.32 S&W Long Cartridge - OK for Self Defense?

[Col Defender]

Enjoyed the ".38 Special Looked Down Upon" Thread.

So... really just days ago I came across an honestly used Mod 30-1 J frame Snubbie in .32 S&W Long. Looks just like a "Chief's Special" but it is a six shot. So far I don't shoot it all that well but I've been carrying it anyway.

What say ye?

Is there a good SD round commercially available? All I have so far are lead 90 grain bullets

Steve

 

[David Sinko]

If it's all you got, then I guess it's OK. But it certainly wouldn't be my first choice. I expect most if not all factory loaded ammo is going to be pretty lame. You'd need to handload it to get it to its true potential.

Surprisingly, the .32 Long is very popular with the thugs. I see lots of these out on the street and I had no idea there were (are?) so many different manufacturers. Actually, I wouldn't mind having one of these small S&W revolvers but the ones I've seen for sale locally tend to be in bad condition.

Dave Sinko

 

[ARMinSC]

+1 on the "not first choice, but if it's all ya got"

I have a M30 no dash that I love. It was the second revo I ever bought. It has duty as my wifes bedside piece now, but I take it to the range for a workout every now and then. I shoot Georgia Arms 85gr JHP's in it. They are some real nice rounds, it says fps:850 on the bag.
The price has gone up, I still have bags of 50rds. that were $12!

Georgia Arms - Search

 

[MSgt G]

Not me first choice, but I sure do love shooting this little caliber! Lots of fun and very accurate. My S&W is over 100 years old and belonged to my grandfather so I very rarely shoot it any more. I sure wish I could find another one.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

My EDC is a Model 432PD in .32H&R Magnum, and my BUG is a Seecamp in .32ACP. Yes, I know neither is .32Long, and so far I've used the 32Long only for practice. I was wondering if your pistol could be converted to fire .32H&R Magnum? I emailed Hamilton Bowen once about converting .32Long revolvers to the .32H&R and he said it could be easily done with a K frame, but I wonder if this could be done to your J frame?

Regards,

Dave

 

[Thicker]

A quick series of head shots should be enough to stop (slow) the bad guy...If it is too hard a shot,at the time, take out his knees...... I ,also, have a 432PD......Great little firearm.....

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've got an old H&R snubbie in 32 S&W long that was my dads. He carried it forever (but never used it in a hot situation). I used to shoot the gun allot and remember it had some "umph" for a small revolver. As mentioned, it's not in hot demand because of its medium power and limited ammo choices BUT it's a whole lot better than a .22 lr or a .45 left at home. Id go as far as to dare anybody to stand in front of dads old H&R 32 with a catchers mitt

 

[signsrup]

I'm trying to set my wife up with a SD handgun now. I think we may very well end up with a .32 j-frame. She's recoil shy, and the 32 in a j-frame is lighter than a 38 in a K.

It would not be my first choice, but better than nothing.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

You should look for a "defensive" load from one of the "botique" ammo makers; Georgia Arms, Buffalo Bore etc.. One of them is sure to have a little hotter HP load for SD, and it should at least be up to or past the.380 loads that folks seen to find so popular for that purpose, not to mention the .32 ACP or .25 ACP

 

[noah228]

For 32 S&W Long I would recommend Magtech 98 gr. SJHP or Georgia Arms 85 gr. JHP. Taking into consideration that shot placement is very important, then either of these would be the best bet for commerical loads.

 

[therevjay]

.32 long for SD

"Magtech" makes a 98gr SJHP which they claim 778FPS for. (Bbl. lengh ukn.) I just carry Federal 98gr LRN in my Colt Pocket positive (I frame size) It is for sure not the best SD rd. But it makes a considerably smaller lump in my pocket then a J-frame. And although the cal. gets little respect today, it was the standerd cal. for many police forces around the turn of the 20th cen.

Several people have told me "It would just PO a BG" but so far no one is willing to stand downrange and hold targets.

 

[Col Defender]

Thanks

Thanks for all the good comments. It is certainly NOT all I have, or the best I have, and soon when the "new" wears off I'll probably go back to my 66-4 .357 snubbie, or my Glock 30 SF .45 ACP. (Hope that confession does not get me banned from this forum )

I just like this little gun and it's so easy, with a pocket holster, to pack it anywhere no matter how I'm dressed.

Steve

 

[dave b]

It would suree deter me.

 

[bagolden]

Mostly on topic. I was in a gun shop with a buddy one time. We both owned CZ's in .32 ACP. His was a 70 and mine a 50. When my friend noticed a CZ 70 in the case, cuz behind the counter informed us he'd rather have a handful of rocks over a .32 ACP. My buddy just grinned and replied "I'll meet you in the parking lot, there's plenty of gravel out there."

I've personally carried a Mod 30 with a 3" barrel with reasonable confidence. I do hand load for it and shoot it enough to be amply accurate. My thinking with any very small hand gun is two fold. 1 it's always better to have one if you need it. 2 there's a very good chance the 'mouse' gun will either take care of the situation or allow me to get to a better tool that will.

BG

 

[bmcgilvray]

It'd beat closing with an assailant and using one's fists.

One supposes that we're more sophisticated than than the folks of bygone times. We expect our side arms to reduce an assailant to a blasted torso lying in two smoking pieces with a single shot. We agonize incessantly about the minutiae of cartridge specifications and bullet performance. While it is important to put some thought into self protection perhaps it matters less than we think.

 

[Smithhound]

I carry a m31 with a 2" barrel whenever I'm out working in the yard, grilling or just walking the dog, I keep it loaded with some 98g HP's. It fits nicely in any pocket and is more reassuring than not having it.
I call it working on the principle of 'no one wants to get shot, not even by a little gun'.
RD

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Sound like a neat little gun! Well I think that if you put the bullet between the bad guy's shirt pocket's it will do the job.

 

[Landric]

I have two 2" .32 H&R Magnum S&W's. I've chronographed some varions .32 S&W Long ammunition through them, both factory and handloaded with 98 grain RN and 100 grain RNFP bullets. None of them made it to 600 fps out of the snubbies. Most were between 500 and 550 fps. That is pretty wimpy, but I suspect it would be much better than throwing rocks.

Were I to carry a .32 S&W Long for defense, I'd carry handloads (gasp!). I'd find myself a 95-100 grain SWC with a nice sharp shoulder and load it as fast as I could from my snubbie. The .32 S&W Long is unlikely to push a JHP fast enough to expand it, with the possible exception of the 60 grain Gold Dot intended for .32 ACP. At any rate, I'd find penetration more important than expansion and still go for the SWC.

Actually, that sounds like a fun experiment. I think I'll try it even though I don't plan to carry the .32 S&W L.

 

[WildCard ZX6R]

Its better than the best knife in the world.

 

[Mule88]

Nobody wants to be shot,with a .44 or the small .32. Like mentioned before, not a first choice, but better than not having it.