.32 H&R Magnum
- Thread starter PhillipP
- Start date
32 Magnum is popular with people who arthritis or other ailments who can't handle a 38 or rack a 380. I know of two old timers who carry them for this reason. Also outside the US most countries do not allow military calibers in civilian hands. Something to think about on your next trip to Mexico. In Portugul the largest legal caliber is 32 for example. If you think gun control is bad here travel outside our borders where there is no second amendment.
Not having a 2" to chronograph it is speculation, but getting over 1000 fps out of a 2" barrel may be an impossiblity at standard pressures with the 100 grain Speer, and very difficult to get with the 85 grain. In my opinion, the 100 grain is more suitable for longer barrels. Most of the published data I see is for barrels of 6.5" and longer.
A load that will chronograph 1000 fps out of a 4" is 4.5 of W-231 under an 85 grain XTP, but is above 21,000 psi. It should be perfectly safe in S&W J frames. I still contend that a Gold Dot of 85-90 grains designed for the lower velocities might be the ticket. They usually exhibit excellent penetration and expansion at lower velocities. If they can manufacture a .38 Special 135 grain that expands at 850 fps, they can do the same for the .32 Magnum.
Ga Arms has been recently loading the 85 grain XTP. The Speer 100 grain has been difficult to get in enough quantities to make a production run. This was a month ago, so the situation may have been resolved.
I travel in the area frequently and usually stop by the store front they have. You'll sure miss it if you're not attentive. Just a mile or so off I-20 near Villa Rica.
They are a nice bunch of folks. Their ammo prices are outstanding.
The 90 grain hard cast bullet Black Hills load is very accurate.
A load that will chronograph 1000 fps out of a 4" is 4.5 of W-231 under an 85 grain XTP, but is above 21,000 psi. It should be perfectly safe in S&W J frames. I still contend that a Gold Dot of 85-90 grains designed for the lower velocities might be the ticket. They usually exhibit excellent penetration and expansion at lower velocities. If they can manufacture a .38 Special 135 grain that expands at 850 fps, they can do the same for the .32 Magnum.
Ga Arms has been recently loading the 85 grain XTP. The Speer 100 grain has been difficult to get in enough quantities to make a production run. This was a month ago, so the situation may have been resolved.
I travel in the area frequently and usually stop by the store front they have. You'll sure miss it if you're not attentive. Just a mile or so off I-20 near Villa Rica.
They are a nice bunch of folks. Their ammo prices are outstanding.
The 90 grain hard cast bullet Black Hills load is very accurate.
I would say that is a myth. I just bought the S&W Model 431 PD .32 Mag a few months ago, one of Smith and Wessons latest handguns made in summer of last year. Federal still makes .32 mag in lead semi Wadcutter and jacketed hollow point.
Good choice for a backup gun. the .32 mag is a full six shooter as opposed to the 5 shot .38 J frame and the magnum rounds for it are not too far from the energy and velocity of the .38 special. Plus, just for fun you can shoot .32 S&W Longs, .32 S&W Shorts, and even .32 Auto rounds through it. Those .32 Autos are like shooting .22 rounds. BLINK BLINK BLINK!!!!
Good choice for a backup gun. the .32 mag is a full six shooter as opposed to the 5 shot .38 J frame and the magnum rounds for it are not too far from the energy and velocity of the .38 special. Plus, just for fun you can shoot .32 S&W Longs, .32 S&W Shorts, and even .32 Auto rounds through it. Those .32 Autos are like shooting .22 rounds. BLINK BLINK BLINK!!!!
For what it's worth, I don't think the .32 H&R is really dead.
But it will probably drag on for a while as a low-priority round simply because there aren't that many shooters and guns for it as compared to other calibers.
Marlin introduced a .32 H&R cowboy lever action rifle for it.
Ruger still has stock of their single action guns in .32 (and dammit, most of 'em are stainless or nickle finish and too many have that #*$ birds head grip).
S&W, Ruger and Taurus are the only ones still making DA revolvers for it as far as I know. If I can scrape the funds together, a smallish Ruger DA in .32 H&R might also be a fun gun (if I can learn to smooth out their triggers).
I haven't checked yet, but there's probably a number of 2nd tier manufacturers making Single Action guns for Cowboy shooting in .32 H&R. This makes sense as the .32 round is fairly economical to reload with power levels from slow & gentle to supersonic, with mild recoil and easy fast shooting.
But it will probably drag on for a while as a low-priority round simply because there aren't that many shooters and guns for it as compared to other calibers.
Marlin introduced a .32 H&R cowboy lever action rifle for it.
Ruger still has stock of their single action guns in .32 (and dammit, most of 'em are stainless or nickle finish and too many have that #*$ birds head grip).
S&W, Ruger and Taurus are the only ones still making DA revolvers for it as far as I know. If I can scrape the funds together, a smallish Ruger DA in .32 H&R might also be a fun gun (if I can learn to smooth out their triggers).
I haven't checked yet, but there's probably a number of 2nd tier manufacturers making Single Action guns for Cowboy shooting in .32 H&R. This makes sense as the .32 round is fairly economical to reload with power levels from slow & gentle to supersonic, with mild recoil and easy fast shooting.
BillCA
Yes, not dead: a number of firearms still exist shooting the .32 Mag -- in addition to the ones BillCa mentioned, Taurus just introduced a 12 shot (I think) pump, and Armi Sport (through Taylor's and I believe Cimarron most recently) a nice 92 Win lever copy--in takedown, normal rifle and carbine formats. In the SA world, in addition to the remaining Ruger "mini Vaqueros," (Vaqueritos?) there are still some Vaquero (full size) .32-20/.32 Mag dual cylinder convertibles around as well as a few Uberti-made .32-20/.32 Mag dual cylinder convertibles in current catalog in something like 7/8ths SAA scale (forget the distributors but maybe Cimarron and Uberti itself?), and the fine but expensive Freedom Arms.
Yes, not dead: a number of firearms still exist shooting the .32 Mag -- in addition to the ones BillCa mentioned, Taurus just introduced a 12 shot (I think) pump, and Armi Sport (through Taylor's and I believe Cimarron most recently) a nice 92 Win lever copy--in takedown, normal rifle and carbine formats. In the SA world, in addition to the remaining Ruger "mini Vaqueros," (Vaqueritos?) there are still some Vaquero (full size) .32-20/.32 Mag dual cylinder convertibles around as well as a few Uberti-made .32-20/.32 Mag dual cylinder convertibles in current catalog in something like 7/8ths SAA scale (forget the distributors but maybe Cimarron and Uberti itself?), and the fine but expensive Freedom Arms.
P. Plainsman
New member
Which would make for a heck of an impulse purchase if I spot one on the racks when in a weak mood.
I had one of these, a blued version with the normal grip (in rosewood). Nice gun, a cutie, but I couldn't hold it properly. See, this recent run of .32 Vaqueritos featured a shortened version of the Single Six grip frame, being pitched at women CAS shooters. Unfortunately, I could have used the extra 1/4" on the grip, and I had to sell the gun.
I was thinking about getting a stainless Vaquerito with the bird's head before they vanish, in the hope that would fit my hand better. Did you try the bird's head and not like it, BillCA, or do you just object to 'em on general principles (as some do)?
Spot on. When I ditched that pretty .32 Vaquerito, I picked up the aforementioned .32 SP101 as a consolation. I like it a lot. So does my mother, who shot some nice targets with the SP one afternoon and now has designs on it. It's a good "fun gun" or kit gun; accurate, handy, small gap, locks up like a vault. And .32 recoil in a Ruger sixgun is almost a contradiction in terms. It makes me want to take up handloading so I can really hot-rod the .32 Mag.
However -- as you point out -- the one fly in the ointment with the SP101 is a heavy and sometimes rough stock trigger.* Mine has smoothed out with use, dryfiring and a 12# Wolff hammer spring. It is now an acceptable trigger. I will take it to my gunsmith soon to see how much further he can improve it. You'll probably have to take similar steps.
* FN: In my experience this roughness is not a "Ruger thing", it's an SP101 thing. My GP100's DA trigger would shame most Smiths of the past 20 years, and its smooth snap is a product of nothing but regular use and dryfire. Likewise, the two Super Redhawks I've handled had fine triggers. But the SP, alas, tends to give Ruger triggers a bad name ...
Last edited:
The Marlin is loaded like a tube magazine fed .22 rimfire, some folks may or may not like it. I am anxious to get a good look at one in person. Ruger ought to re-issue their Bisley .32 that looked like an old single six flatop. I've seen a few of them in the past, but not recently. Seems like shooters in the know have one and are hanging on to them.
My son was told at the SHOT show that they would not be making the Hunter in .32 H&R. I asked him to inquire about it.
I only owned one SP-101, a .22 half lug. Pretty heavy, but I liked the grip and sights. The single action trigger on mine was satisfactory and the DA wasn't terrible. A .32 in a 4" half lug would make a nice kit gun. They do still have the rear sight that's adjustable for windage?
Jim Stroh makes a nice conversion on a single six, but it's pretty expensive. I could buy another FA with options for the cost.
Anyway, it's a nice little cartridge that deserves more recognition than it seems to get.
My son was told at the SHOT show that they would not be making the Hunter in .32 H&R. I asked him to inquire about it.
I only owned one SP-101, a .22 half lug. Pretty heavy, but I liked the grip and sights. The single action trigger on mine was satisfactory and the DA wasn't terrible. A .32 in a 4" half lug would make a nice kit gun. They do still have the rear sight that's adjustable for windage?
Jim Stroh makes a nice conversion on a single six, but it's pretty expensive. I could buy another FA with options for the cost.
Anyway, it's a nice little cartridge that deserves more recognition than it seems to get.
Plainsman
Yes (everyone looking to buy), you have to watch those grips! In Ruger's infinite wisdom again, the answer to a question no one asked. I'm a big guy but have small hands (in reverse Seinfeld speak - womanhands
) and the "regular" grip was more than fine for me. On top of that, they do nothing (that I know of...serial no., what? If it's there, awfully subtle or otherwise need to "be in the know") on the gun...and seldom on the sales tag...to warn you this is a short grip. Yes you can feel it, but hard to tell when you're peering in the case and saying "I'd like to look at that one"...then even when you try it out, 1/2 the time you're thinking "it must be me...the way I'm holding it. Ok, I guess I'll buy it and figure it out!" Salesman clueless (always). For a gun that they gave very little support for in the first place, odd that they'd spend extra money on it to have two different grip sizes in a format already geared for smallish hands!! Money and effort would've been better spent on a Bisley or other variations. It's not that I disparage them for coming up with a different variant for children/women, but should be stamped in the metal on the bottom of the grip frame "SHORT GRIP" and sales folk educated on the subject. On the other hand, hats off to them for at least coming up with the stellar birdshead version I now have.
Yes (everyone looking to buy), you have to watch those grips! In Ruger's infinite wisdom again, the answer to a question no one asked. I'm a big guy but have small hands (in reverse Seinfeld speak - womanhands
) and the "regular" grip was more than fine for me. On top of that, they do nothing (that I know of...serial no., what? If it's there, awfully subtle or otherwise need to "be in the know") on the gun...and seldom on the sales tag...to warn you this is a short grip. Yes you can feel it, but hard to tell when you're peering in the case and saying "I'd like to look at that one"...then even when you try it out, 1/2 the time you're thinking "it must be me...the way I'm holding it. Ok, I guess I'll buy it and figure it out!" Salesman clueless (always). For a gun that they gave very little support for in the first place, odd that they'd spend extra money on it to have two different grip sizes in a format already geared for smallish hands!! Money and effort would've been better spent on a Bisley or other variations. It's not that I disparage them for coming up with a different variant for children/women, but should be stamped in the metal on the bottom of the grip frame "SHORT GRIP" and sales folk educated on the subject. On the other hand, hats off to them for at least coming up with the stellar birdshead version I now have.
Last edited:
Mike Irwin
Staff
".22 long rifle is higher quality today than it was in John Brownings, but it is still not as reliable as a centerfire. Enough plinking at the range with .22s will prove it and regardless of ammo quality, misfires can and do occur."
I've noted this numerous times in the past...
In my shooting "career," I've had FAR more failures to fire with factory CENTERfire ammo than I have had with factory rimfire ammo.
I've also noted here numerous times that I've got, at this point, nearly 3,000 rounds of Winchester Wildcat .22 through my Taurus PT-22 without a single failure to feed, fire, or extract.
I've noted this numerous times in the past...
In my shooting "career," I've had FAR more failures to fire with factory CENTERfire ammo than I have had with factory rimfire ammo.
I've also noted here numerous times that I've got, at this point, nearly 3,000 rounds of Winchester Wildcat .22 through my Taurus PT-22 without a single failure to feed, fire, or extract.
I keep thinking about this caliber and coming up with the same answer: why bother!!
I can get the Taurus 731UL for $350 or thereabout. But, is it gunna give me any advantage over my 85UL???
Sure, the .32mag is almost as good as the .38spl, but if I already have a .38spl, then why bother!!
It would be just another gun that I have to buy a different caliber ammo for!!
There is also no advantage in empty weight. Both weigh 17 ounces.
In answer to the next anticipated obvious question, no, I live in a small apartment. So reloading is impractical!!
I'm not knocking the caliber. I don't see a need for me to acquire one of the launching platforms!!
I can get the Taurus 731UL for $350 or thereabout. But, is it gunna give me any advantage over my 85UL???
Sure, the .32mag is almost as good as the .38spl, but if I already have a .38spl, then why bother!!
It would be just another gun that I have to buy a different caliber ammo for!!
There is also no advantage in empty weight. Both weigh 17 ounces.
In answer to the next anticipated obvious question, no, I live in a small apartment. So reloading is impractical!!
I'm not knocking the caliber. I don't see a need for me to acquire one of the launching platforms!!
Denfoote, you make some good points and if you have a .38 you're pleased with and are not so inclined then there is probably no overwhelming reason I/we can give you. For me, especially if you're looking for an extra gun--which you obviously are not--the .32 M is much more pleasant to shoot, report wise and muzzle flip/recoil -- the difference especially noticeable in the lighter/smaller framed-formats (i.e, spend the extra $$ on the .32 ammo and have fun shooting "all day" (do that in a .38 lightweight and/or snubbie; no it isn't "fun"), plus the extra shot--a genuine 6 shot with today's transfer bars, etc. For me, I have a medium-framed .38 Taurus (essentially a SW copy) that'll still shoot Plus P's--though more often than not it has "standard" JHP 125s or 158s, and snakeshot--that I admit you cannot get in .32 (?!@%?!) and it is my primary home and road SD weapon, alternated with my .40 SW auto depending on the circumstance.
The .32 in my case is a SA and so, while not optimal format (you note I did not say caliber) for SD, a reliable backup and again fun as hell to shoot and use as a trail and camp gun where very dangerous four (and two) legged critters do not frequent. When those pests are present, the .38, .40 and "Thumper" (.44 Mag Vaquero) are the primaries, depending on the particulars. I like the .38 because it can be loaded up to beyond .32 M capability--But you pay for it shooting it in other ways not related to $$. If I were to lose my .38 I would not hesitate to replace it with another, but neither would I hesitate to get a 2-1/2"-3"-4" .32M DA for its purpose and have something a bit more enjoyable and "handy" to carry around. Neither would I hesitate to have a wife or girlfriend have the same as their primary CCW or home SD.
The .32 in my case is a SA and so, while not optimal format (you note I did not say caliber) for SD, a reliable backup and again fun as hell to shoot and use as a trail and camp gun where very dangerous four (and two) legged critters do not frequent. When those pests are present, the .38, .40 and "Thumper" (.44 Mag Vaquero) are the primaries, depending on the particulars. I like the .38 because it can be loaded up to beyond .32 M capability--But you pay for it shooting it in other ways not related to $$. If I were to lose my .38 I would not hesitate to replace it with another, but neither would I hesitate to get a 2-1/2"-3"-4" .32M DA for its purpose and have something a bit more enjoyable and "handy" to carry around. Neither would I hesitate to have a wife or girlfriend have the same as their primary CCW or home SD.
Last edited:
gak,
I recall seeing one of those little Ruger .32's with the short grip some time back. I almost bought it but even in my small hands, it felt awfully short. Ruger's catalog (can't remember the year, 2004?) did mention it in the gun desciption, otherwise it's difficult to surmise without handling it.
The Bisley grip on the single six is very comfortable.
JB
I recall seeing one of those little Ruger .32's with the short grip some time back. I almost bought it but even in my small hands, it felt awfully short. Ruger's catalog (can't remember the year, 2004?) did mention it in the gun desciption, otherwise it's difficult to surmise without handling it.
The Bisley grip on the single six is very comfortable.
JB
Last edited:
JB, yes a Bisley in the .32 would be nice -- I don't recall them ever offering one in the caliber, but maybe they did? In the meantime, buyer beware on the grip issue! For 99% of us--and I almost include women and maybe most "children" meaning lower to mid teens--the standard (long-regular) grip OR the birdshead would seem to suit. Again, even if they were trying to broaden their marketing base to sell more guns, extremely odd Ruger came up with two "standard type" grips and then did such a lousy job of advertising it and educating gun shops. I've run into several people who unwittingly got the short frame thinking "they're all like that" but liked the .32 or the idea of it enough to say, "oh well guess I'll just have to get used to it."
Last edited:
Plainsman,
The Bird's-head grip just doesn't appeal to me visually. I've held one and found it "not too bad" but it doesn't settle into my hand as well as a traditional grip. Combine the two and I'll typically pass on 'em.
Denfoote,
The .32 H&R is simply another option. It's a fun little round that can be used for plinking, small game, target and self defense. IF you reload (which you said you don't) you can reload .32's for very little money. For defensive use, the cartridge permits accurate & rapid shot placement. It's not in the same class as a .38 +P round, of course, but I think it would get the job done.
For people who don't shoot .38's well, the .32 is a good option. Comparing a S&W 432PD to the 649 "bodyguard" or even the Model 60, the 432 is lighter, smaller and more controllable in rapid DA shooting than the .38/.357's.
When I've carried the .32 H&R there's also a mindset that goes with it. The gun is there strictly to get me OUT of trouble, not take on the (hypothetical) two BG's holding up your local Circle-K or liquor store as described in several "what-if" threads here.
The Bird's-head grip just doesn't appeal to me visually. I've held one and found it "not too bad" but it doesn't settle into my hand as well as a traditional grip. Combine the two and I'll typically pass on 'em.
Denfoote,
The .32 H&R is simply another option. It's a fun little round that can be used for plinking, small game, target and self defense. IF you reload (which you said you don't) you can reload .32's for very little money. For defensive use, the cartridge permits accurate & rapid shot placement. It's not in the same class as a .38 +P round, of course, but I think it would get the job done.
For people who don't shoot .38's well, the .32 is a good option. Comparing a S&W 432PD to the 649 "bodyguard" or even the Model 60, the 432 is lighter, smaller and more controllable in rapid DA shooting than the .38/.357's.
When I've carried the .32 H&R there's also a mindset that goes with it. The gun is there strictly to get me OUT of trouble, not take on the (hypothetical) two BG's holding up your local Circle-K or liquor store as described in several "what-if" threads here.