Found a 432 UC in Charlotte today. Fit and finish is excellent. Feels great. Looking for a 442 UC as well. Surprised to see this one first.
S&W Ultimate Carry J Frame 432
- Thread starter T. McIntyre
- Start date
LOBO
SWCA Member
Thanks for the info!!
Chris
Chris
Just a thought, now that it has been a couple days with the 432 UC. The VZ grips are nice. I like them a lot. That said, sort of wish that they were a little "grippier." Thinking about swapping them for old school Pachmayrs. Maybe not. Undecided.
Update. Decided that the original VZ grips, however nice, do not work for me. Swapped them out for old school Pachmayrs. Feels awesome.
It was difficult to remove the VZ grips. They fit tight. Had to put a thin metal rod into the screw hole and apply a lot of force to push the opposite grip panel loose. Did not want to mar the finish or grip.
It was difficult to remove the VZ grips. They fit tight. Had to put a thin metal rod into the screw hole and apply a lot of force to push the opposite grip panel loose. Did not want to mar the finish or grip.
Jeppo
SWCA Member
Found a 432 UC in Charlotte today. Fit and finish is excellent. Feels great. Looking for a 442 UC as well. Surprised to see this one first.
Has she let you shoot it yet?
OP
T. McIntyre
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150 rounds through the Lipsey's Ultimate Carry 432 .32 H&R J Frame with Lost River Ammo 100 grain Poly wadcutters.
Finally have a few minutes to sit down and post about shooting the 432 UC for the first time before I have to get to work cranking out ammo!
On Sunday I went out and shot 150 rounds. Dang wind was blowing. Some times it was calm, but there were some gusts that made life difficult to say the least. I lost my final target in the end.
I had brought along my S&W 442 and G21.5 w/RDO as well. I figured I would see how the recoil was, shooting the 442 and 432, shooting them side by side, with the 100 grain and 148 grain poly wadcutter loads.
My first six rounds at 15 yards with the 432:
I shot six more for a total of 12 rounds then decided to adjust the rear sight. The rear sight is dove tailed in and has a set screw. I had a screw driver set, Brownell's brass hammer, along with a brass rod in case I needed to tighten any loose screws or whatever.
So I loosened the set screw and went to adjust the rear sight in the dovetail. Ha! That sucker is soo tight in there! Good news bad news (not really that bad). I tapped on it a few times with the brass rod while sitting on the tailgate. The good things is that the rear sight is so perfectly fit in there that the odds of you losing your rear sight if the set screw comes loose are extremely slim. After tapping on it a number of times and it not budging, and knowing my propensity for totally screwing up very nice things and totally regretting it, I decided I would wait until I got him and use proper tools and do it right! Sometimes I do learn from my own previous mistakes....
I may have a 1911 that still looks like a dog chewed on the rear sight from me adjusting the rear sight at a match with a Leatherman and a rock..
Not going to do that this time!
So I went back to shooting.
I shot my 442 with the old trough sights and there is just no comparison. So I cheated and used the CT laser grips. I will say that with 20 years of using CT laser grips, and thousands of rounds, the little 442 will stack them still. The laser grips are a definite advantage if the light is in your favor, like being indoors or on overcast days.
I might consider some CT grips for the 432. The sights on the 432 are the best I have ever used on a J frame, no question about it, but having both would really be exceptional. I was considering this, but I REALLY like the shape of the grips on the 432. They are the best grips I have ever used on a stock J Frame. By a long shot.
So the wind started really picking up and I was having trouble keeping the IDPA target even stapled down. It finally blew off and I was unable to recover it. You can kind of see on the paper behind it how pretty consistent at 15 yards the .32 H&R was. To the upper left are some .38 148 grain WC holes as well, but the lower left are the main group from the 432.
In the end I had 3 boxes of 100 grain wadcutters through the 432. Pretty comfortable gun to shoot. Definitely a home run for Lipseys.
I shot the G21.5 after that at some rocks that I lasered in the mid 80 yards out to about 120 yards . That gun is a freaking tack driver. I am going to take it out on a nice day and set some steel up at extended distances and see what it can do. The Marksman barrels in the 5th Gen .45 guns are pretty exceptional.
I would have put some .45 on paper but my target I set aside for the G21 is probably in Wyoming by now...
Finally have a few minutes to sit down and post about shooting the 432 UC for the first time before I have to get to work cranking out ammo!
On Sunday I went out and shot 150 rounds. Dang wind was blowing. Some times it was calm, but there were some gusts that made life difficult to say the least. I lost my final target in the end.
I had brought along my S&W 442 and G21.5 w/RDO as well. I figured I would see how the recoil was, shooting the 442 and 432, shooting them side by side, with the 100 grain and 148 grain poly wadcutter loads.
My first six rounds at 15 yards with the 432:
I shot six more for a total of 12 rounds then decided to adjust the rear sight. The rear sight is dove tailed in and has a set screw. I had a screw driver set, Brownell's brass hammer, along with a brass rod in case I needed to tighten any loose screws or whatever.
So I loosened the set screw and went to adjust the rear sight in the dovetail. Ha! That sucker is soo tight in there! Good news bad news (not really that bad). I tapped on it a few times with the brass rod while sitting on the tailgate. The good things is that the rear sight is so perfectly fit in there that the odds of you losing your rear sight if the set screw comes loose are extremely slim. After tapping on it a number of times and it not budging, and knowing my propensity for totally screwing up very nice things and totally regretting it, I decided I would wait until I got him and use proper tools and do it right! Sometimes I do learn from my own previous mistakes....
I may have a 1911 that still looks like a dog chewed on the rear sight from me adjusting the rear sight at a match with a Leatherman and a rock..
Not going to do that this time!
So I went back to shooting.
I shot my 442 with the old trough sights and there is just no comparison. So I cheated and used the CT laser grips. I will say that with 20 years of using CT laser grips, and thousands of rounds, the little 442 will stack them still. The laser grips are a definite advantage if the light is in your favor, like being indoors or on overcast days.
I might consider some CT grips for the 432. The sights on the 432 are the best I have ever used on a J frame, no question about it, but having both would really be exceptional. I was considering this, but I REALLY like the shape of the grips on the 432. They are the best grips I have ever used on a stock J Frame. By a long shot.
So the wind started really picking up and I was having trouble keeping the IDPA target even stapled down. It finally blew off and I was unable to recover it. You can kind of see on the paper behind it how pretty consistent at 15 yards the .32 H&R was. To the upper left are some .38 148 grain WC holes as well, but the lower left are the main group from the 432.
In the end I had 3 boxes of 100 grain wadcutters through the 432. Pretty comfortable gun to shoot. Definitely a home run for Lipseys.
I shot the G21.5 after that at some rocks that I lasered in the mid 80 yards out to about 120 yards . That gun is a freaking tack driver. I am going to take it out on a nice day and set some steel up at extended distances and see what it can do. The Marksman barrels in the 5th Gen .45 guns are pretty exceptional.
I would have put some .45 on paper but my target I set aside for the G21 is probably in Wyoming by now...
OP
T. McIntyre
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I forgot to post that this was written a couple days ago. I went out and shot yesterday again, and now have 250 rounds through the gun. I will post that shooting eval up here shortly.
Doug M.
Member
*
Grips are often a personal choice/fit issue and I leave that alone. The only criterion that matters is that the grips work for the shooter in question. I will admit that when I see the knee-jerk responses about wood over other materials for cosmetic reasons I have a hard time not being strident in noting the irresponsibility of that position. Cosmetics generally are not relevant, and even less so when talking about a fighting gun, which this model is.
As for the sights: This might be the first time I have ever heard a criticism of this sighting system. The need for a visible front sight that is big and bold is pretty well established. The U notch has made a come back in the last 15 or so years; the first time I saw one was from Hilton Yam. I have a couple of pistols set up like that, and carried at least one as a duty weapon. I can assure you that the transition to such takes almost no effort, and they work very well for fighting. As a rule, if a firearm is not suitable for fighting, I will not own it. I have a .22 and a K38 that I sometimes shoot just to show myself when I can do if I concentrate, but even then the K38 was used to good effect by LAPD and other agencies.
This platform was developed by honest to goodness experts; Nyeti is a friend of friends and has the BTDT background to opine and apply his knowledge.
Last edited:
Cal44
Member
I wonder when, or if, it will become available for sales by gun shops in California.
OP
T. McIntyre
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250 rds total. Lipsey's 432 Ultimate Carry J Frame Lost River Ammo
250 rounds total now. Lipsey's 432 Ultimate Carry J Frame Lost River Ammo
Yesterday's weather was far nicer than the wind storm I tried to shoot in last Sunday.
I took my 432 UC and my G21.5 out to the range.
After adjusting the sights at home (purely guessing) I was back on the range to give it a try.
The first six rounds at 10 yards:
Once again, the ammo was my own making, these, which have been immensely popular:
The first 6 rounds after the initial sight adjustment:
Obviously my guess was not quite on the money..
I ended up splitting the difference and getting it closer to the center...
The HKS Speedloaders came in too, so I used those while I was on the range. It is interesting to note, that even though they hold 6 rounds of .32 compared to 5 of .38, they are still a tad bit smaller. Aside from visually noticing the difference, I could tell just by handling them and slipping them into my pocket.
Went to 7 yards and put a bunch into the target, shooting two handed.
Backed up to 10 yards and shot strong hand only, then weak hand only:
I had a few rounds left that I shot at some distant shotgun shells that were littered on the ground, and watched them fly off. At least the one that I hit..
So now I have 250 rounds through the gun. The sights are miles above the old school design of the traditional J Frame. There is no question about it. The .32 is quite comfortable to shoot. The recoil makes putting one hundred rounds through the gun an enjoyable experience.
So that is it until next time. Going to load up the speed loaders and carry at least one of those in my pocket when I carry the 432 as my BUG pocket gun.
250 rounds total now. Lipsey's 432 Ultimate Carry J Frame Lost River Ammo
Yesterday's weather was far nicer than the wind storm I tried to shoot in last Sunday.
I took my 432 UC and my G21.5 out to the range.
After adjusting the sights at home (purely guessing) I was back on the range to give it a try.
The first six rounds at 10 yards:
Once again, the ammo was my own making, these, which have been immensely popular:
The first 6 rounds after the initial sight adjustment:
Obviously my guess was not quite on the money..
I ended up splitting the difference and getting it closer to the center...
The HKS Speedloaders came in too, so I used those while I was on the range. It is interesting to note, that even though they hold 6 rounds of .32 compared to 5 of .38, they are still a tad bit smaller. Aside from visually noticing the difference, I could tell just by handling them and slipping them into my pocket.
Went to 7 yards and put a bunch into the target, shooting two handed.
Backed up to 10 yards and shot strong hand only, then weak hand only:
I had a few rounds left that I shot at some distant shotgun shells that were littered on the ground, and watched them fly off. At least the one that I hit..
So now I have 250 rounds through the gun. The sights are miles above the old school design of the traditional J Frame. There is no question about it. The .32 is quite comfortable to shoot. The recoil makes putting one hundred rounds through the gun an enjoyable experience.
So that is it until next time. Going to load up the speed loaders and carry at least one of those in my pocket when I carry the 432 as my BUG pocket gun.
Doug M.
Member
*
That's a good write-up. You did the work to show the performance of the platform under conditions simulating those for which it was designed. While this platform does not at this time suit me, I can see circumstances in my future in which it might.
elgatodeacero
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Very nice revolver, and great write up. Hopefully these will become widely available soon.
I would like to see some longer range (25 yd and 50yd) accuracy testing comparing the .32 100 grain full wadcutter and the 32-98 grain RCBS SWC bullets. I would also like to see penetration comparison between these two bullets.
The 632/432 with a 3 inch barrel, adjustable sights, no lock, and an external hammer might give the Ruger LCRX some kit gun competition.
I am not interested in the blast and noise of the .327 Federal and am very happy the .32 H&R Magnum is making a comeback.
I would like to see some longer range (25 yd and 50yd) accuracy testing comparing the .32 100 grain full wadcutter and the 32-98 grain RCBS SWC bullets. I would also like to see penetration comparison between these two bullets.
The 632/432 with a 3 inch barrel, adjustable sights, no lock, and an external hammer might give the Ruger LCRX some kit gun competition.
I am not interested in the blast and noise of the .327 Federal and am very happy the .32 H&R Magnum is making a comeback.
Update. Decided that the original VZ grips, however nice, do not work for me. Swapped them out for old school Pachmayrs. Feels awesome.
The Pachmayr Compac grip was what I used when I carried a 442. Felt great and kept the cylinder release from gouging my thumb.
I was all in for one of these but those plastic looking pins/stud is a turn off. Seems to me that S&W could have at least color matched them so that they aren't so obvious. Sore thumb you know..What's the purpose of the 2 above the trigger?
The pins above the trigger are the same titanium pins that the scandium guns got for increased durability. The explanation I heard was that on high-round count aluminum J-frames, the trigger pins can become deformed over time.
cd228
Member
Nice work! I appreciate you sharing all the info.
What's funny is that I remember back when .32 H&R was still in the S&W catalogue. A couple of the local gun guys really liked it because of the lower recoil and extra round in the J frame.
I'm thinking .32 H&R could make a major come back.
I'm also interested to see what improvements from the UC migrate into the production J frames.
What's funny is that I remember back when .32 H&R was still in the S&W catalogue. A couple of the local gun guys really liked it because of the lower recoil and extra round in the J frame.
I'm thinking .32 H&R could make a major come back.
I'm also interested to see what improvements from the UC migrate into the production J frames.
Protocall_Design
Vendor
The pin above the trigger is the trigger pivot pin and the one forward is the cylinder stop pivot pin. The one below the cylinder latch is the hammer pivot pin.
