Recommendations Sought for revolvers chambered in .32 H&R Magnum

[djw54]

I really like the .32 H&R, low recoil, easy to handload for, fun to shoot, etc. With handloads and my own cast bullets its just about the same price to shoot as .22 LR and a lot more fun. If one sticks with factory ammunition or handloads without casting one's own bullets, a .38 Special is going to be cheaper to feed.

Landric,
Just curious about the cost numbers for .32 vs. .38. Obviously, casting your own is cheapest, but I'm finding commercial cast .32's for less than, or certainly no more than, .38's. There are more bullet types out there in .38, and more common availability at suppliers, but cost still seems to favor the .32(when you find them). Is that not your experience?
Thanks.
Don

p.s. BTW, my 4" 631 and 4.6" Single Six are my favorites in this caliber.

 

[Gatorbaiter]

I'll probably be BANNED for mentioning it, but a Colt Detective Special in 32 S&W Long can be reamed out to accept a 32 Mag and makes a great 6 shot CCW gun! Here's two that I converted, bottom one to 32 Mag & top one to 32-20. They can also be found with a 3" bbl, although not as plentiful as the 2" version.

 

[Green Frog]

JamesD, You don't mention whether adjustable sights are a prerequisite. If not, you can find a Model 631 fairly reasonably (at least for this economy) and then add a set of S&W J-frame target grips (as found on the Model 34) and you should be good to go. If you must get a "LadySmith" version of the 631, just polish off the marking from sideplate and stay away from pink grips.

I personally limit my "small frame" shooting to 32 S&W Long and am going with a larger K-frame for the true magnum of the 32 pistol family, the 327 Federal Mag. It will be a belt gun, but won't be as easily concealed as the smaller frames. Works for me, but as always, YMMV!

Froggie

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I own a 432PD that I really like a lot. I have carried it on occasion and fired it a bunch. It is a lot of fun to shoot and quite accurate, with very little recoil. Loaded it weighs 14oz.

I bought it brand new in 2009 and I have seen a few on Gunbrokers at times.

It;s a great gun if you can find one. Good luck!

 

[peyton]

Guys, the last time JamesD posted was in 2010, I guess he got the 32 he wanted.

 

[tjpopkin]

I am looking for a revolver chambered in .32 H&R Magnum.
Wondering if any of y’all had any “favorites” to point me towards.

S&W of course. (Or Colts maybe, if that’s OK).

This revolver will be carried, so my preferences would be:
- short-ish barrel
- light-ish weight

But then I have two other preferences which sort of run contrary to carry logic:
1- I just don’t like shrouded hammers (sorry, I can’t help it).
2- I have big hands and long fingers. I am really more comfortable with a bigger frame/grip.
But maybe...for carry...stay with a small frame and find the right grips to “swell” the grip/size for me? ? ?

Anybody have any favorite revolvers to recommend, and/or ideas about mating my big hand to a small frame revolver?

I have a model 631 (J-frame) Stainless (6 designation) with fixed sights and large combat grips (factory) that will fill large hands with a small revolver....this revolver has an exposed hammer and is 32 H&R Mag. that will also shoot .32 S&W long wadcutters for practice (and accuracy). My only complaint is the fixed sights on the 2" gun (the 4" has adjustable sights). These guns were only made for a year or 2 in the early 1990's. Prices have escalated because they are scarce. True of most .32's since they were never really popular and now are collectable. I can post some photos later if you wish......
Terry

 

[Stainz]

Wow... he's gone.... and I had a suggestion for him!

No, not the 632 Pro - he didn't want a shrouded hammer - he sure wouldn't want a nasty enclosed hammer! Nope, my .32 H&RM chambered suggestion is the 3" NEF R73. Not an S&W - but made up yonder in MA, anyway. Clunky - and heavy - it could be a medium frame, at least in weight. A five shooter, it's trigger reminds me more of my 1895 Nagants... sort of. Hey, it was $200 OTD at a LGS earlier this year - my last firearm purchase (How can I top that??), too. It's fun with .32 S&WLs - I don't have any .32 H&RMs, just the .32 S&WL homebrews and some nasty meaning business .327 Federal Magnums for that 632 Pro.

Stainz

 

[JamesD]

Guys, Guys, GUYS!!!

I love you guys.

Yes I have been... away.

But I came back tonight, was looking through my profile, found this old thread... and you have been keeping a light in the window for me!

Yeah, Peyton, I remember you! Man, so nice to me.
And I did, I did, not just get my "gun" but gunS as it turned out.

I found a guy, a store, who had TWO 431PDs, N.I.B. and I just figured if one would be good, two would be better and got both, a large reason because the price was irresistible.

And I ordered me a couple of... there was a fellow on the forum who was making "The Plug" is that what it was called, so I got two of those and then sent the two 431PDs and the two plugs off to Randy Lee at Apex Tactical, to do some action work, take out the two locks and install the two plugs.

Maybe the action work wasn't "needed" and maybe I could have installed the plugs myself, but I had followed Flork out there from the SIG forum, and Randy did great work for a modest cost so I was very happy with my decision, and I LOVE my two 431PDs. There's just SO many days, when I KNOW I should holster up my 1911 but man it's just SO easy to grab the little snubbie in the pocket holster, shove it in my pocket and go.

And when I got them back, I know I should have taken pictures and posted them and all, but I just didn't, and I apologize.

Truth be told, you didn't miss a lot as regards the pictures I didn't send.
The 431PD is a very UN-sexy gun. Matte black gun with very unattractive flat black grips.

But I have been threatening to get me some Esmeralda grips on there.
If I do maybe THAT's what I'll take a picture of and post.

So a very BELATED thanks to ALL who really fueled my search for these revolvers.

And two more things:

1- I recently woke up and realized that I was handgun rich but rifle poor, and set out to rectify that with a few rifle purchases. But coming here tonight has made me realize that, for me, handgun rich means "pistol" rich, but I am REVOLVER POOR! Man, just the pictures in this thread alone! The ones posted by Gatorbaiter just a few months ago, in my absence! I need more revolvers!!! About my visit here tonight, I could use a witticism my dear departed Dad was quite fond of: "As the monkey said when he peed on the cash register, 'This is going to run into some money.' "

2- Which, actually, brings me to my second thing.
I have been thinking of late that I need a .357 magnum, like maybe for my coffee table, or bedside table. I have been lusting after a Colt Python, but have grown tired of seeing ones for sale for 4 digit numbers beginning with a 2. So what I came here for tonight was to do some research, or possibly post for some advice/opinions regarding the Smith models in .357 Magnum. So... I think I'll hit "Submit" on this post, and go to... wherever
is appropriate, and see if I can post a "School me on Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum models" post. Will you follow me over there? I would like to repeat what I did here for my .32 H&R magnum. (...and if I find and get one you better believe I'll post a picture of it and say Thanks!)

Thanks again guys, sorry for my lapse of etiquette, I'm sort of a wanderer, will try to do better next time.

JamesD

 

[Green Frog]

Here are the 631s:

4"

Wow Nygma,

If I coulda found one like that, I wouldn't have spent the last 5 1/2 months having Project 616 built. I love my small frames, so even if the K-32 design is stronger and more authoritative, that 631 would have found a welcome spot at my place. {If only I could have gotten Dale53 to turn his back for a little while longer! }

Froggie

 

[peyton]

James, I am glad you re-appeared, I love the model 431 and 331's. I would recommend stepping up to a 632 in 327 federal magnum. They make them in black or stainless steel and shoot 327, 32 H&R, 32 S&W long and 32 ACP.

 

[james spadoni]

do s&w want 2 suicide?

neither the 32 H&R MGM models are listed in the s&w website, & our fellow member "Collo Rosso" EVEN ignored s&w do 327 models.
Do s&w want 2 favour Ruger? NONSENSE 4 me
JS

 

[florange]

The following were S&W's small (J) frame revolvers chambered in .32 H&R Magnum:

• Model 032: Airweight Centennial (fully-enclosed hammer). An uncataloged model--only about 180 were ever built.
• Model 431PD: Airweight with exposed hammer.
• Model 432PD: Airweight Centennial.
• Model 631: Stainless steel with exposed hammer.
• Model 632: Stainless Airweight Centennial.

Small batches of the 431PD and 432PD are still built from time to time. The others have been discontinued since the early 1990's, although S&W re-used the 632 model number for their recently-introduced .327 Magnum revolver.

Here are the 032 and 632 Centennials from 1991:

JamesD, if smaller J-frame grips like those pictured above don't work for you, you could always try something like the Uncle Mike's combat grip, pictured below. They're extremely comfortable, and should work better for someone with larger hands.

Uncle Mike's combat grips on a .38 Special Centennial:

I have had luck finding a New 432 PD at a reasonable price on line at one of the large internet gun dealers. However, I have not seen one recently...but they do show up.

 

[Green Frog]

I'm still "looking for" a Model 631, but it is becoming more and more of a pipe dream at my age... I've got my Project 616 and R***r BH in 327 FM and my little I-frames in 32 S&W L, so I really don't "need" the 631, but "what's need got to do with it?" To paraphrase a song. At least the ache is not so strong!

Froggie

 

[RedCardinal]

This could be what you are looking for, a S&W 632-1. Has the exposed hammer, shoots the powerful 327 Federal Magnum, the 32 H&R Magnum, the 32 S&W Long and Short. The three inch barrel is just right and is ported for a quick on target second shot. Small enough for concealed carry with variable choice of ammo.

 

[RedCardinal]

If you could warm up to the shrouded hammer, you might prefer the S&W 632 Airweight. This one has a three inch barrel and is a 32 H&R Magnum. Can also use the S&W 32 long or short.

 

[H Richard]

My first was the 16-4 in 6" and it is a tack driver.


Then last year was able to locate and buy both a 431PD and a 432PD. For a 13 oz 1 7/8" barreled carry gun they are fantastic. My developed load still does over 1000fps from the 1 7/8" barrels.