Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 32 fans

I like 32s, but not short compact ones. To my way of thinking the 32s are at their best as outdoorsmen's guns. Like a over-powered 22 that you can reload ammo for.
The hey-day of the 32s passed when small and mid frame 5-7 inch revolvers were all dropped in the 32 cals, including the 32-20 Mid frame revolvers from Colt and S&W. Highly accurate, light recoil, VERY inexpensive to reload ammo for especially if you have a bullet m old for your gun.

The idea of any 32 revolver in a very small revolver seems misplaced to me when you lay about any compact 9MM auto on top of it. The 9s carry more ammo, are even smaller then the smallest revolvers and kick even less in most cases so for a personal protection gun the 32 is left in the dust of the good small 9s.
But for the outdoorsman, as a constant companion, trail gun, fun gun, varmint killer and in a pinch something to defend yourself with, the longer barreled 32 cal revolvers are "a boat missed" by many who hike, back-pack, camp, fish, and simply love shooting while enjoying the outdoors.

I had an original Colt Cobra in 38 which ran around 15 oz. and a Dick Special in .32 Colt New Police I gave to a Montana friend for his trapline gun.
Also have a j32 conversion in 32 Long (34) with target sights.

I like the idea of the Lipseys gun, but I think too many today gloss over the 32 Long cartridge, having a DA/SA capable gun and adjustable sights.
The Long can be loaded to stay in a coyotes noggin with a Lapua wadcutter with a whisker of Bullseye or loaded with a heat treated 115 swc or fn profile and be perfectly fine in the postwar guns at 32 Mag pressures. It gives up very little.
Unfortunately it lives in the sad gray world of the past.

I do like that Mackays ammo was prominently advertised.

I hope it does well, both the Smith gun and the Ruger for what they intended.

I'd love to check one out! I already have a S&W 432PD and 5-6 other 32H&R for my Kit Guns so I likely won't be getting another.

6 shots of 32 H&R in a lightweight revolver always made better sense to me than the blast of a 327Fed or the heavy trigger of my snubbie 22Mag. The wife has her own 32H&R but she might be tempted by one of these.

I hope they sell a bunch and buy a lot of Lost River ammo.

.32s are becoming more and more popular and the big makers are recognizing this. You can expect to see some cool things in the future.

A K32 target in 32 Long or a j frame with target sights in the same would be fantastic, Colt making any 32 as well but I won't hold my breath.

The things going on with the 32 Mag are definitely worth being excited about though.

The S&W Model 60 with the 3" barrel and adjustable sights would be a great candidate for a .32 H&R.

That would get me buying something new, which I rarely do anymore.

Any insight, or are you sworn to secrecy?

Found this S&W I frame .32 from 1938 at the gun store a few days ago.

Treve,
Nice little .32 Regulation Police revolver you picked up! I bought the same one earlier this year, it was made in 1921. I have shot some Magtech 98gr wadcutter factory ammo along with my reloads which are a 100 grain hi-tek coated Missouri Bullet round nose flat point over 2.3 grains of Bullseye powder. The old girl is pretty accurate with cast bullets!

Not at liberty to say at the moment but there are some quite cool things on the deck. The .32s are becoming more and more popular and the big gun manufacturers are paying attention.

Also, fans of the .41 Magnum will be happy, as there are new developments in that arena as well.

In fact I just put out a .41 Magnum "light" load, which is a 215 grain poly coat SWC that clocks out at 900 FPS from a 5" N Frame. It is a low recoil, very fun and practical load. This was developed in conjunction with what is about to be introduced.

There are also some very interesting things (big bore revolver wise) that will be introduced at the end of next month at SHOT show 2025. Nice and practical field type guns.

I cannot go any further than that as it is absolutely not my place to do so.

Agree 100% with Szihn.

A 32 only interests me if the gun fits it.


If that could hold 6?
Maybe everything the same, but an alloy frame?
That would be cool.
1 pound, 6 shot, 4", 32 mag. 327?
Not that I'd want the noise of a 327, but options are always good.

That's a pretty one. The colors on your hammer and trigger look very good for as old as it is. They're faded out quite a bit on the one I bought.

I attended in June the annual Smith & Wesson Collectors Association meeting held in Tulsa this year. Andrew Gore, S&W product manager, gave a presentation and held an open Q&A at the end. He asked what people would like to see in the future. I stated "a K frame .32". He got a grin on his face and said "you should be very happy soon". There were no other details, but I am anxiously waiting...

I would have told him to take the lock off of S&W revolvers. Until that happens everything else they do is a waste of time to me.

The whole room told him that, repeatedly. They get it, it’s a lawyer thing. The Lipsey’s sub-nose revolvers this year don’t have them.

If S&W intro'ed a medium frame target revolver akin to the late lamented K-32 it would be a wonderful thing in my eyes. No need, for me, to make it a hotrod - just filling the niche between .22 and .38 with a .32 S&W Long or H&R "Magnum" would suit me. I have plenty of other guns with snot enough for serious social pursuits, give me new stuff that's simply cheap and fun to shoot.

If it comes about, they'll have to sharpen their pencils to keep up with my old jewel - 1940 vintage Colt Officer's Model Target heavy barrel .32, one that made me wince when I discovered that it had been rechambered to H&R but also one that makes me smile every time I shoot it.

Can’t wait! I’m a big .41 fan! I could also find a purpose for a .32.

Expat

Meh, not impressed. That gun NEEDS to be steel. I know, I have had one for several years.

Now, Where in the HECK is that 3 inch LCRx in 327 Fed mag????????????
As shown at Lipseys. https://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail?itemno=RUKLCRX-3-327


This might serve my wants if in a three or four inch, with an exposed hammer.

I have never held a K frame, a couple J frame 22s, and N Frames only.

How would a J frame compare to an LCR in size and weight? It would need to be a bit smaller than my 4.2 inch SP 101 to interest me.