medxam
US Veteran
I am curious. Most people on this forum call the .380 a "pathetic" round. How does the >32 H&R Magnum stack up to it?
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.380 vs >32 H&R Magnum
- Thread starter medxam
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The .32 H&R Magnum is perhaps the most underated cartridge of all time. There is no comparison to a .380. In a proper gun such as a single action Ruger, or the upper high-end guns.... it's only limit is the brass. It is possible to load this puppy up to and exceed the .327 Federal ~ and has been done many times over the years....
IMHO we are talking about one of the most exciting and marginalized handgun calibers ever produced. This cartridge will rock your world, handloaded to it's potential....
It's only downfall were some of the pitiful guns that were designed around it's original offering....
IMHO we are talking about one of the most exciting and marginalized handgun calibers ever produced. This cartridge will rock your world, handloaded to it's potential....
It's only downfall were some of the pitiful guns that were designed around it's original offering....
Ask all those who have been killed with a 380 or 32 HR Mag round.
Neither is "pathetic."
Look up the ballistics and compare them to a regular 38 special.
Neither is "pathetic."
Look up the ballistics and compare them to a regular 38 special.
Andy Griffith
Member
The downfall of the .32 Magnum is that it is chambered in firearms the size of J-frames. Why buy a .32 Magnum in a J-frame when you can get a .38 or .357? The Ruger Single-six in that caliber was a neat, albeit short lived little piece designed for small game, targets and such..
If a sub J-framed, 5-shot pocket snubbie was made- that'd be the ticket. Something in the size range of the break top S&W "lemon squeezers" would be ideal.
There is no dedicated platform for this cartridge, and that is, IMHO the one problem holding it back from widespread acceptance.
However, if they were to introduce something- brass and ammunition won't be found for a while, just like what happened to .380.
The market is flooded with diminutive jammamatics in .380, now when are we going to get a subcompact revolver?
I'm a revolver guy, and can never trust an self-loader. After all, Borchardt's invention is just passing fad.
If a sub J-framed, 5-shot pocket snubbie was made- that'd be the ticket. Something in the size range of the break top S&W "lemon squeezers" would be ideal.
There is no dedicated platform for this cartridge, and that is, IMHO the one problem holding it back from widespread acceptance.
However, if they were to introduce something- brass and ammunition won't be found for a while, just like what happened to .380.
The market is flooded with diminutive jammamatics in .380, now when are we going to get a subcompact revolver?
I'm a revolver guy, and can never trust an self-loader. After all, Borchardt's invention is just passing fad.
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feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Gizamo, you confuse me! Didnt the .32 H&R magnum come first, and the .327 mag come later as a longer and hotter version of the H&R?
Whatever. I have this ruger single six in .32 h&r mag. It is accurate and flat shooting. Without checking my figuers, as I recall it shoots a 90 grainer at about 1,200 fps. It has next to no recoil and is a sharp ear ringer.
Whatever. I have this ruger single six in .32 h&r mag. It is accurate and flat shooting. Without checking my figuers, as I recall it shoots a 90 grainer at about 1,200 fps. It has next to no recoil and is a sharp ear ringer.
I had never compared the two cartridges before because to me they are in two different catagories. And as Andy Griffith said, the .32 mag. chambered in large guns is a setback.
But to be fair, I pulled out my copy of Ammo and Ballistics II and looked up their exterior ballistics. At first glance it appears as though the .32 mag is just a tad better than the .380 with velocities and energy being slightly higher, although some brands of .380 ammo were actually close.
But then, I thought I'd better look at the standard barrel length used for their velocity tests because if the .32 magnums had been shot out of a 6" barrel by chance, they would actually be close to the same in a CCW package. The standard barrel lenght for the .380 auto was 3.75" and, to my surprise, the standard barrel lenght for the .32 magnum was 24"!
gizamo is correct that the .32 magnum can be loaded higher than specs allow, but then so can every other cartridge. Although long "magnum" cases that are stretched out to prevent chambering in weaker guns does allow the use of odd bullets, which is where the .32 magnum appeals to me. But as far as long range shooting goes, don't sell the .380 short, they are quite surprising.
But to be fair, I pulled out my copy of Ammo and Ballistics II and looked up their exterior ballistics. At first glance it appears as though the .32 mag is just a tad better than the .380 with velocities and energy being slightly higher, although some brands of .380 ammo were actually close.
But then, I thought I'd better look at the standard barrel length used for their velocity tests because if the .32 magnums had been shot out of a 6" barrel by chance, they would actually be close to the same in a CCW package. The standard barrel lenght for the .380 auto was 3.75" and, to my surprise, the standard barrel lenght for the .32 magnum was 24"!
gizamo is correct that the .32 magnum can be loaded higher than specs allow, but then so can every other cartridge. Although long "magnum" cases that are stretched out to prevent chambering in weaker guns does allow the use of odd bullets, which is where the .32 magnum appeals to me. But as far as long range shooting goes, don't sell the .380 short, they are quite surprising.
I have a Ruger revolver (I think it is a SP101) in .32 H&R Mag with a 3" barrel that seems to fit all of those specs quite well. It is almost the exact same size as my S&W 950 J frame, holds 6 rounds and shoots extremely well (12" plates at 100 yds? - not a problem !!!)
Ruger hasn't made these for a while but they are still around.
Ruger hasn't made these for a while but they are still around.
Merrill,
The .32H&R is the old dog. The .327 is pretty much the newer version of the old 32-20.
That said, a few of us have been hot-roddin' the .32 H&R for a few years. Given good brass that won't round out the primer pocket...(anybody know how to spell Starline? ) and some proper loadings of the older .32-20 cast lead bullets......
It's ~ Hell on Wheels....
The .32H&R is the old dog. The .327 is pretty much the newer version of the old 32-20.
That said, a few of us have been hot-roddin' the .32 H&R for a few years. Given good brass that won't round out the primer pocket...(anybody know how to spell Starline? ) and some proper loadings of the older .32-20 cast lead bullets......
It's ~ Hell on Wheels....
Andy Griffith
Member
If Starline would make proper length .32-20 brass, I'd be happy. It's too $#@%$# short!
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Besides that ruger .32 h&r mag, I have this old colt in 32-20. I need to take them out side by side someday. From what I recall indivigaly, they seemed to shoot very similar.
Another plus for the 32 H&R is that using 32 long cases, 2.6 gr of pistol powder, a 100 gr cast bullet and recently bought primers for $18 a 1000 I can shoot them cheaper than a 22 lr even factoring case loss @ 20 firings each.
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Wayne02
Member
Is .32 and .327 available as commercial ammo these days?
How much difference is there in recoil between the .32 and a powder puff .38 commercial load in a J-frame?
How much difference is there in recoil between the .32 and a powder puff .38 commercial load in a J-frame?
My local small shop has both ammo.
I am waiting for the new SW Pro 640 in 327 Federal, 6 shot.
Have shot the Ruger SP101 in 327 and it is a screaming round!
venomballistics
Member
38 special and 9MM are pretty equal 380 is pathetic even though it has bagged and tagged its fair share.
what makes or breaks a defensive round is the amount of time between the shot, and the drop.
big boys like 45 autos have a much shorter pop to drop time than 38's 32's 9's and 380's
CCW's really need to think about that factor given the role of the gun they are packing.
But back on the subject.
I could more than stand to play with a good 32 H&R and I'd anticipate finding it at least as useful as a 38.
I cannot say the same for a 380 which is close to exclusively a bottom feeder cartridge.
between minimum impulse to operate the action and its redline ... thats a rather small playground.
Alpo
Member
They seem to be going for 30 to 40 a thousand, best I can tell.
18 a hundred seems waaay high and 18 a thousand is waaay cheap. What did you mean to type?
Word of caution...
I've Hot-Rodded the .32 H&R in guns capable of doing so. It would be downright foolish and dangerous to run these loads in lesser guns. I've gone to the extreme of rounding out the primer pockets in as little as 4-5 reloads. This was with factory brass, not Starline.
Starline ~ Good,....
Factory ~ Meh....
It can be a absolute screamer in the right gun...
I've Hot-Rodded the .32 H&R in guns capable of doing so. It would be downright foolish and dangerous to run these loads in lesser guns. I've gone to the extreme of rounding out the primer pockets in as little as 4-5 reloads. This was with factory brass, not Starline.
Starline ~ Good,....
Factory ~ Meh....
It can be a absolute screamer in the right gun...
