S&W model 16-2 .32 S&W long - new to my

[S&WshooterFIN]

Today was another happy day in our family, we got a new member.
I was informed that 16-2 from 1962 is looking for a new home. We always have place in safe for a homeless S&W revolver.

.32 S&W long is new caliber for me, maybe next week to range.

One of three 6" K-frame Target Masterpieces

14-2, 16-2 and 17-5

 

[series guy]

Very nice find. The .32 caliber rounds are fun and accurate.

 

[VASCAR2]

Wow! Fantastic looking 32 Target, congrats!

 

[steelslaver]

I have a 16-4 and keep looking for a earlier K32, but not much finding.
Nice guns

 

[Green Frog]

Nice trio! They make a really handsome family group. Are they all of about the same age and era? I notice the top one in the three has cutout grips while the other two have the "football" cuts.
I have never been able to find a '40s vintage K-32 to complement my 22 and 38, and as crazy as prices are, I doubt I will, so I built a faux Model 16-3, starting from a NOS barrel and a 14-3 donor gun to put it on. I really envy those who are able to find the "right" 32 for their collections and go from there. I guess I should have been born rich instead of so darn handsome!
Froggie
PS Here’s my “family portrait” showing the “youngster” in the middle.

 

[Green Frog]

PPS: have you shot it yet? You owe it to yourself to do so because the 32 S&W Long in a K frame is genuinely fun to shoot. It’s also wicked accurate! I recently got some Fiocchi ammo with wadcutter bullets, probably intended for use in European target autos. I’m trying to get the time to go to an indoor range and really “wring mine out”. Fortunately, it’s also just about the easiest revolver round to reload that I’ve ever encountered.
Froggie

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

I haven't shooted yet. I have several hundred Wad cutter cartridges made by Lapua. I'll try to make it to the shooting range next week.
Mod 17 and mod 14 are not original grips. Both came to me with Uncle Mikes rubber grips and I put S&W wood grips on the guns. Will have to look to see if the correct period grips for both are in stock.
14, 16 and 17 are very common models in Finland and also cheap models.

 

[steelslaver]

Model 16s of any dash are hard to find in the US The last produced K-32, the 16-4 can be found for about $1,500 up. but earlier ones like yours demand a price 3 or more times that of any other comparable 22 or 38 K frame.

 

[Jim Watson]

14, 16 and 17 are very common models in Finland and also cheap models.

ROAD TRIP! Or Sea Cruise.

 

[Truckman]

14, 16 and 17 are very common models in Finland and also cheap models.

I'm going to need a ticket to ride!......Ben

 

[Hawg Rider]

Kaunis kokoelma! Onnittelut! That's a rare find here in the USA, and usually very expensive. Nauttia!

 

[Green Frog]

Looking forward to a range report for those Lapua wadcutters. I’m guessing they will do very well indeed.
What is the reloading situation like in Finland? Is it commonly done, and are there any restrictions?
Froggie

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

Looking forward to a range report for those Lapua wadcutters. I’m guessing they will do very well indeed.
What is the reloading situation like in Finland? Is it commonly done, and are there any restrictions?
Froggie

In Finland, each firearm must have a separate permit. Everyone is requested from the local police. In Finland, all the police are from the Finnish state, so here is the national police.
In order to get the first permit for a handgun, you have to prove that you have practiced shooting for two years / ten times.

The first handgun is challenging to get, the rifle and shotgun easy. A self-loading rifle with a magazine of more than ten cartridges requires the same as a first handgun, but one year / five times of training somewhere and a certificate from an IPSC or similar safe shooter course
A self-loading pistol with a magazine of more than 20 rounds also requires IPSC or equivalent status.

Reloading is allowed for personal use for such calibers as may be kept in possession.

In Finland, you can borrow a licensed weapon with a gun permit. With the pistol's permission, you can, for example, borrow another pistol in a different caliber. Thus, you can also reload cartridges in the borrowed gun.

I'm reloading:
9x19
.38 spl / .357 mag
.44 mag
.45 ACP

Corona and Putin in Ukraine have made primers expensive here too. There will be a new primers factory in Finland, I expect that it will hopefully lower prices, unless all the primers go to the aid given to Ukraine and to the production of cartridges for Finland's new Sako AR-15 rifles.
Finland's Defense Forces now have SAKO assault rifles 7.62x39. The next rifle is an AR-15 type manufactured by SAKO in 5.56 NATO caliber, and millions of cartridges must be put into stock quickly.

I have several hundreds of .32 S&W long wad cutter cartridges in stock, manufactured by Lapua, which I received at one time.
I didn't have a .32 S&W gun so I bought a S&W mod 16-2.
I would have liked the rarer mod 31, but now that neat and affordable model 16-2 became available. My new revolver purchase permit would only have been valid for about half a year, so I didn't have to wait for the affordable model 31.

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

I'm going to need a ticket to ride!......Ben

Welcome. The Model 16 can presumably be found in almost every gun store in Finland cheaply, around EUR 200-300/pc.
You can certainly get it cheaper. The model 16 was really common in Finland at the time in 25m range shooting, as was the model 14.
That's why they are affordable now. Old shooters or rather their heirs have to give up their guns, there are a lot of guns and nobody wants them = cheap.

Model 17 is a bit more desirable in my opinion, but you can also get them really cheaply or even for free like my friend got.

I paid model-14 EUR 200, model-17 EUR 300 and now model-16 EUR 150. In all cases, the seller was satisfied with the price.

I was almost shocked when I look at the SCSW model 16 information and the price estimate there.

 

[Truckman]

It's always interesting to see the differences in gun ownership/shooting between nations...Thank you for that information......Ben

 

[Green Frog]

…I have several hundreds of .32 S&W long wad cutter cartridges in stock, manufactured by Lapua, which I received at one time.
I didn't have a .32 S&W gun so I bought a S&W mod 16-2.
I would have liked the rarer mod 31, but now that neat and affordable model 16-2 became available. My new revolver purchase permit would only have been valid for about half a year, so I didn't have to wait for the affordable model 31.

I read your comment about the Model 31 vs Model 16 availability with some surprise. Here I see 10-20 of the little J frames for every K-32 (of whatever dash number) for sale, and the price of the K frame is likely to be 10X as great too! I still dream of finding an early post war K-32, but I’m no longer holding my breath!

As for reloading, if you are l ready loading for 38/357, a simple set of dies and a box of bullets and you’ll be good to go. I started out loading 38s for my revolvers and if anything find 32s to be easier. I am impressed with your supply of Lapua 32s. Can I assume they are wad cutters for the still common auto loaders?

Best regards,
Green Frog

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

Years ago, .32 S&W WC was at least perhaps the most common "bull's eye" shooters' cartridge in Finland. It might still be today, although Lapua doesn't seem to do it anymore. .32 S&W WC works in self-loading and S&W mod 16 (K-32 Target Masterpiece), which is a really common revolver in Finland.
I bought my 16 so I can shoot off the .32 cartridges in the safe. EUR 150 and I can shoot almost a thousand shots.

Of course, it's nice when I can own all the Target Masterpieces..

 

[Green Frog]

“*150 and I can shoot almost a thousand rounds.” (???)

Does that s mean you only had to give €150 for that 16-2? Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor! Here in the US you would probably have to add another zero and then double it to get it. Congratulations (with a touch of envy). All that Lapua ammo should provide a lot of hours of enjoyment.

Green Frog

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

You can get guns cheaply in Finland. A permit for a gun costs more than EUR 100 /piece.
I paid EUR 240 for my mod 625-3 and EUR 220 for the unfired mod 28-2

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

First time on range and I aimed for the middle

I screwed the rear sight down.

From the same distance S&W 586 3.2" .38 spl ammo and S&W 17 .22LR.

I remembered the old instructions at home:

I am too young for my 16-2