Letters from Readers

Thoughts on the 32 Special

column By: Sandy Post | December, 25

I would like to put forth another theory regarding the 32 Special in the 1894 Winchester (What’s Special About the 32 Special, Issue 130, BPC News.) Let’s think for a moment in financial terms if you were in charge of penny-pinching back in the days when Winchester had a bunch of unused barrels in 32-40 caliber sitting on the shelves. The modern smokeless “fancy” was over taking the industry, so how would you make use of the left over 32-40 barrels? Any machinist could figure that out. If a 30-30 reamer were inserted into the chamber of the 32-40, the neck would make no change to the barrel, but “Wow” what a great idea to use up new old stock! Suddenly, the public had a choice of calibers in the same rifle. A bit of clever advertising would convince folks they could use black powder in the cartridges and they were off to the races.

Gun writers, seldom short of words, would toss forth all kinds of opinions, all the while getting paid for their efforts. The subject could grow into campfire debates for generations. As a last “shot” at the issue, wasn’t postponement of the 30-30 caliber due to the detrimental use of hard jacketed slugs in the earlier softer steel barrels until nickel steel became part of the equation? I have also seen a few 32 Special older barrels that were shot out, which could have started the theory about accuracy dropping off sooner than the .30 caliber? Makes one wonder?

Sandy Post

Canada

(Editor’s Note: This ad, appearing in the March 6, 1902 issue of Shooting and Fishing magazine might be the “bit of clever advertising” Mr. Post is referring to.)

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Thoughts on the 32 Special