.32 ACP in a .32 S&W revolver?
 

I periodically see posts in this forum where someone is using .32 ACP ammo in a .32 S&W/long/H&R Mag/327 Mag. To the best of my knowledge, the ACP is a smaller bullet diameter, and most of the available ammo would be hotter than the original .32S&W loads as well. Any thoughts on this?

I'VE BEEN SHOOTING .32ACP IN S&W .32 REVOLVERS FOR YEARS. I COUD GET THE .32 ACP AMMO CHEAPER. JP

I would not use .32 ACP in a black powder era .32 S & W top-break, but it should be fine in a modern .32 S & W Long or H & R/Federal Magnum gun.

Edit to add: Can you? Yes. Should you (when you can find the proper ammo for the chambering)? I wouldn't.

SAAMI maximum average chamber pressure for .32 ACP is 20,500 psi. SAAMI has not set a pressure limit for .32 S&W but for .32 S&W Long it is 15,000 psi. The pressure .32 ACPs are intended to produce amounts to a proof load for modern .32 S&W Long revolvers. Those who want to make their .32 S&W Long revolvers inaccurate by firing .32 ACP in them claim that as the undersize bullet passes through the long chamber gas escapes around the bullet lowering pressure. .32 ACP cases are .075” longer than .32 S&W cases which has the potential to jam the .32 ACP case mouth into the .32 S&W chamber throat pinching it and raising .32 ACP pressure. Additionally all the .32 S&W revolvers that I am aware of are weak old hinge frames.

There’s no stupid question but there surely are unsafe ideas posted on the internet.

PPCSHOOTER, did you read the question carefully? HoundDog316 is asking about firing .32 ACP in a .32 S&W, not a .32 S&W Long.

(Here we go again...)

Use the proper ammunition for the firearm at hand. Listen to people who say otherwise at your own risk and peril.

.32 ACP should not be used in place of the .32 S&W as most .32 S&W guns are weak top-breaks. The chamber pressure is too high. I have fired a great number of .32 ACP rounds in newer revolvers (in .32 S&W Long and .32 Mag), and they have worked OK for me. Using .32 S&W Long ammunition is the preferred option.

I long ago reloaded very mild .32 cast bullet loads in .32 ACP cases for use in a .32 S&W breaktop, and they worked,

K22FAN
YEP I READ IT RIGHT, DID YOU?

MURPHYDOG
IS CORRECT, I DO USE THEM IN .32S&W LONG AND .32H&R MAGS REVOLVERS

Thanks for the discussion-pretty much answers my question. While I did reference the other .32s, my main question concerned the .32 S&W (short) due to multiple issues of pressure, case length, bullet size, etc. with the acp. Mostly wondering what the folks on this forum thought.

For the long & magnum 32s, the only issue 'should' be the smaller bullet diameter. While certainly no expert, I know some hand loaders experiment with slightly different bullet diameters to improve accuracy, operation in worn barrels, etc. Didn't know what the community thoughts were.

I can see how you interpreted the body of his text to mean HoundDog316 was asking about firing .32 ACP in .32 S&W Longs. I don’t doubt J frames and perhaps I frames going back as far as their cylinders have been heat treated have an adequate margin of safety, but reloading some S&W Long brass makes more sense to me.

Thanks for the info,,,I recently bought a sweet .32 revolver and was trying to figure out the difference in ammo!

Don't believe everything you see on the internet.
There are only a few, very few , instances of safe ammo interchangability.
Be careful.

I had the same question about my 432PD (.32 H&R Magnum) as I sometimes carry a .32ACP Seecamp as back-up to it. I called the S&W factory and asked them the question. Their response was if you can safely load the .32ACP rounds in the cylinder (you can on mine), then yes, you can shoot the .32ACP rounds out of the 432PD. No guarantees on accuracy, but in an emergency situation, this could work. YMMV

Regards,

Dave

There are two other issues.

The 32 acp has a very small rim. So does it hold the cartridge in position and not let it go too deep into the cylinder that you have light primer strikes or no primer strike?

The second issue is, will it extract? Or will the extractor star slip off the tiny rim and leave one or more cases in the cylinder to be picked out by hand? This wouldn't be at all good in a self defense situation, and would be a PITA in a range gun.

As to whether it is accurate, if you have a suitable gun, try it and see.

Theoretical analyses on the internet about accuracy aren't worth a heck of a lot.

Having recently purchased a .32 S&W Long revolver, I revisited firing .32 ACP ammunition in it. Not a new experience for me, but it has been awhile since I last did it. I fired several boxes of both factory (Remington) .32 ACP FMJ loadings, plus some overly warm .32 ACP lead bullet reloads that I felt a little uncertain about firing in a semiauto. Both seemed to group about as well as .32 Long loads at 15 yards. The major problem I encountered was occasional misfires. The reason for this is that the semi-rim of the .32 ACP is thinner than the full rim of the .32 Long. Therefore, it creates enough excess headspace to result in a shallow indent of the primer by the firing pin and the potential for a misfire. That is not really significant for fun shooting, but I wouldn't stake my life on using .32 ACP cartridges in a revolver used for any serious purpose. Second, I did experience some rim overrides by the extractor star, just something you need to be careful about. Again not a serious problem for fun shooting, not so desirable for anything else.

Conclusion is that yes, you can use .32 ACP in a more modern solid frame revolver, but don't do it for any targets more dangerous than paper or tin cans.