.32 HPS? - The Firearms Forum

DanC_1968 · 07-29-2006, 11:31 PM

Hi. I already posted this in 2 other rooms, but here goes...

I'm considering buying a Marlin 1893 rifle chambered for .32 HPS. What cartridge is this? Is it another name for something else(.32 Winchester Special, .32-20)? I can't even find this cartridge listed in my "Cartridges of the World" index.

stash247 · 07-30-2006, 02:15 AM

Dan, I've done no research, recently, on your question, but will offer this.
Marlin, in the models 1891,1893,and maybe others, chambered what were current pistol calibers, in their rifles, many of which had a reversible firing pin, and bolt design, to accomodate it, allowing the use of either rimfire, or centerfire, cartridges, in a single caliber/case dimension. My JJ Donelly 'Handloaders Manual for Cartridge Conversions' makes no reference to such a round, implying obscure, or semi custom use of such a caliber,yet I have handled such a rifle, a '91 , chambered for .32 Long, with the rimfire/Centerfire reversible firing pin, though I do not recall such markings, on that rifle.
Hope this is of some help.

DanC_1968 · 07-31-2006, 10:09 PM

Thanks for your reply. I found out today(from an avid gun collector) that Marlin stamped .32 HPS on their barrels for a short time because they didn't want to stamp "Winchester" on them. But it is, in fact, .32 Win Spl. A Marlin book said it stood for "High Powered Special".

07-29-2006, 11:31 PM	#1
DanC_1968 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 19	.32 HPS? Hi. I already posted this in 2 other rooms, but here goes... I'm considering buying a Marlin 1893 rifle chambered for .32 HPS. What cartridge is this? Is it another name for something else(.32 Winchester Special, .32-20)? I can't even find this cartridge listed in my "Cartridges of the World" index. -->

07-30-2006, 02:15 AM	#2
stash247 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,815	Re: .32 HPS? Dan, I've done no research, recently, on your question, but will offer this. Marlin, in the models 1891,1893,and maybe others, chambered what were current pistol calibers, in their rifles, many of which had a reversible firing pin, and bolt design, to accomodate it, allowing the use of either rimfire, or centerfire, cartridges, in a single caliber/case dimension. My JJ Donelly 'Handloaders Manual for Cartridge Conversions' makes no reference to such a round, implying obscure, or semi custom use of such a caliber,yet I have handled such a rifle, a '91 , chambered for .32 Long, with the rimfire/Centerfire reversible firing pin, though I do not recall such markings, on that rifle. Hope this is of some help. __________________ Don't start no s**t and there won't be none, Terry

07-31-2006, 10:09 PM	#3
DanC_1968 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 19	Re: .32 HPS? Thanks for your reply. I found out today(from an avid gun collector) that Marlin stamped .32 HPS on their barrels for a short time because they didn't want to stamp "Winchester" on them. But it is, in fact, .32 Win Spl. A Marlin book said it stood for "High Powered Special".