I know 32 S&W Long is not known as a great self defense caliber. I have .38 spl revolvers and 9mm pistols for that, but would a wad cutter be the best 32 S&W Long ammo if a Model 30-1 had to be used for that purpose? Would any wad cutter penetrate enough, or would the Buffalo Bore 100gr. WAD CUTTER 900 fps be worth the extra money? Any gun I have, I try to keep loaded with a good defensive round. The range is just FMJ or LRN ammo. Thanks.

There have been lots and lots posts and just as much controversy on self defense ammo vs. target ammo as well as caliber. The same is true about reaction to recoil and follow-up shots. What the .32 S&W Long puts on the table is very manageable recoil for follow-up shots. As to penetration at close range it will get the job done. I'm old so forgive the references to old wisdom and attempts at humor. There are many many folks that are still grave yard dead after having been shot with LRN .22 caliber shorts. Any gun is better than not having one when you need it. Followed by, I don't want to be shot with any caliber. And adding a gun is better than a knife and a knife is better than a rock. Try to find some hollow base wad cutters that have been loaded upside down or reload your own. A slow moving bullet that tumbles and can come apart on impact will greatly reduce the threat that caused you to use deadly force. I wrote earlier about close range. Practice with your 30-1 at short distance on silhouette targets out to about 7 yards. Have fun. BTW, in case you haven't figured it out, I love my little .32's. hardcase60

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My .32s get a handload using the RCBS Keith type semi-wadcutter at around 950 FPS as their normal diet. They wouldn't be my first choice if I had time to pick up something else but I'd be OK with that if it was all I had. The BB load you mention sounds very similar. Conventional wisdom with little guns is that reasonably assured penetration is more important than hoped for expansion.

Georgia Arms in Villa Rica, GA loads a HP in .32 S&W Long; MagTech and Buffalo Bore offer self defense loads too. BB may call it .32 Colt New Police, or .32 NP. I am a .32 fan, there are many here.

I use a100gr.hardcast flat tip cowboy bullet at 900fps in our 30-1 3". More potent than 380 auto's alot carry!

I'm new to this caliber, what is a cowboy bullet?

In the old days before special self-defense ammo many who carried snubbies used handloaded wadcutters with the bullet inserted backwards so the hollow bottom was outward. Theory was it would mushroom even out of a short barrel. Thankfully I never got to test out the theory on anything but paper.

I use the Buffalo Bore loads shown in my 31-1.

I carry it with the 100 gr wad cutters and use the 115 gr round nose flat points as reloads since they are quicker to load.

I keep the wad cutters in the speed loader so they don't go missing in the safe. I carry the speed strip as my reload.

Similar muzzle energy from the BB 32 wad cutters compared to 38 special defense loads (like Critical Defense) when shot from 2" barrel.

Much as I like my 31-1, I recently acquired a 431PD and will soon start carrying it with 32 H&R Mag instead (see second picture).

Attached Images

	31 carry.jpg (60.3 KB, 131 views)
	431 PD.jpg (44.5 KB, 125 views)

If it were me who was carrying a 32 Long for self-defense, I'd carry the MagTech JHP load -- and the pix below will show you why:



Those were shot by me back in 2011 from an SP101, and I recall being pretty impressed with the "splash" when the water jugs were hit with that load. Plus, look at the excellent weight retention! (On all 3 loads, actually...)

The only thing that would be different today, is I would use a Smith & Wesson (choosing from a Model 30, 631 or 14) for the tests -- as I've converted 100% away from Ruger over to S&W (except for the blackpowder Old Army).

Tight groups.

Old No7

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