Rethinking 32 S&W long ---‐-‐-‐‐--‐---‐---‐-----‐-

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Cal44

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Rethinking 32 S&W long ---‐-‐-‐‐--‐---‐---‐-----‐-

When I first started carrying conealed, my gun was a 31-1 in 32 long.

Eventually I switched to more powerful guns up to a 357 magnum LCR and a 60-15.

I figured the 32 long cartridge was too weak to be viable.

I'm start to see multiple gel tests showing 32 long caliber guns loaded with wadcutters like the 100 gr Buffalo Bore hard cast turning in 18" penetration numbers. And other, less powerful 32 long loads from other loaders getting penetration numbers in the 12" - 14" range. Similar with round nose flat points

So is 32 S&W long really not viable?

I thinking of dusting off my 31-1 and carring it again.

I've always shot it faster and more accurately than any other J frame.

Plus the square butt stock grip fits my hand well.

Comments.
 
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Funny you mention this. I recently got a .32 S&W Regulation Police with 4 inch barrel. The thing is so tiny and slim it is super easy to carry. With a 4” barrel you can easily get good velocity with lower pressure loads, especially with lead bullets. So I’ve been pondering the same question.

A S&W I-frame is smaller and lighter than a typical snub-nose .38. Compare them side by side. Heft them. The I-frame is svelte. Hmmm

A full meplat .32 wadcutter looks pretty good to me. Lot of penetration. Easy to shoot. Just place your shots accurately.

I think I’d prefer a 100 grain full wadcutter .32 over a FMJ .32 ACP.

But what about the “bigger” .38? Well, a .38 is not really a .38. It is .357 diameter. So a .32 bullet has almost 90% of the diameter of a .357.

.312/.357 = 87%. The .38 isn’t all that bigger in terms of diameter, and I don’t think it penetrates better if we are comparing wadcutters to wadcutters.

For easy to carry snub guns, I always preferred the Colt D frame to a S&W J frame. The Colt DA trigger is better than a S&W J frame (K frame DA trigger being perfection). .38 Colt has 6 shots not 5 for J frame Smith.

But a S&W I frame DA trigger is even better than a D frame Colt trigger. Almost as good as a K frame Smith. And the .32 has 6 shots too.
Hmmm
 
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Timely. As I posted elsewhere, when I am frail enough to be confined to a wheelchair, this 31-1 will be on me.
SW-30-1-Altamont-2.jpg
 
I'm not seeing a reason not to carry a 32. I have a 4" 31-1 that I would carry without any reservations. I don't carry mine because I have a 9mm I like better. If I had to choose a revolver I would carry my 31-1 or my 36 with short colt loads. Both are trending back as light recoil self defense cartridges.

Need Low Recoil? Don't Use a .22- .38 Short Colt VS .32 S&W - YouTube
 
BC38 said:
I'm a fan of the 32 S&W long cartridge. I have several examples.
But I especially like revolvers that are also chambered for the 32 H&R magnum and the 327 Federal Magnum.
More options are always better - especially when it comes to ammo!
Click to expand...

you can get .32 S&W (standard aka short) loads so tame, you are better off throwing the round.
 
Racer X said:
you can get .32 S&W (standard aka short) loads so tame, you are better off throwing the round.
Click to expand...

True - but the same can be said of pretty much any handload, regardless of caliber.

When loading SD ammo you simply avoid those light loads.

Kinda' like the famous words of Doc Jones on HeeHaw....

"Well then, don't DO that...!"
 
While the 32 long os a nostalgic throw-back cartridge, I'd not set out to purposely use it for SD. It think it lacks enough umph for that purpose and really good performing SD ammo have to be next to impossible to find. (I would not use hand loads for SD, BTW).

Your choice of course, but it wouldn't be mine.
 
Any of the J frames can be reamed to 32 H&R mag in about an hour, but not the early I frames with the shorter cylinder. The new alloy J frames 6 shot 32 H&Rs are superior carry guns vs the 5 shot 38 specials in my opinion. For the recoil sensitive a steel framed 32 H&R would be better than a steel 38 sp J frame.
 
I think the gun/ammunition industry has done a great job of brainwashing into thinking we need some kind of atomic-type caliber or ammunition to defend ourselves. Don't forget this is a business. They will always try sell you a bigger better new gun or cartridge. The truth of the matter is the main things that matter is the reliability of your firearm and what part of the bad guy you hit with your bullet. As long as you get enough penetration there is no reason you can't stop an attack with most smaller weapons or calibers. Even when it comes to FMJ vs hollowpoints the scientific evidence is pretty sketchy. Use what you can shoot best under stress.
 
I'm a fan of .38 S&W and .32 S&W Long. Heck, I even have a .32 S&W Top Break and honestly, if I'm frail and busted when I reach my golden years. I have no problem carrying that. Because last I checked, a .22LR in the hand beats a .45 ACP in the safe every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Also, I like some of the modern loadings for .32 S&W Long and .38 S&W.
 
Pointblank2U said:
I think the gun/ammunition industry has done a great job of brainwashing into thinking we need some kind of atomic-type caliber or ammunition to defend ourselves. Don't forget this is a business. They will always try sell you a bigger better new gun or cartridge. The truth of the matter is the main things that matter is the reliability of your firearm and what part of the bad guy you hit with your bullet. As long as you get enough penetration there is no reason you can't stop an attack with most smaller weapons or calibers. Even when it comes to FMJ vs hollowpoints the scientific evidence is pretty sketchy. Use what you can shoot best under stress.
Click to expand...

They will always try sell you a bigger better new gun or cartridge.

I think that's how we ended up with so many J frame 357's. No bueno.
 
In a life and death situation, I would prefer a M60 with a couple 100 round pouches, but that would be a real problem to pack around everywhere. So, I generally go with one of my 325 45 ACPs. 6 rounds of 200gr slugs makes one a potent package that is not to difficult to carry around with no one the wiser. However there are times and places that would present some problems. An alloy 6 shot J frame in 32 H&R is super easy to carry and it beats a sharp stick by a LONG WAYS
 
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BC38 said:
True - but the same can be said of pretty much any handload, regardless of caliber.

When loading SD ammo you simply avoid those light loads.

Kinda' like the famous words of Doc Jones on HeeHaw....

"Well then, don't DO that...!"
Click to expand...

I have my grandmother 5 shot S&W breaktop .32 S&W. Less energy than a .22 LR round.
 
It seems like some of the responders are missing the point. Sure, you can download a cartridge to be worthless. And yes, some old cartridges lack sufficient diameter or penetration even if loaded to full strength. Like a .41 Rimfire out of a derringer.

But what about a .32 S&W Long that can put a full wadcutter, .312 meplat, through 18-20” of ballistic gel? And you are confident enough with the gun to place that .32 slug in the eye socket or centered upper chest of the bad guy?

Seems like that would work. Seems like that would be about as good as the usual .38 snub.

But sure—probably not as good as a double-stack .45 or a 12 gauge.
 
I see the negative replies about the .32 S&W long. It makes me
think to my self, if detractors are so sure of the uselessness of
this round they should grab their fielders mitt, head down to
first base and catch a few to prove their point.

Otherwise, if you've got one of the guns chambered for it and you
can put a cylinder full into an 8" pie plate at say 50 feet or so with
regularity, then even if you're a cripple, you shouldn't be taken lightly.
 
SpadXII said:
chief38 said:
While the 32 long os a nostalgic throw-back cartridge, I'd not set out to purposely use it for SD. It think it lacks enough umph for that purpose and really good performing SD ammo have to be next to impossible to find. (I would not use hand loads for SD, BTW).

Your choice of course, but it wouldn't be mine.[/QUOTEI

If the 32 sw was such a good cartridge, why did they make the 32 sw long?

If the 32 sw long was such a good manstopper cartridge, why they bother with the 44 henry rimfire becoming the 44 henry flat center fire, that then became the 44 long colt, that then became the 45 colt?
Click to expand...

To make us think what we had was insufficient and to sell us more new guns and ammunition. Remember the hype about 40 Caliber years ago? Once the market was saturated suddenly the 9mm was just as good and everybody started dumping their 40s. Now they are telling us we need more than a dozen rounds in our magazines or we will be killed. They treat us like a bunch of lemmings.
Click to expand...
 
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