.32 H&R Mag J frame and .327 Federal Magnum K Frame

[Dale53]

Hammerdown;
Those are really nice handguns, for sure! Great pictures, also.

I, too, am a bit of a fan of .32's. I have a Smith .32 S&W Long snubbie and looked long and hard, for years, for a Model 16. I found a few over the years but I was always behind the price curve. No joy!

Then Ruger came out with the single six in .32 H&R Magnum. I bought one and promised myself if anyone came out with a double action I would jump on it. Smith did just that a short time later and here is the result:

This VERY NICE piece has taken quite a few different species of edible small game (grouse, rabbits, etc) and is a joy to carry (offside) while bird hunting.

Not long after the 631, Smith brought out the 16-4. I picked the 6" and mounted a scope, first, then later a Red Dot. I had it out a couple of days ago using a home cast Lee 90 gr W/C TL with excellent results. Lee discontinued this mould in six cavity, dern the luck as it works well in both the .32 S&W Long and the .32 H&R Magnum. Green Frog was visiting when we made up a batch of Recluse's 45-45-10 tumble lube formula (it works VERY well without the downside of Lee's tumble lube formula).

When Ruger released the SP 101 with a 4" barrel in .32 H&R magnum I picked up one of these. It shoots well but the "adjustable" sight was a disappointment. I could NOT zero any load I tried with that abomination of a rear sight adjustable only for windage. I took it to my pistolsmith and even tho' he thought that I had lost my mind, he installed a mount base for a Red Dot sight. Now, the revolver is accurate, hits where it is supposed to and all in all a VERY satisfactory little piece:

All in all, I am pretty happy with my little group of .32's. However, I admit to a certain wistfulness when I think of Green Frog's custom revolver that is under construction. Well, a feller just cannot have EVERYTHING, now can we?

Dale53

 

[Green Frog]

Thanks, that's about what I expected, the pressure primarily. Looks like I'll keep looking for a 16-4, 6", which may be easier to find than 17 barrel & cylinder.

Actually, the Model 617 barrels seem to still be available, at least for the time being. I saw them listed in Brownell's and I believe a couple of other places may have them as well.

Both Hamilton Bowen and Andy Horvath have expressed an unwillingness to line the 38/357 barrel because when they drill the original to take a .314" sleeve (groove diameter) there would be so little of the wall left to support the pressures involved with the 327 Fed Mag.

I do admit to grabbing up one of the last available 617-1 cylinders around, in fact it was apparently the last one at GPC/Numrich. The good news is that for just a little more, you can buy one of the ones Hamilton Bowen makes from scratch, and you know it will be long enough and otherwise just "right" for the project. IIRC, this would just add about $60-70 to the total cost of the build.

If you can find a suitable Model 66 as a "base gun" to build on, you should be good to go.

Froggie

 

[H Richard]

What I'm looking for is Blued.

 

[dugo]

Hello dugo
Glad to see you decided to join us other .32 Nut's here on the exciting Federal .327 Magnum Band wagon.

(edited to save space)

Regards, Hammerdown

Rainier Ballistics, LLC | Welcome

I know this is now an old thread, but for reasons of family and work/travel distractions I lost track of it until I recently got some time to catch up with the .32 phenom.

First, Hammerdown, if you happen back by: thanks for taking the time for your above reply. Wish I had responded to it earlier, but still interesting and fun reading.

I believe a friend of mine has used the bullets you mentioned to good effect. Thanks for the heads-up. I'm not reloading right now, but will probably take it up again before long and will keep this info in mind.

I was dismayed to learn that Ruger had discontinued the SP101 in .327. Hopefully, this won't be a permanent move, and they will do a run from time to time.

Seems like the round is receding from the public attention for a while, though. This is understandable as the current "emotiono-political" diatribe once again drives so many folks to chase and store the old standby's -- but it is disappointing anyway.

Silver lining is that I came across some GD .327's at half price from a shop that anticipated reduced demand, and there seem to be more .32's and .327's on the shelf in the short run.

... Is S&W still in the .327 market? I would still like to hook a S&W 2-inch .632-2 Pro at some point (if I got that designation right), but can't afford to chase it quite yet. Still have not heard anything but praise for them, and it might be just right for CCW.

 

[Stainz]

Here is my 2 1/8" .327 Federal Magnum 632-2, SKU #178046, aka the '632 Pro'. Mine sports some S&W '60 Pro' grips, which are perfect for the .327 Federal Magnum recoil. I got mine when they finally shipped in early 9/11 locally for $648 inc s/t. Mine, which also has shot .32 ACP/S&W/S&WL/H&RM as well as .327 Federal Magnum has a home - especially since S&W dropped it! I expect it's value to climb, a la my 696's some years back!

Note it was made 8/11 - and has no IL! Those are CCI 115gr Gold Dots (.327 Federal Magnum) in the HKS #32-J speedloader. Loud and flashy - and a bit of recoil in the 23 oz revolver! Hits coincident POI/POA at 5-12 yd with a 6 o'clock 'combat' sighting.

Stainz

 

[dugo]

See? There's another nice word for the 632-2. Stainz, you are the envy of ... well ... me for sure, at least.

Thanks for posting this one up. I am going to put this thread on Favorites, just so I can look back at that picture now and then.

Hope you get the expected value from this gun, but for myself I hope S&W deigns to do a run of these once in a while.

Best, --D.

 

[Hondo44]

What I'm looking for is Blued.

Yes, me too and a K frame!
I thought this would satiate my appetite:

A 1959 vintage 22 Mag ‘only’ Single Six conversion to centerfire and 32 H&R Mag with factory barrel and cyl. Then reamed to 327 Fed Mag.

In these two shots, you can see where I plugged and re-drilled lower to re-install the firing pin and recoil plate for center fire.

But after seeing Froggie's, I gotta have a Smith .327 too!
I have a nice Model 15 and a 4" 22 Remington Jet barrel with 1/2 shroud like all Smith K magnums have except the Mod 48. It's going to Clear Water for re boring while I look for a 22 cylinder for it. As Froggie said, the rib on the barrel is too wide, but a simple millimg cut on each side will do the trick and give an early '50s look to the gun.

 

[setxn]

Last weeks project for kinfolk. He almost didn't get this little jewel back. 432PD H&R MAG

 

[Green Frog]

After shooting my K-frame 327 FM with less-than-full house loads, I think my personal upper limit for the small frame guns would be the top 32 S&WL or perhaps 32 H&R Mag. I can shoot my 32 S&W L HE snub pretty much all day while ignoring the recoil, but the Baby Chief can get my attention with 38 Spl +Ps. My personal limits then, are easy to define. I might buy a 631 four inch with adjustable sights if it presented itself, but the idea of a J-frame in 327 FM seems like too much of a good thing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

 

[dugo]

After shooting my K-frame 327 FM with less-than-full house loads, I think my personal upper limit for the small frame guns would be the top 32 S&WL or perhaps 32 H&R Mag. I can shoot my 32 S&W L HE snub pretty much all day while ignoring the recoil, but the Baby Chief can get my attention with 38 Spl +Ps. My personal limits then, are easy to define. I might buy a 631 four inch with adjustable sights if it presented itself, but the idea of a J-frame in 327 FM seems like too much of a good thing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

\

Haven't shot a 632 (alas), but the airweight model 432 in .32 H&R is pretty comfortable with light .32 H&R rounds, compared directly to the low-powered .38 rounds in a similar .38 snub.

Inside the versitility of the .327, the .32 H&R itself seems to provide a pretty wide variety of power/recoil options. The low-end .32 H&R's seem tame (comparatively speaking), and easy to shoot in moderate volumes, even from the airweight. Same time, the stuff from companies like GA Arms and (especially) B. Bore do juice the recoil up to feel (to me) more like .38's, but they seem to provide realistic self-defense power levels in return.

This with factory loads.

Once you get to steel frames, even the hotter factory .32H&R's in a j-frame might be fairly moderate on the hands.

 

[Matt Hooper]

Just came back from shooting my new 632. WOW! I love this gun. Shot .32L S&W to get a feel and then switched up to the bad boys. Loaded up 6 shots of Federal .327 Magnum. BOOOOOM! Holy ****. Fire, lead... noise! WOW! People who say this isn't close to a .357 don't know what they are talking about. YIKES! However, on a J frame (even all steel with a port and a 3" barrel) it was a little bit much! Not exactly something I would do again for fun.

Switched it up to H&R .32 Magnums. BEAUTIFUL! That's the heavy round this gun was made for. Big blast but far more controllable. Was able to get back on target faster than with the .327 and didn't spit lead nearly as badly.

Will shoot the .32L for fun and the H&R for carry. The Magtech .32 S&W is in pretty good supply around these parts (Massachusetts).

All in all, a really fun outing!

 

[dugo]

Big congrats! (... mixed with a little envy...)

I'd at least have to do a few 85 grain low recoil .327's now and then; but, heck, I got a surprise the first time I put a few 100 gr .327's through an sp101, too, and that may have a touch more weight to hold it down.

I agree that the .327 feels almost like a .357, too -- not quite, but close enough to get your attention.

Anyway, .32 H&R's are pretty practical these days: easy to shoot; and then, with some of the newer stuff that is out, enough power to be effective for defense. Should be some very good all 'round rounds, and surely a fine platform to launch them from.

Have a great time with the 632!

 

[joell1210]

I had the same views the first time shooting my .327 mag; and I was using 100 gr reloads. Its much worse with Speer .115 gr bullets. After a few dozen rounds it get more comfortable.

I've have now shot about six hundred rounds in each of these bullet weights & about 100 using .85 gr. bullets. The Speer .115 at near max load is my favorite. The recoil is noticeable but is not punishing; its very accurate I've had several 100 plus round sessions.

 

[Green Frog]

You'll never hear me recommending full house 327 Mag or 357 Mag rounds in a J-frame as a "normal diet." In an adrenalin fueled situation, there is another whole dynamic, and perhaps they would be appropriate. For "enjoyable" shooting of either the 327 or the 357 Magnum, the K-frame is a nice platform that will work for most people. In many cases, the 357 may seem excessive for the K-frame (at least that's what some folks think) but I can't see anyone not being able to handle the 327 in a K-frame regardless of how its loaded. I know I wouldn't want to load the 327 FM cartridge to a much higher level than those I have already shot in mine, but what I have shot has been quite manageable. This is my personal experience, so of course "your mileage may vary!"

Froggie

 

[H Richard]

You can go th the Reloading section,and look up my post of a few days ago on "Chrono loads for 16-4." I did several 32 SWL and 32 H&R loads, with one resulting in just over 1/2" groups. I have some more with the 100 gr. Hornady XTP to do maybe nest week. I have decided to not ream my 16-4 for the 327 at this time, maybe later, but I have many other handguns in hotter calibers if I need more power.

 

[PoorKnight]

My J and K fram .327 Fed experience

You'll never hear me recommending full house 327 Mag or 357 Mag rounds in a J-frame as a "normal diet." In an adrenalin fueled situation, there is another whole dynamic, and perhaps they would be appropriate. For "enjoyable" shooting of either the 327 or the 357 Magnum, the K-frame is a nice platform that will work for most people. In many cases, the 357 may seem excessive for the K-frame (at least that's what some folks think) but I can't see anyone not being able to handle the 327 in a K-frame regardless of how its loaded. I know I wouldn't want to load the 327 FM cartridge to a much higher level than those I have already shot in mine, but what I have shot has been quite manageable. This is my personal experience, so of course "your mileage may vary!"

Froggie

I agree. My little 2 inch barrel hammerless S&W 632 was a bear with the 100 grain loads, which I shoot in my rechambered 16-4. I recently bought the new Federal Reduced Recoil loads however, and they were fine in the 632 -- almost like shooting a .32 H&R Mag.

 

[Green Frog]

Well, there's been a lot of "thread drift" as well as "opinion drift" over the life of this thread. Having followed it from the outset and participated both conceptually and at the range, I have reached the following conclusion; If re$our¢es were not a limiting factor, I would have the K-frame in stainless or blue, probably the 4" Model "616" but I certainly wouldn't mind a blue 6" without under lug to handle everything up to and including full house loads in 327 FM. Then I would have an early Model 632 adjustable sighted 4" J-frame for 32 H&R Mag on down, and finally my little 32 HE snub on an I-frame stoked with those good old 32 S&WL JHPs from Georgia Arms as my CCW. I might add a 32-20 cylinder to the K-frame just to round out the 32 caliber package. That's my story and I'm sticking to it at least until somebody comes along with a new idea and lures me away.

BTW, friend Hondo44 mentioned building a blued K-frame on a Model 15 a while back. Has that project come to a boil yet, or is it still simmering on a back burner somewhere? Inquiring minds...

Froggie

PS To the "32 caliber revolvers are dead" crowd, take a look at how much interest these threads about them stir up!

 

[ryxlyx]

Count me in! Been away from shooting for a long time, but as I'm looking forward to both a move back to the old Stomping Grounds and filling time w/ things I've enjoyed doing in the past, reloading .32 mags and sending them (or trying to anyway hehe) in a straight line seems to be where I landed regards handguns. Doing homework for months, finally have 2x16-4s headed my way. One heavily customized that I'll leave as-is, the other I'll likely rechamber to .327. Trying to keep patience a priority, as I have plenty of time to assemble all the trappings....

 

[woreout]

I just found this thread and obviously we have a group of highly enlightened members.

I have been using the 332 as my all day, every day, pocket holster gun since they first came out. My reason was that I could fire six rounds faster and more accurately than five .38s from a gun of similar weight.

Then I bought a 16-4 to compliment my original K-32s and, most recently a 632-2 Pro Series 327. Now you've got me thinking about punching it out but I'm wondering if it might have the same issues as a Model 19 that is shot extensively with magnum loads of getting loose or out of time.

 

[Matt Hooper]

Just scored this week a NIB 432 .32 H&R magnum on GB. Let me tell you, this gun is tremendous. Look, I don't want to get into a caliber pi$$ing match, but suffice to say I wouldn't want to get shot with a .32 H&R magnum. Zero recoil snubby. Perfect carry piece.

I have pretty bad arthritis and for people like me it's the best of all worlds and gives me far more confidence than carrying a rimfire.

A great compliment to my 632 Carry Comp Pro in .327 Federal! HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!