Hello:

Initial post here.   Anyone use or have success with the .32-40?   I have a Model 1885 on order from C. Sharps Arms.   I ordered that caliber due to it's history and accuracy.   I also always thought the Winchester 1885 was a handsome rifle.   I generally hunt from the ground, sitting against trees.   Just about all of my shots are less than 50 yards.   I am a long time muzzleloader hunter, as well as owning two Ruger No. 1 rifles.   One in .250 Savage and the other in .45-70.   Thanks in advance for any input.

My experience with the 32-40 on whitetail has been excellent. Having used cast bullets and recently the Hornady FTX in my #1 1/2 roller and original High Wall. Know your rifle and pick your shot and it will get the job done nicely.

Tom,
I have been using the RCBS 32-170 catalog #82024 cast in 25-1. The Hornady FTX designed for the 32 Winchester Special is devastating in the 32-40 loaded to similar velocities as the 32 Spl. I would not use these loads in a Ballard, but in my rebuilt roller and High Wall, no problem.

Do you mean to say that you can't use anything smaller than 357 caliber for deer in Iowa?   That eliminated the 30-30, 30-06 and just about anything else commonly used fro deer in the rest of the world.

George

[quote author=10160A5657620 link=1607801245/6#6 date=1607905334]Do you mean to say that you can't use anything smaller than 357 caliber for deer in Iowa?   That eliminated the 30-30, 30-06 and just about anything else commonly used fro deer in the rest of the world. George (quote)
For many years Iowa was shotguns using slugs only for deer. Within the last fifteen years or so we can use certain straight wall cartridges for deer, mainly .357 magnum and up pistol calibers, but we are allowed.375 win., .444 marlin, and .45-70. The Governor signed a bill into law recently that will allow some bottle neck cartridges using.357 to .50 caliber bullets for next years deer season.

Iowa:

(2)Regular gun seasons. Only 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns shooting single slugs, straight wall cartridge rifles as described in 106.7(2) "a" and"b," muzzleloaders as described in 106.7(3), and handguns as described in 106.7(2)"c" to "e" shall be used to take deer during the regular gun seasons.
a. Legal straight wall cartridge rifle calibers for hunting deer in Iowa must meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Be center-fired;
(2) Be straight-walled;
(3) Have a diameter of 0.357 inches to 0.500 inches;
(4) Have a case length no greater than 1.800 inches; and
(5) For rimless cartridges, have a case length of no less than 0.850 inches, and for rimmed cartridges, have a case length of no less than 1.285 inches.

But since the OP isn't in Iowa, it's not an issue.

I love pics like this. Thanks for sharing.

The 32 special would be great. My buddies on the farm love them. They've taken some great bucks over the years. The Hornady ftx is intriguing. I used a High Wall in 32/40 for a number of years to take does. I hollow pointed Hornady 170's and only needed 1 shot on all but 1 of them.

My vote is for a 38-55.  It has light recoil yet speaks with authority on the receiving end! Also, maybe now is the time to jump into reloading as it offers lots of relaxing hours and is easy to do.  Tom

Looking at C Sharps website my next pick after 38-55 would be the 30-40 Krag.  It was good enough for Theodore Roosevelt and I really like mine in a Hiwall.  Tom

do the 165 grain flat nose bullets that were loaded in Winchester factory loads work well on deer?

I've killed quite a few Whitetails with a. 32-40, one needed a second shot. 
Lee Gibbs Pres.ASSRA

An alternative to factory ammo would be black powder - de-recap, fill case to base of bullet, thumb seat bullet. Load a few, put them in the pocket (carefully), go hunting. Most probably won't return match winning accuracy but I'll bet plenty accurate for letting the air out of whitetails in the Maine woods, albeit dirtier than smokeless powder.