new_scopeshooter
New member
Is that one of those times they didn't want to put S&W on their guns? Lol
.32 caliber?
- Thread starter 2damnold4this
- Start date
2damnold4this
New member
Yep
carguychris
New member
Regarding the Colt PP, it was built in .32 Long Colt and .32 Colt New Police.
The latter cartridge is indeed a renamed version of .32 S&W Long. Some Colts in this chambering were labeled ".32 COLT N.P."
The former cartridge, however, uses a smaller-diameter case and was originally loaded with a 0.313"-caliber heeled outside-lubricated bullet. IIRC it was also offered with a 0.299"-caliber inside-lubricated hollow-base bullet. It is a lengthened version of the .32 Short Colt. Neither Colt cartridge is compatible with the .32 S&W family of cartridges because of the smaller case. .32 S&W cartridges will not chamber in these guns; the reverse will work, but the case will be so loose it will probably rupture upon firing, so you shouldn't try it!
.32LC is an obsolete cartridge that AFAIK has not been offered commercially in years. Ammo generally sells for $40-$100/box on the collector market depending on brand and age. .32SC is reportedly somewhat easier to find.
More info here:
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-revolvers/18337-32-long-colt.html
Also, the lengthened Colt Police Positive Special was offered in .32-20 Winchester, a .32-caliber cartridge than hasn't been discussed here yet.
It was one of the most popular .32-caliber cartridges from 1900-1950, although its popularity has fallen off since then.
The latter cartridge is indeed a renamed version of .32 S&W Long. Some Colts in this chambering were labeled ".32 COLT N.P."
The former cartridge, however, uses a smaller-diameter case and was originally loaded with a 0.313"-caliber heeled outside-lubricated bullet. IIRC it was also offered with a 0.299"-caliber inside-lubricated hollow-base bullet. It is a lengthened version of the .32 Short Colt. Neither Colt cartridge is compatible with the .32 S&W family of cartridges because of the smaller case. .32 S&W cartridges will not chamber in these guns; the reverse will work, but the case will be so loose it will probably rupture upon firing, so you shouldn't try it!
.32LC is an obsolete cartridge that AFAIK has not been offered commercially in years. Ammo generally sells for $40-$100/box on the collector market depending on brand and age. .32SC is reportedly somewhat easier to find.
More info here:
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-revolvers/18337-32-long-colt.html
Also, the lengthened Colt Police Positive Special was offered in .32-20 Winchester, a .32-caliber cartridge than hasn't been discussed here yet.
It was one of the most popular .32-caliber cartridges from 1900-1950, although its popularity has fallen off since then.Every caliber has its collectors and afficionados, and I don't mean to knock the .32 in its various iterations.
My personal take on the .32 is that the only one I've really entertained the thought of buying has been a Kel-Tec P32, and that's only because it's so amazingly slim. It's probably the only pistol I could comfortably carry in a Levi's front pocket.
So far, though, I've managed to conceal my bigger guns well enough that I never have bought a P32.
The only other .32 I might consider would be if my uncle chose to give me his Walther PPK .32 that he carried, concealed, in East Germany and Viet Nam in the '60's. But he will never give that one away, and if he does, it will be to his daughter.
My personal take on the .32 is that the only one I've really entertained the thought of buying has been a Kel-Tec P32, and that's only because it's so amazingly slim. It's probably the only pistol I could comfortably carry in a Levi's front pocket.
So far, though, I've managed to conceal my bigger guns well enough that I never have bought a P32.
The only other .32 I might consider would be if my uncle chose to give me his Walther PPK .32 that he carried, concealed, in East Germany and Viet Nam in the '60's. But he will never give that one away, and if he does, it will be to his daughter.
Only reason I have a .32ACP is because that's what a classic old pistol of mine shoots- Colt Model of 1903. It works well and is accurate. A real fun pistol and seems like it's tough as nails even at 81 years old. I actually like it being in .32 as I doubt the round will ever really beat the pistol up
2damnold4this
New member
I did not know this. Good info
thibaultfelix40
New member
32's
The 32 s&w long can be souped up alot in a strong gun but I don't do it any more. My Colt Police Positive not the special has a short cylinder and is a very light revolver despite its 6"barrel. It is a very sweet little gun. I would have no compunction in reccomending an old type police positive as a SD gun, I have carried mine as such. Parts and gunsmiths who can work on these guns can be hard come by. The newer guns and bigger calibers are good guns too.
The 32 s&w long can be souped up alot in a strong gun but I don't do it any more. My Colt Police Positive not the special has a short cylinder and is a very light revolver despite its 6"barrel. It is a very sweet little gun. I would have no compunction in reccomending an old type police positive as a SD gun, I have carried mine as such. Parts and gunsmiths who can work on these guns can be hard come by. The newer guns and bigger calibers are good guns too.
carguychris
New member
FWIW several gunsmiths used to offer .32 H&R Mag conversions for .32 Long Colt Police Positive Specials and postwar S&W Model 30s and 31s. Conversions of the latter S&W models were reportedly popular for a while because the guns can easily handle it, and S&W never offered an all-steel fixed-sight J frame in .32 Mag, so they fulfilled a market need.
OTOH I'm not sure I would try this with a Colt PP or a prewar S&W .32HE or .32RP. They're old enough that they're getting hard to repair, and the early 20th-century metallurgy in these guns truly isn't as good as what was used in the postwar period.
I'd say that it doesn't have a real niche to fill. A hot loaded .38 Special will probably do as well as the .327 Mag...if not then a .357. That said, I've got several .32's and do like tinkering with them. I find them a challenge to find a load that's as easy to assemble as one in .38 Special or .357. Defects in lead alloy .32 bullets make a bigger difference in group size than in .38..in that regard it's harder to cast good target grade bullets in .32.
But a good .32 fits nicely into Ruger's Single Six size frame and makes for a light weight woods loafin' gun...on the flip side, when paired with the bigger Blackhawk or one of the excellent S&W M-16's, the gun's too heavy for its caliber...
Rod
But a good .32 fits nicely into Ruger's Single Six size frame and makes for a light weight woods loafin' gun...on the flip side, when paired with the bigger Blackhawk or one of the excellent S&W M-16's, the gun's too heavy for its caliber...
Rod
UpstateGlocker
New member
The Seecamp .32 is smaller than the .380s (although not by much) and is my shorts and t-shirt weather carry. Its been totally reliable and you can't do much better for concealability. I don't want to ignite the endless "stopping power" debate -- for me its a simple question of gun or no gun when summer dressing, and sorry but I can't figure out how to conceal a .45 without looking like I'm trying to conceal a .45
I used to have an early Kel-Tec P32. It was cool at the time but very unreliable. Later they made some improvements and released the P3AT too. The difference in size is so minimal that I don't see why you would pick the .32 version. IMHO it has become obsolete except for loading into existing guns already made for it.
The .327 magnum is a different cartridge. However, it hasn't really gained enough popularity or shown signs of becoming a mainstream cartridge. As a result, I haven't bothered with it.
The .327 magnum is a different cartridge. However, it hasn't really gained enough popularity or shown signs of becoming a mainstream cartridge. As a result, I haven't bothered with it.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Because a cartridge has been made more powerful, or a more powerful gun has been made in the same size does not make the cartridge obsolete!
I have 2 P3ATs, and I still carry a P 32.
It's not just about power. Shootability and controlability mean as much or more than power.
I have 2 P3ATs, and I still carry a P 32.
It's not just about power. Shootability and controlability mean as much or more than power.
Jeremiah/Az
New member
I have a Ruger Single Six in .32 mag. It is very accurate with .32 longs or mags. I do not carry it as it's a little too long, but great for targets.
gyvel;
It appears that there has been a misunderstanding, Princip's pistol numbered 19074 was an FN 1910 in 32 ACP. He did not use a 380ACP. The picture in the Wikipedia article refers to a different gun and a different museum.
History tells us now that there were many factors leading up to WW1 including the assasination.
It appears that there has been a misunderstanding, Princip's pistol numbered 19074 was an FN 1910 in 32 ACP. He did not use a 380ACP. The picture in the Wikipedia article refers to a different gun and a different museum.
History tells us now that there were many factors leading up to WW1 including the assasination.
carguychris
New member
This information is disputed. Keep in mind that Wikipedia is written by people who are culling the information from other sources.
Much of the information written over the years about Princip's weapon is confusing, contradictory, or downright wrong. Serbian court records apparently list the serial numbers of the Black Hand guns but do not positively identify the caliber or model, and the actual gun disappeared during WWI, so 20th-century historians had no direct, factual way to investigate the weapon. They had to rely on secondary information like news stories, letters, witnesses, and suchlike.
Many sources claim that it was a FN 1900 or even a revolver! Furthermore, at the time, FN Browning apparently had such a stranglehold on the European pistol market that automatic pistols were generically referred to as "Brownings", much like people today commonly refer to all facial tissue using the trademark name "Kleenex".
Consequently, some historians posited that the pistol might not actually be a Browning at all.One thing IS for certain- an FN 1910 carrying the right serial number turned up in the possession of a Jesuit monastery in Austria in 2004. The gun and various other assassination items had apparently been given to a priest whose possessions were put in storage when he passed away in 1926. However, none of the newspaper articles refer directly to the caliber of the gun.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...65206/Found-the-gun-that-shook-the-world.html
The museum's website is a mess and doesn't explain much about their collection.
http://www.wien-vienna.com/hgm.php
To top it all off, the pictures of the display case in the museum reveal that the pistols are displayed with the left sides of the guns facing the viewer. The barrel rollmarks are viewable through the ejection port, but they're facing the other way, towards the wall!
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/firearms-ordnance/fn-model-1910-a-5878/#post206671
I think the jury is still out. I promise to investigate if I'm ever in Vienna. I'll take a dental mirror.
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wncchester
New member
Bear in mind that a '.32' shoots a light weight .31 ball, usually quite slowly.
I once worked with a young man who really ticked his wife off, she shot him in the gut with his .32 Special. He walked to the ambulace that eventually came to pick him up and, after all the dust settled and internal bleeding was controlled, he returned to work.
I asked what the experience was like; he knew what I meant. Answer was, "Well Jim, if I had been in a bar fight and got the same hit I would have really been p.o.ed and probably would have hurt somebody." At that moment I scratched any handgun smaller than a hot .35 cal off my 'defense' list, and ain't too impressed with that unless it's at least a 4" .357 Mag.
I once worked with a young man who really ticked his wife off, she shot him in the gut with his .32 Special. He walked to the ambulace that eventually came to pick him up and, after all the dust settled and internal bleeding was controlled, he returned to work.
I asked what the experience was like; he knew what I meant. Answer was, "Well Jim, if I had been in a bar fight and got the same hit I would have really been p.o.ed and probably would have hurt somebody." At that moment I scratched any handgun smaller than a hot .35 cal off my 'defense' list, and ain't too impressed with that unless it's at least a 4" .357 Mag.