What bullet to use with 32 special for bear hunting?

Question

I will be using a 32 special to go black bear hunting in a couple of weeks. Just wondering if anyone else has tried this and what ammo you used. Thanks

Answer 1

1. Check your facts.....32 Special? Are you sure? This is a lever action rifle?


2. What is your experience with this firearm? Have you shot it at least 100 times? If not, do not go hunting with it.

You should be able to load and operate and shoot on target with any gun without thinking about it, like it's second nature. Too many people are thinking about their gun and not thinking about their game.

If it is in fact a .32 Winchester Special, Federal make a Vital Shok ammo, 170gr, 2,250 muz vel., 1,1910 muz energy. Not what I would pick, but it's your funeral. Should be adequate for bear, but plan several shots.

Good luck finding it locally.

Answer 2

Hi Katy. I'm sure you mean a .32 Winchester rifle? That is a .30-30 necked up to .32 caliber and suitable for Black bear (as is the .30-30). In fact, it is probably a better stopper than the .30-30.

Get modern hunting ammo with the heaviest load available in that caliber. Of course, you're really better off with a .308 Winchester or even a .30-06 for bear hunting. However... If you were meaning the .32 Special (.32 S & W revolver round), then you are too underarmed. Get a .44 Magnum instead.

Good luck.

H

Answer 3

There is no pistol cartridge called a .32 special. D58 caught on what she was talking about right away. The .32 Winchester rifle round is as D58 said an excellent black bear cartridge and is even used up here in Alaska for any thing from moose to Grizzly. the Alaska Indians use most any rifle they can get a hold of for the big bears. I wish they would have a little note for all those who ask questions to include plenty of information so that we can make informed answers instead of guesses.
Sarge

Answer 4

In general, all ACP rounds are nothing remarkable, but the ,32 is VERY weak! If you insist on hunting a bear with a .32 acp, the bear will really become the hunter, and you'll probably be able to do little more than aggrevate it!
.357 mag is the minimum handgun cartridge that should be used for that, but it still woulldn't be great! A rifle would be much better!

Answer 5

32 Winchester Special Ammo

Answer 6

.32 Winchester Special is certainly an adequate black bear weapon. Your bullet choice may be rather limited since it is not a particularly popular round. Both Winchester and Federal only have one choice; but each should be adequate. True, it isn't the caliber I would prefer; but it's better than a 44 magnum revolver. The .32 produces about 1900 fp of energy and the 44 mag about 1100 fp (these are factory loads, of course). Just have fun and shoot straight.

Answer 7

The 32 Winchester Special is a very popular Black bear weapon with excellent stopping power.

As to bullet for black bears in the 32 Winchester Special I would suggest the 170 gr. Super-X Power-Point

Ballistic Coefficient: 0.205
Super-X Power-Point: Unique soft nose jacketed design delivers maximum energy on target. Notches around jacket mouth improve upset and ensure uniform, rapid expansion.

***insert from link***
The .32 Winchester Special, introduced in the Winchester Model 94 rifle along with the .25-35 and .30-30, is the one .32 caliber cartridge that has been a substantial commercial success in North America. Also adopted by Marlin and Savage for their popular lever action rifles, it has sold in the millions. Today the .32 Special is an orphan, as no new factory made rifles are offered for it as I write these words. But there are a lot of good used rifles in the caliber floating around, and it will be with us for many years. Factory ballistics tables show a 170 grain bullet at a MV of 2250 fps, and this load remains one of the finest 200 yard deer and black bear cartridges ever devised.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/8mm_cartridges.htm



The 32 Winchester Special
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=68

Good luck on your bear hunt and have confidence with the 32 Winchester Special it works well on black bear.

D58

The reason you are getting odd answers is you left off the key word “Winchester“.
The 32 Winchester special is a true bear killer.
But by calling it a 32 special (omitting the Winchester ) has every one thanking your going after bear with a puny 32 caliber pistol such as the 32 S&W or 32 APC that is not a bear round.

D58

Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 8

Even if you do mean the 32 Winchester special, I would argue that this is not enough gun. under 2000 ft/lbs of energy aint gonna stop a bear unless you are very lucky. Read the report above sent in by dionannan, 8 shots at 2700 ft/lbs before it gave up, and from an experienced hunter. And please no-one write in and say that they have a friend who knows a man that shot a bear and killed it outright with a 22r/f, we have all heard about him. As others have said, 308 as absolute minimum, preferably bigger as you are not going to have time to get many shots off, for a big animal, they are fast movers.

Answer 9

If you can find anything other than the 170 grain bullet, I'll be surprised. It's a good load for your purposes, though, and you should have fun.. Don't be disuaded by the bad answers from those who don't know the cartridge. It's half way between 30-30 and 38-55, and perfectly adequate for black bear.

Answer 10

The 32 Special caliber Rifle can and will do the job just fine*. The key factor as always is proper shot placement no matter what type of game you are hunting to ensure a killing shot*...Use a heavy grain bullet* { No problem*}...