Looking for fun in .32cal

[Jim NE]

Well, USPS says my surplus .32 cal. CZ 50 will be here tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. I did get the two boxes of .32 auto ammo I ordered from Bud's today, though. It's PMC, and I believe it was $17+ per box of 50. It was the least expensive I could find.

What's the least expensive decent working factory .32acp ammo you've found recently? Online source preferable. Thanks.

 

[Tallball]

Aguila

 

[Ed Ames]

I understand that this is my experience and my opinion, but that is what I have to go on.

True for us all, true for us all.

I don't see the .327 and .357 as being competitors in any real sense. For me the .327 is just the most sensible "if you want a .32 revolver, get this" chambering. The whole point of it being that...well, again, yesterday I took my .327 revolver out and shot 50rd of .32 S&W Longs, along with some full power .327. I could also have used up some .32 H&R. The S&W Longs were quiet, very gentle on the hands, and an absolute pleasure to shoot just for the joy of punching holes in paper.

My reason for wanting a modern .32 revolver is that I have antique .32 revolvers. Therefore I buy large quantities of .32 caliber bullets. Having a modern gun that can share that supply just makes life easier. If I didn't have (an intend to keep) those antiques I'd probably stick with .45 colt.

I've never really warmed up to .38/.357. I've fired a few dozen rounds of .357, and hundreds of .38 sp. I've owned a m10 and an airweight. I just can't work up any passion for those rounds, as practical as they are. I mostly buy .45s of various sorts.

As for weight and barrel length, I may come to agree with you someday, but I don't yet.

 

[golden]

Maybe it is grip ergonomics

Ed,

After my agency dropped revolvers and standardized on the .40 S&W BERETTA, I rarely shot revolvers. Now that I am shooting them again, the most important features for me are recoil and grip ergonomics.

I am standardizing on the S&W K-frames because when I fit them with HOGUE grips, they fit my hand better than anything else, they balance well and recoil is moderate with standard pressure ammo.
I usually shoot .38 Special standard pressure plus one qualification drill with some + P jhp.
I normally only shoot .357 magnum in my L-frames which have the same size grip as the K-frames, but more weight to offset the recoil. I also had two of them MAGNA-PORTED.

When I shoot my little H&R in .32 S&W Long with the plastic grips it came with, the fit is adequate because the recoil is so light.

I have also shot CHARTER ARMS revolvers, both the 5 and 6 shot models with the thin width rubber figergrip stocks. These conceal well, but transmit too much recoil in .38 Special +P.
This is MUCH LESS of a problem on a S&W J-frame fitted with PACHMAYR Compact Professionals.

So it probably comes down to grip material, shape, width and overall size plus the overall weight of the gun.

Jim

 

[BSA1]

My hands down favorite is the 32-20.

I have a EMF S.A.A. that I have won many shooting matches with.

A Uberti carbine stands ready for use on the farm for varmint and predator control.

I have been puzzled the J-frame Snubbie in 32 magnum has never caught on. The 6th round and high performance ammunition along with the lighter recoil and weight would seem to make it a top choice for ladies.

Just goes to show how fickle the gun market is.

 

[Gun Master]

.32-20 ?

Could you share what kind of .32-20? Mine is a Colt Army Special 6".
I think this "32" has been unjustly ignored.
The guns & ammo for .32-20 should be prolific.

 

[Swing]

I have a Vz 61 Skorpion pistol that is a lot of fun.

^ This.

 

[bangswitch]

I own a Colt 1908, which is the same as the 1903, but chambered for .380 ACP. I like the dynamics and feel of the grip, but have not been able to determine the reason for its failure to feed. Ammo, mag feed lips, polishing feed ramp, or other possible remedies are yet to be determined.
Needless to say it's no fun to shoot if it jams every other round.
I'm about ready to take it to a good gunsmith, but I've been burned in past experiences.
I'd be interested in ways to locate an honest, qualified gunsmith.

Also, I've been told that a 1908 can be converted to a 1903 with a .32 ACP barrel and magazine.
Anybody know if this is true?

Do you shoot handloads, and what type projectile are you using? If you're using JHP's or a similar bullet with a blunt tip, the feed ramp may be too steep.

I have a 1903 (1943 manufacture) and it will shoot FMJ round tips all day long and never jam once. I loaded some JHP's to use as personal defense rounds, and it won't empty a magazine without jamming at least three times. They are always failure to feed, and it's obvious they're hanging up on the feed ramp. It happens regardless of whether it's my handloads or factory (Hornady) ammo. It's not safe to use as a CC because of the frequency.

I've quit carrying it partly because I have better guns for that now, and it's really too valuable (mine is a WWII military issue, blued gun, carried by a LtCol). However, it is a joy to shoot. Low recoil, comfortable to hold, and pretty darn accurate to 15 yards or so.

 

[Gun Master]

^ This.
I use various factory loads, all FMJ.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[ThomasT]

If someone brought out a .32 H&R magnum in a 6 shot model with a 4 inch barrel, I would consider it. It might be a minimum recoil self defense weapon, but we really need a premium bullet load. It would certainly be a fun range gun.
Not enough attention is paid to the advantages of a low recoil round in self defense situations. This is especially true of senior citizens who lack hand and wrist strength and persons of small stature.

Golden S&W made the model 631 in 32 magnum. It was my holy grail gun for many years. I finally found one for $700. Most were $900+ and I couldn't justify that much money for one. My model has a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. It weighs 24oz unloaded. I load a Hornady 85gr jacketed bullet that with a max load of L'il Gun powder gets 1250fps from the 4" barrel. The same loads goes 1305fps from a 5.5" barrel of a Ruger Single Six.

That should be more than enough for defense and the recoil is not too bad either. The muzzle blast is another matter.

 

[golden]

I remember the 631

RATSHOOTER,

I remember that gun, but have not seen one. It sounds like it is getting up into collectors prices. I want a shooter, also, your loads sound hot!

I think that I would like a bigger gun for a safety margin. Like I said, I would love a .32 H&R version of the S&W model 15. At the moment, this has become my favorite revolver for range use. I have no problem using it in .38 Special, but would really like to try a .32 caliber model.

Many years ago, a friend of a friend showed me a gun they inherited. It was a S&W model with a skinny 4 inch barrel. What caught my eye was the caliber. It was a .32 S&W Long. The only one I have ever seen.
I know they made .32-20 and sold a lot of them in the mid size COLT and S&W revolvers. My main complaint about using a .32-20 is that they are often loaded weaker than the .32 H&R.
A review I read somewhere had them chronographing around 700 fps!

Jim

 

[ThomasT]

Yep Golden my loads are hot. But they are also right out of the Hogdon reloading manual. I don't exceed recommended maximum loads. Most of the time I don't shoot full power 32 mag loads. Thats why I don't care to get a 327 mag. I would never use the power.

The 32 with the skinny barrel you saw just like my S&W model 31-1 with a slim 4" barrel and fixed sights. Its a J-frame gun that is light and easy to carry and accurate. I also have the same gun with 2" and 3" barrels.

 

[ThomasT]

Golden if you go to gunbroker and type in 32 long there are several 32 long revolvers from around $250 up to close to a $1000. I would stay away from the ones listed as made in 1903. They don't have heat treated cylinders as far as I know. Get the models from S&W made in the 1960s and newer and you can load past the weak factory loads. Most of my 32 long loads with 94-100gr bullets shoot around 900fps from a 4" barrel. Good for defense for those who can't take recoil and good small game loads.

My uncle was a homicide detective and saw several people shot with a 32 and thought it was a good round for that. He even gave his wife a J frame S&W 32 with a 2" barrel to keep in her nightstand.

 

[Jlr2267]

Semi-auto .32 ACP is actually .319 inches (7.6mm).
Revolver .32 cal. is usually .312 inches (7.9mm).

these numbers are not correct

 

[golden]

Thanks for the info

RAT,

Thank you for the info on your loads. I just wish there were some good hollowpoint factory loads out there. A GOLD DOT or HYDRA SHOK or PDX equivalent. For the moment and near future, I am still good with the 9m.m. and .38 Special.

My father passed away a few years ago and the last time I took him shooting, he was able to shoot a TAURUS model 85 with wadcutters. He did alright at close range, but after a couple of cylinder fulls, his hands were really shaking. I expect this was a result of his age, so I bought the H&R 732 in .32 S&W Long for him to practice with, but he never got a chance to.

Jim

 

[ThomasT]

Golden sorry about your dad. But I understand. My dad and I did a lot together. I worked in his machine shop since I was 10 years old. We hunted, fished and flew model airplanes together. I never knew I could miss someone so much. His brother, the uncle I mentioned earlier was like my spare dad. We fished and shot falling plate matches together. He died while on an elk hunting trip with me in colorado. He died nine months to the day after my dad died. That was a very bad year.

I don't know that a hollow point would make the gun that much more effective. I think of the common factory loads the wadcutter has the highest velocity and that would be my choice. You may not remember it but the Scarsdale diet doctor was killed with a 32 long from an H&R revolver. IIRC he was shot in the hand and one in the chest. The chest shot was the deal. And I bet those were round nose lead.

 

[Gun Master]

Correction (Partial)

these numbers are not correct

See posting # 64.

You are 1/2 correct, and I am 1/2 wrong.
Shall we call it a draw ?

The .32 ACP is .309" (7.8mm). The .32 revolver info is correct.
Please see Wikipedia List of Handgun Cartridges.

I apologize for the error.

 

[ThomasT]

Every 32 acp bullet I have seen has been listed as .311. The 32 longs and mag jacketed bullets are listed as .312 and the lead bullets as .314. The old heel based bullets for the early rounds were .319 IIRC.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Ruger .327 mag....then you can shoot 5 different cartridges in .32 out of it.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I have a 1903 Colt in .32. The thing is a blast. I also have a .32 NAA (I think it is called a Guardian but I can't remember). I use it for pocket carry occasionally. The thing has some serious power for such a little package.

 

[golden]

A strange story

RAT,

My wife used to work for a FEDERAL Law Enforcement Agency where the boss was called "# 1" and his secretary whom he spent a great deal of time with was called "1 1/2".
Well, one day his wife shot him 6 times. He survived and I was told that the gun was a .32!
This was considered a hard luck posting, since the man who replaced him ended up going to prison!

So if you are ever in a situation with a disgruntled wife, hope she is a poor shot and using a .32 revolver!

On the ammo, I like wadcutters for cutting nice round holes on targets, but I put my money on hollowpoints.
In my .32ACP, I like a FEDERAL Hydra Shok in the chamber and a magazine full of the COR BON Powerball. The HS will usually expand and also penetrate, while the lightweight Powerball ammo will almost always expand and mimics the shape of fmj ammo, so it feeds really well.
This is the combo I carried in my WALTHER PPK when I used it as a pocket gun and still use it with my BERETTA TOMCAT.

Jim

 

[ThomasT]

Well I guess if you are going to cheat on your wife you best arm her with a small caliber and don't give her any shooting lessons. One good thing about being shot 6 times and living to tell the tale is that it also gives you time to reflect on your life choices. By the way, did they get back together?

I have so many guns my wife would probably grab the 44 mag and it would be curtains for the Rat! But I have reached a point in life where fishing or a range trip are much more satisfying than affairs of the heart.

If you handload for the 32 long Speer has load data using the 60gr Gold Dot intended for the 32 ACP for loading in the long case. It shows velocities of over a thousand FPS from a 3" barrel. That should be enough to expand that bullet rather well and have mild recoil.

 

[Gun Master]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Too sad to be funny.

 

[ThomasT]

Gun Master if you are refering to the affairs of the heart thingy don't be sad. My wife and I will have been married 40 years next december. I have no interest in any other female persuits. One is truly enough and more than I can handle most days. So don't worry, be happy.

 

[Gun Master]

You are so right !