nominal ballistics for the .38 special are:
158gr bullet at Aproximately 750fps, yielding about 200 ft-lbs Give or take a few lbs.
Reloads are aproximately as follows:
124gr = 1,010 - 1,210fps with about 200 -400lbs from a 6.5"barrel
158gr = 750 - 960fps with about 200-320lbs from a 6.5" barrel
nominal ballistics for the 32 H&R Magnum are:
85gr bullet at aproximately 1,100fps, yeilding about 230ft-lbs, give or take.
Reloads are aproximately as follows:
85gr at 1,000 - 1,260 yielding 185-300 ft-lbs give or take, from a 5" barrel
90gr at 800 - 1,225fps yielding 127-300 ft-lbs give or take, from a 5" barrel
Whack off a 20 lbs or so of muzzle energy for anything less than a 4" barrel; just to play it conservative. Recoil will be manigible, even out of a light snubby.
All this data is general rounded data pulled off of
www.ammoguide.com. if you have any questions about ballistics af a cartridge, check this sight out first. they will usualy have what your looking for.
The page with Background information, Nominal ballistics, and reloading data for the 32 H&R can be found here:
http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/ai.cgi?sn=LVVswmrjUj&catid=202
If youv got the time, iv found Shoot! ballistic software to be helpfull for generating graphs and charts, and calculating recoil and energy levels. it can be downloaded free (for 30 days) here:
Ballistics software just so you know, i did NOT buy, and i do not own this software. i just thought it might be helpfull. Its up to you if you buy it or not. i think its over-priced, but it does the job.
have a nice day.