Any thoughts on the 32 H&R mag for a defense round in a 2 inch revolver? I bought a Charter Arms in the 1980's when the round first came out but kinda feel like its under powered.I really like the gun but not sure about the round.

It's better than no gun at all but the caliber would be far from my first choice.

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Certified AR-15 / SIG Armorer.

Granted, it may not be most people's first choice for a carry gun, but I'm a firm believer that shot placement trumps caliber. Carry what you shoot best. JMHO.

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Misty

+1 on that. The 32 mag is actually a pretty potent caliber. I would still prefer something bigger, but Misty is dead on.

I have posted a few times concerning this topic. I don't think the .32 H&R to be my first choice in a carry weapon caliber. It is a comromise for me. I have arthritis in my dominant hand from injuries and age. It allows me to carry a lightweight, six shot, compact revolver that I can shoot well and place precise shots with quickly if needed. I consider it a multiple shot weapon. It is a warm weather caliber for me since I question whether it is adequate against targets with thick clothing because of the lightweight bullets and inadequate penetration.

I consider it as useful as a .380 or .32 acp. I am not crazy about any .32 against a hostile target but it is very reliable in my revolver, unlike some .380's and .32 autos. If I have the ability to carry and shoot it well, I would prefer a 9mm or better auto or a six shot .357 mag with 125gr magnum ammo. But, due to physical limitations, I am sometimes down to the little .32. Slow follow-up shots and poor accuracy with a bigger, more powerful cartridge is no better than a .32 mag with good ammo.

Nothing wrong with a 32 Mag. Many years ago the .32 was used for defense before we ever had the .357's and bigger guns of today. Shot placement IS more important than size. Better to hit them with a .32 than miss them with a .44

Dan

You definitely gain performance when you step up to the 9mm/38 level and there are plenty of quite concealable choices in those - I just don't see any point in going to a lesser round. If you ever have to use it whatever you have won't seem like enough. If you ever need it things will have already gone very badly and you need every edge you can get. Words from an LFI instructor I knew:
1. You have to hit - nothing supercedes hitting.
2. Hit with as much as you can handle.

I am waiting for S&W to come out with a concealed hammer J frame in the 327 Fed Mag. Then you can shoot all the different rounds for practice and carry the 327 mag ammo plus have 6 shots.

I wouldn't feel out gunned carrying a 32 HR mag at SD range I am sure it would put a stop to someone bothering you.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I would give the .32 mag more leeway they most of the prior posts. I bought this ruger single six and was amazed. The snub I cant speak for, but this one is accurate, flat shooting, no recoil, but has a sharp loud muzzel blast, a real fun gun! A .32 bullet getting out at about 1,100 fps aint nothing to sneeze at! I never shot anything with it, I dont carry it for defendse, but that is because I have many other guns. Some claim that at that speed they think it as good as a 38 special. I really dont know, but I do think I would feel pretty good with it if that was all I had at hand. Now if I had nothing and wanted a defense gun, no, it probley wouldnt be my first choice unless I read a lot more on tests and articles on it. It has to be better than a .32 auto and a .380 or .25 auto, and people have been carrying and killing with them for over a 100 years!

Yep! They told me, "You can't miss fast enough to win the fight".

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You are what you learn.

I have both a German made PP in .32 ACP and a 3" 31-1 in .32 SW Long, both somewhat less potent than the .32 H&R mag. I retain them since I believe that they'll be good handguns for growing boys. Certainly useful little field guns. As defensive weapons? Eh, could be worse. Most .32 handguns tend to fill niches for people. Perhapse one is recoil sensitive, perhaps they have a physical infirmity, or perhaps they are simply of small stature. In those situations, the guns likely give good service and match the user well.

For an otherwise healthy adult male, well that might or might not be a different matter.


That Ruger would probably make a fine field gun for small game I'd imagine. However, it might be worth keeping in mind that velocities from the Ruger's longer barrel are going to be higher than what one can get from a 2" snub and that the longer sight radius will also make the Ruger easier to get results with for most people.

i have a 6inch model 16-4...great shooting gun...the 32 cal.was a police round for many years....personally i carry a 686 snub with 357 mags.in it but...i think the 32 mag.is adequate in general terms

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Nothing wrong with a 32 Mag for defense if you use a good defense loading.

Used correctly, the humble .22 is a good round for defense.

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Dum spiramus tuebimur

I think that's a lot of good advice above.

I wouldn't "choose" the .32 Mag has a personal protection round...but it sure beats the heck out of a kick in the butt?

Shot placement "is" everything. Everything else is just gravy.

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G.P. Charlie

According to the ballistic tables, it is very slightly more powerful than good quality standard pressure (not +P) 38 special rounds.

It's what I use. I use it in a 432PD. Federal 85 grain jacketed hollow point.

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

With some hot loads I wouldn't hesitate to carry the .32 magnum. I sold the only one I had, but I seem to remember some pretty respectable velocities that some people got out of their Ruger double action 4" guns, like around 1500 fps!

Speer and Winchester make a very nice 60gr silver tip hollow point (.32 acp, not mag) that has been tested to great effect. These were tested by Massad Ayoob several years back with very good terminal effectiveness. When I'm wearing really light clothes, that is what my KT .32 is being fed.

The ballistics tables mainly show kinetic energy, which often is misleading in terms of representing what a given bullet will do against flesh and bone. The relatively light .32 mag rounds, which show high energy figures, might be iffy choices for penetration, whereas a non expanding (and perhaps slower) round might actually be a better choice since it'll poke a deep hole.

Though JHPs are to be had in even .32 SW Long (Magtech offers them) and several variants exist in .32 ACP, I only use FMJs in my Walther and solid lead bullets in the 31-1.

Even then, one has to wonder if giving up weight (compared to the .38 special, which is the usual comparison item in snubs) of projective is worth the extra shot. The light 95 .38 Special +P fell from favor compared to heavier projectiles (135 to 158 gr) despite having a faster velocity and impressive paper ballistics.