432 UC

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Barry432ultimatefail

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Have just sent my 432 UC back to S&W for the second time for the same issue, misfires light primer strikes. First time to the range, the gun misfired on three different types of ammo. After receiving it back from Repair, which was supposed to have been a new fire pen and a yolk adjustment. I took it to the range yesterday out of six rounds three misfires at that point I just simply wanted to throw it down the range. I will send this gun back to Smith & Wesson as many times as I have to, but I think it should be renamed the Smith & Wesson 432EF for epic fail. I hate to be so negative in this post but I am just very disappointed. I purchased this gun for light recoil and carry ability. It is very easy to carry and I really love that aspect of it. However, it’s not going to do me any good if it fires so unreliably.
 
At least you didn’t spend as much as I did on a Colt Python that won’t reliably fire in DA mode with multiple kinds of ammo even after going back to Colt twice. :mad: My 432UC has been 100%.
 
HKSmith said:
Looks like a .38 S&W Terrier. Nice example. I have one not quite as nice, also from 1950. A great shooter.
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So the 32 Smith & Wesson terrier is a 38 caliber? Not confusing at all. Yeah I have 38. That is a pretty good gun. I plan on just switching to it for every day carry but I really like the idea of the 32 H&R mag and I just spent a lot of money getting my press set up to reload 32 specifically for that gun so maybe Smith & Wesson will fix the 432 what I lovingly refer to as the 432EF which stands for epic fail so that it really might turn out to be a UC.
 
I had the same problem with my 432UC. Two trips back to S&W didn’t help at all neither did an extended firing pin. Frustrated, I swapped the hammer spring out with one from a 642. Problem solved! Final step was to order a 8 lb reduced power spring from TK Custom. With that spring I have not had another misfire. My guess is that S&W uses a light spring in the UC series to enhance the trigger pull but it can be too light to be reliable in some revolvers.

Frailer’s revolver is an I frame 32 Hand Ejector six shot chambered in 32 Long. The Terrier is a 2” five shot revolver chambered in 38 S&W (not 38 Special). When model numbers were assigned, it became the model 32.
 
Bastogne71 said:
I had the same problem with my 432UC. Two trips back to S&W didn’t help at all neither did an extended firing pin. Frustrated, I swapped the hammer spring out with one from a 642. Problem solved! Final step was to order a 8 lb reduced power spring from TK Custom. With that spring I have not had another misfire. My guess is that S&W uses a light spring in the UC series to enhance the trigger pull but it can be too light to be reliable in some revolvers.

Frailer’s revolver is an I frame 32 Hand Ejector six shot chambered in 32 Long. The Terrier is a 2” five shot revolver chambered in 38 S&W (not 38 Special). When model numbers were assigned, it became the model 32.
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Thank you for all the information. Appreciate it.
 
Barry432ultimatefail said:
Have just sent my 432 UC back to S&W for the second time for the same issue, misfires light primer strikes. First time to the range, the gun misfired on three different types of ammo. After receiving it back from Repair, which was supposed to have been a new fire pen and a yolk adjustment. I took it to the range yesterday out of six rounds three misfires at that point I just simply wanted to throw it down the range. I will send this gun back to Smith & Wesson as many times as I have to, but I think it should be renamed the Smith & Wesson 432EF for epic fail. I hate to be so negative in this post but I am just very disappointed. I purchased this gun for light recoil and carry ability. It is very easy to carry and I really love that aspect of it. However, it’s not going to do me any good if it fires so unreliably.
Click to expand...

Sorry you're having problems with your UC.

My 432 UC has had six or so light primer strikes in the 100 rds. it's fired. All 6 fired on the second attempt.
All 6 light primer strikes were on CCI primers, which usually give me no problems.

Before I send it back to S&W, I'm going to try Federal primers, since they are "thinner skinned."
 
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Triggernosis said:
Well what is it?
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It's a ,32 Hand Ejector as posted above.

Historically it's the very first I Frame Hand Ejector introduced as the "Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector".
The 2" barrel wasn't available until after WWII in 1949.

Specifically the gun shown is known in collector terms as the ".32 Hand Ejector Post War Transitional ModeI I Frame". It's basically the same as the last pre war model, the ".32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model" with the addition of the post war sliding bar hammer block. It's best feature is that it still has the pre war leaf mainspring. About 1952 the next evolutionary change is known as the ".32 Hand Ejector Improved I Frame, 1st Version" because the leaf spring was replaced with a coil mainspring. Most of us feel the coil spring on all the I and J frames from then on is not an improvement, and wished the leaf spring was retained like all other Hand Ejector frame sizes..

They've become very popular and sought after for the last decade or two by collectors and shooters alike. Even with their elevated prices they are still less expensive, even in very good condition, than the new versions marketed today. Over 500,000 were made before the war and many since until discontinued before 1990, then resurrected as the modern offerings for sale today.

The .32 I Frame (and all other I Frames) were converted to being made on the J frame after 1961 (1/8" longer cylinder). These are popular for their simplicity of converting to the .32 H&R Mag, (not the .327 Fed Mag), to shoot both the original .32 S&W Long and the 32 Mag.
 
RevV67 said:
Sorry you're having problems with your UC.

My 432 UC has had six or so light primer strikes in the 100 rds. it's fired. All 6 fired on the second attempt.
All 6 light primer strikes were on CCI primers, which usually give me no problems.

Before I send it back to S&W, I'm going to try Federal primers, since they are "thinner skinned."
Click to expand...
I also had issues with CCI primers. I believe its related to seating depth. I assume you're using star line brass probably from the same production run as mine and the the CCI primers seem to be difficult to seat in the star line .32 brass compared to other brass I have used with CCI primers. First time the hammer drops it finishes seating the primer 2nd time the hammer drops it goes bang. Switching to federal primers has made my loads 100% reliable.
 
I just got to handle my father's Lipsey's Ruger LCR .32 H&R. It's... an LCR. Trigger is quite good for something he's got less than 100 rounds through, weighing in at 8.75 lbs on my Wheeler digital trigger scale. I'm not sure what primers he's using for his Starline brass handloads, but he also tested factory Hornady XTP in 85 and 100 gr.

No issues so far, his is SKU 5469 which is kind of an ugly 'worn bronze' finish. He said the upside of that is he can easily tell it apart from his .38 Special LCRs. They now have a black model, SKU 5470.

That being said, his 632UC has been fine since he got it back from S&W to replace an out of spec yoke and dead night sight. It's an early one, and he never had any light strike issues just as I haven't with my early 642UC (mine also had a bad yoke and front night sight).
 
Beju said:
No issues so far, his is SKU 5469 which is kind of an ugly 'worn bronze' finish. He said the upside of that is he can easily tell it apart from his .38 Special LCRs. They now have a black model, SKU 5470.
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Glad to hear the regular black frame .32 H&R LCRs are finally coming out. I may have to snag one. I see they have a green fiber optic front sight.
 
BrBa said:
Glad to hear the regular black frame .32 H&R LCRs are finally coming out. I may have to snag one. I see they have a green fiber optic front sight.
Click to expand...
It doesn't look like they're shipping quite yet, but the bronze one sold out pretty quickly, so you may want to have your LGS/FFL put in an order if you're set on one.

I suspect that my father will be changing his front sight to the fiber optic. Or telling me to find a good deal and install it for him.
 
There are several listed on GB. Prices look reasonable too.
 
I’ve thought about getting a 432UC, but it’s post like this that have stopped me. I still regret trading my 3” 30-1. I’ll keep looking for a 2” 30-1.
 
FYI posts.
Back in 2/2024, I ordered a 432UC and it took until 5/2025 before it came arrived at my chosen FFL. My 432UC had zero issues/problems, unlike other folks who have posted, so not every 432UC (and I suspect the other similar Lipsey's UC guns) will be problematic. Even so, I agree S&W should do more for any customers who are having problems. I encourage folks to also contact Lipsey's and not just S&W should there be any problems.

https://lipseys.com/itemdetail?itemno=RULCR-32HR
Here's a listing for the recently announced Lipsey's Ruger LCR in .32H&R Magnum.

Being a Lipsey's distributor exclusive is a slight PITA (pain in the ass). If you want one, go to the referenced weblink and determine which FFL you'd like it shipped to. Negotiate a price with that FFL and have that FFL order for you. There won't be much communication between Lipsey's, the FFL, and you, but feel free to call and send emails/texts if necessary. Again, I waited 3 months until my 432UC arrived.

If this was regular Ruger production, any distributor might already have inventory but, right now, this is a Lipsey's limited production order with no guarantee the product will be made by Ruger and bought again via Lipsey's unless you have some inside info between those two companies.

My experience was I waited three months before my 432UC arrived with zero communication to me. Meanwhile, back in 2/2024, I ordered and received a Ruger LCRX in .327 Federal Magnum in less than a week, via Davidson's (GalleryofGuns), but that was Ruger regular production.

I've posted this info in other threads and probably other forums, so don't count my various postings as more than one satisfied 432UC owner.;)
 
Rusty317 said:
I also had issues with CCI primers. I believe its related to seating depth. I assume you're using star line brass probably from the same production run as mine and the the CCI primers seem to be difficult to seat in the star line .32 brass compared to other brass I have used with CCI primers. First time the hammer drops it finishes seating the primer 2nd time the hammer drops it goes bang. Switching to federal primers has made my loads 100% reliable.
Click to expand...

Yes, Starline brass. Most of my 32 H&RM brass has been fired 5 times. The pockets in mine did loosen up a bit.

However, I recently primed 100 with Federal SPP, and they did seat easier, like butter.
 
Beju said:
I just got to handle my father's Lipsey's Ruger LCR .32 H&R. It's... an LCR. Trigger is quite good for something he's got less than 100 rounds through, weighing in at 8.75 lbs on my Wheeler digital trigger scale. I'm not sure what primers he's using for his Starline brass handloads, but he also tested factory Hornady XTP in 85 and 100 gr.

No issues so far, his is SKU 5469 which is kind of an ugly 'worn bronze' finish. He said the upside of that is he can easily tell it apart from his .38 Special LCRs. They now have a black model, SKU 5470.

That being said, his 632UC has been fine since he got it back from S&W to replace an out of spec yoke and dead night sight. It's an early one, and he never had any light strike issues just as I haven't with my early 642UC (mine also had a bad yoke and front night sight).
Click to expand...

I like the LCR line. Out of the box, the trigger is usually better than a J-frame.

IMO, the LCR is a great platform (I have the 38 and 327); the LCR just lacks the wonderful aesthetics of a J-frame.
 
RevV67 said:
I like the LCR line. Out of the box, the trigger is usually better than a J-frame.

IMO, the LCR is a great platform (I have the 38 and 327); the LCR just lacks the wonderful aesthetics of a J-frame.
Click to expand...
I have an LCR in .38 Special, and it's the revolver that made me appreciate snubnoses. While the trigger is a little lighter than my 642UC and 442UC, I prefer the S&W trigger feel. I'd agree that LCR triggers are generally better out of the box than J-frames.

I'd be great if Ruger applied the LCR engineering to make an MCR with 6 rounds of .38 Special or 7 rounds of .32 H&R. I suppose market concessions might demand that it be chambered in .357 Magnum or .327 Fed Mag with the extra steel frame weight that comes with that capability, but I'd prefer lighter and .38 Special/.32 H&R only.

Just heard back from my father, he's been using Fiocchi and Magtech primers in his Starline brass handloads without incident. I'm a bit surprised by the latter, given the hard primer reputation that Magtech's .32 S&W Long has. Perhaps the primer are from different factories.
 
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Sorry to hear you're having issues with your 432 UC... mine is running fine without a hitch after about 300 rounds of .32 Long reloads (standard Winchester primers). Best of luck in getting your issue fixed.
 
I'd really like a 432 UC Ti. But I also want to fondel and examine one at the LGS closely first. That doesn't seem to be happening.

The thought of dealing with CS returns and months long waits for questionable repair is unappealing.

I just ordered another case of wadcutters for my good shooting 442. Does S&W even care, just a little, about their reputation?
 
BrBa said:
View attachment 818571

Just picked her up. Barrel on straight, all cylinder throats sized properly, forcing cone looks good, no end-shake, b-c gap looks right and the trigger is good to go as-is. Not bad at all for $467 otd.
Click to expand...

Nice LCR. Love the fiber front sight!
You got it for a good price.
 
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