.32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
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- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
.32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
So when I last left off, the .32 Winchester Special, in the from of a very nice old pre-64 Winchester 94 carbine, made in 1958, for which I had paid a ridiculous amount of money, was still shooting 6 inch groups with reloads I cobbled together with parts from an 8mm die and a .30-30 die and something else.
This one:
I finally got hold of a box of factory ammo, after waiting about four weeks or so. The ammo is Federal 170 grain. Speer bullets I think.
I took it the range, and with the best of intentions, and the highest of hopes now I had proper ammo - and shot another six inch pattern of a group.
Okay, I have persevered. I have grimly tried. I have been determined. I have been patient. I have been focused. I have brought all of my resources to bear. Then I thought, there is no point being ridiculous, and I decided to sell it to a collector. The kind of person who doesn't shoot his rifles.
Then I thought, I can't bear to do it. I will have another go.
So I came home on my lunch break, I got my drill out, a round head screw and some valve grinding paste, and I gave the crown a 15 second polish. (Obviously some careful consideration and inspection of the muzzle had gone on prior to this, a considered evaluation of how deep and how much was calculated.) The result was a tidy up that you wouldnt know wasn't factory unless I told you.
STraight after work I went to the range.
Putting myself into a state of zen-like contemplation (there were no wild pigs there this time) I carefully shot a five shot group at 100 metres with the same factory Federal ammunition. The result is below:
That's a two inch group, with four rounds into an inch.
I am quite satisfied, and rather relieved. I can play some more, perhaps with the barrel bands and the pressure with the magazine tube, but really I am at peace about it now. Next step is to get my hands on some proper dies, and do a little bit of load work. But really, I don't think you can ask more of a Winchester 94 than this.
She is going hunting for red stags in April.
This one:
I finally got hold of a box of factory ammo, after waiting about four weeks or so. The ammo is Federal 170 grain. Speer bullets I think.
I took it the range, and with the best of intentions, and the highest of hopes now I had proper ammo - and shot another six inch pattern of a group.
Okay, I have persevered. I have grimly tried. I have been determined. I have been patient. I have been focused. I have brought all of my resources to bear. Then I thought, there is no point being ridiculous, and I decided to sell it to a collector. The kind of person who doesn't shoot his rifles.
Then I thought, I can't bear to do it. I will have another go.
So I came home on my lunch break, I got my drill out, a round head screw and some valve grinding paste, and I gave the crown a 15 second polish. (Obviously some careful consideration and inspection of the muzzle had gone on prior to this, a considered evaluation of how deep and how much was calculated.) The result was a tidy up that you wouldnt know wasn't factory unless I told you.
STraight after work I went to the range.
Putting myself into a state of zen-like contemplation (there were no wild pigs there this time) I carefully shot a five shot group at 100 metres with the same factory Federal ammunition. The result is below:
That's a two inch group, with four rounds into an inch.
I am quite satisfied, and rather relieved. I can play some more, perhaps with the barrel bands and the pressure with the magazine tube, but really I am at peace about it now. Next step is to get my hands on some proper dies, and do a little bit of load work. But really, I don't think you can ask more of a Winchester 94 than this.
She is going hunting for red stags in April.
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
- Sixgun
- Posting leader...
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Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
It's amazing what a little common sense will do. I've always believed ....and have proven many times, with rifles from the 1870's on, that if a barrel is straight, a decent lock up from behind, decent rifling, a good crown.....that it WILL shoot at least a three inch group at 100 as long as bullet diameter is correct and is made of an alloy, whether copper or lead..... matches the velocity.
Yep..good for you. Create some airspace with those barrel bands and the front wood. If you really want to see what your gun will do is to take off everything froward of the receiver and test it that way. This way you will know if reinstalling the wood and barrel bands need to be relieved.----6
Yep..good for you. Create some airspace with those barrel bands and the front wood. If you really want to see what your gun will do is to take off everything froward of the receiver and test it that way. This way you will know if reinstalling the wood and barrel bands need to be relieved.----6
-
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
That is really good news, now you can enjoy the rifle. Are the Red Stag in size about half way between our white tail deer and elk??
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
JOSHUA 24:15
JOSHUA 24:15
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Good work. I saw it up for sale yesterday and felt a bit of guilt for having put you onto it, glad it has worked out!
More meplat, more better.
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
I love a happy ending... but wait there's more. Just how long do we have to wait to see you with a picture of your stag? It looks like you're on the right track.
Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember someone saying that the .32 is better at shooting cast bullets than the .30-30 is. You might want to give that a try. Along with a peep sight if it's drilled and tapped to accept one.
Congratulations !
Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember someone saying that the .32 is better at shooting cast bullets than the .30-30 is. You might want to give that a try. Along with a peep sight if it's drilled and tapped to accept one.
Congratulations !
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Hi Jerry, yes, now I can relax and enjoy myself without worrying. A good stag will go about 225 Kg or even more sometimes - we grow bigger red deer than they do in the UK.
I have shot whitetail in Arkansas, but never mule deer. Red deer would be like big mule deer I suppose, from what I read, and a really big stag would look like a medium sized elk.
This is a not particularly big stag here:
(That's me on the left, and the young chap on the right is a friend from Mississippi. This was his first red stag.)
This one is a decent medium sized stag -
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
I had a moment of despair, but I came right...I just couldn't bear to part with it.
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Sixgun wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:52 pm It's amazing what a little common sense will do. I've always believed ....and have proven many times, with rifles from the 1870's on, that if a barrel is straight, a decent lock up from behind, decent rifling, a good crown.....that it WILL shoot at least a three inch group at 100 as long as bullet diameter is correct and is made of an alloy, whether copper or lead..... matches the velocity.
Yep..good for you. Create some airspace with those barrel bands and the front wood. If you really want to see what your gun will do is to take off everything froward of the receiver and test it that way. This way you will know if reinstalling the wood and barrel bands need to be relieved.----6
Yes, that was to be my next step. I have a 1970's .30/30 that will shoot reliable 1.5 inch groups, and it made a marked difference having a tight forrard barrel band and magazine tube, compared with a 'loosened'' band, and a magazine tube that would shift a tiny bit back and forth. I have seen that on another '94 I had as well. I end up loosening that front barrel band, and superglueing the screw in place, and giving the mag tube the tiniest of play.
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
I am once again convinced that I live in the wrong part of the country.
More meplat, more better.
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Nice, congrats on getting it running right.
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
excellent
N.
N.
Psalm ch8.
Because I wish I could!
Because I wish I could!
- J Miller
- Member Emeritus
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Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Be careful with giving the mag fore and aft play. As you shoot the rifle it will eventually bow the barrel band screw and make it all but impossible to get out. My 1985 94AE in .45 Colt did that. If I ever get back to shooting I have to do something to stop the movement.Carlsen Highway wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:03 amSixgun wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:52 pm It's amazing what a little common sense will do. I've always believed ....and have proven many times, with rifles from the 1870's on, that if a barrel is straight, a decent lock up from behind, decent rifling, a good crown.....that it WILL shoot at least a three inch group at 100 as long as bullet diameter is correct and is made of an alloy, whether copper or lead..... matches the velocity.
Yep..good for you. Create some airspace with those barrel bands and the front wood. If you really want to see what your gun will do is to take off everything froward of the receiver and test it that way. This way you will know if reinstalling the wood and barrel bands need to be relieved.----6
Yes, that was to be my next step. I have a 1970's .30/30 that will shoot reliable 1.5 inch groups, and it made a marked difference having a tight forrard barrel band and magazine tube, compared with a 'loosened'' band, and a magazine tube that would shift a tiny bit back and forth. I have seen that on another '94 I had as well. I end up loosening that front barrel band, and superglueing the screw in place, and giving the mag tube the tiniest of play.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
That's something I never thought about..
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
- Griff
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Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
as do ¾ of Kiwis! Myself, proud to be a Southie! Although I'm suffering farther afield now!
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
-
- Advanced Levergunner
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- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:23 pm
- Location: Batesville,Arkansas
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Tanqueray, are you on the wrong island????
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
JOSHUA 24:15
JOSHUA 24:15
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
Yeap, I’m in the North Island, the over populated one. Carlsen Highway is in the South Island which is better, and then there’s Stewart Island, which is the third (and smallest) island, which is infested with white tail deer and only has 300 inhabitants. I could see myself living there.
More meplat, more better.
- Carlsen Highway
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:23 am
- Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
I am on the what we call the Mainland.
Last edited by Carlsen Highway on Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A person who carries a cat home by the tail, will receive information that will always be useful to them.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
I loosened everything on the front of a 94 once and it made no difference, possibly made it shoot worse! I don't believe you can help such a design like that. I prefer it all to be tight and snug and hope the heat treatment of the barrel is even!
N.
N.
Psalm ch8.
Because I wish I could!
Because I wish I could!
Re: .32 Winchester Special Redux: Return to the Range
From what I have seen in some cases it helps, but other times it hurts. Only way to know is to try.
Merle from PA