Was in a local shop today and noticed a S&W 4 inch barrel, revolver in 32 caliber, forgot the model number, but may go back tomorrow and look at it. We don't see many 32's in this area. It was in good condition. Between $300 and $400 dollors. Didn't look at it, but got to thinking, Hard to pass up a good Smith. Any advice?

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Precision reloaders shoot safely !

Was in a local shop today and noticed a S&W 4 inch barrel, revolver in 32 caliber, forgot the model number, but may go back tomorrow and look at it. We don't see many 32's in this area. It was in good condition. Between $300 and $400 dollors. Didn't look at it, but got to thinking, Hard to pass up a good Smith. Any advice?

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Precision reloaders shoot safely !

The .32S&W is a neat little cartridge. And don't let its size fool you about its potential. I know someone who has a collection of over 100 S&W revolvers (among other guns), and has literally worn out model 29s (more than once). His cartridge of choice for home protection? The .32.

If it's a .32, it's probably a pretty small frame. If it's a K frame...buy it.

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M. Zimmers

It sounds like a .32 Regulation Police (J frame Model 31).
31-1

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"I also cook."

Looked at it today. It is a 31-1 32 long with a 4 inch barrel. 100% condition. Sure is neat, no box. Is $350 too high? Price looks about in line to me,It is the I frame.

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Precision reloaders shoot safely !

I'd buy it. The .32 is a neat little cartridge, but just plan on loading for it if you want to shoot it much . . . .

And if it's a 31-1, I'm pretty sure that's a J frame . . . .

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Qui plantavit curabit

According to SCSW3, if it's a -1, it's a J-frame gun. For that price, it would already be in my safe!

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Tom

Yes, it is a J frame. It looks like it has never been fired, I'm sure that it has, but it is clean. I bought it for $330.00. A year ago, I let one like it get away, that was $350.00, regreted it ever since. I do reload eighteen different calibers. Reloading is my "therapy", striving for five into one hole.

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Precision reloaders shoot safely !

I have a 3" round butt model 31 in near new condition that once served as my mother in law's car gun and now serves as my wife's "house gun". Her hands are very weak due to botched carpal tunnel surgery on both hands several years ago, and as a result she can't grip a heavier gun securely and the recoil of a .38 special is too much for her hands to control.

Although the old .32 long round is too weak to be a good choice for defense against a determined bad guy, I think it would probably do a better job than the .22LR or .25acp mouse guns that my wife would otherwise have to depend on.

Oops, I was mistaken on the model of my wife's .32 revolver that I described in my previous post. I just checked the stampings on the frame and found that it's a model 30-1 I-frame instead of a model 31 J-frame as I had thought. That means it was built earlier than the model 31 guns, probably sometime in the 1950s or early 1960s. However, my mother in law took very good care of it and it's still in almost perfect condition with just one tiny spot of thinning blue at the muzzle.

Hey, 3rd...

Your wife's Model 30 is a J-frame. Both the model 30 & 31 became -1 models when they converted to the J-Frame.

The .32 S&W Long is no great shakes as a man-stopper, but they certainly have the potential. Shot placement is key.

If you reload, you can push the .32 Long considerably before it shows signs of pressure. And the J-frame should be able to handle sane loads.

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BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

I use the beginning loads for the 32 magnum in my 31-1 constantly. I use 2.4 grains of titegroup with the Hornady 90 grain LSWC. Accurate and peppy but supposed to be around 10,000 cup.

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Brave Rifles