32 wadcutter question

peyton · Oct 31, 2021

I would like to ask a question. Is 32 wadcutter a 32 S&W long or a 32 ACP. The reason I ask I was at a gun shop and they had a case of 32 Wadcutter, with a single box sold from it.

I asked if it was 32 S&W long and the salesman said no (seeing in his eyes, I just answered that dummy)!!

While in the army, I recall shooting 38 wadcutter bullseye matches using the S&W model 52.

ShivasIrons · Oct 31, 2021

I would imagine it s 32 S&W long. I have seen the Fiocchi 32 Wadcutter locally.

Troystat · Oct 31, 2021

32 wadcutters are almost always (I have never heard otherwise) a 32 S&W Long. This cartridge is still used in Euro target autos. You can also shoot them in S&W Model 16's and other modern 32 caliber revolvers.

Sevens · Oct 31, 2021

.32 Wadcutter should indeed be .32 S&W Long. Has been a favorite for target shooting in Europe for decades. The Fiocchi .32 Wadcutter ammo has a headstanp that says exactly ".32 Wadcutter" and doesn't actually say .32 S&W Long, but by dimension, it certainly is.

I've heard discussion claiming the .38 Special brass that was originally sold as ammo with the 148gr hollow base wadcutter bullet is different internally than typical .38 Special brass but I can also say that I don't use any wadcutter specific brass for my S&W Model 52's, all of which are highly capable and extremely accurate pistols.

But I toss that out there anyway as perhaps the .32 Wadcutter brass is different than .32 S&W Long brass. I have a slew of both, and apologies as I have no interest whatsoever in trying to determine if the case capacity is much, if any different.

The European and Euro style .32 Wadcutter guns are pistols such as the Walther GSP, Sig P240, Benelli MP-95, Pardini HP, etc.

I'm fortunate to own a Walther GSP-c from the 80's and it's chambered for the .32 Wadcutter. It's a joy to shoot. And as a funny side note, the magazine is not in the grip but is forward of it, and because of this... the gangly 5-shot .32 Wadcutter pistol is recognized as an "ASSAULT PISTOL" by the State of New York and Cook County, IL, two places that I have no plans to visit with it.

robertrwalsh · Oct 31, 2021

CA could also call that an assault pistol because of that configuration. Also a place people should avoid if possible.

nedlate · Oct 31, 2021

peyton said:
I would like to ask a question. Is 32 wadcutter a 32 S&W long or a 32 ACP. The reason I ask I was at a gun shop and they had a case of 32 Wadcutter, with a single box sold from it.

It would be 32 S&W Long or 32 S&W (doubtful the last). It should say on the box which cartridge. As I am sure you know wadcutter is just the type of bullet.

If you shoot 32 S&W Long and it is a good or great price grab it up! I would if it were local and the price was right!

Ed

teletech · Oct 31, 2021

robertrwalsh said:
CA could also call that an assault pistol because of that configuration.

Many of those are not actually a problem in CA:

(c) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of “assault weapon” pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of “assault weapon” pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subdivision (d).

peyton · Oct 31, 2021

I and the store employee examined the individual box as well as the case and saw no mention of it being 32 S&W long.
The store employee did not offer to open one of the boxes either.

Now with your help, I will call when they open and offer to give the case a good home, depending on how much dinero's they want. It might go for a good price.
I will update you when I know more.

rbmac52 · Oct 31, 2021

Some of Fiocchi's 32 S&W Long lead wadcutter offerings come in boxes that are prominently labelled as "32 Wadcutter" on the front. They do, indeed, carry 32 S&W Long cartridges with a 100gr wadcutter style lead bullet. If that is what your dealer has in stock, the best price on Ammoseek.com is $39.99 for a box of 50.

You can see a picture of that Fiocchi box (the red one) in the link below (you have to scroll through the available pictures to find the red box).

Fiocchi Ammo Shooting Dynamics 32SWL 100 Grain Lead Wadcutter [32LA] | Ammo Freedom

The best price currently shown on ammoseek.com for .32 S&W Long ammo is Sellier & Bellot at $28.40 (went up to $33.69 overnight) per box of 50 (also 100gr Lead Wadcutter). Hope this helps in your negotiations with your dealer.

Green Frog · Nov 1, 2021

I can’t imagine in this day and age any factory loading 32 cal wad cutter ammo as anything but 32 S&W L. The market would be way too limited. If you can get a good price on that most-of-a-case of “32 Wadcutters” I’d bet a dollar to a sugary circular pastry you’ll find them to be S&W Long cases.

Froggie

Sevens · Nov 1, 2021

-BUT- if they are Fiocchi, they won’t say .32 S&W Long on the head stamp.

teletech · Nov 1, 2021

I did recently trip over a box of factory .32 S&W (short) made for cowboy action, so it's out there, but also rare.
I guess since you can shoot any of the three out of a .32SWL revolver it might be worth having in any case.

peyton · Nov 1, 2021

I will swing by and check them tomorrow.

peyton · Nov 2, 2021

They want $17 (plus a little) per box equals $340 plus tax for the casse of 1,000. Good deal I think??

rbmac52 · Nov 2, 2021

Excellent buy. Grab them all!

walnutred · Nov 2, 2021

Yes, assuming they are 50 round boxes that is a steal. BTW don't relay on the clerk knowing what they are talking about. Earlier this year I was at a gun shop and asked the clerk if I could by two boxes of 32 ACP. The clerk looked at the shelf behind them and said "Sorry, I don't think we've had 32 ACP available for several months." I asked "Can I buy two boxes of that 7.62 Browning?" Sure, I was told, that's not a fast mover.

Green Frog · Nov 3, 2021

walnutred said:
Yes, assuming they are 50 round boxes that is a steal. BTW don't relay on the clerk knowing what they are talking about. Earlier this year I was at a gun shop and asked the clerk if I could by two boxes of 32 ACP. The clerk looked at the shelf behind them and said "Sorry, I don't think we've had 32 ACP available for several months." I asked "Can I buy two boxes of that 7.62 Browning?" Sure, I was told, that's not a fast mover.

DWalt · Nov 3, 2021

I seem to remember buying some S&B (or maybe Aguila, not sure) .32 Long wadcutters several years ago, on sale at Academy. There is no problem in using wadcutters in any .32 Long revolver, in fact the K-32 Masterpiece was a target revolver that performed well with them.

Green Frog · Nov 4, 2021

DWalt said:
I seem to remember buying some S&B (or maybe Aguila, not sure) .32 Long wadcutters several years ago, on sale at Academy. There is no problem in using wadcutters in any .32 Long revolver, in fact the K-32 Masterpiece was a target revolver that performed well with them.

Brother DWalt, in my experience any S&W revolver will shoot wad cutter ammo (of the proper caliber) with gusto. My little post War Transitional I frame snub in 32 absolutely gobbles it up, and of course my custom K32 recreation loves it. I would have no hesitation at all shooting it in any S&W revolver (in acceptable condition) without hesitation. Even though I usually load my own 32 S&W L ammo, at $340/1000 I’d have to change my mind!

Your Phriend the ‘Phibian

peyton · Nov 7, 2021

I went yesterday and bought an case of the 32 Wadcutter, out the door (approximately $18 a box) $381 (with tax) They have another 950 rounds left. I did open one box just to verify it looked right. The 32 S&W long boxes on the shelf were more expensive.
If anyone wants to know store PM me for details.

32 wadcutter question

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