Finally finished my 4" 31-1 project:)

[stantheman86]

I picked up this cosmetically kinda hurt but mechanically solid 31-1 a few months back for about $400 IIRC. It had battered Magnas that were damaged on the frame side from rust. There's also rust freckling on the cylinder. This gun seems like it was stuck in a drawer in a gun case in a musty area and forgotten about, the slight holster wear and beat up grips show it was probably a carry gun of some time, probably some guys small game hunting back up gun or something.

I dropped in a set of vintage Trapper Bullseye springs which really cleaned up the DA pull, and also added a Tyler trigger shoe and just tonight put on the un-numbered Targets. These Targets really make this feel like a mini Model 10, awesome grips.

The gun was a sweeeet shooter with the Magnas and a T-grip so I can't wait to shoot it now. This gun is an absolute joy to shoot, if I had the cash for a case of .32 Long I could shoot it all day.

I had some FTF's with Fiocchi last time out but that may have been bad primers, all the dents were nice and deep.

If not for the lack of power this would make a nice little house gun but if someone is kicking my door in at 4am I want a little more than 6 .32 Longs to hold the line with I usually trust the 3 odd numbers, 357 for that role. If the Buffalo Bore .32 Long shows promise I would like to find a 30 snub for summer carry. I love .32 Long and have for years but don't know if I would trust it to stop a gang of meth heads.

I love guns like this, they are far from collectible status so I don't feel obliged to keep it bone stock, but made some "period" correct non permanent changes to it.

 

[Green Frog]

"Another one comes over to the Dark Side!"

Yep, that little 31-1 is a great carry gun, and the only thing with which I disagree is the part about it being underpowered for defense. Yes, if you are facing a gang of gigantic jihadi biker ninjas on speed, a high capacity shotgun with buckshot wouldn't be too much, but for most "social situations" the proper full power 32 cal ammo with hollow points or a big flat nose should do you quite well... at least that's what I'm betting my life on every day for CCW!

As for affording a case of 32s to shoot all day, I humbly suggest you hang on to your brass and reload. There is absolutely no pistol round cheaper and easier to reload if you can find a good source of bullets (or cast your own.) Powder charges are very small, so a pound lasts a looooonnnggg time, and primers are about the same for any caliber. The straight sided brass seems to last forever. There is no other caliber that screams out so loudly for reloading; its just the right thing to do! I've even loaded 32s on an old Lyman 310 tong tool with good effect... a little slow if you want to load 500 rounds at a time, but it works!

Regards,
Froggie

 

[Frank237]

I just joined the .32 club and when I looked at load data it hit me that one could do about 2500-3000 loads from a pound of powder! THAT is about as economical as it gets.

Even NOT casting and buying lead slugs...it's still cheap to load.

My pre 30 shows up today. The new "interest" begins.

 

[cgt4570]

Since the gun is a shooter, if I were you I'd lengthen the chambers to .32 H&R Mag specs. That cartridge is a little faster, but not a true magnum. It's only a magnum in name. This would allow you to shoot .32 Shorts, Longs or H&R Mags. The gun is more than strong enough for this minor modification. It's been done many times with no ill effect.

 

[stantheman86]

Thanks for the great info guys thank you

That's a good idea about lengthening the chambers, I also have a Ruger GP100 .327 that I planned to use the .32 H&R in as a "special" to the .327, but even then I hardly shoot this gun. If I were to pay my local smith to ream it to .32 H&R it would probably hardly see a round of the H&R, the .327 barely sees any

I used to shoot a ton of .32 H&R back in the early 2000's through various Nagant type revolvers, back when you could still get cheap ammo.

I want a 4" 30-1 now, and a 30 snub and I would leave both of them stock.

I would also like a 6" M&P in .32 Long, I can put that right on my C&R....I found two on GunBroker over the last year or so but both sellers wouldnt take my C&R, frustrating.....those old K-frame .32 Longs are neat, kind of a .32 version of a 38/44 HD

It's hard to find a Regulation Police .32 for any kind of fair price anymore, and those older I-frame HE's just seem too old for heavy use.

 

[Tom_R]

A great Little gun indeed, and I am sure it is a lot of fun to shoot with.

Some guns should totally be kept stock. This is not one of them. I like what you have done with it.