difference in .32 and .32 S&W L

[colrhino]

I have a .32 caliber "kit gun" model 31-1, labeled .32 S&W Long on the barrel. can I shoot either .32 caliber ammo (short or long) in this gun?

 

[ronnie gore]

32

the cartridge designation is 32 s&w for the shorter cartridges and 32 s&w long for the other, and yes it will fire both without any problems.
but not the 32 acp, as i have seen people try this also.

 

[PMRet]

Welcome to the forum. Many here (including me) like revolvers chambered in .32 long and .32 magnum. We also like pictures (hint hint).

 

[lebomm]

colrhino;
Your piece will also handle .32 Long & Short Colt, if you can find them.

Larry

 

[colrhino]

Thank You

to all who replied!

 

[Andy Griffith]

colrhino;
Your piece will also handle .32 Long & Short Colt, if you can find them.

IIRC, .32 Colt and .32 Long colt use a slightly larger diameter heeled/outside lubricated bullet (like a .22LR) and will not interchange with the .32 S&W/.32 S&W Long rounds, since they will not fit in the chamber.

However, the ".32 Colt New Police" will, which is the same round as the .32 S&W Long, but has a flat nosed bullet.

 

[jrd1976]

Welcome to the forum.

I just picked up a Model 30-1 off lay-a-way. It is the round butt version of your 31-1, which should have a square butt.

Yes, you can shoot 32 S&W and 32 S&W Long in a gun chambered for 32 S&W Long.

It is the same as shooting 38 S&W Special in a gun chambered for 357 Magnum; or 44 S&W Special in a 44 Magnum.

You will find that the shorter cartridges leave carbon/powder/lubricant residue in the portion of the chambers normally occupied by the longer cartridge case. After a long shooting session, the chambers may need to be cleaned before they will easily accept the longer cartridge case. Other than that minor issue, fire away.

 

[Alk8944]

the cartridge designation is 32 s&w for the shorter cartridges and 32 s&w long for the other, and yes it will fire both without any problems.
but not the 32 acp, as i have seen people try this also.

Really!!!!!! What makes you think this cannot/should not be done?


And, BTW colrhino, I hate to burst your bubble, but a 31-1 is not a "Kit Gun", it is a .32 Regulation Police. By definition a S&W Kit Gun, and they have been made in only 3 calibers, is a J-Frame revolver with adjustable sights, not including the few Model 36 and Model 60 revolvers that had adjustable sights. It has to have been designated Kit Gun by the factory.

There have been .22 Long Rifle, .22 WRM and .32 H&R Magnum revolvers marketed by S&W as "Kit Gun". The .32 H&R guns were all Stainless Steel and round butt. A few were marketed as the .32 Kit Gun, but the majority, of quite limited overall production, were designated simply Model 631.

 

[Alk8944]

IIRC, .32 Colt and .32 Long colt use a slightly larger diameter heeled/outside lubricated bullet (like a .22LR) and will not interchange with the .32 S&W/.32 S&W Long rounds, since they will not fit in the chamber.

However, the ".32 Colt New Police" will, which is the same round as the .32 S&W Long, but has a flat nosed bullet.

FYI, in the days that S&W still listed acceptable interchangeable cartridges for their .32 S&W Long revolvers, the .32 Long and Short Colt cartidges were listed! They are smaller in diameter, not larger, like shooting a .22 LR in a .22 WRF or .22 WCF. They will bulge, but the factory wasn't concerned about handloaders and how reloadable the brass was.

Once expanded the .32 LC can be reloaded in .32 S&WL dies, with standard .311-.314 bullets, simply by changing shellholders.

 

[mtgianni]

the cartridge designation is 32 s&w for the shorter cartridges and 32 s&w long for the other, and yes it will fire both without any problems.
but not the 32 acp, as i have seen people try this also.

The 32 acp has a slight rim and will both fire safely and extract from a 32 Long or a 32 short. I don't know why you would want to do that but it is possible.

 

[m1gunner]

The 32 acp has a slight rim and will both fire safely and extract from a 32 Long or a 32 short. I don't know why you would want to do that but it is possible.

The 32 ACP case fits and functions fine in a 32 S&W long chambered revolver.

The case is about mid way between a 32 S&W and a 32 S&W L. Factory loaded 32 ACP is loaded to a higher pressure than 32 S&W L. The ammo is rather pricey, and I don't buy new 32 ACP ammo.

But, 32 long brass is all but unobtainable. 32 ACP brass is available all over for cheap. The same reloading dies are used for both cases (32 S&W also), so reloading isn't a problem. Loaded with what would be a stout powder charge for a 32 S&W load is just right as a plinking load when using 32 ACP brass and cast bullets.

Note: the 32 S&W round is an anemic cartridge, as most of the guns were break top revolvers not intended for high pressure loads. So a stout 32 S&W load isn't saying much.

 

[442js]

Really!!!!!! What makes you think this cannot/should not be done?


And, BTW colrhino, I hate to burst your bubble, but a 31-1 is not a "Kit Gun", it is a .32 Regulation Police. By definition a S&W Kit Gun, and they have been made in only 3 calibers, is a J-Frame revolver with adjustable sights, not including the few Model 36 and Model 60 revolvers that had adjustable sights. It has to have been designated Kit Gun by the factory.

There have been .22 Long Rifle, .22 WRM and .32 H&R Magnum revolvers marketed by S&W as "Kit Gun". The .32 H&R guns were all Stainless Steel and round butt. A few were marketed as the .32 Kit Gun, but the majority, of quite limited overall production, were designated simply Model 631.

Some of the older kit guns were made on the improved I frame (and probable the I frame). The Model of 1953 comes to mind which is a .22LR gun. It later became the Model 34, and moved to the J frame.

 

[walnutred]

I've fired 32 ACP in a 32 Long revolver for a couple of reasons usually relating to availability of ammo. If Winchester ever markets a 32 S&W Long version of the Silver Tip Hollow Point I’ll probably buy some. Until then I’ll continue to carry 32 ACP Silvertips in my 31-1.