Somewhere out there in the wide, wide world of shooting sports, I stumbled on a site, maybe this one, with a series of posts claiming that 32ACP can be fired in a Ruger 32 H&R Magnum. I was in a hurry and didn't "save" the info. Now I can't find the posts. Anybody familiar with this sort of switch? Comments?
32ACP/32 H&R Mag
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Bill DeShivs
New member
It will fit just fine. Many revolvers were made to use .32 ACP in the early 20th century.
Some modern guns may experience misfires or case head binding, but if these issues don't present themselves it is safe to use the pistol ammunition in your revolver.
Some modern guns may experience misfires or case head binding, but if these issues don't present themselves it is safe to use the pistol ammunition in your revolver.
OK, it is an interesting tidbit of information, but not particularly useful IMO, unless you are cornered like a rat and you used up your last box of H&R magnum ammo, and there is only a box of .32 ACP setting there, maybe in such an emergency it might buy you some time, but if I were you I would not go out and buy a box of ACP rounds to test the theory, it is certainly your last choice after the more practical .32 S&W longs, then shorts, run out. There are alot of things you can do that are not ideal or even safe or desireable with guns, that a wise boy does not do just because he can. Example: Someone was posting info on how to reload cartridges with scrapings from match heads and even use them to rebuild a used primer, that is really last ditch info and if there is not an emergency, it does not pay to take the risks.
One note of caution, though. The .32 ACP has the same case diameter as the .32 S&W (and won't fit in a .32 Colt chamber) but it is a lot higher pressure than most old .32 S&W revolvers were made for (25k psi vs 14k psi). Firing it in them will loosen them up faster than normal and could be dangerous in some marginal or rusted out guns.
Just FWIW, the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .38 ACP/Super and 9mm Browning Long are supported on the semi-rim, not on the case mouth. .380 ACP (or 9mm Browning Short) and .45 ACP are supported on the case mouth.
Jim
Just FWIW, the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .38 ACP/Super and 9mm Browning Long are supported on the semi-rim, not on the case mouth. .380 ACP (or 9mm Browning Short) and .45 ACP are supported on the case mouth.
Jim
You can.
Ejection may be less than positive.
You may see the occasional split case mouth.
Suboptimal, but entirely possible.
(Ditto .38 Super in .357 Mag, for whatever that's worth...)
(PPS: I have yet to see Jim Keenan or Bill DeShivs give bad technical advice on this forum. If they say something, you can generally take it as true.)
Ejection may be less than positive.
You may see the occasional split case mouth.
Suboptimal, but entirely possible.
(Ditto .38 Super in .357 Mag, for whatever that's worth...)
(PPS: I have yet to see Jim Keenan or Bill DeShivs give bad technical advice on this forum. If they say something, you can generally take it as true.)
I have fired a fair number of .32 ACP rounds in .32 S&W revolvers and have had no problems, but I don't advise it with old guns for the reason mentioned. Bill is correct in that many revolvers, mainly in Europe, were chambered for the .25 ACP and .32 ACP, so there is nothing inherently "wrong" about using them in revolvers.
The .38 Super/.38 ACP and the .38 Special/.357 Magnum have so little tolerance overlap on case diameter that it is rare that a .38 Super/ACP will fit into a .38Sp/.357 chamber, even if forced. It will fit into a .38 S&W chamber if there is no shoulder, but again the .38 Super and even the .38 ACP have much higher working pressures than the .38 S&W, so that combination is possible but not recommended.
Jim
The .38 Super/.38 ACP and the .38 Special/.357 Magnum have so little tolerance overlap on case diameter that it is rare that a .38 Super/ACP will fit into a .38Sp/.357 chamber, even if forced. It will fit into a .38 S&W chamber if there is no shoulder, but again the .38 Super and even the .38 ACP have much higher working pressures than the .38 S&W, so that combination is possible but not recommended.
Jim
You definitely can; especially with a SA Ruger chambered for .32 H&R mag.
On a double action, you'll likely have trouble with ejection because the smaller case rim will most likely slip around the ejector.
On a single action, you use an ejector rod to eject the spent cases one at a time, so it's not an issue.
As mentioned above, I wouldn't do it with older guns chambered for .32 S&W short or long.
Daryl
On a double action, you'll likely have trouble with ejection because the smaller case rim will most likely slip around the ejector.
On a single action, you use an ejector rod to eject the spent cases one at a time, so it's not an issue.
As mentioned above, I wouldn't do it with older guns chambered for .32 S&W short or long.
Daryl
Jim March is absolutely correct about the .38 Super in a .38 special chamber.
Just from curiosity, I just tried to chamber a couple of different brands of .38 Super in my .38 special. They won't chamber easily, and I'm not sure I could even force them. If I did, it'd likely scar the chamber, and there's no reason for that. It's a no-go.
Daryl
Just from curiosity, I just tried to chamber a couple of different brands of .38 Super in my .38 special. They won't chamber easily, and I'm not sure I could even force them. If I did, it'd likely scar the chamber, and there's no reason for that. It's a no-go.
Daryl
"32ACP can be fired in a Ruger 32 H&R Magnum."
Been there - shot that. Ruger 32mag single six. Shot 2 cylinders of 32ACP at 50' indoor range. Group was about 4 / 5" and centered about 3" below POA. Recoil and report were very mild. Group size was twice my lead bullet 32 long load.
If you look at the cases and think about how much freebore the ACP has then you know the bullet has some time that it is totally unsupported before it enters the cylinder throat. I'm suprised it works as well as it did.
Been there - shot that. Ruger 32mag single six. Shot 2 cylinders of 32ACP at 50' indoor range. Group was about 4 / 5" and centered about 3" below POA. Recoil and report were very mild. Group size was twice my lead bullet 32 long load.
If you look at the cases and think about how much freebore the ACP has then you know the bullet has some time that it is totally unsupported before it enters the cylinder throat. I'm suprised it works as well as it did.
Recoiljunkie44
New member
Im befumdled as to why you would ever want to do this! In my opinon the 32 h and r is a far superior cartridge! If it doesn't say not to do it in the owners manual it probably doesn't mean its ok!
Jim Keenan said:
What that says about the chamber tolerances of the Taurus Tracker that our customer was doing this with is not good, then.
Customer: "Was it safe to fire these in my Taurus?"
Gunsmith: "Why are you asking me after you already did it?"
Customer: "But is it safe?"
Gunsmith: "I don't see why not; .357 operates at a lot higher pressures than .38 Super. But why would you want to?"
Customer: "In case I couldn't find any .38 or .357!"
Me: "I'm trying to envision a scenario where you couldn't find any .38 or .357 but could find .38 Super..."
Bill DeShivs
New member
Strange. .38 Supers fit in my .38 Special guns just fine. Colt, S&W, and Charter Arms.
DON'T SHOOT SUPER IN A .38 SPECIAL. IT'S DANGEROUS!
.32 acp in a .32 magnum is fine.
DON'T SHOOT SUPER IN A .38 SPECIAL. IT'S DANGEROUS!
.32 acp in a .32 magnum is fine.
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Jim Watson
New member
The last time the subject came up, I found that PMC .38 Super (the only factory load I have) would go in a S&W M19 with a firm push, hard enough that I would worry about extraction; but would not chamber in a M28 or Python at all.
As to the OP, that says more about the wisdom of buying a freak caliber with scarce ammunition than it does ballistics.
As to the OP, that says more about the wisdom of buying a freak caliber with scarce ammunition than it does ballistics.