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A fair number still out there, in use, or would be in use, if for the availability of components.
Why not the manufacture of brass anymore? Yes, of course can be reformed from .45-70 brass, but I prefer the stamping on the base to match the cartridge, if at all possible.
And a call to Hornady this week reveals the jacketed 200 grain bullets have not been manufactured in 19 years. They will pass my request along to the powers that be.
Pethaps if enough call Hornady requesting these bullets, manufacture of these might again become a reality.
Ian, you won’t find any prejudice about the 33wcf from me! or Steve for that matter.
. But you are correct that finding bullets and brass is very difficult. I currently don’t reload but I happened to cross paths with a set of dies recently, so I grabbed them, just incase. There is a local auction coming up near me and I will check it out, as I always do, if I see something I will let you know.
I recently bought a 33 WCF and need brass & bullets. They are on my wish-list. I may call Hornady to rattle their cage also. Don
There have been options other than Hornady. I can’t speak to the current availability of all of them, but there are always smaller cast bullet makers turning them out. With or without gas checks. Even boxes of Hornady show up at gun shows. If you main interest is using your .33 for hunting, a box of 100 Hornady bullets will last a long time. And for shooting paper or cans, the lead bullets can satisfy that need.
As far as Hornady rising to the challenge, it’s a volume issue. When I go to the range, guys are filling high capacity magazines with .223, .308 and 7.62×29. They are shooting hundreds of rounds in a single range session. That’s where the money is. .33 WCF shooters just don’t shoot like that.
Compare how many .33 rifles are out there vs. .223, .308 or 7.62×39. Ok, even add in the Marlin M1895 .33’s – and you’re still a long ways away 
steve004 said
As far as Hornady rising to the challenge, it’s a volume issue. When I go to the range, guys are filling high capacity magazines with .223, .308 and 7.62×29. They are shooting hundreds of rounds in a single range session. That’s where the money is. .33 WCF shooters just don’t shoot like that.
Compare how many .33 rifles are out there vs. .223, .308 or 7.62×39. Ok, even add in the Marlin M1895 .33’s – and you’re still a long ways away
So true with most any caliber. No one, including Winchester, is helping out right now. I have problems getting components for my 2 modern target rifles. One is a 308 and the best primers, brass, powder and bullets are hard to find. RCBS was bought out by Vista Outdoors and shut down the custom shop and quit making anything that is not a best seller. Now they have been bought out by Hodgdon who has bought up several other powder manufactures.
I have no prejudice against the 33 WCF nor the 32 Win Spl. I find it much easier for me to stay with antiques because of the Federal and State infringements I have to put up with.
Steve and others, For sure put me down as a .33 Win fanatic. Now, I have no problems using reformed .45-70 brass. I even shoot the wrinkled ones (you know, the ones wrinkled in the necks from reforming!) for sight in/practice! They crack in a couple uses but not a total waste anyway. I have a handful of original bullets loaded into an equal number of Bertram Brass proper headstamped cartridges just in case. For my silhouette shooting, I load the current flex tip 200 grain Hornady bullet and it does just fine. I single load them, but my rifle is a take down. I found one or two turns of the magazine tube out of its full engaged position allows the flex tips enough room to “turn the corner” and function through the rifle from the magazine. They would work fine for hunting, etc. I do not shoot lead bullets as they are only effective on metallic silhouettes because of the energy engendered by velocity. The ram, buffalo have to go down when hit to score. I can’t believe it was 19 years ago, but I called Hornady and they had quit making their original flat tip bullet then. I bought some number of boxes they had on hand. Thought I had a lifetime supply. Guess I have lived too long? Bottom line, I LOVE the .33 Win and the rifle it is shot from! Tim
tim tomlinson said
I bought some number of boxes they had on hand. Thought I had a lifetime supply. Guess I have lived too long? Bottom line, I LOVE the .33 Win and the rifle it is shot from!
Fortunately for all of us you have outlived your stash.
November 7, 2015
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For some reason I don’t have a .33 but I’m not what young folks call a “hater”. I’ll have one someday, I’ve even seriously considered buying brass, dies and bullet moulds when they avail themselves because I know I’ll have one someday.
Mike
TXGunNut said
For some reason I don’t have a .33 but I’m not what young folks call a “hater”. I’ll have one someday, I’ve even seriously considered buying brass, dies and bullet moulds when they avail themselves because I know I’ll have one someday.
Mike
It never hurts to plan ahead!
It’s all part of the addiction. Many of our familiar with buying dies, cases, bullets, etc. for rifles we don’t even have yet. Of course, we usually have to run into some deal before we scoop the precious goodies up.
TXGunNut said
For some reason I don’t have a .33 but I’m not what young folks call a “hater”. I’ll have one someday, I’ve even seriously considered buying brass, dies and bullet moulds when they avail themselves because I know I’ll have one someday.
Mike
Me too. I have brass and loading dies for the 33 and 32 Spl, just in case.
It looks like Rocky Mountain Cartridges will produce properly head stamped brass for $142 for a box of 20.
RMC Product List.pdf (rockymountaincartridge.com)
I’ve used them in the past for 45-60 brass and have been very pleased.
Kirk Durston said
It looks like Rocky Mountain Cartridges will produce properly head stamped brass for $142 for a box of 20.RMC Product List.pdf (rockymountaincartridge.com)
I’ve used them in the past for 45-60 brass and have been very pleased.
Thank you Kirk.
By the way, there’s a lot of things I don’t remember as well these days, but I do remember your great article in the WACA magazine on hunting with the .33. 
Kirk Durston said
It looks like Rocky Mountain Cartridges will produce properly head stamped brass for $142 for a box of 20.RMC Product List.pdf (rockymountaincartridge.com)
I’ve used them in the past for 45-60 brass and have been very pleased.
Wow, $7.10 a case! What a bargain!
I don’t think so! It’s WAY more affordable just to look at a case that doesn’t have the proper stamp and says .45-70.
Talk about getting raked over the coals!
mrcvs said
Kirk Durston said
It looks like Rocky Mountain Cartridges will produce properly head stamped brass for $142 for a box of 20.
RMC Product List.pdf (rockymountaincartridge.com)
I’ve used them in the past for 45-60 brass and have been very pleased.
Wow, $7.10 a case! What a bargain!
I don’t think so! It’s WAY more affordable just to look at a case that doesn’t have the proper stamp and says .45-70.
Talk about getting raked over the coals!
They are spendy. Also note that their site states their prices don’t reflect “shipping” or, “handing” charges. Figure sales tax too. So, That $7.10 per case figure is going to go a good bit beyond that. I also noted they had to have $94 for 20 .32-20 cases. I’m not understanding that at all.
Couple of years ago I consigned an out-of-time but 90% Colt Official Police in 32-20. It wasn’t selling so I threw in 250 new brass cases, a big bag of 100 grain half-jacketed bullets, and a set of Hornady dies. Without upping the $750 price. The package sold in a New York minute. Perhaps I didn’t think this through…..
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Zebulon said
Couple of years ago I consigned an out-of-time but 90% Colt Official Police in 32-20. It wasn’t selling so I threw in 250 new brass cases, a big bag of 100 grain half-jacketed bullets, and a set of Hornady dies. Without upping the $750 price. The package sold in a New York minute. Perhaps I didn’t think this through…..
I just did a search on ammoseek. A bag of 50 .32-20 Starline brass can be had from Powder Valley for $13.49.
November 7, 2015
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steve004 said
Zebulon said
Couple of years ago I consigned an out-of-time but 90% Colt Official Police in 32-20. It wasn’t selling so I threw in 250 new brass cases, a big bag of 100 grain half-jacketed bullets, and a set of Hornady dies. Without upping the $750 price. The package sold in a New York minute. Perhaps I didn’t think this through…..
I just did a search on ammoseek. A bag of 50 .32-20 Starline brass can be had from Powder Valley for $13.49.
That’s the best price I’ve seen in years outside of the scam sites. I may order some just because. I think I still have a couple of 32WCF firearms. I generally ruin 1-2% in the reloading process so I’ll need them eventually.
Mike
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