Smith and Wesson Model 430 32 Smith and Wesson Long Airweight

The gun was really dry and i was able to put a few drops of oil before shooting, but I think I need to spend more time breaking it in. With Reminton LRN, the gun shot really well, the gun is very accurate and feels great in my hand. I then switched to Magtech wadcutters that were super smokey and I had several not go off in double action, but went off in single action on a second try. I then switched to Fiocchi 820 FPS LRN and these all fired well, except for 2 out of the 50. I have had problems in the past with Magtech and Fiocchi not igniting in my Ruger SP101. I will keep everyone posted, I really love this new 430, Joe
 
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eezox does a great job of cleaning and lubricating. clean and lubricate it , use some other ammo and see if you still have the same issue.
 
Congrats on a very cool gun. .32 long is easy to handload.

The S&B .32 Long 100 grn FP NP (New Police) load is quite a bit warmer than most factory LRN ammo. Sever people have chrono'd it in the upper 700s FPS, so it substantially increases the thump over standard LRN loads.


I have had problems with it jumping crimp and binding things up in short i-frame cylinders, but no trouble in j-frames so far.
 
I cleaned it up real good and then I fired some Federal loads, and I averaged 1 misfire out 12 rounds. I spoke to Smith and Wesson, and they sent me a prepaid label to send it back, hopefully it will come back soon.
 
My wife purchased a Model 430 this week, and had the numbers and story referenced above confirmed by S&W. We are looking towards a long and happy relationship.

Myself, I have two other firearms in 327 Federal. Can't be more excited about loading and plinking going forward.
 
I got the pistol back on monday, which was a little over a week and a half, that is excellent customer service from Smith and Wesson. They replaced the firing pin and after 200 rounds of several different brands of ammo, I have not had 1 misfire. Right now I keep it loaded with Federal wadcutters, it slips nicely in my front pocket. I love this pistol, Joe
 
glad it worked out for you Joe and that it was done quickly.

Inchr48 im happy my story checked out...ha
 
joee12 said:
I got the pistol back on monday, which was a little over a week and a half, that is excellent customer service from Smith and Wesson. They replaced the firing pin and after 200 rounds of several different brands of ammo, I have not had 1 misfire. Right now I keep it loaded with Federal wadcutters, it slips nicely in my front pocket. I love this pistol, Joe
Click to expand...

I hope that you enjoy your .32 Long. I can't begin to tell you how well they shoot. Most of the women and men that carried the Model 30 and 31 revolvers as well as the Colt Police Positive, Pocket Positive and Detective Specials in .32 S&W Long/Colt New Police are no longer with us. The legacy of the revolvers and their legendary accuracy live on. the best part of their history lives on through the .32 H&R Magnum (introduced in 1984) and the .327 Federal Magnum (introduced in 2007.)

Since revolvers chambered for the H&R and Fed Mag accept the older .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long, there has been a revival of the lesser rounds. There is nothing wrong with the .32 S&W Long./Colt New Police. they just don't have the "hot-rock" reputation of either the .38 S&W Special, or the .357 S&W Magnum. Couple low recoil with excellent accuracy and these can be a deadly combination.

This does NOT, however, negate their efficacity. When properly loaded, the .32 S&W Long/Colt New Police cartridge can kill with consummate efficiency!

Scott
 
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Thread necromancing alert!!

But since it has already been pulled up I'll keep it going a little while.

OP, very nice .32 and thank you I learned something new today! :)

Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to have a J-frame stoked with six rounds of hot (think BB) .32 H&R Mag, but still low recoil than five rounds of .38 special +p with a bit more recoil. Ok, I probably stirred the pot enough and highjacked the thread as well. :D
 
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Well, I'm a fan of most handgun rounds.
I'm pretty comfortable carrying my 36 every day,
However, even with +P (unless you carry BB 158 SWCHP +P), I don'g expect much expansion from a 1-7/8" barrel.
I don't see where an unexpanded .38 bullet at about 800 fps is better than a hardcast .32 wadcutter at almost 900 fps.
Plus, the .32 gives you an extra round.

BTW, I ended up taking the Sile stocks off mine and putting some factory targets on it. Very easy shooting.

I bought some Magtech hollowpoint ammo for it.
I've read a lot about primers not popping, so I'm thinking about pulling the bullets and replacing the primers with Federal primers.

Ya know, those Magtech hollowpoints would be pretty impressive if loaded to 1,100-1,200 fps.

Maybe I should have a swaging die made to allow me to make a .32 caliber SWCHP.
Powder coat them and load them to .32 H&R velocities.
 
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I have wondered if a Centennial (is that the 432?) in .32 with a decent WC/SWC load would be better for my wife than a .38 or .22/.22mag version.
 
Doug M. said:
I have wondered if a Centennial (is that the 432?) in .32 with a decent WC/SWC load would be better for my wife than a .38 or .22/.22mag version.
Click to expand...

Well you get 6 rounds instead of 5. That's a 20% increase.

A 32 is a bit easier to shoot so more likely to get a hit or two or three.

With a BB wad cutter, you would punch a .31" hole clear thru a bad guy if you believe the BB web site.

With a 38 you would make a .36" hole with wc ammo.

Which is better? More choices of ammo for the 38 is another factor.
 
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Next to .38 Special , .32 Long is my other favorite round:)

I've been shooting .32 Long since the early 2000's in all types of revolvers.

I wish the .32 Long or H&R Airweight was more common. I'd love to get one for my Mom.
 
A .32 Airweight Centennial woul be sweet.
The.32 is a LOT easier to shoot than the .38, especially in an Airweight.

I tend to believe Buffalo Bore's claims.
Their rounds are chronied through real guns, and there have been several ballistic gelatin tests of their ammo that seem to bear out their claims.

Either .32 or .38 will make a clean, free-bleeding hole with the hard-cast wadcutter ammo,
Either one is worlds better than an unexpanded HP or a round nosed projectile.
Given my druthers, I'druther have a .44 Special or .45 Colt wadcutter load for SD.
However, those are generally bigger, heavier guns that aren't as easy to conceal in hot weather.
Even the Charter Bulldog .44 is bigger than a J frame.
No heavier than a steel frame J, but still bigger, especially with grips that make it comfortable to shoot.

The Taurus Judge and Smith Governator are bigger/heavier still.
The most practical use for either is as a snake gun (IMO), with .410 birdshot, which is the reason I got the Judge. As a gun for large pit vipers, it and the Governator have no peer.
As SD guns, they'll work fine, but I don't see a real advantage.

So, a lightweight, laser-accurate gun that is easy to shoot and creates a clean, free-bleeding hole through a bad guy definitely has merit.
Maybe not as good as a .44 or .45, but worlds better than any unexpanded HP.
 
Love my 430

After several hundred rounds, I love my 430 revolver. It has been easy to carry and fun to shoot. I have been doing a lot of double tap drills at about 15 feet into a Silhouette. In this 100 degree plus weather the past few months, I have been in shorts and a t shirt, and I don't open carry, I slip it into my front pocket. I keep it loaded with Buffalo Bore hard cast wadcutters.
 
I have a Centennial Airweight in .32 H&R Magnum. Talk about a great "get off me" revolver and "bad breath" distance handgun, all in one!

Take my word for it, the revolver certainly beats either Clorets or Certs when the feces strikes the rotating air motivator. ;):D

The Captain
 
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