432UC Ti (Titanium) - A Cautionary Tale re: Ammo Pressure

[Beju]

That's a good point, Beju. I confirmed it on the SAAMI website. There are SAAMI +P specs for a few cartridges, but .32 H&R Magnum isn't one of them. Yet, as another posted noted, Buffalo Bore claims it safe. Worrisome.

I wouldn't be shocked if it's perfectly safe in the titanium cylinders (these come in .357 Magnum rated guns, after all), just not reloadable in a hurry. It's probably also perfectly safe in a steel or scandium frame (again, they come in .357 Magnum variants).

I'd be more concerned about the aluminum frames in revolvers like the 632/432UC and the .32 H&R Ruger LCR. I doubt that Buffalo Bore has extensively tested these combinations, nor are they publishing the pressures (if they're even capable of measuring them).

 

[Beju]

With all the interested in .32 caliber snubby revolvers I thought it was for the Senior Citizen and shooters with arthritic issues.

But .32 Magnums really doesn't make sense. If a shooter cannot manage .38 Special in a snubby they would be better served with a .32 S&W Long.

It's somewhat load dependent. I shot a borrowed 632UC back to back with my 642UC using 85 and 100 gr handloads. The 100 gr was still considerably lighter than the Gold Dot 125 gr +P or the Ranger Bonded 130 gr +P that I have. I thought it was milder than the PMC .38 Special 132 gr that I'd brought with me. The 85 gr was softer than some relatively mild 125 gr handloads (I forget the velocity) that the 632's owner gave me.

 

[BC38]

AFAIK, there is no SAAMI spec for 32 H&R magnum "+P" ammo.
So, if that is the way that Buffalo Bore advertises and labels their "hot" 32 H&R magnum ammo, that would be a red flag for me.
That fact alone tells me that they are loading and selling ammo that is well ABOVE the accepted SAAMI pressure specs for this cartridge.
Personally, I wouldn't shoot ammo like that in a steel-cylinder revolver, much less one with a lightweight titanium cylinder.
I'll always err on the side of caution. But that's just me. YMMV...

 

[Protocall_Design]

The only carry gun I would shoot Buff Bore 32 mag. ammo or 327 Mag. in would be a Ruger 101. Those are built like a tank. The 327 would still not be pleasant, even in that one, due to recoil, noise and shock wave.

 

[atlatl]

I had no issues with the same Buffalo bore +P ammo in my 432UC with the steel cylinder. Hot, yes, but no issues with ejection or otherwise.

FWIW I learned recently that titanium cylinders expand more with pressure than steel and then contract back, causing more difficult extraction, even with appropriate pressure loads. It is just the nature of titanium that it is for lack of a better term more elastic than steel.

 

[BC38]

FWIW I learned recently that titanium cylinders expand more with pressure than steel and then contract back, causing more difficult extraction, even with appropriate pressure loads. It is just the nature of titanium that it is for lack of a better term more elastic than steel.

Elasticity is exactly the right term. Titanium's greater elasticity is what makes it "tougher" than steel. It can deform (stretch, bend, etc.) more than steel without breaking, and still spring back to its original shape.

So it makes sense that if both the chambers and the brass of the cartridges expand more under pressure (compared to the same cartridge fired in a steel cylinder), and the brass doesn't spring back as much as the titanium, then the brass is going to be a tighter fit in the cylinder after firing.

So while the titanium cylinder can handle the pressure better than a steel cylinder, the brass is going to be larger in diameter after firing than the same round fired in a steel cylinder - making it more difficult to remove from the cylinder. The brass & titanium both expand more, but then the titanium springs back more than the brass does.

 

[Anton Chigurh]

Glad it all turned out well. I think I would've been tempted to remove the cylinder from the gun, then pound each case out individually with a dowel or even a screwdriver blade. I wouldn't want to stress the ejector rod and star, by beating on all of them at once.
I think some are missing the point on the .32 round. The main reason is to get that sixth shot , yet still have a reasonably potent round.
And I'm all for that.

 

[mtgianni]

I took it to mean that the OP smacked the ejector rod with his hand. That should not overly stress or bend one. I have resorted to that practice a couple of times and even wearing 2 XL gloves feel it doesn't stress things.

 

[Anton Chigurh]

He used a hammer. Appropriately sized.
Not really criticizing him, I just would've done it a little more cautiously

 

[NCBeagle]

I beat the hell out of it. Would do it again.

 

[WillieStark1946]

In my experience, Buffalo Bore "Standard Pressure" shoots like Big Three (Federal/Speer, Winchester, Remington) +P ammunition. With this in mind, BB makes a standard-pressure .32 H&R Magnum HARD-CAST wadcutter. It's a 100gr projectile that leaves the muzzle of a snubbie at ~900 fps. Won't expand, but it sure will penetrate.

That said, I have also heard that S&W is having QC problems with the new 432 UC (Ultimate Cary) in .32 H&R Mag. A higher-than-usual number are being sent back to S&W for repairs, according to other forums. I love the overall look, the sights, the absence of an internal lock (should go without saying!), and the six-shot capacity of the 432 UC, but I think S&W needs time to address this revolver's QC issues before I go out and buy one.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a six-shot snubbie, there are two other recent additions to the market: Ruger makes an LCR in .32 H&R Mag (the lightweight Lipsey version, not the heavier .327), and Kimber recently came out out with a six-shot .38 +P version of the K6s — they call it the K6xs — that weighs less than a pound and retails for a similar price as the 432 UC.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Tim Sundles has been very clear and specific about Buffalo Bore not being a part of the institute. There are reasons for this, some better than others, however it is proper to understand that each load is designed for performance from a specific gun. For example, the 44 special Hard cast is not for use in the Charter Bulldog.
He does not use test barrels; he uses that actual gun and the velocity and pressures you get with that gun will be precisely the same as what he reports for that gun.
He has BTW a standard pressure 32 Long which is said to be very good.

Kind Regards!
BrianD

 

[bronco45]

Have the K6xs and it has kept me from purchasing another J frame. The 6th 38 round is nice, and the sights shoot a bit high but I use a six o'clock hold with the Kimber.

 

[ogso]

How do you know which "UC" has a steel cylinder? The Smith website has only aluminium frame and stainless steel barrrel.

 

[Chubbs103]

Here's one of the Ti models from the website:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-632-the-ultimate-carry-revolver-titanium-cylinder-no-lock

 

[diyj98]

I'd read on another forum that Buffalo Bore has had problems with over pressure loads. I don't believe it was the 32 H&R ammo though. I don't know if that's true or just internet gripes. I've shot a few boxes of the standard pressure Buffalo bore 32 H&R and liked it so much it's now my carry load in my 432UC. It's not the titanium cylinder and it isn't +p ammo though.

 

[wrangler5]

I've shot several boxes of the Buffalo Bore 32 H&R Mag +p loads through my various 32 revolvers (both alloy and steel frames but all with steel cylinders) and can only complain about the recoil. Which is why I've only shot a few boxes of the stuff (also it's really expensive per shot, compared to my reloads.) Recoil is slightly worse than my 38 Special +P 158g loads in other S&W snubbies - which it should be, since the BB 32 Mag load clocks in with slightly more energy than the 38s (same day, same chrono setup.) Never had extraction issues with any of 'em.

I have several S&W J frame 32s - all model numbered - that have been reamed from 32 Long to 32 H&R, and an email exchange with Buffalo Bore advised that the H&R Mag 100g +P loads were safe for "unlimited use" in the reamed guns.