Box O' Truth and the Model 631

[TexinMaine]

I have a S&W 631 that is in .32 H&R Mag. So it can also fire .32 S&W and .32 Long as well. So I have been saving up my Arnold Palmer's Half/Half jugs, half ice tea and half lemonade, and filled them with water. Didn't have a box but lined them up on a bench and shot from about 15' away. Was actually surprised by the .32 S&W.

631 and the rounds I will be using. L to R, .32 S&W 78gr LRN Norma, .32 Long 98gr LRN Magtech and .32 H&R Mag 95gr SWC Federal Classic.

First up the .32 S&W. Surprisingly made it thru to the third jug cracking the back but not entering the 4th.

Found in third jug, very little damage.

Next .32 Long. made it to the 5th jug.

Found in 5th jug with quite a bit of damage. Lots of gouges and a flat spot so at some point it must have started tumbling.

Only had 6 jugs left so set up a wood block at the end hoping to catch round but it just nicked the edge and into oblivion.

Amazingly it went right through the handle of the 5th jug and never touched it.

Luckily I had my 66 with me and this is the aftermath of a UPC 125gr JSP .357 mag. Most of the jug is on the ground to the right.

Close up of last jug.

Long day at the range for the 631. Had three box's of .32 ammo in various configurations and of course I had to shoot them up.

So in conclusion, not sure any of this really proved anything but I had a great afternoon shooting.

 

[Erich]

That's awesome. I recently picked up a .32 S&W Long pistol (an inexpensive H&R with a 2.5" barrel) just so I could load for the cartridge. Using 100-gr hardcast RNFPs, I got just over 1k fps average with low spreads using Unique, and a very accurate load just over 900 fps with even lower spreads using Green Dot. I've no doubt that they'd penetrate well.

 

[TexinMaine]

I have heard the .32 S&W Long is very accurate. The owner of the gun shop I frequent is a big fan of the .32 round. He said that when he was into bullseye shoot that was the round he used and stated several other competitors did as well. He tries very hard to get me to sell or trade my 631 to him.

 

[Boge]

If I plan to shoot it out with Aquaman I'll keep your test in mind.

 

[Stu Honea]

If I plan to shoot it out with Aquaman I'll keep your test in mind.

The .32 Long and especially the S&W revolvers chambered for it are well known for accuracy and this is the strong point of these little guns.
I don't think anyone is remotely suggesting any of these as a first choice combat/defensive piece,as that doesn't seem to be the context of the original post.
I have my great grandmothers nickled hand ejector in 32 Long.It was the first gun I ever shot when I was 8 years old.
I have used it mainly for dog training,but it's really handy for popping small pesky critters here in the country with wadcutters,and does fine in that limited use.

 

[Erich]

I think Boge was just funnin'.

Glenn Fryxell put up a lovely article on the small game hunting usefulness of the .32 S&W Long round, and I think that everything he says about the older round applies to the .32 H&R. The .32 S&W Long: A Handgun Hunter's Perspective - By Glen E. Fryxell Based on the limited experience I've had with loading for the round in the past couple of weeks, I'm actively keeping my eye out for more guns in these calibers - Fun to shoot, accurate, easy and cheap to load - and seems pretty ideal for small game and plinking.