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04-06-2016, 07:11 PM
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H&R MAGNUM CONVERSION
What is involved in converting a model 30-1 to H&R MAGNUM? I'm sure the H&R rounds won't fit in a model 30-1 cylinder without some modification or cylinder replacement. Any idea on cost, and are H&R MAGNUM rounds that much better ballistics wise to make it worthwhile?
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04-06-2016, 07:21 PM
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Just having the chambers reamed out to the correct 32 H&R length. Any gunsmith that has a correct reamer can do this and/or you could purchase a reamer and do it yourself. A reamer would probably cost in the $75 - $90 range, I do not know what a gunsmith would charge you. The best ballistics from a .32 long is around a max of 850 - 900 FPS with 90-100 gr bullet, the 32 H&R can be loaded up to around 1200 FPS with the Hornady 100 gr XTP. I think Factory H&R is around 1100 FPS.
It does need to be the "J" Frame version, any "I" frame will not have a cylinder long enough for the 32 H&R.
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H Richard
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Last edited by H Richard; 04-07-2016 at 10:39 AM.
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04-07-2016, 11:24 AM
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The question isn't can it be done but should it be done. You will be increasing the SAAMI chamber pressure from 15,000psi to 21,000psi and that's for factory standard ammunition. That's twice the pressure difference between a 38 spl and a 38 +P! If you use the 32 mag +P, the pressure will be even higher. How much higher we don't know because there isn't a standard for 32 mag +P ammunition.
I don't think I would do it.
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04-07-2016, 11:50 AM
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I tried to load a 32 H&R Magnum round in my 31-1 last night after reading your post.
It won't load. Sticks out about .1 inches from the back of the cylinder.
I don't plan to modify my 31-1 to shoot 32 H&R magnum. I just got a 431PD to use with the longer ammo.
Dave
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04-07-2016, 02:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal44
I tried to load a 32 H&R Magnum round in my 31-1 last night after reading your post.
It won't load. Sticks out about .1 inches from the back of the cylinder.
I don't plan to modify my 31-1 to shoot 32 H&R magnum. I just got a 431PD to use with the longer ammo.
Dave
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Thanks, good to know. I figured such, but always had that little doubt. I decided not to bore out the cylinder also.
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04-07-2016, 02:39 PM
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"It won't load. Sticks out about .1 inches from the back of the cylinder."
A 6 lb maul will fix that fer ya.
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04-07-2016, 04:53 PM
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I have done the re-chamber on M 30s and M 31s several times. I will do that rechamber job for any member of this forum on either model for $75 plus return postage. I need the cylinder with the extractor. I will not rechamber any other model of handgun that shoots 32 Long. ..........
And, yes, you can still shoot 32 Long in a rechambered cylinder. I do not recommend a steady diet of the 32 H&R Magnum with the heavier grain weight bullet. ...............
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04-07-2016, 06:02 PM
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Just use an old drill bit that's around the right size (joking!). There are a couple companies that rent reamers for around $20 or so. I went that route when I lengthened an old European 20 gauge double barrel that had short chambers. Make sure to use cutting oil.
Yes, 21,000 PSI is quite a bit higher than the .32 S&W long but it isn't anywhere near true 'Magnum' pressures. Plenty of these have been converted with no ill effects.
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04-10-2016, 12:51 AM
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Rather than rechambering, just buy a .32 H&R Magnum like my model 631:
BTW, in comparing my 2" 631 to my 2" 31-1, the cylinders are the same length. It looks to me like all the factory did was lengthen the chambers.
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04-10-2016, 09:38 AM
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You are correct, they just lengthened the chambers. The problem is finding a 631 (or any of the 32 H&R's) they are a very scarce item, and when you might find one be prepared for a 4 figure price tag.
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H Richard
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08-06-2018, 09:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Cholla
I have done the re-chamber on M 30s and M 31s several times. I will do that rechamber job for any member of this forum on either model for $75 plus return postage. I need the cylinder with the extractor. I will not rechamber any other model of handgun that shoots 32 Long. ..........
And, yes, you can still shoot 32 Long in a rechambered cylinder. I do not recommend a steady diet of the 32 H&R Magnum with the heavier grain weight bullet. ...............
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I know this is an old thread, but I have had Big Cholla ream two of my revolvers to 32 H&R. (Excellent work and fast turnaround in both cases, BTW.) In the course of looking for ammunition to use for defensive carry, the Buffalo Bore +P 100g JHP load (they look like XTP bullets) was the hottest H&R Mag load I came across. That load (at 1100fps out of a 432) exceeds the muzzzle energy of a 38 Special +P 158g LSWCHP (the "FBI Load") out of a 49 at the same distance over the same chrono.
I had occasion to correspond with the owner of Buffalo Bore, who said that my reamed 32 Long models were good for "unlimited use" with that particular 100g load. At over $1.25/shot, "unlimited" is still going to be pretty limited for me, but I think it indicates that a reamed Model 30 or 31, say, is not really going to be adversely affected by 32 H&R ammo.
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08-07-2018, 09:20 AM
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Good information, I think the 32 H&R Mag and the 32 Long is underrated. The load I developed with the 100 gr. XTP and AA#5 exceeds 1200 fps in a 6" 16-4 and just over 1000 fps from a 432PD 2". I did find I needed to adjust my grip slightly on the 432PD as it is so light the cylinder thumb release would eat into my thumb on recoil.
I continue to add to my "accumulation" of 32's but I have not reamed any as I have both a 431PD and a 432PD as well as the 16-4, so I have left all my 30's and Pre 30's alone.
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08-07-2018, 12:55 PM
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Very interesting. When I tried to duplicate the Buffalo Bore ammo for more economical practice, I was not able to get past the mid 900s out of a 2" barrel with the 100g XTP and AA#5. (I admit that I do not ordinarily go beyond published reloading tables.) The closest I ever got to 1100fps was with Lil Gun, but encountered very strange velocity variations and decided not to continue with that powder. I have given up trying to duplicate the BB load, and just shoot a few of the expensive rounds occasionally to remember what they feel like.
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08-07-2018, 07:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H Richard
Good information, I think the 32 H&R Mag and the 32 Long is underrated. The load I developed with the 100 gr. XTP and AA#5 exceeds 1200 fps in a 6" 16-4 and just over 1000 fps from a 432PD 2". I did find I needed to adjust my grip slightly on the 432PD as it is so light the cylinder thumb release would eat into my thumb on recoil.
I continue to add to my "accumulation" of 32's but I have not reamed any as I have both a 431PD and a 432PD as well as the 16-4, so I have left all my 30's and Pre 30's alone.
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Me too. I have a stock M31-1 and a M431PD so no real reason to modify the M31.
I used to carry the 31-1 sometimes before I got the 431. And where I live, the CCW issuing authority specifies carry guns can't be modified from factory specs -- except for sights and grips.
So reaming out the 31-1 to accept 32 H&R Magnum cartridges would mean I couldn't carry it again if I ever wanted to.
I really like the J frame square butt guns and factory service grips and find the 31-1 is the gun I can shoot most accurately. So it is possible I might switch back and put it on my carry license at some point.
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08-07-2018, 08:01 PM
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I'm sure you are aware the 32 SWL can be loaded up to around 900 fps, and with the right bullet isn't any wimp.
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H Richard
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08-07-2018, 10:08 PM
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From what I have read and seen the .32 Long can be loaded much hotter than manuals say before showing any signs of overpressure.
Hodgdon's posted max for 90gr is 2.7gr of Universal (844fps from a 5.3" barrel), but I got up to 3.3gr with a 100gr bullet with absolutely no signs of overpressure. Some of my old manuals got up to 4.3gr of Unique!
Like .38 Special, .32 Long has been neutered to be a shadow of its former self. I don't think reaming to H&R is necessary - just load up some hot .32 Long!
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08-08-2018, 12:05 AM
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My motivations for reaming a couple of 32 Long cylinders included only having to deal with one set of reloading dies for the various power levels from light plinkers to full-as-I-can-go magnum loads, and being sure that no too-hot 32 Long loads could ever get to old, not-so-strong guns. (I did leave a 32 Detective Special alone, but I never shoot it - just use it to check the fit of grip adapters.)
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08-08-2018, 10:28 AM
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I see the logic of your plans, wrangler5. The dies are not a problem... they can be adjusted up or down as needed. But if you keep the hot loadings in longer cases only, you'll protect your older gun(s) from having the stronger loadings slipped in by accident. I've gone so far as to set up a dedicated 32 S&W Long loader as well as one for 327 Fed Mag. I load very few 32 H&Rs, so I can easily tell with a quick glance what it is that I'm picking up. If I were going to keep the Model 30-1 that I gave my niece, it would be a good candidate for reaming from L to H&R, but my I-frame snub I use for EDC, while probably strong enough, would probably be too short in the cylinder dimension.
I did have my recreation of a Model 16-3 chambered in the original 32 S&W Long because I wanted it to be as close to original as possible. It's not intended for hot rodding anyway.
Froggie
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08-08-2018, 08:22 PM
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I tried a 327 Federal as a carry gun - a Ruger LCR, which at least is available and affordable, unlike 32-anything from S&W - and absolutely did NOT like it. Even though that particular LCR is an all steel gun it was too close to a 357 Magnum in a J frame for me to think about practicing with exetnsively. Even in the much heavier Single Seven, the hottest 100g 327 loads from Federal (American Eagle 100g JSP) and Speer (Gold Dot) are a handful, while the more tolerable 85g rounds from Federal are at or below the energy level of the 100g Buffalo Bore round for 32 H&R.
So virtually all of my 32 shooting is now done with H&R Mag cases. I have light plinkers and loads that duplicate the Georgia Arms 100g product that my wife will use in her 432 carry gun if she ever takes the course for the permit. I also have a load I tailored to shoot to the sights of a 3" 31-1 at about 20 yards - it's a real tack driver.
I load 32s on a Lee Loadmaster. I've marked the bullet seater so I can adjust it quickly for the various bullets I use in different loads. And I use a Lee disk powder measure, so getting the right charge for a particular load is just a matter of installing the correct disk, filling the hopper and dropping about 10 test charges to settle the powder. Setting up to make a different 32 load only takes about 5 minutes, most of which is spent checking/confirming the bullet seating depth with a couple of empty, belled-mouth cases and weighing the test powder charges.
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08-08-2018, 10:27 PM
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I prefer to make the hot loads up in Fed Mag cases, so there is no chance of putting them in the wrong gun. As for a proper platform for the 327, since it's a real mag, it deserves a Ruger Blackhawk, which was built in 327 Fed Mag, or a K-frame Smith like the Model 616, the gun S&W should have built but never did.
Meanwhile, my 32 S&W Long loads are safe to shoot in the little I-frame, are killer accurate in the K-32, and can bark in the big dogs if I'm wanting to tame them a bit. What's not to like? Yep, I'm loving me some 32s as well!
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08-10-2018, 03:43 AM
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I've converted a few Small frame Smiths to 32 H&R Mag. Just about the simplest re-chamber that can be done. So little material is removed it's akin to opening chamber throats to proper size.
The reamer can be turned by hand with a T handle.
In I frame and new I frames, the barrel/cyl gap will be sufficient to compensate for bullets a few thousandths longer than the chambers. Or worse case scenario, bullets need a few thousandths slight deeper seating; either reloads or running factory ammo thru the seating die.
The dash 1 .32s are J frames with about 1/8" spare length in the chambers. There's no strength differences between Post war I frames and J frames.
The rear face of the cyl nor headspace is an issue. Just don't ream deep enough to recess the case rims.
This is my first re-chamber to 32 H&R Mag, a 4" J frame Model 30-1, 1966 vintage:
Photo by James J. Carter
Others have been snubby Model 30 New I frames.
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08-10-2018, 08:49 AM
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It’s a good thing I’m on my iPad... every time you show that gun I start to salivate so heavily I’m in danger of ruining another keyboard!
It’s like a blued pre Model 631, and we all know how desirable they are. I keep telling myself I’m going to build one for myself, but I never seem to get a round tuit.
Froggie
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08-10-2018, 09:56 AM
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For those shooting hot 32 H&R Mag loads, especially in a lightweight model such as the 431PD or 432PD keep your eye's open for a new J frame boot grips from Culina. I'm not sure how soon will be released but I did a test for them with 3 J Frame hammerless models, and it is amazing how much less the recoil seems. With the 432PD Airweight (which usually ate my thumb after 2-3 cylinderfulls) I shot 50 rounds without a problem and kept most all the rounds in 3-4" at 12 yards (double action). I won't show any pictures until after the new grip is released.
If you have a lightweight J Frame, these make a difference.
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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
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08-10-2018, 08:46 PM
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I’m probably going to sound like a Philistine (again) but the set of grips I’ve found for my favorite J-Frame (a Model 60-4) is a set of Thai combat style grips with closed back made of an ebony type wood. They are as good a fit for me as any grips on any revolver I’ve ever owned.
Froggie
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