Why no love for 32 H&R?

[Mr_Flintstone]

I bought a Charter Arms 32 H&R Undercoverette a while back, and I really like it. It wasn't until after I bought it, though, that I realized how hard it is to find ammo for, and there are only a couple manufacturers of guns in the caliber. I don't really understand it. The round has as much energy as the 38 special, but less recoil, and about 150-200 fps higher velocity. You'd think it would be fairly popular, but not so. Is it just too similar to the really popular 38 Special? Just wondering.

 

[Zendude]

I agree that the 32 H&R is a goldilocks cartridge for concealed carry revolvers. I also think it is an ideal carry gun for novice shooters.

 

[walnut1704]

Well, the .38 Special has been around since our Grandfather's/Great Grandfather's (depending on your age) were shooting. So something would have to be way better to knock it off the pedestal.

 

[Riomouse911]

Price, availability of guns and ammo, the decades of .38 special and ,380 use in small-framed defense guns prior to it's introduction, etc.

I like them, and I would looove a .327 or .32 H&R in a 5.5" Single Six, but for general popularity it's pretty tough to overcome the .38 nostalgia and the more recent .380 wave.

 

[cal44mag]

Ruger has introduced a lot of 327 Federal guns over the last couple years -- several over the last month.

And all these will shoot 32 H&R magnum.

I suspect many people who want to carry the Ruger LCR 327 and SP-101 327 will end up carrying 32 H&R magnum some/most of the time.

Full power 327 Federal in a small gun is a beast.

I have this 431PD in 32 H&R Magnum and carry it frequently. It weighs only 13.3 oz.

 

[.308 Norma]

I bought a Charter Arms 32 H&R Undercoverette a while back, and I really like it. It wasn't until after I bought it, though, that I realized how hard it is to find ammo for, and there are only a couple manufacturers of guns in the caliber. I don't really understand it. The round has as much energy as the 38 special, but less recoil, and about 150-200 fps higher velocity. You'd think it would be fairly popular, but not so. Is it just too similar to the really popular 38 Special? Just wondering.

Actually, I have both. And I have identical little DeSantis "pancake" style holsters for each. My 32 H&R is what I carry when I'm working outside around the place here, particularly when I'm out on the back part of our property. It's an old Taurus snubby that I don't really care much about getting dusty or dinged up, and I mostly only carry it for a shot at the occasional coyote anyway.
However, my "go to town" carry gun is a Smith snubby, 38 Special - always has been. IMO, the "150-200 fps higher velocity" of the 32 H&R wouldn't make up for the bigger holes the 38 Special would punch. By the way, that "150-200 fps higher velocity" is not exactly true anyway. With a +P load, I can push a 110gr bullet from my 38 Special just as fast as I can push a 100gr bullet from my 32 H&R. And as far as that "less recoil" thing goes - yeah, well maybe. I can't tell any difference. I think the 32 H&R might make more noise with similarly powerful loads, but I've never measured it, so I'm not sure.
As an avid handloader, ammo availability of either cartridge has never been much of a problem for me. However, if I wasn't a handloader I'd have to give the 38 Special another vote over the 32 H&R for a carry gun. As you pointed out, there's a whole lot better selection of factory ammo around for the 38 Special than the 32 H&R.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Actually, I have both. And I have identical little DeSantis "pancake" style holsters for each. My 32 H&R is what I carry when I'm working outside around the place here, particularly when I'm out on the back part of our property. It's an old Taurus snubby that I don't really care much about getting dusty or dinged up, and I mostly only carry it for a shot at the occasional coyote anyway.
However, my "go to town" carry gun is a Smith snubby, 38 Special - always has been. IMO, the "150-200 fps higher velocity" of the 32 H&R wouldn't make up for the bigger holes the 38 Special would punch. By the way, that "150-200 fps higher velocity" is not exactly true anyway. With a +P load, I can push a 110gr bullet from my 38 Special just as fast as I can push a 100gr bullet from my 32 H&R. And as far as that "less recoil" thing goes - yeah, well maybe. I can't tell any difference. I think the 32 H&R might make more noise with similarly powerful loads, but I've never measured it, so I'm not sure.
As an avid handloader, ammo availability of either cartridge has never been much of a problem for me. However, if I wasn't a handloader I'd have to give the 38 Special another vote over the 32 H&R for a carry gun. As you pointed out, there's a whole lot better selection of factory ammo around for the 38 Special than the 32 H&R.

I have both too (nearly identical except caliber), and I really like 38, but that doesn't take away from the 32. I'm not saying that the 32 is better than the 38, only that it's "nearly as good" and pleasant to shoot from a small frame gun. They sell 22 lr revolvers by the boatload, and the 32 H&R (at least in my opinion) is a whole lot "more" than the 22, and you'd think more people would want an in-between gun.... But I guess that's the role the little 380s are filling right now.

 

[WestKentucky]

32mag is pretty sweet in a j frame, would be a lot of fun in a K frame too. I think the big reason it petered out was that all the police forces moved to 38sw and 38spl after leaving 32swl and 32cnp which left a pretty bad taste of the 32 caliber guns (all of them) as being weak and insufficient for serious duty roles. That stigma stuck.

 

[SteadyD]

I love my two 327 LCR revolvers. I typically carry 32 H&R Mag in them, or occasionally the Federal Hydra Shok low recoil 327 Magnum. I agree it should be way more popular.

Norma, the 32 Mag is definitely louder than 38 specials, but also noticeably softer recoiling to me when shot back to back.

 

[.308 Norma]

They sell 22 lr revolvers by the boatload, and the 32 H&R (at least in my opinion) is a whole lot "more" than the 22, and you'd think more people would want an in-between gun....

Yeah, I'll go along with that. In fact, that's one of the reasons I carry my 32 H&R when I'm working outside on the back part of our place - it's sort of an "in-between gun."

 

[cfullgraf]

I have one 32 H&R revolver and would be interested in getting another. It and my other 32 caliber revolvers are fun to shoot.

Reloading is the key to having great fun with the 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R, and 327 FED Mag. Components are readily available, you just have to assemble your own ammunition.

 

[Paladin7]

Personally, these days I just don't get it. Back in the day, when the 32 H&R Magnum was developed it gave the snubby revolver owner an extra round in the same package with similar ballistics to the 38 Special, which made sense, but never caught on. Nowadays, I just don't see the need, unless you just have to have one.

The 327 Federal Magnum is another one that I don't get... velocities are in 357 Magnum territory, but with lighter bullets and extremely high pressure.

I'll stick to my 38s and 357's. Would be interesting to hear if there is a better rationale that I haven't thought of, besides being a fun gun, etc.

 

[Jim K]

In general, .32 revolvers have survived only because of the limited demand from small framed police officers (mostly women) and others who are sensitive to recoil. For the most part, police no longer carry revolvers and most 9mm pistols are large and heavy enough that recoil is not a problem even for the lightweights among us. Except for the .327, which is adequately powerful, and in spite of the (generally) extra round available in .32 vs. .38 Special in small revolvers) none of the .32 caliber rounds have sufficient power to be considered serious defense guns (though, of course, even a low power gun is dangerous and not a toy), or sidearms for police. For the latter purpose, of course, the caliber was seldom used because it precluded ammunition transfer among officers in an emergency, as does any cartridge except 9mm today.

Jim

 

[SteadyD]

Jim I've been looking into the question of whether 32 H&R Magnum is sufficient for self defense. Based on what I could find including a discussion with Varminterror, it would seem it is. Bullets in the same weight as 380 that have better penetration than the 380.

 

[MAKster]

32 H&R Magnum is sufficient for self defense and has some definite pluses in the J-fame size revolvers. But 38 special has been considered the standard for revolvers for 100 years so revolver owners are not much interest in new ideas. Revolvers owners like the classics by their nature.

 

[ray15]

They sell 22 lr revolvers by the boatload, and the 32 H&R (at least in my opinion) is a whole lot "more" than the 22, and you'd think more people would want an in-between gun....

They may sell a lot of the Rough Riders, but I think quality 22 revolvers are not great sellers. They may sell a lot compared to .32s, but in the LGSs around here the only revolvers you find are used ones and Rough Riders. All will have several 22 autoloaders to pick from, even though most overlap in cost with quality 22 revolvers.

I think the bulk of the 22 market is very cost-sensitive. Even though most of the avid shooters here have at least a few I'm not sure that accounts for much of the total sales. 22s got less popular when ammo availability and cost became a problematic, so those factors in 32s may keep those markets somewhat separate.

 

[Varminterror]

The 32 H&R is one of my top few favorite revolver cartridges ever conceived. Low powder use, flat trajectory... a dandy of a small game cartridge. But it's never going to garner high popularity when compared to the 38spcl. Nothing will unseat the King any time soon - I think the 9mm would sooner be toppled from its throne than the 38spcl (because pistol shooters are far more fickle than those of us Luddites still hanging onto revolvers).

Is it just too similar to the really popular 38 Special?

The 32 H&R really isn't similar to the 38spcl outside of momentum and kinetic energy. The sectional density and impact velocity are very different, and the bullet diameter drives a decent spread in MANY of the stopping power metrics kicked around like Taylor Knock Out Factor, so what it does inside game is quite different as well. It's harder to find ammo for most folks, and often costs more since that ONE type of 32 will mid-level or specialty ammo, sitting beside CHEAP plinking 38spcl ammo. It's harder to find brass, which costs more, harder to find bullets, which often cost as much, and for most folks, one more round of "less impact" isn't compelling for most guys to "go out on a limb" with the 32H&R... When guys want something less than a 38, they don't look at 32, they go all the way to 22LR. When most folks go out after bunnies with a handgun, it's with a 22LR or maybe 22WMR... Not a 32...

I don't think the 32 H&R is going away, especially revitalized by the 327FM (which also won't ever win any popularity contests), but I also don't think either will ever garner a near-majority favor while the 38 and 357 are sitting at the table.

Consider the handgun buying market as compared to other firearm types. There are really very few options for revolver cartridges in its class - the 32/327 and 38/357 really are the only players at the table for the self defense revolver market. A few wild hair models are out there in 44spcl, 22WMR, and 22LR, but really, pickin's are slim. Alternatively, we have 22, 25, 32, 380, 9mm, 357sig, 40S&W, 45acp, 45gap, and 10mm in defensive pistols, before you make a huge leap up to the "magnum" pistol rounds NOT meant for defensive work. In bolt action rifles, there are HUNDREDS of cartridges in any given caliber or energy class. In shotguns, there's 410, 28, 20, 12, and 10ga... That's it... And nobody ever asks or cares that there are really only TWO choices in shotgunning...

So the defensive revolver market is a lot more like the shotgun market than that of the rifle. "Options" aren't really an interest.

 

[Walkalong]

The .38 Spl has too big of a head start, and the .32 Mag is still a .32, which is routinely disparaged for self defense.. That said, I have three, just not for self defense, although one is suitable, with a great double action trigger.

 

[Tallball]

I agree that it "should" be more popular. I've read dozens of posts where someone can't handle the recoil from a 38 or 9mm or 380, so they resort to using a 22 for SD. 32 long has so little recoil that I would be surprised if there are many people who can't handle it. 32 H&R doesn't have much more. My daughter dislikes recoil, but she's been happily shooting 32 H&R since she was eight years old. Due to her damaged wrists, it's the caliber my wife depends on if I'm out of town or something. Like the OP, hers is a Charter Arms Undercoverette. It's also a fun cartridge to shoot. I have a Ruger Single Six in 32 H&R that's extremely entertaining.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I really do wish the round was more popular, because in my opinion, it would make for a really nice matched pair (revolver and lever action). I plan to buy a Henry 327 In the spring, mainly for 32 H&R.

 

[Walkalong]

I start newbies with .22 LR, then move to .32 Mag.....then up as their recoil tolerance allows.

 

[golden]

I think that the .32 H&R has 3 problems.
1. Not enough choices in guns. I would buy a new production H&R 5 shot with 4 inch barrel if it went back in production and has the same quality construction as my H&R 732. Same for a S&W, CHARTER ARMS or TAURUS.
2. Small guns coming with 2 inch barrels. I would want a 4 inch. All the advantages of a longer barrel, like increased velocity, nose heavy balance, reduced muzzle blast and longer sightline for only an ounce or two increase in weight. It would take the .32 H&R out of a pocket or ankle holster size, but have real advantages on the self defense side.
3. AMMMMMO! The .32 H&R needs something like a HYDRA SHOK or HST or GOLDDOT bullet to insure expansion. The velocity out of a 4 inch would be good for that.

Jim

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

I would love to have a .32 H&R Magnum to play with, and I think in a J-frame it would make an excellent gun for Linda- her bum wrist makes her recoil sensitive. Personally I consider it adequate for carry, but I am swimming in options for carry guns. Now if my .32 New Police Detective Special was in H&R magnum... yeah baby!

 

[entropy]

It wasn't until after I bought it, though, that I realized how hard it is to find ammo for,

You do realize it will also fire .32 S&W, and .32 S&W Long, right? While both aren't available at Walmart, they are not that hard to find.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

You do realize it will also fire .32 S&W, and .32 S&W Long, right? While both aren't available at Walmart, they are not that hard to find.

No, but they tend to be expensive. Cheap to reload, though.