Old Ph.D.
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Best32 round for penetration, defense
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Best 32 round
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Probably the .327 Federal Magnum, if you want to spring for a niche chambering.
can this be done to a model 30 or a 31? I thought the cylinder is too short.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
.32 ACP ball, maker doesn’t matter. Will work fine in a revolver.
If thats not available, .32 S&W Long, lead round nose. Maker doesn’t matter.
Land it between the shirt pockets.
If thats not available, .32 S&W Long, lead round nose. Maker doesn’t matter.
Land it between the shirt pockets.
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The cylinder on those models is indeed too short for 327 Fed. They are easily reamed to take 32 H&R (I have one of each that is so modified), though, which is all the power I want to let off in a J frame any more.
Neither the no dash model 30 nor 31 can be altered to accept the 32 H&R. These are both still I-frame guns and the cylinder is too short. However, both Model 30-1 and 31-1 can be reamed for the 32 H&R, as that is when those models began using the J-frame, which has a longer cylinder and cylinder window. See attached pics.
To the OP...You did not specify a particular .32 caliber round, but if you take a look at the following link there is a good discussion regarding the .32.
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/why-the-best-snub-nose-caliber-is-32/
Penetration results for the .32 Long 100 gr. wadcutter from Sellier & Bellot are impressive. I often carry a .32 snub with Magtech 98 gr. SJHP. It has an advertised muzzle velocity of 778 fps, and shooting it is quite snappy.
Attachments
You're right - both my 30 and 31 are -1 J frames.
But if you have one that's reamable to 32 H&R, the Buffalo Bore 100g +P load showed 1,100 fps out of a 2" 432 and 1,234 fps from a 3" 31-1. Buffalo Bore advised in an email that this load is suitable for "unlimited use" in the reamed J frames. (But there is a warning on the ammo boxes that it is NOT suitable for use in ANY H&R brand revolver.)
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Now are we still talking about a Walther PPK or are we talking about a revolver or a derringer?
Grayfox
US Veteran
My wife used a Model 30-1 and we loaded it with the Magtech 98 gr. SJHP. Very accurate, easy to shoot and did pretty good in the Lucky Gunner tests. She had faith in it. 
Model 15-4ever
Member
Can you broaden the scope of that question a little? Is it .32 Winchester Special, or .32 Auto?
gwpercle
Member
My favorite is the 32-20 Winchester ...
A lever action rifle and a good S&W revolver
makes for a very formidable combination .
You said Penetration , defense ... not concealed carry
My daddy kept a 32-20 model 92 next to the back door at the farm ... took everything from armadillo's to deer with that little shooter . I was the revolver shooter and reloader ...
The 32-20 Winchester gets my vote !
Gary
45NUTT
Member
I just ordered some of the Magtech 98 gr. SJHP ammo and am glad to hear it works well! My wife liked shooting my 32 Long HE with the LRN's and I ordered the SJHP for her Model 30 I'm about to snag. I'll carry it too.
45NUTT
Member
Georgia Arms has 32-20 back in stock, free shipping with 4 boxes
Ivan the Butcher
Member
The 32 Winchester Special is a lever action rifle round a little larger than a 30-30 (the case is 2" long). 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long and 32 ACP the cases are less that 1". 32 H&R Mag, and 32-20 WCF are close to 38 Special Length and 327 Federal is almost 357 Mag length.
I have a pair of Davis Derringers in 32 ACP. For Cowboy Action "Belly Gun" matches, I load them with 32 S&W (the short one) data in 32 ACP Brass and an 84-grain bullet. They are very accurate, almost no noise or recoil! In 1996 I loaded 200 rounds, about 1/3 have been used, I guess I have two Lifetimes supply. BTW, they cycle the action on every semi-auto we tried them in!
Ivan
Absolutely agree.
Before Al Gore invented the Internet and the ‘xperts told us otherwise the 32-20 was considered to be both a deer rifle and self-defense revolver cartridge. There was a high velocity cartridge made for hunting with the warning not to use in revolvers and a lower velocity cartridge for use in a revolver for self-defense.
I have a 73 Carbine and two single-action revolvers but, alas, not a double action revolver. Even so I could survive after the Zombie Plague very well with only my 32-20’s.
CptCurl
Member
The .32 WCF (.32-20) gets my vote also, whether it be in a Winchester Mod. 1892 or a S&W .32 HE Target.
Curly
Curly
Length has very little to do with it. PSI does
The 32 S&W long operates at 15,000 psi and fires a 98 gr bullet at 720fps from a revolver
A 32-20 operates at 16,000psi and fires a 100gr bullet at 1,200fps from a carbine
A 32 H&R operates at 21,000psi and fires a 100gr bullet at 1,200 fps from a 6" revolver
A 327 mag operates at 40,000psi and fires a 100gr bullet at 1,400 fps from a 4" revolver
A K frame in 327 beats all the rest hands down. That's why I make them
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gwpercle
Member
At 14,000 fps (post #18) the 327 Federal Magnum would win ...but I don't think it goes that fast ... if it does ... I Gotta Get One !
Talk about a screaming meanie ... Typo ?
Gary
Talk about a screaming meanie ... Typo ?
Gary
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