lacrux14 - The .32 S&W Long Cartridge has been around since 1896 when S&W developed its first modern hand ejector revolver in that year to chamber the new cartridge. This cartridge started out as a blackpowder load but made the transition to smokeless powder very early in its life. It has been a smokeless powder cartridge for nearly its entire life.

I own two early S&W .32 revolvers, a Model 1896 shipped in 1897, and a Model 1903 made in 1903-1904, and I shoot modern ammunition in them all the time. These guns were built heavy and strong enough to handle smokeless powder, which originally was called Nitro powder. The original blackpowder loading for the .32 S&W Long was actually hotter than the modern loading in smokeless. The modern loadings are equivalent, sometimes slightly less, to the original black powder loadings.

As long as this gun is mechanically safe, there will be no problem shooting it with factory ammunition. If reloads are used, be careful not to use hot loads! The .32 S&W Long is not a round to hot rod in older guns.

jsmith