Ruger Caliber Questions

[Mastrogiacomo]

I love the look of the Ruger stainless with the simulated ivory grips. I plan to get my father a New Single Six, blue 4" with Rosewood grips for his birthday. It'll be a .22 for him to practice with at the range. For myself (I'll probably pick up one too!) I'd like to get the Ruger Bisley Vaquero -- but can't decide to go with the .357 and shoot .38's or go with the .32 H&R. Part of the problem is I don't know what the .32 H&R is -- is this a mild shoot? Appreciate any insight. Thank you.

 

[Chuck Dye]

The .32 H&R magnum has a straight walled case 1.074 inches long, 0.337 inches in diameter with a 0.375 rim, launches a 0.307 bullet. The two loads in my library are Federal’s catalog number 32HRA, a 95gr lead semi-wadcutter at a nominal 1030fps from a 4.5 inch barrel; and Federal’s Hi-Shock, catalog number 32HRB, a lead tipped hollow point at a nominal 1100fps from a 4.5 inch barrel. A search engine will bring more info, such as

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/32hrmag.php

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0BQY/9_45/55605778/p1/article.jhtml

http://www.georgia-arms.com/pistol.htm#h&r

and others.


Marlin has just announced a lever action in .32 H&R mag.

 

[HSMITH]

Unless you picked up reloading recently along with at least planning to cast your own bullets and I missed the news get the 357. 32 H&R is a neat cartridge and kills paper with surprising ease, but ammo costs and availability are both going to drive you nuts. Even getting the 32 components to reload is not as simple as it might sound. Shooting 38's makes a LOT more sense in this case. I consider the 32 the realm of the very advanced plinker or simply for someone that needs to be different ........

 

[Jim March]

Welll...so long as you shop mail-order, the 32Mag can be dealt with by non-reloaders.

Gun shows will also turn up fair amounts of 32S&W/32S&WLongs at not-too-crazy prices...these are "specials" to the 32Magnum.

The caliber can perform most jobs the 38Spl and even 38+P can accomplish, and is on par horsepower-wise.

 

[Old Fuff]

The .32 H&R Magnum comes in the same size gun that the .22 Single Six is. The .357's Come in the larger, heavier Blackhawk or full-sized Vaquero. While Ruger offers the .32 H&R Magnum Vaquero in a conventional single action style I don't believe they offer it as a Bisley. They do have the Bisley Vaquero in .357 Magnum.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably stick with the .357.....much appreciated.

 

[Thirties]

Ruger Single six .32h&r magnum is a sweet shooting revolver. You will need to reload your ammo, but components, dies, and loading info are not at all hard to find -- quite easy.

If you are not a loader, then go for the .38/.357 choices.

Also, if you want new, ruger only makes the single six in a fixed sight non-Bisley version now. Uses stainless fixed sights go for $350-$375. I saw a used blue .32 bisley with adj. sights and 4 5/8 barrel -- sold for $450.

Here's mine -- a 4 5/8" blue .32 non-bisley fixed rear sight with colored case frame. This is an excellent plinker for those who want a mild center fire SA revolver:

http://www.jellison.50megs.com/images/ruger32.jpg

 

[KingRuger]

i would def. opt for the .357.

it just has much more use i think. you can hunt with it without any problems, and self defense has been proven over and over again.

just my .02 cents

you can use the .38 for killin paper, and the hot .357 loads for killin the rest of it.

 

[maytom]

For the diehard Ruger single action fan, adding the .32 mag to your possession would be cool!! Not having fired that particular gun, I'd pick one up someday just to have one I can call my own. I particulary like Ruger's single-six "bird's head" stainless steel editon of that .32 mag!!

 

[CMcDermott]

HuckFinn, almost right on your dimensions, but the bullet is nominally .311-.312" (same as S&W Long and 32-20), not .307"