A post from another forum a few years back;

Some time back, I was in Enid, and dropped by their gun shop, just to browse around. Once there, a little S&W revolver caught my eye, and it was one that I had been seeking for quite a while. It is a six-shot J-frame that takes the 32 S&W Long cartridge. It has a 3" barrel, and even though it was made in the early to mid-1970's, it was a new gun, having never been fired.

It is called the 32 Regulation Police, the Model 30, and was originally made on the old I-frame, which is a close relative of the J-frame. The I-frame was first made in the 1890's and was dropped, IIRC in the 1960's. Perhaps the best-known example of the I-frame was the S&W Terrier, a near dead-ringer for the Chief Special, but which was made in 38 S&W, not 38 Special. Later, when the I-frame was dropped, the Model 30 was continued on the J-frame and has the -1 suffix added to the model number. Finally, the Model 30 was dropped altogether in the 1970's.

I took it out to my range, and expended 150 or so rounds of Fiocchi 100 grain wadcutters and the little S&W handled superbly. Designed for very close and personal work, I didn't shoot it from a rest, as I was primarily concerned with what it would do in a purely practical sense.

One thing that I soon found out, is that you have to grip this revolver fairly high if you want to do hip shooting. When I shot it like I do most of my revolvers, (both S&W and Colt) that is, with my little finger curled up under the grip frame, it tended to shoot high. I couldn't figure this out at first and then I remembered something that Elmer Keith said, and that was to grip the gun high, so I did this and the gun shot a lot closer to where I was looking at on the target. Please note that I did not say 'aimed', as the majority of the shooting I did with this gun was hip-shooting, which I tend to be fairly good at. The 3" barrel certainly helped center where the gun shot laterally, as well.

Recoil was very mild, even though this is a J-frame, and even after firing about 150 rounds, my hand is not doing too badly. Usually, it becomes almost numb as the cumulative effect of the recoil is felt.

Like I said before, this gun is primarily designed for up-close and personal work and while it is certainly not a powerhouse round, I imagine that a very quick six rounds in the gut from a prospective victim would ruin any mugger's day.

In short, if a shooter is recoil sensitive, this little S&W would do quite nicely with something similar to the Fiocchi target rounds that I used. There is ample strength built into both this gun and my Colt Police Positive Special chambered for the same round, that I am tempted to work up a hand load with a little more power and use that for those times when I carry this little gun, for it is small enough to just slip it into my pocket, with no one being the wiser, even if I am just wearing jeans and a tee-shirt.

Some of you might disagree with me here, and that is fine, but in my opinion, this S&W would not be a bad choice to carry from time to time. Will it replace my K-frame, or my L-frame? Of course not. But is it completely useless for defensive carry? Again, the answer is 'no.' Recognizing its' limitations, I will on occasion utilize it for just that purpose.

To sum up, this little gun, while it is not as poowerful as some might like, still fills a niche for self-defense. Plus, it was a lot of fun to shoot as well.

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Let's be careful out there

I carried a 31-1 (same as yours, only square butt) for a few years.

Used Buffalo Bore 32 S&W Long ammo in it. My carry ammo was the BB 100 gr wadcutter.

That load is much stronger than other factory 32 long loads.

It has slightly more muzzle energy than the 38 Special target wadcutters many people use for defense. It's a smaller diameter, lighter weight bullet moving faster.

I also carried the BB 115gr round nose flat point as a reload since it was faster loading.

I've posted it before, but here is a picture of my 31-1 setup with the two types of ammo.

With these two loads, I don't feel there is any real need to hand load a 32 Long self defense load

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31 carry.jpg (60.3 KB, 994 views)

"To sum up, this little gun, while it is not as powerful as some might like, still fills a niche for self-defense."

Years and years ago I bought a S&W Model 30-1.
It was a great little pocket rocket with Buffalo Bore ammo.

Fast forward one score and ten, my sister was lamenting over the weight of the gun I had purchased for her many moons past.

I traded out my S&W Model 30-1 with the Tyler T-grip on the round butt frame.

I really missed that gun.

A couple years go by and I was really missing the small frame with the six shot capacity.

So, I picked up a S&W Model 631. Talk about ramping up a bit. With the Buffalo Bore and that Model 631 I feel very comfortable knowing that it's in the pocket.

By the way, when I gave her the S&W Model 30-1 I got back my S&W Model 64 with the three inch barrel... Nice swap, right?

All is right with my world.

enjoy,
bdGreen

Here are my two .32 I frames. One is a 1914 mfg The other is a bit more recent M30 ...... The grips on the 1914 I refer to as "grip heresy" --- but they do have a certain "Je ne sais quoi" that I enjoy.

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

Here's a picture of my revolver.

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Let's be careful out there

I own one .32 caliber. It is a Model 30-1. It shipped 1/70. Takes a .32SW Long. I have yet to fire it but I secured ammo and am raring to go.





The .32 is on the left, .38SW on the right.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Glad to see you enjoy the little Mod 30's. I have an affinity for them also. These were some of my first, both Pre 30's.


Looking toward something newer, and more flexible, look at the 431PD and 432PD as Airweight 32 H&R Magnum's. Will handle the 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, and the 32 H&R Mag. Only weigh 13 Oz unloaded.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

My all-time most carried gun for EDC concealed is an earlier version of the post-War I frame... a true I-frame with leaf type mainspring and a short, 2" barrel. I got it early in my outbreak of I-frame disorder and it would be the last one I would consider letting go.

For practice I generally shoot cast or swaged LSWCs of about 95-100 gr over 2.5 gr of Bullseye, for social work it is loaded with Georgia Arms' JHPs.

Froggie

I have a little pre model 30 that was my grand dads.

Has anyone explored the possibility of rechambering one of these to 32 H&R magnum? If so, I would appreciate any info you may have on this.

There are people here on the forum who have done it and it works out well. The cylinder is long enough on the model numbered guns (M30 and M31).

There is a member here who used to do it for a fee.

Close, but not quite right. Only the "-1" model 30 and 31 can be reamed for the .32 H&R. Prior to the -1, these guns were still the New I-frame, with a smaller cylinder window. It takes a J frame size cylinder to be long enough to chamber the .32 H&R. These guns did not use the J-frame until 30-1 and 31-1.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Gary, if I may, I would like to point out one small correction in your OP.

You stated: "It is called the 32 Regulation Police, the Model 30, and was originally made on the old I-frame..."

The .32 Regulation Police, which was built on the square butt frame, became the Model 31. The .32 Hand Ejector, built on the round butt frame, became the Model 30.

Your Model 30 is very nice. I have several S&W .32s and they are fun to shoot. Here is my post war .32 RP Improved I-frame (pre-31) and .32 Hand Ejector New I-frame (pre-30).

Good to hear from you!

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

I rescued this Model 31 several years ago. Its finish was gone and the wood grips were trashed, but mechanically it was perfect. With a 115 grain 32/20 design cast bullet it is not only accurate, but is on the heels of a 32 H&R while staying within the max load datum in the Lyman CBH.

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Keep your powder dry.

I have two of the Model 31-1's. One with a two inch barrel, and the other with a three inch barrel.

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These are excellent guns, in my opinion.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Here is my modest group of 32s. One is a 332. i haven't heard it mentioned in this thread. Light and easy to carry in 32 Magnum.
Photo was taken using an older low res camera and doesn't enlarge well. Got to get a better camera.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

No idea what the real value would be.

The sentimental value would be more than a never fired Registered Magnum, just because it was my grand dad's.

It's good to hear from you as well. Yes; it is one sweet-shooter, along with my 1958 vintage Colt in the same caliber. That Police Positive Special has an action that will put a Python to shame.

OT, but it looks as though the Kansas forum won't be coming back. I hope I'm wrong.

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Let's be careful out there

One of these days, maybe, I will have to get a Police Positive. So far, I have resisted the temptation to getting any Colts. S&W is expensive enough...

I must admit that it has been quite some time since I last visited the Kansas forum that you speak of. It was getting a bit overbearing from a few individuals. I have missed reading your thoughts and opinions on a number of subjects. I assume you are still living "south of the Kansas border". When this current mess is finally over, if you make a trip up to Wichita, let me know and maybe we can have lunch at WPF. You can send me a PM from this site. I miss that place.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

My 30-1 and 31-1 have both been reamed to take 32 H&R. I can still have fun with powder puff loads. But I can also put 100g Buffalo Bore 32 H&R loads in 'em with muzzle energy above the 158g +P 38 Specials that I used to carry in other J frames. And I can load everything in between.

They're actually my favorite centerfire shooters at the range, although I carry a 632 (with the 100g Buffalo Bores) pretty much every day for its better rust resistance.

I've been looking for a 332 for a few years. Never seen one here in CA.

I have a 431pd which is similar but with an exposed hammer and steel cylinder.

Here is my only one.

Here is mine I have an early one (1953 ish)
with a little longer barrel I picked up last year. A blast to shoot 32 long wadcutters with. I keep my eye open for another and if I see one like the op's gun, I will snap it up in a heartbeat.

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