YeahI need that load too. I have a boatload of those 115 gr cast bullets. I have one of the Ruger Bjackhawk with 32 H&R and 32-20 extra cylinder and a 32 Single six. Heck you can even push that bullet a fair bit faster in the 32 Long. The 32s are fun to shoot...but the heavier loads and 327 are kinda loud
32 H&R Magnum prices!
- Thread starter brian10xaz
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venomballistics
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I used to be a fan of the 32 cal concept. I still am for many reasons. but the economics has made 9mm my go to range cartridge.
Model 15-4ever
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In the early part of the 20th century, the .32 calibre generally was the bees knees, and chambered in numerous revolvers and automatics. It was considered more than adequate for self-defense, small-game hunting, target shooting, and warfare. It had, and remains, a calibre with much to recommend it.
Sadly, soon after WWII, .32 calibre turned into the red-headed stepchild of US cartridges. Now 75 years later, it's considered an oddball, with various know-nothings disparaging it for all manner of uses. Just about every attempt at a revival - .32 H&R, Mag .327 Federal, .30 Super Carry - has been largely a dud. The price of ammunition reflects that. Low volume = high price.
For at least 30 years, .32s have been primarily a handloaders calibre for the remaining .32 nuts amongst us. For those with .32s that didn't handload... well I think most of the owners didn't shoot them much anyway, and one box of 50 rounds lasted a long time.
The .32 S&W Long can be fired in a .32 H&R Mag but it is nowhere available for $15/box, even in quantity online or otherwise. After shipping you are looking at $20-25 minimum, which still isn't "cheap" when bulk 9mm is half that price.
The situation is a shame because the lighter recoiling .32s are good for many folks, and more reliable than a rimfire.
As I've said in the past, 9mm has ruined everything.
Sadly, soon after WWII, .32 calibre turned into the red-headed stepchild of US cartridges. Now 75 years later, it's considered an oddball, with various know-nothings disparaging it for all manner of uses. Just about every attempt at a revival - .32 H&R, Mag .327 Federal, .30 Super Carry - has been largely a dud. The price of ammunition reflects that. Low volume = high price.
For at least 30 years, .32s have been primarily a handloaders calibre for the remaining .32 nuts amongst us. For those with .32s that didn't handload... well I think most of the owners didn't shoot them much anyway, and one box of 50 rounds lasted a long time.
The .32 S&W Long can be fired in a .32 H&R Mag but it is nowhere available for $15/box, even in quantity online or otherwise. After shipping you are looking at $20-25 minimum, which still isn't "cheap" when bulk 9mm is half that price.
The situation is a shame because the lighter recoiling .32s are good for many folks, and more reliable than a rimfire.
As I've said in the past, 9mm has ruined everything.
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The gun world we currently live in has more than afforded us with quite a full range of calibers and ammo choices. These choices have not had any lacking for me when it came to choosing a specific gun/caliber for specific needs. The last 100 years has really shaped ammunition choices and the great ones are even better today as company’s are always improving performance and choices.
AJ
US Veteran
Makes me glad I reload!
The parent cartridge, 32 S&W was introduced 20 years earlier than the 38 special. It's you that is shooting the new kid.
Green Frog
Member
Got it, Erich. Thank you very much. There are so many mags out there of dubious value, that when one good article comes along, I'm like as not to miss it!
Froggie
A few years ago 44 mag was a dollar or mor per round. Now you can get it for 60 cents per round which I consider reasonable. When S&W/Lipsey's came out with the ultimate carry revolvers in 32 H&R mag I thought the price on the ammo would drop due to increased demand and more production but it has not.
lawandorder
Member
The caliber has been around for about 40 years and it seems to be catching with more folks.
AJ
US Veteran
It seems like the .32 caliber (in one form or another) has been around since the dawn of time..........!
What is nice you can shoot .32 ACP in the revolver if needed.
What is nice you can shoot .32 ACP in the revolver if needed.
Not sure about the first comment. There are countless millions of 38's out there. You see the price of 38 ammo?
No offense chief38 but it seems kind of funny to call the 32 H&R magnum an "oddball flash-in-the-pan caliber".
Revolvers shooting this caliber have been around for over 40 years now!
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Alk8944
US Veteran
I have no idea what the load Erich is using to get 1,400 FPS with, but that is certainly doable! I regularly shoot the Lyman 3118, nominal 115 grains, at 1,389 FPS from my Ruger SP101 4". And, no, I won't share the load! It has to be loaded in Star-line brass only as it will stretch the primer pockets in Federal cases! I also will not shoot it in my 631. The bullets are cast quite hard and I use Saeco Green lube. There are no issues with leading, even at this velocity. It should do about 1,500 FPS from a 6 1/2" barrel, but I don't have one.
The 631 is probably strong enough, but I won't take the chance with it, it is worth too much!
.32 H&R is just one of many cartridges you simply must handload for to get anywhere near the performance they are reasonably capable of!
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jreidthompson1
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Here's the Oct 2018 article
https://www.handloadermagazine.com/32-h-r-magnum-pet-loads
Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk
Good stuff! Thanks for posting the link to that article!
Chubbs103
US Veteran
I reload (and cast) for every center-fire handgun caliber I shoot. I couldn't afford to shoot the volume I do otherwise. I certainly couldn't keep up with my son's appetite for shooting. This is true of any of my revolver calibers to include .38 SPL.
It's only been the last couple of years that I discovered .32HR. I've really fallen for it in both a single six and a Marlin. It's like having a reloadable .22 magnum (with the potential to run pretty hot in either of those platforms).
I recently picked up a SP101 in .327 Fed. It's back with Ruger right now for a couple of issues. When I get it back it will probably fed mainly .32HR.
It's only been the last couple of years that I discovered .32HR. I've really fallen for it in both a single six and a Marlin. It's like having a reloadable .22 magnum (with the potential to run pretty hot in either of those platforms).
I recently picked up a SP101 in .327 Fed. It's back with Ruger right now for a couple of issues. When I get it back it will probably fed mainly .32HR.
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As I have posted many times here, when buying a gun in a "new caliber" or at least one not in the "main stream", be prepared to accept what is available and what prices they are currently asking - basically get ready to be abused. While reloading can sometimes be done on the cheap, that is ONLY if you have the components on hand and purchased when they were somewhat reasonable like below $30 bucks a brick of primers and below $15 bucks a pound of powder.
Unless a "new caliber" changes the way we live or can control the weather, there are a plethora of calibers on the market for decades that are readily available at somewhat reasonable prices and you actually can choose the spec's you are looking for. Between 9mm for a semi auto and .38 spl for a revolver there will be ammo available for a long long time. .32 H&R, 10mm, 38 Super, 21 Winchester, .357 Max, etc. good luck. While on a piece of paper sometimes a new caliber can be attractive, but again unless it is life changing we must ask ourselves before the purchase - will it revolutionize my EDC life?
Nothing will revolutionized the shooting sports. and really hasn't for decades...at least as far as calibers.. But the fantastic plastids has changed the gun industry...and the 9mm has replaced the 38 Sp unfortunately...as has the 223 done to 308/30-06...what has really hurt is the plethora pf new calibers to replace the older standbys just to keep the manufacturers going To be honest the 32 H&R & 327 are the last of the magnum cals to actually make sense. They actually make the 32 calibers relevant. The majority of the new calibers these days are clones of older cals...like the 6.5 Creedmore...a glorified Swede...With the decline in hunting and availability how many new calibers do we need? On the other hand handgun calibers we have keep the ammo companies going...even if some don't make sense as new developments...rimfire and other handgun calibers dominate the ammo market...at least commercially
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LOL, no gun is going to revolutionize my EDC life.
As for reloading the 32 H&R:
Starline brass is around 22 cents apiece and assume you get just 5 reloadings out of each piece, that make the brass cost 4 cents per round.
Berrys plated bullets are 7 cents apiece
3 grains of HP-38 @ $45 a pound is 2 cents
a SPP is 6 cents
So reloading a round of H&R magnum would cost you just under 20 cents a round. Even if you add a dime a round to cover shipping costs (for the items that aren't available locally) that still puts the price at about 30 cents a round or $15 a box.
That's a little less than what the very cheapest 38 special ammo is going for on AmmoSeek right now. If you buy 1000 rounds it is just over 32 cents a round with shipping.
Of course 38 special can be reloaded for a little less, but not much. The brass and bullets are a little cheaper so you can reload 38 for a couple of cents per round less.
9mm is cheaper to buy, but also about the same price to reload. If you are just starting and paying current prices for components it makes no sense to reload 9mm at all, since factory ammo can be purchased for 11-12 bucks a box on sale.
You're definitely right about getting a much bigger price advantage if you laid in components "back in the day" when they were cheaper. Fortunately I did - and so have a lot of other people around here. We're the lucky ones.
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