.32 Winchester Self-Loading
Encyclopedia
The .32 Winchester Self-Loading (also called .32SL, .32SLR, or .32WSL) is an American
rifle
cartridge
.
Winchester
introduced the .32SL and .35SL
cartridges in the Winchester '05
self-loading rifle, a centerfire version of the Winchester '03
. The .32SL never gained popularity as a hunting
cartridge, although it may be suitable for the largest small game such as fox
and coyote
at ranges under 150 yards. Both the .32SL and .35SL were soon superseded by the introduction of the more powerful .351SL
in the Winchester '07
.
When first introduced however, the notable firearm expert Townsend Whelen
noted the .32SL cartridge as displaying similar ballistics
as the .32-40 Winchester black powder, low-pressure cartridge. He further suggests the best use of the .32 SL as being for rapid-fire target shooting for ranges up to 300 yards. Within such ranges, it is quite an accurate cartridge.
In October 1940. an Army Ordnance circular suggested development of a light rifle using a .30 caliber cartridge similar to the "Winchester Self-loading Cartridge, Caliber .32" to replace the pistol and submachine gun. This led to the production of the "Caliber .30 SL, M1
" cartridge directly based on the .32 SL in February 1941 and, after a design competition, adoption of the Winchester-designed M1 carbine
in October 1941.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
.
Winchester
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
introduced the .32SL and .35SL
.35 Winchester Self-Loading
The .35 Winchester Self-Loading is an American rifle cartridge.Winchester introduced the .32SL and .35SL in the Winchester '05 self-loading rifle as a centerfire cartridge version of the Winchester '03...
cartridges in the Winchester '05
Winchester Model 1905
The Winchester Model 1905 , is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1905 and discontinued in 1920. This rifle loads cartridges from a 5 or 10-round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard...
self-loading rifle, a centerfire version of the Winchester '03
Winchester Model 1903
The Winchester Model 1903 was the first commercially available semi-automatic firearm firearm made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.-History:...
. The .32SL never gained popularity as a hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
cartridge, although it may be suitable for the largest small game such as fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
at ranges under 150 yards. Both the .32SL and .35SL were soon superseded by the introduction of the more powerful .351SL
.351 Winchester Self-Loading
The .351 Winchester Self-Loading is an American rifle cartridge.Winchester introduced the .351SL in the Winchester Model 1907 self-loading rifle as a replacement for the Winchester Model 1905 and the .35SL...
in the Winchester '07
Winchester Model 1907
The Winchester Model 1907 , is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1906 with production ending in 1958. It was fed from a 5 or 10-round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard...
.
When first introduced however, the notable firearm expert Townsend Whelen
Townsend Whelen
Townsend Whelen , called "Townie" by his friends, was an American hunter, soldier, writer, outdoorsman and rifleman....
noted the .32SL cartridge as displaying similar ballistics
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
as the .32-40 Winchester black powder, low-pressure cartridge. He further suggests the best use of the .32 SL as being for rapid-fire target shooting for ranges up to 300 yards. Within such ranges, it is quite an accurate cartridge.
In October 1940. an Army Ordnance circular suggested development of a light rifle using a .30 caliber cartridge similar to the "Winchester Self-loading Cartridge, Caliber .32" to replace the pistol and submachine gun. This led to the production of the "Caliber .30 SL, M1
.30 Carbine
The .30 Carbine is the cartridge used in the M1 Carbine introduced in the 1940s. It is an intermediate round designed to be fired from the M1 carbine's 18-inch barrel.-History:...
" cartridge directly based on the .32 SL in February 1941 and, after a design competition, adoption of the Winchester-designed M1 carbine
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
in October 1941.
See also
- List of cartridges by caliber
- List of rifle cartridges
- Winchester Model 1905Winchester Model 1905The Winchester Model 1905 , is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1905 and discontinued in 1920. This rifle loads cartridges from a 5 or 10-round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard...
- Winchester Model 1907Winchester Model 1907The Winchester Model 1907 , is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1906 with production ending in 1958. It was fed from a 5 or 10-round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard...
- .35 Winchester Self-Loading.35 Winchester Self-LoadingThe .35 Winchester Self-Loading is an American rifle cartridge.Winchester introduced the .32SL and .35SL in the Winchester '05 self-loading rifle as a centerfire cartridge version of the Winchester '03...
- 8 mm caliber8 mm caliberThis article lists firearm cartridges which have a bullet in the to caliber range.*Length refers to the empty cartridge case length.*OAL refers to the overall length of the loaded cartridge.All measurements are in mm .-Pistol cartridges:...