.32 H&R Magnum

Citing the .38 as being around forever with cheaper ammo, etc., etc. is an old song...I own three .38s (one of them a .357 actually)--in addition to a a .40 auto, and .44 Mag SA, and love all of them...but that does not mean that the .32M doesn't have its place. Whoever said that the HUGE gap between the .22 and the .38 (the largest in the revolver world) doesn't need/deserve an inbetween round is nuts. This website is choc-full of a gazillion posts about the .357/38 class. this ,355 (9mm) that, 40 this, 41 that 44 this 45 that, but somehow the largest gap out there that is now (since 84 or so actually) plugged by the nifty and efficient .32M is verboten for discussion with some of you. You've got to be kidding.

Because of the old .38 comments like those in the above post(s) continue to permeate the gun magazines and industry, the myth that the .32M is a puny round keeps getting perpetuated...to the point the round never gets its day. The round remains undersold and ammo prices remain high and, true, without as much variety of load as should be found. It's amazing how some rounds (that are less deserving of attention) get all the play and are a big deal. It's all about marketing folks. What's advertised and talked about is what sells, and old favorites get "permanently perpetuated." Ironically, the .32M (after Ruger has discontinued my slick Single Six in the round) is finally getting some airplay out there in the mags and forums like this. Like ALL rounds, the .32 "is what it is"--and attempts to bash it because it only lives up to non +P .38 levels with one more round capability (which IS a big deal in the size frames we're talking about) is amazing! In DA form, it's particularly one of the slickest little rigs extant, and one hell of a lot of fun to shoot in my rugged little stainless birdshead Single Six SA. Quite a bit of pow (esp with Georgia's new load) in a little package...I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end!! There's really nothing else quite like it out there.

Btw, Old Fart, shooting the .32M and the non +P .38 Spl reveals that the .32 has much less recoil, much less blast (out of same barrel lengths)--for virtually the same ballistic effect, and, ammo cost acknowledged but aside for this point, can be shot all day when even the .38 gets a bit obnoxious after awhile--esp in the shorter barrel lengths.

Btw, Taurus is advertising (but last I saw - for the past three months - not showing a pic, but basically the same as its .22) a slick .32M lever, and Marlin and Armi Sport have .32M levers as well, the latter a Win 92 copy.
 
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You can handload .32 Magnum up to +P levels and it will really perform well. (Out of something like my Ruger Single Six.) You have to move WELL beyond the loads in the manuals but there have been experiments done. You just can't use those loads in something like a breaktop H&R.

I think the primary "niche" for .32 Magnum is that you can get medium level cartridge performance out of a gun that is actually meant for .22 LR. Sure, .38 Special can be handloaded to basically match the .32 Magnum in every way. But I can't get a Single Six or a S&W Kit Gun in .38 Special!

Gregg
 
Gregg, very well put. The .32M in my current Ruger birdshead (and the original c.1984 Single Six .32M adj. sight version I had several years ago) is one of the sweetest shooting calibers I've ever shot. Just enough pop on both ends to know you're shooting a potent little centerfire and definitely not shooting any .22 Mag, but also know (in a positive way) you're not shooting a .38 either. Though a different dynamic in the small frame DAs mentioned by many (SW, Taurus, Ruger, etc.), the same thing can be said about them as well relative to that format. Of course more recoil and blast than in my heavier 4+" Ruger SA, but still far less than .38 in the same configuration(s) all around. I do regret CCI or others have not come out with snake shot(shell)...another casualty of the lack of attention (and production/sales) this caliber's gotten.
 
Hey, if you guys like the .32H&R good for you. It's a neat little round. But as I said its in the connesouer's class. For someone just starting out I think there are better options. Boy this thing has a small but devoted following, you'd think we were talking about a 10mm or something :p

There are affordable practice options, as noted above (and BTW the very accurate Black Hills .32 Mag cowboy FPL at $13/50 isn't a bank-breaker either).

.38 Special can be had for $7/50 and .357 Magnum can be found at $12/50 so I consider the black hills kinda pricey.
 
Webleymkv, you're probably right about it being in the con' class unfortunately due to low airplay - but I can think of no round/gun combo that is a better CC, --I almost hesitate to say the following as it sounds like a caveat but not meant to (just ideal application), but especially for a woman who might not be dying to shoot in the first place, or at least backup for a man. Shot placement being 90% of the law of effectiveness (my figure), ability to place a .32 H&R and have one, two or three additional follow-up shots is greater than any .38 in a similar CC format I can think of. Considering that one is probably not shooting +P .38 out of an airweight/alloy or tit snubbie anyway, the similar ballistics plus superior user-friendliness places a Smith, Taurus or Ruger snubie in .32M right up there as the ultimate in concealable SD--especially for "on the go" applications. Make that a bedside SD proposition and I'd probably take my Smith (or Taurus, etc.) Model 10/66 type in a 4" .38 loaded with 125 jhps.
 
gak, I agree with everything you said. Unfortunately, the .32H&R has one fatal flaw in this department: ammo cost. If it is being used by someone who is not particularly into shooting then expensive ammo will likely become yet another excuse not to practice as often as they should. Therefore, even though it may actually be the ideal round for a given scenario, I'd still reccomend a .38 Special in most cases because loads for it can be had in a rather tame incarnation and being proficient with the gun is far more important than the chambering or load.
 
.32 H&r Magnum

Hello, I Am A New Subscriber And I Was Reading The Comments On The .32 H&r Mag. I Currently Have Two Revolvers In This Caliber And They Are Both Accurite And Pleasant Toshoot.
The One I Usually Carry Is A Ruger Small Frame Bisley With Adjustable Sights And Very Light To Carry. The Second One That I Have Is Also A Ruger But Is A Large Frame Blackhawk From Buckeye Sports With A .32-20 Cylinder Also. This Is A Really Mild Recoiler Due To The Large Blackhawk Frame. It Is Also Very Accurite After I Had The Trigger Worked On. Thats All I Have . So Long.
 
Yes, all these formats = extremely pleasant and accurate shooter. Someone in another thread voted on a different gun/caliber as the "Rodney Dangerfield" of guns, but I think maybe the poor lil' .32M deserves the title! Great round/gun(s) that deserves much better, but can't argue the points re ammo cost. It's too good to abandon though so guess I'll stay a connosseur, Webley, and hope "somebody" in the mass market/ industry notices the round someday! Georgia Arms' 100 gr load a major advancement (at least for use in my gun with its heft, can't speak for others') and still shoots like a pussycat out of my 4" Ruger Single Six birdshead.
 
Maybe it, .38 Super, .44 Special, 10mm, .41 Magnum, and my personal favorite 7.62X25 Tokarev will someday have their time in the sun.
 
Amen. I propose an official "Cult Caliber Month" in which we all take our .32 Mags, .38 Supers, and .41 Mags to the range as much as possible. (Personally, I already shoot off beaucoup .44 Special each month.) And maybe I should spring for a used S&W 610.

In the meantime, I notice that this thread, much like the .32 H&R Magnum, keeps quietly continuing ...
 
The .32 H&R mag has a niche--low recoil, excellent accuracy, and no requirement for huge powder and lead outlays for a reloader. It is a nice cartridge for small game and pest shooting around the farm. It can be loaded down to .32 S&W Long levels as to not shred rabbit/squirrel meat and intimidate beginning handgunners.

There's not a large choice of jacketed bullets or factory-loaded ammunition. If that bothers a person, there are a lot of .38 Specials and .22 LRs afloat.
 
32 Magnum

I don't have one yet. BUT, every time I order something from Midway I have a list of uncommon calibers I really like. I order a box or two of one of the following brass. 32 Magnum, 41 Magnum, 44 Special, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt. When the time comes that either my son or I need them, they will be there. We have firearms for all but the 32 Magnum and over time I'm sure the ammo will be harder or impossible to find. Reloading will be the ONLY way.
 
That's foresighted. I don't reload yet, but I too have thought about laying in a stock of brass in .32 Mag, .41 Mag (which I don't even shoot yet), .45 Auto Rim, etc. Impressive to hear someone's actually doing it.
 
Side note... I've noticed there's quite a bit of room left over in the cylinder of a 432PD like mine, since it's .38 length.

Leaves me thinking about a .320 SuperMag, that'll still shoot .32H&R, .32S&W Long, .32 S&W, and .32ACP. ;) :D

I love my little pistol though, 20oz loaded WITH the holster, got 3 speedloaders, GA Arms makes good warm defense ammo, fed's 85 is adequate, there's a plethora of zero recoil plinking stuff, I get the extra shot over the J-frame, and frankly $13 for a box of 50 is still cheap in the grand scheme of things. S&W 432PD, if I hadn't mentioned it. Recoil's enough that with the GA Arms I can still nail minute of assailant at 7 yards pulling the trigger as fast as I can, and it'll shoot 2" groups at that distance with the federal 85 JHPs, which isn't bad for a 1 7/8" DA J-frame that weighs so little...
 
The New .320 Magnum XVR!!!!! Highest velocity production (mousegun) revolver in history!!!! :cool: With three optional (teeny) compensators! :p

No, but seriously, you make me want to buy a 432PD.
 
p.plainsman

yes, it is smart thinking to stock up on odd ball caliber supplies.
i reload for all my strange equipment, such as .41 an .32 magnums.
any time that i see reloading supplies for these guns i snatch them up while they are still available. good luck searching.
 
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