32CAL am I missing something?

S

smee78

New member
It seems that alot of people like the little 32cal guns, I like my 38's & 45LC's so I know what its like to enjoy a special caliber but am I missing something in the 32's? I know you can shoot 32long in a 32mag gun but what else am I missing? Is it just fun or what is your reason? I know that most j frame size guns carry one more round for a total of 6 instead of 5.

Thanks,
 
I likely load & shoot more 32 S&W than any other cartridge ( well maybe 45 Colt is more, but not much ) the 32 S&W, is a cartridge MRS. MAGNUM likes to shoot, little to no recoil, quiet, no hearing protection needed with my lighter loads ( BTW... I load 3 levels, & do have one of my main carry guns in 32 S&W ) a J frame 32 H&R Mag was my 1st CCW gun... I've not bought into the new hotter 32, but can hand load my 32 H&R Mags close, so I just haven't made that investment yet... although I carry 45 Colt about 75% of the time now, for my low risk lifestyle, I'm not afraid to carry 5 rounds of 32 S&W...

BTW... I think you'd be suprised how low the percentage of 32 shooters actually is, when compared to all the 9mm shooters, let alone all shooters
 
Many of us just enjoy shooting the smaller calibre for it's very soft recoil and noise levels. It's easy to reload and fun to shoot. Whats not to like?
 
I can understand your reasons guy's but that was what I wanted to know. I fully understand, I just wanted to make sure that I was in the general ball park. I have thought of joining the ranks of the 32cal bergaid but dont know if I want to start reloading for another cal.
 
Smee78:

This post is intended for magnum wheel man. No rifle, no pistol or no revolver should ever be fired without hearing protection. NONE! Not even a .22 short. Hearing loss is cumulative. You lose a small portion now and at the next shooting scession you lose another portion, you now have two portitions accumulated. You only become aware of your loss when you have to constantly ask " what did you say or I can't hear you."

I talk from experience.

Semper Fi.


Gunnnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
This post is intended for magnum wheel man. No rifle, no pistol or no revolver should ever be fired without hearing protection. NONE! Not even a .22 short. Hearing loss is cumulative. You lose a small portion now and at the next shooting scession you lose another portion, you now have two portitions accumulated. You only become aware of your loss when you have to constantly ask " what did you say or I can't hear you."
Click to expand...

+1 cumulative hearing loss is a bastard. One of those things where you don't realize a problem untill it is far too late. I am only in my 20's and the combination of loud concerts, and one mishap of shooting a round off in a .357 without hearing protection left me with mild tinnitus in my left ear and high frequency hearing loss. Good news is we are pretty damn close to growing back damaged tissue in the ear to cure noise induced hearing loss, close as within the next decade.
 
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32/20s are 32s too ya know.
 
+1 to the hearing concerns. That said, I know what Magnumwheelman means--they're generally soft shooters compared to "alternatives," however you characterize it--a real sweetheart of a cartridge(s) to shoot, whether S&W Longs or H&R Mags (see several very robust TFL .327 threads for that more powerful Federal Mag round). However, they too can have quite a pop without protection, just not in the same league as .357 or even .38 IMO, should that unfortunate unprotected situation (SD/HD) arise. Not trying to start an optimal caliber comparison there for that use--there's been too much talk over the years about the .32 H&R Mag and now.327 for instance supposedly "thinking" it's going/intended to replace .357 which I've never viewed as--so, just talking "obnoxious" levels.

Back to the OP's question. IMO, there is nothing (nothing) more enjoyable to shoot than a Single Six in .32 H&R Mag. Part of it is in knowing that even in .32 Short, Long or even fairly tepid H&R Mag factory loadings you're not shooting a .22_ anything, and very nicely fills the large and previously seldom-filled gap between the .22s and .38 class revolvers. Small game, pests, plinking. Yes, fun, but in warmer loads can handle close in SD as well. In a light DA like the S&W Airweight, on-target double or triple (etc) taps are easier to achieve than any .38 snub I know, with that additional round capacity as mentioned. Kick that to .38+P and the response difference is even greater. Earmuff (considerations) or not, cost aside you can shoot the .32s--including the mags-all day long. An afternoon of snubbie .38/.357 gets old fast. Yes, requisite ear protection in either case makes that aspect less an issue, so for most shooting it comes down to an overall "pleasantness" factor where the .32s really shine while still putting some decent "hurt" on the target.

As to what a good .32 H&R round would be, a really nice warm--but not crazy--one at reasonable (50 pak) price is Georgia Arms 100 gr JHP--nice out of both the J-frame and Single Six. In the past year, Corbon and Buffalo Bore have come out with hotter ones as well. I understand. From what I hear, I'd reserve them for the Single Six or for shooting out of the Ruger .327s, versus Airweight type snubbies but have no personal experience with them either way.

Lastly, a J-frame .32 H&R Mag especially makes a great CC BUG.
 
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My niece is going to buy her husband a .327 Mag Taurus that will be loaded .32 short and then long when he gets used to it. He's very recoil shy, never grew up around guns (Philadelphia lawyer, Dang Yankee :D)
 
Smee78 said:
"Ok, so its about what I tought, but what is your fav tool to send it down range?"
While I love and would not give up my "Vaquerito" (4-5/8" fixed) Single Sixes, I'd say if only one, it'd be the adjustable sight SS (discontinued in the 90s before the fixed sight) in 5.5" for overall utility. I got one of these right out of the chute when Ruger intro'd them in 1984, and let go of when cash was needed later. Wish I hadn't now.

If the .32 H&R Mag does not suffice for you, there are the larger framed Ruger GP100 and Blackhawk .327s. But to me the .32 shines in the smaller frames--just seem to be made for. So, since Ruger has not seen fit to do "the right thing" with a .327 Single Six, all of these Single Six .32s can be connverted, btw, to .327 with a new/custom cylinder--still six shot (same chamber diameter as the H&R). The existing H&R cylinder is too short to "just" be reamed out for the longer .327, so has to be (effectively) tossed,...but the good news is the cylinder window does not need to be modified, just the b-c gap "adjusted" to the new set up. Hamilton Bowen ( www.bowenclassicarms.com ) and others will be happy to do this for you, but Bowen has piloted cylinder blanks already fluted--if you want your smith to do the chambering locally and completing the conversion (fitting and any other finishing). Not a cheap conversion because of the new cylinder cost, and presumably remarking the caliber on the frame etc, still it's do-able, and gives a platform that can then shoot no fewer than four cartridges--S&W short, long, H&R and .327 (and some say .32 Auto). With the S&W short especially, and certainly the Auto as well, the bullet "jump" I would think is a pretty good leap then. However, most folks shoot the Longs as the shortest in these (H&R and .327) guns anyway. I have cpntemplated having at least one of my Vaqueritos converted to .327, but budget has kept me from. Howver, for the time being (and maybe for good) I'm happy with the H&R Mag set up just the way it is also.

Edit: for DA fans, especially of the J frame, there's the discontinued 632 (steel) and 431/432 Airweights. IIRC, the 632 came in a couple different barrel lengths, and are not cheap having been long out of production now. And I believe --but may be wrong--there was. a K Frame that's really "precious" in rarity and price..and I believe Bowen (and perhaps others) will convert to .327 these as well. The Airweights have been gone a few years but can still be found out there. There are those of us that also think a 7 shot K Frame .327 would be just dandy. I'm sure S&W is listening!
 
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My 632 Comp'ed is a sweet heart to shoot with 32 Long. With one of the magnum loads it fits the hands of my daughter and wife with 6 shots of reasonable ammo.

The 432 is a real fun light pocket gun for a bug.
 
You are missing something, a lot of fun. The 32 is accurate, fun to shoot and while not the best chose for SD it is better than a rock. The 327 and the 3220 are not bad as small game or SD handguns. I don't have a 32 revolver at this time but still have a 32acp. Try one you may like it. :D
 
I have a 32 SWL I frame with a 6" target barrel and adjustable sights from 1929 - like holding a toy gun in your hand and will shoot a lot better than I ever will
 
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