Popularity of the 32 S&WL

[LostintheOzone]

I only have one. I've had a fascination with the cartridge for a long time. I purchased it mainly to explore the cartridge from a reloading perspective. Glad I did. It's a pretty slick little cartridge that would work for SD or small game. Loads are easy and components are available. When I first started reloading I had to search high and low for load data. Some of what I found didn't work very well. Many of the powders that work well, like 7639, are no longer available. I think I have it dialed in now though. Prices are becoming ridiculous. This is a 31-1 from the 60's. Paid $500 for it ~3 years ago.

 

[Doc Watson]

I also have always liked he little .32 cartridge. I own three, two smith and wesson and one colt police positive. do not shoot them much but do love the small size and quality of them.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I only have two 32 Smiths, a Lemon Squeezer and an I-Frame Hand Ejector. Probably have more than half-a-dozen others - Colts, Iver Johnsons, Charter Arms, etc.

 

[Green Frog]

I started reloading ove 40 years ago with 38s & 44s before progressing to 45s and some older rifle cartridges... then I discovered the 32 S&W Long and fell totally in love. I still load the occasional 9m , but other than that, just about everything I load starts with 32, from cat sneeze target loads for the S&W “Longs” to ground shaking 327 Fed Mags. And I can scatter the same bullets through all the different strengths and lengths of the same caliber. In fact, I have a batch of DEWCs loaded up in both S&W L and H&R cases to play with right now!
Froggie

 

[stantheman86]

I like .32 Long , I had a 4" Model 31 I should have kept

I have read that some female Police Officers in the 60s-70s carried S&W 31s as Duty Guns

I don't handload and with factory .32 Long being expensive, I might as well shoot .38 Special

 

[Cotis]

I love the .32 long. First revolver I shot as a young teen, belonged to my father. Worst mistake of my gun life letting that one go. Lucked into a 5th change nickel hand ejector a few years ago that rekindled my love of the cartridge. I put a WTB ad on here last year that was answered and fulfilled for a beautiful model 31-1 3”. I am patiently waiting to pick up one of the new 632uc’s and always on the lookout for a model 16 or a 631. I have high hopes that the current success of the .32 J frames will convince S&W to make a K frame .32 next year. I will be first in line if so!

 

[mtgianni]

For many years, with primers at 2 cents and a sneeze of powder, a bullet caster could shoot quality 32 Long cartridges cheaper than 22's. No longer the case but still a ton of fun.

 

[Green Frog]

For many years, with primers at 2 cents and a sneeze of powder, a bullet caster could shoot quality 32 Long cartridges cheaper than 22's. No longer the case but still a ton of fun.

True that! At 2.2 grains of Bullseye per round, a one pound can goes a loooong way. If one was casting his own bullets @ only 100gr+/- of free or cheap wheel weights or range scrap, and when primers hadn’t come to be made of unobtanium, long lasting cases completed the picture for the biggest bang for the buck in the history of shooting.

Even now, with primers pushing a dime apiece and the price of powder up tenfold as well, 32s still offer about the cheapest shooting available. Bulk 22s may cost less to buy, but not much, and there is a lot of satisfaction in shooting accurate centerfire ammo that one has crafted themself.

Froggie

 

[S&W ucla]

I have a pre-model 30 and a 1 1/2 top break SA. Really enjoy plinking with them. Bad Bad Leroy Brown had a 32 gun in his pocket for fun!