Arthritic hands thinking of going to .32 hrm

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Actually have a couple of single six 32 HRMs, the big question in what to use for a rifle, not really wanting to shoot 2 different kinds of ammo.  The only .32 HRM rifle any one manufactures is the Henry Big Boy 327 Federal Mag which will shoot .32 hrm.  Is anyone out there actually using one of them.  Convention wisdom for years has been stay away from the Henry Big Boy as it is not really good for CAS.  The other drawback I see is Henry does not make this rifle in the side loading model only the pull the tube load from the muzzle end.  I am not above doing that as I sometimes shoot a Uberti 1860 Henry in .45 colt.  Your thoughts and flames

[Rye Miles #13621]

9 minutes ago, Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 said:

Actually have a couple of single six 32 HRMs, the big question in what to use for a rifle, not really wanting to shoot 2 different kinds of ammo.  The only .32 HRM rifle any one manufactures is the Henry Big Boy 327 Federal Mag which will shoot .32 hrm.  Is anyone out there actually using one of them.  Convention wisdom for years has been stay away from the Henry Big Boy as it is not really good for CAS.  The other drawback I see is Henry does not make this rifle in the side loading model only the pull the tube load from the muzzle end.  I am not above doing that as I sometimes shoot a Uberti 1860 Henry in .45 colt.  Your thoughts and flames

I would go with .38's in the rifle even though it would be two different calibers. It's a heckuva lot easier to find a 357/38 rifle. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

28 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I would go with .38's in the rifle even though it would be two different calibers. It's a heckuva lot easier to find a 357/38 rifle. 

And:

1. You won't miss the 38 Special brass that gets lost in the props and weeds as much as .32 H&R cases.
2. Lazy spotters often call hits from a .32 as a miss, but not so often from a .38.

[July Smith]

Marlin made a few 94s in 32HRM but like the Henry BB they load like a 22 rim fire and do not have a loading gate.  For current production 32cal rifles the Henry is the only option.  The Henry is an okay rifle, for SASS it's not ideal when compared to all the short stroked 66/73s but if you are willing to sacrifice speed for the convenience of one common caliber for both pistol and rifle it might be worth it.  

 

Another possible option (depending on what type of revolvers you have) might be to get 32-20 cylinders for your pistols.  Not exactly common, but finding a rifle in 32-20 with a loading gate is a lot easier.  

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 hour ago, Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 said:

Actually have a couple of single six 32 HRMs, the big question in what to use for a rifle, not really wanting to shoot 2 different kinds of ammo.  The only .32 HRM rifle any one manufactures is the Henry Big Boy 327 Federal Mag which will shoot .32 hrm.  Is anyone out there actually using one of them.  Convention wisdom for years has been stay away from the Henry Big Boy as it is not really good for CAS.  The other drawback I see is Henry does not make this rifle in the side loading model only the pull the tube load from the muzzle end.  I am not above doing that as I sometimes shoot a Uberti 1860 Henry in .45 colt.  Your thoughts and flames

On second thought just use your 1860 Henry in .45 Colt. I have arthritis too but the rifle doesn’t bother me it’s the pistols ! I had to resort to shooting two handed instead of Duelist.  If the rifle doesn’t bother you shoot that Henry. It’s a cool rifle!

[Stump Water]

.38 Spl. brass is going to be cheaper than .32 H&R.  .32 bullets may be harder to come by.

 

You can get .38 bullets as light as 92 grains, but I Don't know what part of shooting .38s is the problem?  Is it recoil?  Gun weight?

[Snake-eye, SASS#45097]

I shot 32’s in pistols and 38’s in a 1873 rifle. I just separate the brass at the unloading table into separate bags. That way I clean them separately and store separately. I reload in batches that way I minimize setup. 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

4 hours ago, Stump Water said:

.38 Spl. brass is going to be cheaper than .32 H&R.  .32 bullets may be harder to come by.

 

You can get .38 bullets as light as 92 grains, but I Don't know what part of shooting .38s is the problem?  Is it recoil?  Gun weight?

Actually shoot 7.5 inch vaqueros original in 44 mag loaded to warm 44 spec level or RNVs 7.5 inch .45 colts or 5.5 inch cattlemen in .44-40 they are more manageable.  Mostly the weight dont have a .38/357.  More of a weight than recoil issue.

[Outlaw Gambler]

Capt, sent a pm about Marlin

[Bailey Creek,5759]

Look at the 32-20.

You could have a set of pistols, barreled and rechambered.

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

32 while seemingly an answer may not work as expected.

If you are using a Ruger because of a lighter gun. perceived  recoil might actually be more.

Smaller bullets hitting target are called as a miss because spotters are not paying attention.  The boom and smoke from using real BP also tends to cover up the clang of hitting steel.  

Smaller shells are hard to load if you have stiff fingers. Plan to loose 10% of your shells if there is any grass or gravel.

Good luck finding a Marlin in the 32 mag.  When set up proper they are sweet shooting.  

Hard to manage that small cartridge if you have a reload on the clock and stiff fingers.  Forget it on a Derringer side match also. 

Will make BP smoke standard easily with the replicate powders.  

1/2 dozen or so safe queens because of all the above...

 

 

 

 

[July Smith]

12 hours ago, Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 said:

More of a weight than recoil issue.

I could be wrong but I believe the Henry BB is one of the heaviest lever guns out there.  

[Stump Water]

6 hours ago, Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326 said:

Good luck finding a Marlin in the 32 mag.

 

Two on gunbroker dot com right now.  $2200 (used) & $2300 (new).   Both are JM stamped "Cowboy" models.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

34 minutes ago, Stump Water said:

 

Two on gunbroker dot com right now.  $2200 (used) & $2300 (new).   Both are JM stamped "Cowboy" models.

I believe all were manufactured before the Freedom Group purchased Marlin...so they would all have JM stamped barrels.

 

Phantom

[Widder, SASS #59054]

1 hour ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

I believe all were manufactured before the Freedom Group purchased Marlin...so they would all have JM stamped barrels.

 

Phantom

 

As always, you are 100% correct.   And the other 15% we won't discuss.... 

 

Supposedly, Marlin only made approx 600 of the .32 H&R caliber 1894 'COWBOY' models.

They are rare and EXPENSIVE.    I know of 2 folks who have paid $2500 and $2600+ for one of them.

 

..........Widder

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

1 minute ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

 

As always, you are 100% correct.   And the other 15% we won't discuss.... 

 

Supposedly, Marlin only made approx 600 of the .32 H&R caliber 1894 'COWBOY' models.

They are rare and EXPENSIVE.    I know of 2 folks who have paid $2500 and $2600+ for one of them.

 

..........Widder

 

More like the "other" 50% 

 

I've got one of those 32's...in the vault...somewhere...

 

Phantom

[Widder, SASS #59054]

29 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

More like the "other" 50% 

 

I've got one of those 32's...in the vault...somewhere...

 

Phantom

 

I have 2 of them (I sold my 3rd one after I did a Widdermatic on it).

I've been offered a pretty penny for one of mine but it ain't for sale.

 

..........Widder

 

[watab kid]

ive been fighting this for years , i just keep adjusting my shooting to accommodate best i can , i love my 45s but i recently started loading 38spcl to provide an alternative the days i cant fight thru it , i have to agree with the above responses that staying with common , easily found cases makes sense , unless the cost does not concern you , 

 

on the other hand we have a limited time span to do these things enjoy it as you see fit , 

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

WOW on the price   Thinking I payed around 400 for mine

[Guest]

One of the local shooters has a 32-20 rifle. Very accurate. He refers to it as the "Caliche Bar" because it is quite heavy. Good luck in your search

Castalia

[Scarlett]

On 11/13/2023 at 5:57 PM, Stump Water said:

32 bullets may be harder to come by.

I shoot (and sell) a LOT of 32 bullets.. 78gr, 100gr and the 115gr -which is technically for the 32-20. AND, Starline has had the 32 HR in stock. I love my single sixes worked by Jimmy Spurs. They are smooth and easy to handle.

 

I also shoot a 38 rifle. Keeping the brass separated is a chore because I shoot FCGF and I’m too lazy to have two separate jars for my brass. But, it’s the combination that works for me. 
 

I did shoot a 32 HR Marlin for a while. I’d get much of my brass back - the 38 shooters tried hard to find it andtkeep it out of their brass!   I love my Marlin 32 however, unless you use a 100gr bullet with a decent load - you will get called for misses which would mean you’d still have two different loads - pistol and rifle - defeating your purpose. 
 

Oh, I have some pain in my left hand from a pre cowboy shooting fall. I have started using the voltaren cream when it acts up. That has helped me a lot. 
 

Big hugs!

Scarlett

[Warden Callaway]

My hands are still in good shape.  It's the rest of me going to pot.  I have and tried a couple of Cimarron Lightning in 32HMR loaded with 32S&W. Grips weren't right, it seemed like. And I didn't have dedicated holsters. They are built on the small 22 frame.

 

 

I also have a Marlin 1891 that I rechambered to 32S&W.  They are way obsolete and I woudn't recommend one if you found one.

 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

FYI, those 115 grain bullets make good knockdown loads.  My wife shoots LFC and her regular ammo is 100 grain bullets over APP.  Her knockdown loads are 115 grain bullets over Triple Seven.  When shooting the 115 grain bullets spotters often think she is shooting 38 Specials.

 

When shooting smokeless she shoots a maximum charge of V320 under a 100-grain bullet.  Anything lighter and spotters were calling some hits a misses.

[Scarlett]

18 hours ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

I believe all were manufactured before the Freedom Group purchased Marlin...so they would all have JM stamped barrels.

 

Phantom

Marlin made around 750+ 32 H&R Mag around 2005ish.  The ones I had were new old stock. Had both worked by Widder. Sold one for $2500 a couple of years ago and the other one is staying put with me. 
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Three Foot Johnson]

My daughter shot .22's her first year, then moved up to .38 Model P Jr's combined with her Henry .22 the next spring. She was kind of intimidated by how much larger those .38's were than the .22's . To ease her into it, I loaded her pistol ammo with a .360" 70 grain round ball from a Lee mold seated flush+ in the case for the first couple of matches. I doubt it met power factor, but the club allowed it, and the mixed centerfire pistol/.22 rifle combo, and after a couple matches, when she was comfortable with those huge .38 cases , I went to 105's and 125's so they'd meet PF and and she could use a centerfire rifle too. To meet PF with a 70 grain bullet, velocity would have to be about 860 fps. I used up some left over 90 grain .380 bullets in .38 pistol loads once - I suppose they could be roll crimped into the lead enough to work in a rifle without collapsing, or maybe use a Lee FCD - velocity has to be around 670 fps to meet PF. A little undersized at .355", but it didn't present a problem shooting barn doors at the length of a parking spot. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

On 11/14/2023 at 9:52 AM, July Smith said:

I could be wrong but I believe the Henry BB is one of the heaviest lever guns out there.  

Yes, it sure is 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

7 minutes ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

shooting barn doors at the length of a parking spot. 

ROTFLMAO!  

That is the very best comment ever posted on this forum! 

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

ROTFLMAO!  

That is the very best comment ever posted on this forum! 

 

And most have fun shooting these...or...we can go the way of the WBAS cuz that's going well.

 

Phantom