I started shooting as a teenager back MANY years ago. I, early on, learned that the Smith "K" series target revolvers were about as good as it got! My father's serious shooting friends, were nearly all "Blue Collar" fellows and had limited incomes. The S&W target revolvers represented not only wonderful, accurate revolvers, but also excellent value. We had the K-.38 and eventually, both the 1950 target (.45 ACP) but the later 1955 Target (.45 ACP). I looked for YEARS for an affordable K-.32. However, I was ALWAYS behind the price curve. The low numbers of K-.32's actually made, plus demand just kept the price climbing ahead of my pocket book.
When the Ruger .32 H&R Single Six hit the market, I immediately picked one up. It was a really good revolver after I did a trigger job on it. I had the 4 5/8" barreled model and my shooting buddy, Frank Siefer, had a 6.5" barreled model. I really liked the shorter barrel for the field, but when Frank and I switched guns at the range, it was obvious to me, that the 6.5" with longer sight radius and slightly greater weight was easier to hit with. I got excellent results with my 4 5/8" but I had to work harder.
I really got into the .32 H&R as well as the .32 S&W Long using my own cast bullets and reloading. I lusted after a double action Smith, tho'. When I was attending the Indianapolis 500 gun show, I discovered the newly introduced S&W Model 631 at a VERY favorable price from one of the Distributors, there. I almost broke my arm getting to my pocket cash. The 631, when properly loaded was really accurate and a pleasant little revolver to shoot. It worked especially well in the field and was far superior on small game to the .22 rimfire. However, it was so light, that I also wanted a "K" frame, but had little hope of ever owning one. Not long after, I was at another gun show, and BEHOLD the newly released S&W 16-4 in .32 H&R appeared in front of me. What was even a bigger surprise was, again, it was offered under list price by a handgun distributor! Fortunately, I had the price in my jeans! It took it home and it passed all expectations!
I still have both handguns and both of them surpassed my expectations (notice how I repeat myself?
>))
Federals were the sole supplier of cartridges and brass for the .32 H&R at the time. At about the same time I bought my .32's, Federal stopped supplying all components to reloaders. Grrrrrr! Further, their loaded ammo had flat out JUNK brass. Shooting the first time with factory ammo, several of the cases would split upon firing the first time. I checked my revolvers and the chambers were in specs. I complained to Federal, and got NO satisfaction.
However, I did luck out. I had a buddy who was a commercial reloader who supplied the area police departments with reloaded ammo for practice. He bought once fired brass by the barrels and he had a barrel of .32 S&W Longs once fired brass. He let me take it home and sort it by the brand. I ended up with several thousand same brand cases of .32 S&W long cases at a very favorable price. I discovered that using my home cast bullets and a proper load, my .32 H&R handguns shot like WONDERFUL!
So, for a time I used nothing but .32 S&W long cases in those .32 H&R revolvers with complete satisfaction using loads that drove a 100 gr SWC to 800-900 fps. for excellent results with almost unlimited brass life. Life was GOOD!
Then, I got word that Starline Brass was going to make a run of .32 H&R cases. I immediately called Starline, and they told me that it would be a couple of weeks. I ordered two thousand cases (figuring if Frank didn't want "his" thousand, I would gladly use them). In two weeks, my cases were delivered! Starline has been THE premium case supplier for me ever since!
So, reading all of the above, you might guess that I am a REAL fan of the .32 S&W L and the .32 H&R for both Field and Range and you would be completely correct. I have NO need for any more performance than I can get for both Field and Range. Those two loads do in all, for me, in a .32.
My S&W 16-4 and my 631 do it all for me when it comes to a .32, for sure! I will have mine until they plant me!
FWIW
Dale53
She could shoot it very well and the recoil didn't bother her at all. 
