.32 Winchester Special

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .32 Winchester Special


caption=
origin= flagcountry|United States
type= Rifle
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Winchester
design_date=1895
manufacturer=Winchester
production_date=
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case_type=Rimmed, bottleneck
bullet=.321
neck=.343
shoulder=.401
base=.422
rim_dia=.506
rim_thick=.063
case_length=2.040
length=2.565
rifling=16
primer=Federal 210
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=170
btype1=JFP
vel1=2283
en1=1968
bw2=
btype2=
vel2=
en2=
bw3=
btype3=
vel3=
en3=
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=
balsrc= Hodgdon" [http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp .32 Winchester Special (rifle) data] " from Hodgdon] The .32 Winchester Special is a rimmed cartridge created in 1895 for use in the Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifle.cite book
last =Hornady
title = Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading
series = vol I
edition = 6th Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Hornady Mfg Co
location =Grand Island, NE, USA
pages = 488,489 ] It is similar in name to the .32 WCF and .32-20 Winchester cartridges, but cannot be interchanged since it does not share the same dimensions.

History

This cartridge is one of two based on the 30-30 case that came out in 1895 and differ only in bullet diameter. It was intended from the beginning for being able to use cheaper black-powder reloading. Winchester used a relatively slow 1 and 16 twist (vs 1 in 10 to 1 in 12 with 30-30 which was never designed for black powder usage) because it was said to foul less when black powder was used. The down side of this is that when the bore gets a little worn with slower twist, accuracy can suffer a lot. Winchester's goal was to create a new cartridge for sportsmen who wanted something more powerful than the .30 WCF and that could use smokeless or black powder and yet without the recoil of the .30 Army. [cite book
last = Barnes
first = Frank C.
editor = Skinner, Stan
title = Cartridges of the World
edition = 11th Edition
origyear = 1965
year = 2006
publisher = Gun Digest Books
location = Iola, WI, USA
pages = 72
isbn = 0-89689-297-2] This new cartridge only enjoyed moderate success, and remain hampered by the small selection of available bullets in the .321 size. 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 (11.02g) bullets.

Performance

Ballistics are similar to the .30-30, but the larger diameter bullet of .321 in (8.15 mm) vs .308 for 30-30 and will make a somewhat larger hole, while the same weight in .30 caliber would have a larger sectional density, and generally greater penetration." [http://www.chuckhawks.com/32spec.htm The .32 Winchester Special] " by Chuck Hawks] According to the original Winchester, the .32 WS has about 5-10% more energy than the .30-30 at point blank ranges and less at longer ranges due to increased ballistic bullet drag due to increased diameter and reduced sectional density." [http://www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?] " by M.L. McPherson at Levergun.com]

ee also

* List of rifle cartridges
* 8 mm caliber

References