fit in the neck of the chamber. While ammunition in the old days did not present a problem.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Some old .32 Win Spec ammunition was loaded with .318 (8mm Mauser) bullets instead of .321 bullets. This ammunition dated back to before World War II. I would slug your Marlin barrel and make sure that the barrel groove diameter is .321, not .318! This is why the .32 Spec had such a poor reputation for accuracy and often was recommended using cast bullets. The ammo companies were loading .32 Spec with .318 bullets which of course will not shoot well in a .321 barrel.

 

[Gordon]

Could it be a 32-40? That is the 30-30 with a straight taper unlike the shouldered 32 Win Special I had a Marlin 93 32 40.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I quess that I have to ask .32 Special what? Could that description describe .32/20 Winchester or .32/40. The .32 Winchester Special ammunition always says "Special" on the box and says .32 W.S. or .32 Win. Spec. on the barrel of the firearm. Just curious?