Are the Smiths in this caliber still relevant today outside of the collector market? Many many years ago a pretty well known gun dealer in my area suggested to my wife that she start her "experiences" with guns with a S&W Model 30 that he had just taken in used and could sell at a "good price". He was an old timer and went on an on about how actual police had used these in days past as back-up guns and as even duty guns in the 40s and 50s. He insisted that: "sure it doesn't have the punch of modern day guns but it will still get the job done at close quarters".
It is a cute pistol, easy to shoot and has worked well but I'm wondering (especially given how hard it is to find .32 SW Long ammo and the cost of said ammo) are these pistols still relevant today. ---Your thoughts would be appreciated

It is one of the best rounds for target and fun shooting I know of. It wouldn't be my first choice for defense, and it seems that is all many shooters today care about.

That's fine with me, but I'm all about enjoyment.

go .32"


One of my favorite all around cartridges, I reload it, but have not had a hard time finding factory loads either, I wear a belt box with an inexpensive revolver on occasion and never feel under protected.

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When words fail, music speaks.

First revolver I ever owned and I still have it, easy to reload and fun to shoot and it would certainly give an opponent a belly ache in a gun fight but there are better choices for self defense.

I have several .32 Long revolvers. Not my first choice for self-defense, but a hit with a .32 beats a miss with something bigger.

It is a fun round for all around shooting. Much better than a .22.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I own and shoot about 15 S&W and Ruger .32 Long and .32 mag revolvers, (the Rugers shoot both). They’re very accurate and a ton of fun.

It’s not a first choice caliber for defense but a good choice for many for a couple of reasons:

A small size defense gun in .32 is a six shot as opposed to only 5 shots in a .38 Spl same size gun.

Recoil sensitive people like those with arthritic hands, women, etc., will show better and not hesitate to shoot when needed or to practice more.

The 32 long defense loads are plenty lethal and 32 mag rivals 38 special ballistics.

The more convenient the gun is to carry and the more you’re likely to carry, is always better than the gun you leave home or in the car!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

My thoughts from an earlier thread on the Model 30:

Model 30

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Let's be careful out there

Buffalo Bore makes a hard cast wadcutter for self defense use in 32 S&W long.

If and when I end up confined to a wheelchair I will probably have a Model 30 tucked in next to my leg.

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Only a cold warrior

Probably lots of .32 Long ammo listed on ammoseek.com

I remember reading that small .32 revolvers were once popular among female cops as off duty guns. With good shot placement the .32 long will do. I personally knew one guy who died as the result of a single shot from a .32 Long to the chest. But that was an accidental shooting.

32 h&r mag would be nice. 32 long is just a little slow to be effective

I like the cartridge's accuracy and mild recoil. I only have two snubnose revolvers in this caliber; a S&W Model 31 and a H&R 733. Would I carry the .32 snubbies for self defense? Not when I have other options in the safe like the S&W 638 .38 Special and the Glock 42 in .380. I just wish I had a target revolver in .32 S&W long, because that's where I think the .32 would really be a great round to punch paper. I recently started reloading the .32 Long with some Lee dies I acquired. It's an easy cartridge to reload.

.32 S&W Long (1).jpg
.32 S&W Long (2).jpg

"One of my favorite all around cartridges, I reload it, but have not had a hard time finding factory loads either, I wear a belt box with an inexpensive revolver on occasion and never feel under protected." (Mbrgr1)

Yeah but----you're one of those folks who'd consider it a miss if you hit the bad guy in the eye----instead of right between the eyes!!

Ralph Tremaine

Fortunately you don’t have to speculate nowadays on caliber performance because folks like Lucky Gunner have already conducted controlled testing for us! The loads they tested here https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/poc...esults/#32Long all penetrated greater that 12” and did not exceed 18”. Sure they did not open up like a modern HST load in 9mm or 45acp, but they still carry as much weight as a 380.

I carry (and so does my wife) a j frame 32 h&r mag pretty often and it’s always stoked with 6 magtech wadcutter factory loads. I personally can rattle off all 6 in short order, accurately, without even thinking about it.

We also reload for 32 long and H&R, and it’s super easy to work up loads mild to wild. I love the caliber


SVT28

I have an early 32 hand ejector with leaf main spring. I enjoy shooting it but at an indoor range I kept pulling the gun up to try to see the front sight causing me to shoot high.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I've got one, a little I frame from the 20's I'm told. Cute little gun I admit, but I'd never really thought about using it for self-defense, I mean I've got other guns, but last evening, I stopped by the LGS and picked up a box of Fiocchi 32 S&W Long. The information on the box was pretty impressive. A 97 grain FMJ, RN, at 950 FPS. That's not a 44 magnum, but it's not really a wimp load either. (Yes, I know that 950 is probably from a test barrel, not the 3.25 my gun has.) No doubt better than a 22 LR from the same barrel length.



I think I'll go to the range later this morning. I'll probably take it along, just so I can say I've shot it. I'll save the brass of course. Who knows. I might want to reload for it someday.

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John 3:16 .

Beats a wagging finger and stern word, by a long shot!

With two different (late 60s aged) women I've tried to set them up with their first defensive handgun. Took them to the range, shot a variety of things starting with a J frame 2 snub, work up to a 32 J frame RB 3", progress to a 38 J frame, then 38 K frame 4" bull barrel. Even after putting lighter hammer springs in the J frames the issue was always their hand strength pulling the trigger double action. Shooting was all over the paper (and not on the paper) even at 15 feet. I reluctantly switched to a 380 semi-auto and their shooting immediately improved. I don't like all the extra knowledge / thought they have to have with a semi but the results spoke for themselves. I'm now a big fan of the SW 380 EZ. It's the only mid-sized 380 I know of that has a locked breach design and therefore can use lighter springs.

I have and shoot several 32 revolvers, have ongoing project guns in that caliber. I occasionally put one in rotation as a carry gun. 38 S&W is in a similar class. Buffalo Bore offers rounds for both of them that optimize the capability of the cartridges.

I have a little 32 Hand Ejector with a 3 1/4” barrel. The perfect length for the I/J frame. It was fast becoming one of my favorite shooters. My elder brother recently switched from 45 ACP to 9mm because of recoil. I sent the little revolver to him to see if he could use it.

Apparently, he likes it. He sent back a 20 gauge, Winchester Model 1912!

Here is an image that shows the difference in size. Top revolver is a S&W Model 22-4, my edc. The bottom revolver is the S&W 32 HE.



Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

When Teddy Roosevelt was Commissioner of the NYPD he ordered the 32 Colt New Police be adopted as the standard NYPD cartridge. 32 Colt New Police is the same cartridge as the 32 S&W Long.

As mentioned in earlier posts, LuckyGunner tests reveal that 32 S&W Long wadcutters provide adequate penetration for self defense.

And, as also mentioned, ammoseek is a ready source for ammo. A fair number of ranges also carry 32 S&W Long ammo too. It is the most popular centerfire round in international pistol competition.

Just reamed my 31-1 to take 32 H&R Mag. Now I'm thinking about doing it to my Model 16 no-dash Masterpiece.

JUST KIDDING!!!

Here is a 1958 vintage Colt Police Positive Special in 32 S&W Long/32 Colt New Police.

This revolver has an action so smooth it will put a Python to shame.

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Let's be careful out there

There are some things you just don't joke about!! Jes sayin' for Pete's sake...lordy...some people...

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I have a 31-1 that I load for. I don't carry it however. More fun than a barrel of monkeys.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Great for Target shooting .
Great for small game hunting ... rabbit , squirrel and such .
Great for those desiring a lighter recoiling and more pleasant shooting round .
More powerful than the 22 LR but not as powerful as 38 / 357 .
Great to reload ammo for and shooting cast / coated lead bullets .

It has a lot of things going for it and if you reload and maybe cast your own bullets ... can be an Extremely Versatile Round .

Self-Defense ... with the right load , it beats a stick or finger nails ...
... Seven Ways To Sunday !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

When my youngest (and smallest) niece was single, I gave her a slicked up Model 30-1. Loaded with Georgia Arms jacketed hollow points, she was nicely armed for whatever she was likely to encounter. Admittedly she didn’t hang out in biker bars or other such high stress locations!
Froggie

Went to a biker bar in Galveston in 1973 with an old Army buddy, Sign by the door said "Check your weapons with Bartender". Sat at the bar and Les handed the bar keep his 1911. He placed it under the bar. We got out of there before the real action started.

Sorry about the hijack. I couldn't help myself.

It has nearly the same velocity as 22 lr from equivalent length barrels. With a 98 gr swc it has 50% more bullet diameter than 22 and 250 % greater weight. Immaterial if it wasn't so fun and handy to shoot.

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Front sight and squeeze

I want to find a S&W model 31 SB with a 3" or 4" barrel. I have a lot of Lapua .32 S&W Long WC cartridges but the revolver is missing. 3" RB is too small according to the Finnish gun law
In Finland, model 31 is rare, model 16 is really common "bullseye revolver" and usually inexpensive.

I have a 3" model 31 and a 3" pre model 30. I wouldn't carry one for SD as I have better guns for that. So far I have only fired .32 ACP in them because I have a good stash. If I had to use one for SD I would load it with warm 73 gr FMJ .32 ACP that should give deep penetration.

Back in my cop days, we had several beer joints where the bartender would ask if you had a knife or gun. If you had neither, the barkeep would give you one!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

.......when the model 631 was introduced. My mind told me that the .32 magnum should be close to the .38 Special J frame I carried both as a secondary and at times a primary . Also it had a extra round. I had purchased a Ruger Single Six in .32 Mag earlier and loved it .
A friend who owned a gun store order me a 2 inch version of the 631.

Not knowing how collectible they would be I had my gunsmith bob the hammer. Double action only in defense revolvers.

Not too long ago the hammer stud broke, it is in the care of an excellent physician down in. Friona. In the meantime not being convinced of the survival rate of the original. I found a model 631 Ladysmith, two is one right? Then found a 4 inch 631 and another 2 inch 631.

Add those to my model 31 with an extra cylinder bored to accept . 32 mag. (Thank you SteelSlayer) and feel OK again with my battery of those puny little ol .32 revolvers .
A fellow once said a .32 in the orbital socket is better than a miss with a snub air weight .357 magnum.

Who knows Smith may wake up to the amazing qualities of the .32 Magnum one of these days and get back in the game.
😉
Hope that QC comes back also.

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LEX ET ORDO

I took mine to the range yesterday and put 50 rounds of Fiocchi 100 grain wadcutters through it. My gun is an old one (pictured earlier in the thread), from the early 1920's and sights are, well, pretty miserable for this old man. I didn't even put my usual orange nail polish on the front so it was pretty hard to pick up. And the rear one...lol...someone described it as a "divot" and that's about right. They're pretty hard for me to see. Still at 5 yards I could shoot an halfway decent group with it, all DA. A more modern gun should be better. Recoil was more than a 22, but not much. I enjoyed shooting it, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to become a regular in the range bag, and I doubt I'll buy anymore.

It would do as a carry gun in a pinch, about like a 22 "would do" IMHO. I picked up a box of Fiocchi "Heritage", 97 grain FMJ at the LGS so I'd have some ammo for it. It's got a velocity listed on the box as 950 fps, which seems a little hot to me, but then I freely admit that I know little about the cartridge. I don't even see anything close to that in my reloading books. The wadcutters were listed at around 750 which is more what I would have expected a 32 long to be. Heck, 950 seems hot for a 38 Special. I know, velocity on the box is about like gas mileage on a window sticker. Most likely somewhat optimistic shall we say?

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John 3:16 .

I hope so , I just bought 2 cases of wadcutters.

Attached Images

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S&WHF 483 , S&WCA 1699

A while back a friend came to the house with this gun for sale and a truck load of ammo, 32 H&R Mag and 327 Fed Mags. I already had a lot of 32 long for my other 32s.

I went to the range with a little of each caliber and was pleasantly surprised!
This gun is a tack driver at 25yds, with any of the 32 cal rounds!
jcelect

I've told the story many times about my wife and how the arthritis in her hands got too bad for her to tolerate her .38 anymore. We found her a nice little Model 30-1 and she fell in love with it. She could shoot it very well and it didn't hurt her hand.
Ain't no powerhouse, but it sure beats harsh language.
I got to shooting it and became quite fond of the .32 as well. I've since added 3" & 4" Model 31-1s and a 6" 16-4 to the stable.

An old Texas Roadhouse story has made the rounds for years…. A clean cut college boy and his sweet looking date went to a roadhouse to hear the band. At the door, the bouncer asked, “do you have a gun on you?” “No sir.”
“How about a knife?” “No sir.”
“…brass knucks, any weapon at all? “No sir!”
“Well,” said the bouncer, reaching under the counter and grabbing a bunch of assorted weapons… ”you’d better take one of these,”

I’m gonna guess a “32 gun in his pocket for fun” would suffice so long as he also had a “razor in his shoe!”

Froggie

Don’t sell yourself short. I knew two wheelchaired bond gentlemen (both has passed on). One had his Army 1911 45 automatic and the other a 38 Special Victory Model (which he won 2 gunfights with as a cop)

I will probably go with my S&W Model 29 and stout 44 Magnum handloads.

Jacksonville in 1976 had a great biker bar. Before or after the biker bar people would go to the Waffle House and I know who was packing and what.

The Waffle House should have checked weapons too. Always a violent place compared to the biker bar.

I could think of three lady cops who had six shot .32 J-frames.

I was on a double Homicide Case and the bad guy had a .25 ACP and he put down two of his rivals with one shot each, WWB FMJ as I recall.

I rather have six shots of 38 Special. Either a Colt Detective Special or a S&W K-frame snubby.

The wildcard?

I've got a 3.25" .32 S&W Long Improved I-frame in which I've used Sharpe's Thirties load data to throw 98-grain hardcasts at over 1050 fps in the caliber. Seems like that would leave a mark, and it's accurate.

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How God has blessed us!

When I was shooting in competition I had a Pardini in 32 long wad-cutter for the center fire leg. Great, accurate cartridge. Its only problem was it ejected the brass with gay-abandon and 32L brass was hard to come by at the time.
I used to be able to figure I was going to lose about 10 rounds for every 50 shot. (Outdoor range, tall grass on a military base where no one policed their brass. Those little suckers could blend right in...)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Good cartridge for plinking or teaching young ones to shoot. It's way on the anemic side for a self defense cartridge unless someone is wildly recoil shy. Even in that case I'd advocate for a good 38 wadcutter over the 32.

Many people underestimate the .25 ACP. With good 50 gr FMJ it will absolutely completely penetrate an upper torso with a frontal chest shot. Despite the stories of bullets practically bouncing off of clothing many people have been laid to rest by a single shot from the .25.

I am a 32 fan. I have a bunch of them. I don't carry one, but would without hesitation. I have heard for decades about how this caliber or that isn't good enough for self defense. My answer to that is usually something like, "If they are so ineffective, would you stand 10 feet away and let me put one or two into you?" For the vast majority of us, the presentation of a firearm will stop whatever nefarious action we might encounter. in those cases where it might not, any gun you carry is better than not having one. And a hit beats a miss every time. For those who are proficient with big bore guns, by all means carry the biggest you like. For lots of folks, 6 rounds of 32 long is ok too. Probably lots of dead folks who can attest to the effectiveness of 32s, 22s, and 25s.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Like the 38 Special and 45 ACP, it is an inherently accurate round and is fun to shoot, easy to reload.

For the longest time I've had a 32 wadcutter mold. Been looking for a gun to feed with it but haven't run across a proper deal.

How do you like that H&R as a shooter? Looks like something someone would buy to carry but not shoot. I've seen them for sale and they go cheap.