Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Inherited S&W 32 long

My tiny little Colt New Police 32 S&W Long has got 1417 fps over the chrono with 85 gr HNDY JHP 1.3" OAL and LIL GUN.
But the groups were 5 shots 2.2" at 50 feet with a scope.

For better groups 32 S&W Long 98 gr HBWC 1.7 gr Bullseye, 0.974".

I had a 31 4" back in the 80's and foolishly swapped it for a Ruger SingleSix .32 Magnum. Swapped that for an Orvis split bamboo fly rod, and stumbled onto a Colt Police Positive Special .32 4" which I still have. I can't honestly say which I like better- the Smith or the Colt.

I made the best game shot I ever pulled off with a pistol, with the Colt. Left handed, 50 feet or so off to my left, squirrel shot through the head. I'll never pull that off again!

I'd almost rather have a .32 revolver as about anything else, pistol-wise, for general plinking/target/what-the-heck shooting. With a bullet mold and a pound of Bullseye, it's cheaper than shooting .22s in a lot of instances. Primers become the most expensive component for each shot.

That would be my concern. My grandmother had a 4" .32 S&W L ... I thought the trigger was too stiff for her very weak hands. My aunt has a similar 5 shot .38 S&W .. same situation. Neither had/has the hands strength to operate the gun double action and neither had the dexterity to hold the gun and cock the hammer with one hand. They were so slow any determined attacker would have taken the gun away from them long before a shot was fired.

Tom

"Hot" is a relative matter when it comes to a .32 Long. The hottest available load is likely no challenge for the frame/cylinder of an all-steel Smith & Wesson J or I Frame, i.e., it's an inherently weak chambering.

Common. Folks immediately think a lady needs a J-Frame because it fits the hand, but in actual point of fact, the action of a J-Frame is always going to be more challenging for relatively weak hands than will that of a K-Frame. The internal mechanics of the smaller design are the reason. Less leverage advantage for the trigger finger.

What holster would you gentlemen suggest for this gun?

Anything designed for a J-Frame. After that, it depends on how you want to carry it. IWB, you just cannot beat the Milt Sparks offerings.