Why don't we see more US made pistols in .32 S&W Long?

TruthTellers

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I've been thinking about how most small bore target pistols are in .22 LR and knowing how ammo sensitive .22 guns tend to be, I've been thinking that a .32 S&W Long pistol would be better.

I know that they exist, but they're mainly made by European manufacturers and cost between 1 and 2 thousand dollars.

So, my thought was why aren't more semi auto pistols chambered in .32 Long? It's just as light recoiling a cartridge as .22 and is probably even more accurate to be fired at 25 yards or less than the .22 is. Not to mention, it's reloadable and that allows for handloading development to find the most accurate load and to never have to deal with rimfire shortages again.

Does anyone here think that there's a market in the US for a US made .32 S&W Long pistol? One that can shoot both wadcutters and non-wadcutters?
 
Does anyone here think that there's a market in the US for a US made .32 S&W Long pistol? One that can shoot both wadcutters and non-wadcutters?

there is no market for the 32 s&w long.....
 
I like 32's and shoot and reload for them. I think that if I was to have a 32 target gun made, I would look at a 32ACP a round that I do not reload but could. For a long range 32 one could use the Tokarev round. I am of the opinion that a critter with extra holes in their hide is not as healthy as before. I might convert my Nagant revolver to 32-20 for the heck of it.
 
The .32 S&W long was once one of the most popular cartridges in the US. There are hundreds of thousands of revolvers made for it. Never been popular here???

The .32 long is an inherently accurate cartridge with low recoil.

But this is America-where bigger is always better and people are struggling with .38 special-when they would have had a blast with a .32!
Nope- for a cartridge to be in demand in the US, it has to be a .575 super magnum.
 
I like 32's and shoot and reload for them. I think that if I was to have a 32 target gun made, I would look at a 32ACP a round that I do not reload but could.

What about the Walther GSP in .32 S&W long?
One of the most accurate target guns there is.
 
Yep, I like the 32 S&W Longs....although the only thing I can shoot it in is a Charter Arms Undercoverette. But it makes a nice practice revolver round.
 
Serious target pistols mostly come from Europe. I have two Benellis and a FAS in 32 S&W Long. Few Americans seem interested in precision target shooting so there is little interest in a high-end target pistol. YMMV
Magtech32BulletTgt-1_zpsff1f1a44.jpg
 
The .32 S&W long is not popular for the same reason the .38 S&W isn't. Just to many other more useful rounds out there.

Deaf
 
I don't know that I would buy a 32 Long Auto but I sure like the 32 Long revolvers I own. Plus the several 32 Mag revolvers that shoot the 32 Long rounds so well. I am a real fan of 32 caliber guns. How popular they are on a broad scale means nothing to me.
 
32 S&W Long is the only center fire cartridge that the serious target pistols are made in. My guess is that it is accurate enough and light enough that a 22 LR like conventional blow back system will work with it without beating up the pistol. So you can sort of use the same system for your rim fire and center fire gun. That is why conversion kits can be had for like the Walther GSP, Hammerli 280, etc. It also likely fits the firearms caliber restrictions present in Europe. Examples below:

https://www.pardiniguns.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=1_8&products_id=12
http://www.larrysguns.com/Products/Benelli-MP-90-32SandW-Long-WC__Benelli-spc-MP-90S-32.aspx
http://www.larrysguns.com/Products/WALTHER-GSP-EXPERT-32-CAL__WA-spc-2662345.aspx
 
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Ruger made the adjustable sight Single Six in .32 H&R magnum which easily shoots .32 Long. I reload the mag cartridge for mine but often shoot Longs when available and cheap then reload the cases for more fun. The longs are about the same as a .22 LR for recoil and noise.
 
But this is America-where bigger is always better and people are struggling with .38 special-when they would have had a blast with a .32!
Nope- for a cartridge to be in demand in the US, it has to be a .575 super magnum.

And yet the lowly .22 LR is still extremely popular.
 
If people prefer a revolver, 38 special is as low (anemic) as they are willing to go in USA.
Popularity in Europe where guns cannot be legally carried concealed just doesn't equate to popularity here.
 
Big fan of 32 calibers. I would love to see more revolvers made in 327 Fed Mag and a RIMLESS 32 ACP. How about a N-Frame 10 shot in 327 or a 15 shot Rimless 32 ACP in something the size of a LCP?
 
Big fan of 32 calibers. I would love to see more revolvers made in 327 Fed Mag and a RIMLESS 32 ACP. How about a N-Frame 10 shot in 327 or a 15 shot Rimless 32 ACP in something the size of a LCP?
I'd be down for both those handguns, but my thoughts are a .32 Long target pistol is probably more accurate than a .22 target pistol and that its a shame we don't see more .32 Long pistols around.
 
On a lark, I bought a Walther GSP on Gunbroker months ago and it is astonishingly accurate and fun to shoot.

One thing that way too many folks on gun forums say far too often is "the gun is more accurate than I am..." and I believe that statement is bunk. I believe that these people are better shooters than they actually give themselves credit for and if they shot this Walther GSP, they might actually see why I think their blanket statement needs to be tossed in a hole and buried.

This pistol locks in to your hand, the sights help you rather than obscure the target, the trigger simply waits for you to tell it "now" and the pistol delivers a 98 grain wadcutter exactly where your brain wishes it would go.

The piles of decent service, duty and concealed carry grade pistols are great at what they do but no, the gun is not "more accurate than I am." Try something like a Walther GSP or a Hammerli like saleen323 mentioned above and you'll see that there is a world beyond what your Glock 19 has the ability to do.

And yes, it's a .32 S&W Long. I've been running my handloads with 1.7 grains of Titegroup. When it comes to hitting what you want to it... this thing is like cheating.
 
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