32 Special Ammo

32 Special Ammo History & Uses

.32 Winchester Special ammo (also known as .32 WS), not to be confused with the .32-20 Winchester, is most commonly used in lever-action rifles like the Winchester Model 94. It is slightly more powerful than the 30-30 it is based on and delivers better close-range performance.

A typical round of .32 Special ammo fires a 165 or 170 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of about 2,300 to 2,400 feet per second. Most bullets of this caliber are round nosed to facilitate safe loading in the tubular magazines of lever action rifles; however, some have polymer tips that provide better spitzer ballistics without sacrificing safety.

At appropriate distances, this cartridge excels against deer, boar, and other game. Soft point and polymer tipped projectiles provide good expansion without heavy fragmentation, making them ideal for this purpose.