32 Special vs. 30-30

[gramps73]

looking for some feed back on these two. From what I have read they are pretty close ballistics but he 32 holds more powder and can reach out a. little better.
Any hands on experience would be great
looking for a bush gun for my son
thank you G73

[huntinstuff]

Owned and extensively used both

Zero difference in the real world

Id go 3030 every time tho since finding 32spl is a son of a b.

[obsessed1]

You wont notice any difference on game. Generally speaking 30-30 is easier to find ammo/ components but that might not be true right now in your area. Both are very decent game getters. As for a bush rifle neither are the end all be all. True a lever action is a great woods rifle, short light in hand, fast to shoulder ect. But there are many other great options as well. Iron sighted bolt action carbines, semi auto, pump action ect...calibers like 303 brit, 308, 300 sav, 30-06, 7-08, 35 rem, 45-70, 444 are all great " brush" guns as well.
As for your original 30-30 vs 32 spec. Right now I would look at available ammo options and go with that. Both will kill game well within the distances they are designed to do so. Personally I'm a lever fan and my main brush rifles are marlin dark 45-70 and marlin 336 in 30-30. But I also have a few short barreled bolt actions that run irons or even small red dot that are fantastic " brush" rifles as well...used to have a rem 760 in 300 sav that I kinda with I still had...it was a great short brush gun and equally as thin and light as my levers......

[rmatei]

You might find the 32 win spl are a little cheaper than the 30-30 used because of the shortage of ammo. Either is a 150 yard gun.

[Dick284]

The only reason the .32 special exists, is because if black powder was loaded in the 30WCF it fouled too fast, so the solution was a slightly larger bore with more spacing between the lands and grooves so that folks could load black powder in their cartridges.
Performance between the 2 is nearly identical.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by Dick284

The only reason the .32 special exists, is because if black powder was loaded in the 30WCF it fouled too fast, so the solution was a slightly larger bore with more spacing between the lands and grooves so that folks could load black powder in their cartridges.
Performance between the 2 is nearly identical.

Before it was called the 30WCF it was introduced as the 30 Winchester Smokeless.
It never was loaded with black powder.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Battle Rat

Before it was called the 30WCF it was introduced as the 30 Winchester Smokeless.
It never was loaded with black powder.

Yes, but folks had scads of black powder on hand and and naturally wanted to reload the cartridge with black powder, and guess what? It powder fouled like no tomorrow.

Smokeless was new to everyone and why can’t I keep using my black powder, sort of narrative.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Battle Rat

Before it was called the 30WCF it was introduced as the 30 Winchester Smokeless.
It never was loaded with black powder.

Dick is correct. The 30-30 was not factory loaded with black powder, but folks reloading back then used what they had and were used to bp. Results were less than stellar, so the 32 was born. My old Speer #4 manual had a good history of the 32.

Game animals sure won't be able to tell any difference, but 30-30 ammo and components will be easier to find.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by brewster29

Dick is correct. The 30-30 was not factory loaded with black powder, but folks reloading back then used what they had and were used to bp. Results were less than stellar, so the 32 was born. My old Speer #4 manual had a good history of the 32.

Game animals sure won't be able to tell any difference, but 30-30 ammo and components will be easier to find.

That makes sense, back then reloaders would be using both.

[Dean2]

I like Lever guns a lot, especially being left handed. I like the 30-30, I really like the 38-55 and 375 Win and I LOVE the 45-70. I have owned the 32, never really warmed up to it. If however I had no levers and a 32 came along cheap, I would take it to the dance. Even for reloaders, bullet availability can be really spotty, Rusty Wood however usually has them in stock.

[fordtruckin]

Of the 2 you listed I’d go 30-30 due to availability of ammo. Add one more option and id take the .35 rem over the 30-30. Very popular in New England and the south for deer black bears and hogs. 200grn bullet and very easy to reload for. Pretty much limited to 336 Marlin though. I sold mine 2 years back because I wanted a full length magazine tube instead of the 3/4. Unfortunately haven’t been able to replace it yet!

[Pioneer2]

The .32 Special is 1-16" while the Win 30-30 is 1-12" others are 1-10 Rem 788 etc. The .32 Special was envisioned to use both BP and smokeless with less fouling.

[gramps73]

Thank you for all the replies
G73

[Pioneer2]

I have a bag of .32 Special brass and and some Speer 170gr in my miscellaneous box? No gun though if someone needs some ?

[marxman]

The 32 special doesnt hold more powder. Its the same case necked up. Theoreticaly it has a bit more power at the muzzle because of the efficiency of the increased bore volume, but less potentially downrange because of the lower bullet sectional density, both using 170 gr bullets.

[Runroof11]

The .32 Win. Special was created some time alter the .30-30 Win
i have a Winchester Model 94 that i have owned for over 5 years so
i will definitely give a 10/10 to the 32 win

[rockyb88]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

owned and extensively used both

zero difference in the real world

id go 3030 every time tho since finding 32spl is a son of a b.

100%

[Pioneer2]

a 200 yard gun

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

a 200 yard gun

Is that a bad thing??

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

The .32 Special is 1-16" while the Win 30-30 is 1-12" others are 1-10 Rem 788 etc. The .32 Special was envisioned to use both BP and smokeless with less fouling.

this is the correct info. Black powder was much more available and way less expensive up to WW1 at least.