Opinions and experience with S&W 632 Carry Comp?

[ATBackPackin]

I did a short search here and didn't really find much about this revolver. I am looking for some experiences and opinions about this S&W. It would be a multi-purpose gun. Something to carry from time to time, a woods gun, and most importantly a gun to teach my wife to shoot with.

Any and all help would be appreciated.
Shawn

S&W 632 Carry Comp

 

[ATBackPackin]

Wow, that popular of a model huh?

 

[Maximumbob54]

I won’t invest in one until they drop the PC or Pro price tag and it loses the big hole on the top of the barrel. I want to see a Model 60 chambered in .327 with the three inch barrel. Until they stop making the strange profiles on the barrels and stop with the additions that jack up the price I have zero interest. But I’m sure there should be others who love them and will never part with them. To each their own. In retrospect I may have just described the Ruger SP-101 but really I would like to see a S&W version with the nice sights that the Model 60 can come with. That would be a sweet little shooter. It would be even better if they would only add the minimal amount of underlug needed to shroud the ejector rod, but again that is a very personal desire on my part.

 

[GEM]

I have a SS one that I bought much cheaper than MSRP but still pricey. It is fun to shoot and very accurate. With 6 shots and the mag ammo, it would be a decent SD gun for the recoil shy and small handed.

The problem is ammo supply. Cabela's is the game around here if you don't want to buy on the Internet. I did buy a case of Fiocchi FMJ SW Long for plinking, not cheap.

32 HR mag is nonexistant in HP, just wadcutters at the local stores. There are Fed and Gold Dot 327 around but pricey.

It's a good gun if you can afford it. I think it is a good SD gun as mentioned above.

It has a good trigger and I think it would a good shooter for a female for a starter.

 

[ATBackPackin]

and it loses the big hole on the top of the barrel.

Bob, I can certainly understand where that would be a huge deal breaker for a lot of people, but in my case I think it will actually be a benefit for my wife. The softer the recoil the better, at least for now.

GEM, that is exactly what I was hoping to hear. This will be primarily for my wife to learn on. After she learns and becomes comfortable with it, I'll try again to take her to a store so she can pick her own (before anyone says I should take her to the gun store first to pick her own gun, believe me I have tried on many occasions. She has insisted that I just pick one for her).

As far as the ammo, the Cabelas near me never seems to have a shortage of any of the .32's it shoots. Quite a few defensive loads as well.

Speaking of which, what defensive load does everyone think would be best for HD? I have always been told for example that out of a .357 mag that it is best to use .38's for HD. Is .327 mag too loud and too much muzzle flash for HD?

Shawn

 

[sixgunner455]

I don't mind the underlug profile, but ... it's a .32!! Why in the world does it need a compensator? That's just ... odd.

 

[GEM]

I've shot the 327 mag. It's loud but not terrible. The recoil is manageable. True, I'm experienced with much bigger booms.

But she could try it and then the 32 HR mags if need be. However, IMHO, the operative principle is to actual get a round into the person and if it is a couple of 32 SW Longs, you are way ahead in the fight. There are some HP longs out there.

The gun itself is impressive if pointed at you. BTW, this may be silly but the comp makes the muzzle look bigger when it is pointed at you!

 

[Stainz]

First, for the fellow worried about the 'added' cost of the "Pro Series", consider the standard 3" 60 - SKU #162430 and the 3" 60 Pro Series - SKU #178013. The MSRP of the latter is $24 more in the 2010 catalog than the base 3" 60. When I bought my 60 Pro in January locally, I got a better price on the Pro! In that case, you gain a target barrel, modicum of a trigger job, front Tritium Night Sight, and great wood grips. Of course, the 3" 632 Power Port has the deal killer for me - a comp. I had a 4" SP101 and 4.6" BHG SSM in .32 H&RM - you sure don't need a comp with the hottest .32 H&RM's I've shot - I cannot imagine it being of any use with .327 Federal Magnums - just louder - and something else to clean.

I think the new 2 1/8" SS 632. SKU #178046, is the answer. It's barrel is likely rifled for the same length as the 3" Power Port - with it's 'Expansion Chamber'. It's OAL is only 7/8" greater - and weight is 1.5 oz more, too - I doubt accuracy at self protection distances will suffer with the 2 1/8" 632. Plus - it has night sights, no IL, and is nearly a C-note less! One minor problem - it's in the 2010 catalog - like the 3" 63, which finally came out in November. We are still waiting for the shorter 632!

Of course, my suggestion would be either the new 3" 63, SKU #162634 and a fun 8-shot .22LR with a HiViz sight for plinking fun, or the 3" 60 Pro for self defense. You can always shoot .38's from it - and a mild 148gr full wadcutter is a great defensive round anyone can shoot from it. My wife enjoys plinking with it loaded with 158gr LHPSWC +P's!



That's another set of the S&W 60 Pro grips on the 63 - great improvement - and reasonable ($43 + s/h.).

Stainz

 

[GEM]

BTW, I scored a 432 for $330 when SW was discontinuing them. It's a 32 HR Mag only but very light and nice pocket gun.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I find that MSRP vs. local pricing here in North Florida is nuts enough on S&W products. Add Pro (OMG) to the title and you add a hundred dollars here. The nuttier thing is that they sit, sit, sit, sit, poof, sold. And they get the asking price. They just have to be patient. And if it is PreLock then you may as well get the New Jersey “Fugitaboutit”. The price is out to lunch. So while I like the idea of the .327 in a J frame I agree with the above about not needing a port and I prefer the classic barrel profile over the new Buck Rogers barrels. I know other guys like them and I’m not blasting. It’s just a matter of personal taste. I just think it’s interesting they put out a bells and whistles model and not a 637 or 60 type model. But I have no doubt that it is still a very good small revolver all the same. And if I don’t get an SP-101 I may sucker into the Smith eventually.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Thank you for the advice from everybody. I certainly understand that this gun is not for everyone. However, I think it will fill the niche nicely that I need it for.

Out of all the .32's it shoots, can someone recommend a good load for HD?

Shawn

 

[Kal52]

I have been kickin around the idea of getting the same gun, but honestly the comp really has me hesitant as well.

I Just picked up a like new 432 for my wife and I to play with, Its a .32H&R only gun, but wow is it nice! I havent had a chance to shoot it, but loaded up It still is light as can be.

I have the 4" SP101 as well, and its very nice to shoot, I think being able to step up a few times in power before she shoots the mag is a big plus.

I Just picked up 400rds of 85gr hp from Georgia arms, they are back ordered on the 100gr. For 32 H&R I think either would be just fine for HD as for the .327 I dont own one YET LOL, so I can comment on that sorry

BTW they did make a 2" model, same 632 mod number for some odd reason, looks nice has good looking sights on it as well.

 

[John Wayne]

The problem is ammo supply. Cabela's is the game around here if you don't want to buy on the Internet. I did buy a case of Fiocchi FMJ SW Long for plinking, not cheap.

Ammo may be hard to find, but it should be an easy round to load for. If you buy 50 .327 rounds, shoot them, and then reload them to .32 S&W Long specs for practice, the brass should last practically forever.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Well I ended up buying the gun. I found a used one that looked like it hadn't been shot at all for what I think was a pretty good price. This gun feels so good in the hand and points very naturally. It is extremely well balanced and the trigger is smooth as butter with a very crisp break at 9# double action and a mere 2.75 # in single action. I could do without the lock and may end up disconnecting it in the future. While it's not a beautiful blue mirror in color it does have a nice finish. As I said before I am not a big revolver guy so as far as how tight is and how well it locks........I really have nothing to compare it to. It works for me.

I will say that shooting a revolver in double action was a lot more difficult than I anticipated. However I did some research on technique and stance and after a couple or sessions I have made a vast improvement. I bought this gun mainly to teach my wife with and for to have for HD. I have zero doubts that it will fill it's role without issue.

I would also like to add that after doing a lot of research about this round and getting very conflicting opinions that I could not be more pleased with my choice. I wish it was a little cheaper, but that has only made me make up my mind about reloading. I love it's versatility to be able to shoot .32 s&wl, .32 h&rmag, and .327 fedmag. Finally, anybody whom thinks the .327 fedmag is a ineffective round probably has not shot one. This little gal has some attitude and the looks to go along with it.

Feel free to ask any questions about something I probably left out.

Shawn

 

[ATBackPackin]

Is this holster safe? The trigger is covered but not the whole trigger guard.

Shawn

The target was 11 rounds at 10 yards using .327 fedmag 85 gr JHP.

 

[GEM]

I took a couple of new shooters out a couple of days ago and they found the 632 a very pleasant gun to shoot as compared to a 38 SPL.

It's not my carry gun but it's a nice gun and the J frame size with a good round is very viable for a SD gun for smaller handed folk who don't like lots of recoil.

There's 32 Long HP - http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=735129

The idea is to get a round into the BG. That's most of the variance, IMHO. Yep, might be a zombie meth crazed biker - but probably not.

So I can shoot full power +p guns, but not everyone can.