rechamber 30-30 to 32spl

[hunter13]

just wanted to know if it is possible to have a 30-30 barrle re chambered to a 32spl 


hunter13

[LONGTOM]

You would have to do a re-bore and a re-chamber. A 30-30 is 308 bore and a 32 special is a 321 bore.

LONGTOM

[yooper77]

hunter13,

I might not understand your desire to re-chamber a 30-30 Winchester to a 32 Winchester Special.  I don't think its worth all the effort.  .308 bullets are so plentiful and the only 32 Winchester Special bullets that are still made are by Hornady & Speer 170 grain flat nose and some lead cast bullet of the same weight.  Plus you wont gain any measurable velocity or ballistics.  The 32 Winchester Special performs at its best with 170 grain bullets.  Your 30-30 can be reloaded to use one of the many .308 caliber pointed bullets for use in the Handi Rifle, all the while achieving superior velocity and/or ballistics over the 32 Winchester Special.

yooper77

[WILD_WEASEL]

However, if you were interested in reloading with black powder and cast bullets the 32 Special would offer some interesting possibilities.  I personally think it would be fun to shoot factory smokeless ammo then reload it with black powder, as Winchester originally intended.

[WILD_WEASEL]

Come to think about it, add the 32 Special to the list of vintage cartridges that should be offered in barrels with the same configuration as the 45 Colt Carbine barrel.

[njanear]

Come to think about it, add the 32 Special to the list of vintage cartridges that should be offered in barrels with the same configuration as the 45 Colt Carbine barrel.

They could probably make just 50 barrels in that caliber and then find that they over-saturated the market at that point... 

Sorry, but that cartridge just doesn't seem to generate much demand any more - except among the nostalgic lever gun folks, who probably wouldn't be interested in it in a break-open rifle.    You would probably have more demand for a .32/40 or some other classic single-shot type cartridge in drawing that type of crowd to the NEFs.

[towpro]

However, if you were interested in reloading with black powder and cast bullets the 32 Special would offer some interesting possibilities.  I personally think it would be fun to shoot factory smokeless ammo then reload it with black powder, as Winchester originally intended.

This cartridge was not based on any parent case, but was an original design, intended from the beginning for smokeless powder rather than black-powder. Winchester's goal was to create a new cartridge for sportsmen who wanted something more powerful than the .30 WCF, but without the recoil of the .30 Army.[2][3] This new cartridge only enjoyed moderate success, and remain hampered by the small selection of available bullets in the .321 size.[2] Shooters can generally find a wide selection of bullet types and weights for the .30-30, while the .32 WS generally only comes in 170 grain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_Winchester_Special

I think the interest in 32Winchester special is it has a different twist rate then 30-30, which works better with cast boolets over the 30-30.
A lot of cast boolet shooters do use .323, which is an 8mm.  This gives you a couple more choices.  I would buy one if they had them and use it for cast boolet matches since I already reload for a marlin model 93, but it would be to costly I think to have the barrel drilled and re-rifled.

[towpro]

Sorry, but that cartridge just doesn't seem to generate much demand any more - except among the nostalgic lever gun folks, who probably wouldn't be interested in it in a break-open rifle.    You would probably have more demand for a .32/40 or some other classic single-shot type cartridge in drawing that type of crowd to the NEFs.

I would buy a 32-40 also!   Make it long enough that it looks right on my buffalo classic.

[Slufoot]

Hornady must think there is some interest in the 32 Winchester Special.

Check it out!

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=bf8c8157ac33aadf5ab280d6dd6e53e6&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=87e8f7b64416e4f19ed582100856a3b7


GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[hunter13]

just thought i would ask didnt meen to fluff any feathers just that i love shooting my 32spl winchester and just thought it would be a good quistion to ask but i have now spoted a 270wsm that might be my new deer rifle lol


hunter13

[njanear]

Hornady must think there is some interest in the 32 Winchester Special.

Check it out!

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=bf8c8157ac33aadf5ab280d6dd6e53e6&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=87e8f7b64416e4f19ed582100856a3b7


GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

But you do note that is the LEVERevolution ammo, right?  Made specifically for all of those LEVER guns out there.. 

[njanear]

However, if you were interested in reloading with black powder and cast bullets the 32 Special would offer some interesting possibilities.  I personally think it would be fun to shoot factory smokeless ammo then reload it with black powder, as Winchester originally intended.

This cartridge was not based on any parent case, but was an original design, intended from the beginning for smokeless powder rather than black-powder. Winchester's goal was to create a new cartridge for sportsmen who wanted something more powerful than the .30 WCF, but without the recoil of the .30 Army.[2][3] This new cartridge only enjoyed moderate success, and remain hampered by the small selection of available bullets in the .321 size.[2] Shooters can generally find a wide selection of bullet types and weights for the .30-30, while the .32 WS generally only comes in 170 grain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_Winchester_Special

Actually, if you check other references (such as COTW), the .32 Win. Special was intended to be fired once and then reloaded with either type of powder (The .30/30 was considered to be too small to use effectively with the black powder of the time, so the .32 would allow those reloaders with a stash of black powder to use it up).  The WIKIPEDIA article does quote COTW as a reference but failed to mention that "reload with black powder" quip  in the 'history' section.   I have also heard of .32's having pitted bores due to this - but that is just what I have heard (i.e. no first-hand experience). 

[yooper77]

http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm
http://www.galleryofguns.com/shootingtimes/Articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=2

The 38-55 Ballard as a target cartridge & 32-40 Winchester for competition in singleshot rifles both were introduced in 1884.

The 38-55 (Ballard) Winchester case that can be made into the, 32 (.32 W.S.) Winchester Special, 30-30 (30 W.C.F.) Winchester, 25-35 Winchester, 22 Savage High Power and 7-30 Waters to name a few.  This parent case has a lot of years behind it and is still proven today.

I reload many reloads for a friend that has a 32 Winchester Special and I use only 30-30 Winchester cases, because of bulk brass and bullets he has bought new years ago.  I also make 7-30 Waters ammo from 38-55 Ballard cases, because I get more powder capacity from my first load then from 30-30 cases.

Also the .375 Winchester case is a shortened and strengthened version of the .38-55 Winchester, but are not interchangeable with each other.

Hornady is in the ammo business and I am glad still keeping the 32 Winchester Special alive, but the price of factory ammo is crazy.  I only realod for over 20 years now.

I would like to see the Handi Rifle come in the 7-30 Waters and 375 JDJ, both have shinned in the T/C world.

As for the 32 Winchester Special keep it alive in the old lever guns that are still around, but its not worth the effort or price to re-chamber and re-bore a 30-30 barrel.

yooper77

[LONGTOM]

To each his own but personally I would consider the 307 Winchester. This is a super round that doesn't get much credit. Can be loaded to do just about anything a 308 can do. I have one in a WIN BIG BORE 94 and love it especially at the range when you touch one off and everyone turns and says that ain't no 30/30!!!

LONGTOM

[yooper77]

I totally agree, to each his own.

To improve the performance of the 30-30 Winchester barrel in the handi rifle, I would choose to have it re-chambered to the 309 JDJ.  444 Marlin case necked down to .308 caliber.  This is of course doable with T/C’s, but I am not sure if its regularly done to Handi’s.

The cheaper way would be to buy a 308 Winchester barrel and save the 30-30 Winchester barrel for backup or women and children starting the shooting sport.

Yooper77

[billy_56081]

If you want a 32 win special I say go for it. There is nothing wrong with the caliber and sometimes just wanting, a certain caliber is reason enough to own one. It should be easy enough to have a gunsmith rebore and rechamber it.

[quickdtoo]

I have to agree with the just wanting, there's nothing spectacular about the 405 Winchester, but it's not available in a H&R, so a $300 rebore and you have something few others or nobody else has.  Same for the 35 Remington or 45 ACP, ya gets whatcha wants, simple as that!!

Tim

[MSP Ret]

Yes, what Tim says !!! 

Both Quick and myself have Handis in .35 Remington and I have a .45 ACP Handi, the only one I know of. Larry had made up some beauties in .30 Cal carbine, .17 Remington, and .17 Rem Fireball  among others. These Handis sure are fun!!!, And they are handy too....<><....


If YOU want a .32 Special I say go for it, best of luck, and keep us posted....<><....

[skifastchad]

How does the 32 spl barrel compare to a 8mm mauser barrel?  You might find a cheap M48 or other mauser barrel at a gun show that could be used as a stub project.

[towpro]

How does the 32 spl barrel compare to a 8mm mauser barrel?  You might find a cheap M48 or other mauser barrel at a gun show that could be used as a stub project.

Might be wrong here, but the 8mm is .323 where the original 32 special is .321.
The reason I say "original" is Some 32 specials will take .323 lead bullets, but some older ones will not.
I have a 1921 model 93 Marlin (first year after marlin got new owners) and they cut them to .321.  Mine will not take a .323 bullet no matter how hard I try to force it into the gun. 

In my marlin, the cartridge hits on the neck, back to about 1/8"  where the neck is bulged by the .323 bullet in the brass.  Sure I could turn the brass down .002", but it really shoots good with .321 lead bullets so why mess with it. 

But most newer marlins and Most winchesters will take the .323 lead bullet. Plus I have have seen reports of older model 1893 Marlins that will take .323 lead bullets.  Seems mine has hardly ever been shot, or Marlin tightened things up to specs when they regrouped in the new startup in 1921.

Not sure how well the 8mm barrel would work with jacket .321" bullets as it would be .002" oversize.