I just did a search on the forum and literally came up "short" on searches for the "32 Short".

I've got a lead on a nice old Low Wall marked as "32 Short" and the seller tells me it is the "original marking & caliber" -- but he can't tell me which 32 cartridge it is...  (His late uncle owned it, and he's not into guns, never-mind single shots...)

I've checked the Winchester Single Shot "Bible", and perhaps I missed it, but I've come up empty trying to determine just "which" 32 Short it really is...

Does anybody have any ideas or facts?  Thanks!

Old No7

ps:  I am also trying to get a copy of B. Issacson's recent SSE article on shooting various 32s, as I found a post which mentioned that could be very helpful.  I just spoke with Col. Brett Boyd about that.

Did you by any chance ask the seller whether the rifle was set up for a rimfire or a centerfire cartridge?   

The 32 Short rimfire originated as an 1860's Smith & Wesson revolver cartridge and was later adapted to a variety of other revolvers and used in a variety of rifles, including rifles made by Remington, Stevens, and Winchester (including the 1885).  Some 32 Short rimfire ammunition, of dubious quality, was being imported from Brazil as late as the 1990's.  You might even be able to find a few boxes in some closet somewhere.  A centerfire version of this cartridge was developed in the 1870's and also chambered in the Model 1885.  (By the way, John Campbell's books suggest that the barrel length and twist were different for rifles chambered in the rimfire versus the centerfire.)  Whether the 32 Short centerfire is the same as the 32 Short Colt is not clearly discussed in any source I can easily lay my hands on.  It is clearly different than the 32 Smith & Wesson which I believe has a marginally larger diameter case and bullet (Cartridges of the World, 11th ed.)  I believe several posters on this site have experimented with alternative ammunition for the 32 Short centerfire over the years, but I seem to recall that, while the rifle could be made to shoot the alternatives, accuracy was in the "broad side of a barn" range.

Good luck in your quest for more information.

Bill

Both .32 rf short and .32 short Colt (in original configuration) were outside lubricated (like current .22 rf.)  As ammo manufacturers tried to make inside lubed round to use in these arms, they tried hollow based bullets that were supposed to expand in the base skirt region to get good bite on the rifling.  Results were less than stellar.  Then again, your might get lucky, as the bore and groove diameters of this particular caliber were more than a little variable. 

Froggie

I've got a few Ballards and a few Marlin repeater 1891/92 in the .32 Long, and occasionally shoot my hand loads of .32 short in them also. With the correct heeled bullets they shoot extremely accurate, but don't try pushing them to 100 yds., they're just not a good cartridge much past 70 yds.
The .32 shorts or .32 Longs got a bad rep for being inaccurate when the ammo makers decided to drop the heeled bullet and go with a straight wall bullet design that was hollow base and was supposed to fill the bore when fired. It didn't work, and accuracy was poor at best.
You can get NEI or one of the quality mold makers to make you the proper bullet mold, or find an old Ideal as I did, then you'll definitely have a sweet shooting gun if the bore is good. Mine like 3.0-3.5 grs. of Unique for a nice plinker load. I've also used .32 cal. round balls that I cast and just put them on top of the case and bump them with the seating die to hold them. Then a drop or two of liquid alox on top to lube them. The same Unique load makes a really fun and cheap shooting experience!
 PS-The .32 CF and .32 RF are identical. Marlin Ballards and Marlin 1891/92 repeaters had dual firing pins to shoot both cartridges in the same gun. The Ballard was reversible, while the repeater came with two firing pins.

Old No.7, Try Auction Arms.com