32 H&R Mag - dying ammo?

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Revolvers chambered for the newer .327 Magnum, can indeed also fire .32 H&R Magnum, .32 Long and .32 Short.

I saw a 3" barreled Ruger SP-101 in .327 Magnum the other day with adjustable sites and really had a hard time not grabbing it!!
 
We do not know what the future holds for guns and ammo. But if you need ammo in a pinch your friends and other contacts will be able to get you some .38 before they can .32.
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Ya know, this type of "get a gun in a popular cartridge so you can find ammo when the SHTF" wisdom pops up in every thread where someone is inquiring about a less popular cartridge.

So I submit my case as an example. I have guns chambered in some very obscure cartridges, some of which only botique ammo is available, if any at all. But this does not mean that I'm ill prepared when the zombies attack. For one, I reload, so I can always figure out a way. But more importantly, these oddballs are not the go-to guns. I have 9mm's, .223's, .308's, 12 ga. and all manner of other contemporary stuff for the day armageddon comes. In the mean time, I can enjoy shooting a smaller quantity of ammo through these guns, some of them as unique in design as they are in chambering.

So please, folks, unless someone is asking about ammo availability during the apocalypse, let's examine the real-world conditions for obtaining fodder.
 
So please, folks, unless someone is asking about ammo availability during the apocalypse, let's examine the real-world conditions for obtaining fodder.
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In other words ......can it be bought at Wal Mart? :D Just kidding .....;)
 
The .32 H&R is a cartridge for handloaders, no doubt about it. Not only is it capible of much better performance than factory offerings, such as they are, but for a handloader/bullet caster its just about as cheap to shoot as .22 LR.

I just ordered some 115 grain Gold Dot bullets and I can't wait to see what I can do with them in .32 H&R. I don't yet own (and may never own) a gun chambered in .327 Federal for which the bullet is intended, but with the bullets available as components, I can play with them in .32 H&R.

I just recently put a Super Single Six in .32 H&R on layaway. What do you think of yours 45Frank?
 
For what its worth; The latest Cheaper than Dirt catalog came yesterday and even they have 32 Magnum and not as horribly expensive as I've heard. New Manufacturer "Bitterroot Valley Ammunition and Components"(BVAC) is putting it together over in Western Montana and it is showing up in lots of places. BVAC is opening outlet stores in a few places, I've seen two. Haven't used any BVAC ammo, but I've been told that its as good as most any and they do have a Premium line.
I have a lifetime supply of 32 Magnum cases and I cast my bullets so I'm not short and it shoots quite well in a 327 revolver.
 
In the last year or so, since I bought my sp101 in .327 fed mag, I have really started to like the .32 caliber rounds. I can pretty much shoot 5 different .32 rounds out of the gun, there are a ton of different bullets for the handloader (I am a handloader) and I can always seem to find one of those 5 different cartridges at the local gun store. The fast magnum .32s are just a blast to shoot, and they don't break the wrist.

I recommend getting the gun and finding ammo for it, its not impossible. With the .32 H7R, handloading can really get this chambering to its potential, so I would also recommend learning a little about reloading.

For some people, if its not a NATO round or sitting on the shelf at the walmart every day they don't want to own it. I say that is super silly. Just because you might own a gun in an oddball caliber doesn't mean you don't have that 9mm for when the zombies attack.

My favorite calibers/cartridges are pretty odd.

.45 colt
.327 fed mag
.257 weatherby mag
.380 acp

You can't always find these at walmart, but I have never been shortsighted enough to not have enough on hand to shoot.
 
Could .327 / .32 mag be any harder to find that 9mm was last November? Around here there hasn't been any 9mm or .380 for over a year. .357 Sig, not nearly so hard to find.

The last thing I want to do is compete with everyone else for those "popular" calibers.
 
Could .327 / .32 mag be any harder to find that 9mm was last November? Around here there hasn't been any 9mm or .380 for over a year. .357 Sig, not nearly so hard to find.

The last thing I want to do is compete with everyone else for those "popular" calibers.

I have read commentary in the past that talks about the end of the world as we know it; one point made is that in such an environment having, say a 9 millimeter would be a good thing, since it is a common cartridge and there would be some of it around...I wonder what the recent shortage might indicate about this line of thinking....

No specific point here, just saying....
 
I love it, it's becoming my favorite right up there with the 45LC. I've become so confident with it's accuracy off hand I now carry it over my 9mm.
Very very smooth.
When I first bought it I had to send it back to the factory twice, when you had a cartridge in the cylinder it wouldn't turn. I went off on Ruger and it went out and back with in 4-5 days and I received a letter of apology.

Landric
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Join Date: April 19, 2003
Location: North Carolina and Virginia
Posts: 693

The .32 H&R is a cartridge for handloaders, no doubt about it. Not only is it capible of much better performance than factory offerings, such as they are, but for a handloader/bullet caster its just about as cheap to shoot as .22 LR.

I just ordered some 115 grain Gold Dot bullets and I can't wait to see what I can do with them in .32 H&R. I don't yet own (and may never own) a gun chambered in .327 Federal for which the bullet is intended, but with the bullets available as components, I can play with them in .32 H&R.

I just recently put a Super Single Six in .32 H&R on layaway. What do you think of yours 45Frank?
__________________
Landric

"The Engine could still smile...It seemed to scare them"- Felix
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Glad to hear it, hopefully mine won't need a trip back to Ruger. I expect that was just a fluke, but I suppose I could be a victim of the same fluke. :)

The only guns I have chambered for .32 H&R right now are Airweight J-frames. I'll looking forward to being able to load it up to its potential in a heavier weight, longer barreled gun.
 
I have found 32 magnum at several stores and purchased the few boxes they had. They have not been replenished. You can buy it online at various places at various times.

I have found the 32 mag to be a fine round in my sp101. It's perfectly stout enough for self defense, and is very accurate in my particular gun. It's pretty expensive as 32 goes but it should get the job done.

I'm with the other poster who said he has shot about 5 different types of cartridges out of his sp101 in 32. It's a really great platform with a really nice variety of loads for many purposes. I love the 32.

I tend to think the 32 magnum may indeed become a reloader's caliber. Not many people shoot it. Shame, because it's really a good load.
 
hay guys there is sereral boxs of sweet reloaded 32 mags on gun broker, granny has one box listed, sweet plated bullets he has some hot 32 longs going on soon and stocks 32 shorts too!! go getem!!
 
In sturdy modern revolvers chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal you can handload the .32 Long to give ballistics approximating the .32 H&R Magnum. In my S&W J-frame I handload the Hornady 85-grain XTP hollowpoint with 7.0 grs. of #2400 and bullet expansion is wonderful. A charge of 3 grains of Bullseye with the Hornady 85-gr. XTP provides about 900 f.p.s. and also shoots well. These heavier field loads are useable in the S&W Models 30 or 31, and postwar Colt D-frames, and approximate .32 H&R Magnum pressure and velocity. I use it them only occasionally in my S&W Models 30 and 31, as extensive use increases wear on the guns.

For general recreational and small game shooting a charge of 2.5 grains of Red Dot, 700-X or Bullseye or 3 grains of W231 or 4 grains of Unique or PB in .32 S&W Long brass with any 90-115 grain cast bullet, such as the RCBS 32-90CM, or Lyman #311008 gives a bit over 800 f.p.s. from a 4-inch revolver, or about 100 f.p.s. more than factory S&W Long ammo. I shoot ALOT of these and they are much more effective small game loads than any .22 rimfire. In older pre-1957S&W Hand Ejectors you must reduce these charges 1/2 grain.
 
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I have a 332 that I don't shoot much because I don't yet handload. I plan to start reloading soon, but will probably start with .38 Spl since most of my wheelguns are 38/357.
 
buy it lots of 32 long and 32 mag around some 32 mags on gun broker now for sale and i have some once fired brass and can reload 50 for ya if ya need some but it has been going for 60-100 a box.
 
ed is correct, we have loaded the same loads with similar results, kinda like the 32 long +p loads we have fired there real fun!!!!!
 
more 32 mags for sale!

I have 400 rounds of once fired reloaded 32 mags 30 bucks a box! i have 100 new star line brass if some one wants some new loads let me know what bullet you want loaded i will loadem up!
 
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