EDC Snub nose: .38 Special vs .32 H&R Mag. - Page 2

Pumpkin · February 14, 2025, 03:13 PM

Break-in period for a revolver?

**44 AMP** · February 14, 2025, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Break-in period for a revolver?

Sure, its exactly what he said, the first time shooting the revolver!

reddog81 · February 15, 2025, 11:33 PM

32 H&R has been around for 40 years now. In the 2023 ATF manufacturing report it shows that S&W was top maker of 32 revolvers at 1,000. They produced 21K 38's, 20K 357's, 16K 44's, 4K 50 Cals and even 6K 22's. 32 is going to continue to be the worst selling caliber for a long time.

TruthTellers · February 15, 2025, 11:49 PM

AFAIK, S&W wasn't even making a .32 in 2023, the Ultimate Carry wasn't revealed until the 2024 SHOT show.

Those numbers for the .32 aren't accurate and I'd assume that in 2024 and going thru 2025 the .32 Mag Ultimate Carry will outsell the S&W .500 Magnum because the target audience for the .32 Mag J frame is much larger than the .500 Mag is.

reddog81 · February 16, 2025, 12:55 AM

The numbers come directly from the ATF annual manufacturers report. They started making them in 2023 for sale in 2024. Shot Show is in January. It is quite odd that the largest maker wasn't evening selling 32's during the year. That just shows how small the market is.

TruthTellers · February 16, 2025, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddog81

The numbers come directly from the ATF annual manufacturers report. They started making them in 2023 for sale in 2024. Shot Show is in January. It is quite odd that the largest maker wasn't evening selling 32's during the year. That just shows how small the market is.

S&W isn't the largest gun manufacturer, Ruger is and all it shows is that S&W is always behind the curve. Ruger's been making the .32 revolvers since 2015, Taurus started up on their .327 a few years ago and they are big movers and shakers in the industry.

Of course the .32 revolver market is small, it's been neglected by the industry for decades. The resurgence is thanks to youtube channels demonstrating there's not much difference in terminal performance between .32's and .38's out of short barrel revolvers, yet the recoil is exceptionally less with .32's.

Whether or not people are willing to pay more for ammo is unknown. Given it's a revolver it's not like they're going to go thru it like people do 9mm autos.

reddog81 · February 16, 2025, 11:21 AM

S&W was top producer of 32’s. Ruger was at 317 out of 97,937 revolvers they made for the year. The numbers are low because people don’t buy them.

GEM38 · February 17, 2025, 10:50 AM

While production numbers are super low, it appears to me that .32 H&R Magnum is picking up momentum and remains very popular in a niche market for those in the know. Thanks to ammunition companies big and small which have contributed to the popularity with the latest of offerings. So yes, there we have it ... Those in the know (some of which has known for decades or years), plus CC revolver nerds, Lipsey's involvement of production and so on. As for myself, I find the round particularly intriguing and it's caught my full attention again, albeit years later. I wanted a .32 H&R snub 20 years ago, but they were super scarce, hard to find. Ammunition was virtually non-existent if you wanted something factory loaded. That being said, I gave up and moved on. So here I am many years later, and now it has become a reality with all of the latest offerings in firearms, ammunition, accessories and so on. And of course, not to forget the experts making this possible through various media platforms and outlets. It's been said, that this is probably the golden era of handgun innovation and refinement. That being said, thanks to all for their thoughts on the subject matter of my original post.

L-2 · February 17, 2025, 03:26 PM

I admit I've been using either my Ruger LCRX in .327FedMag or my S&W 432UC in .32HRMag fairly often since buying both in 2024.

I still have my four .38 or .357 J-frames, but truthfully, not carrying them as much since buying the .32 caliber revolvers. I do like the feel of these new revolvers (grips are different from my prior J-frames; easily changed if I wanted to do so) and really like the idea of an extra round should I ever need it (now 6 instead of just 5).

I suppose to some extent the .32 revolvers have replaced my .38 revolvers, but I'm not going to sell off my .38 guns or ammo. Also, I still like my K, L, & N frame revolvers for occasional carry.

Also, I'm not exclusively, by far, a revolver carrier, as I'm probably mostly carrying a 9mm Glock.

micromontenegro · February 18, 2025, 01:24 PM

I've said it before: What the world needs is a 32 ACP revolver scaled to the cartridge.

RoyceP · February 20, 2025, 12:07 PM

Never seen any 32 H&R Magnum or .327 Federal in any of the stores around here. It's available online but very pricey. I think the likelihood of either one replacing the 38 Special is a pipe dream. A bigger hole is always better than a smaller hole.

Blue Duck · April 2, 2025, 10:45 PM

I did buy a .32 for my daughter, to compliment her Springfield m&P compact 9mm because I knew she didn't carry the 9mm that much, hoping she would carry it. But I shot it some, before I gave it to her, and frankly, I wasn't impressed, and for my own use, I definitely stay with the 38 plus P for my own use, when a small J-frame is needed. I would say maybe for someone really recoil sensitive, maybe a .32

Old thread, I just realized. Sorry, but since I spent the time to type it out, I am posting it anyway.

February 15, 2025, 11:49 PM	#29
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	AFAIK, S&W wasn't even making a .32 in 2023, the Ultimate Carry wasn't revealed until the 2024 SHOT show. Those numbers for the .32 aren't accurate and I'd assume that in 2024 and going thru 2025 the .32 Mag Ultimate Carry will outsell the S&W .500 Magnum because the target audience for the .32 Mag J frame is much larger than the .500 Mag is. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

February 17, 2025, 10:50 AM	#33
GEM38 Member Join Date: December 11, 2024 Posts: 27	While production numbers are super low, it appears to me that .32 H&R Magnum is picking up momentum and remains very popular in a niche market for those in the know. Thanks to ammunition companies big and small which have contributed to the popularity with the latest of offerings. So yes, there we have it ... Those in the know (some of which has known for decades or years), plus CC revolver nerds, Lipsey's involvement of production and so on. As for myself, I find the round particularly intriguing and it's caught my full attention again, albeit years later. I wanted a .32 H&R snub 20 years ago, but they were super scarce, hard to find. Ammunition was virtually non-existent if you wanted something factory loaded. That being said, I gave up and moved on. So here I am many years later, and now it has become a reality with all of the latest offerings in firearms, ammunition, accessories and so on. And of course, not to forget the experts making this possible through various media platforms and outlets. It's been said, that this is probably the golden era of handgun innovation and refinement. That being said, thanks to all for their thoughts on the subject matter of my original post. Last edited by GEM38; February 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM.

February 17, 2025, 03:26 PM	#34
L-2 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 547	I admit I've been using either my Ruger LCRX in .327FedMag or my S&W 432UC in .32HRMag fairly often since buying both in 2024. I still have my four .38 or .357 J-frames, but truthfully, not carrying them as much since buying the .32 caliber revolvers. I do like the feel of these new revolvers (grips are different from my prior J-frames; easily changed if I wanted to do so) and really like the idea of an extra round should I ever need it (now 6 instead of just 5). I suppose to some extent the .32 revolvers have replaced my .38 revolvers, but I'm not going to sell off my .38 guns or ammo. Also, I still like my K, L, & N frame revolvers for occasional carry. Also, I'm not exclusively, by far, a revolver carrier, as I'm probably mostly carrying a 9mm Glock. __________________ (former) Glock Armorer 1911 Armorer LEO (retired)

February 14, 2025, 03:13 PM	#26
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 980	Break-in period for a revolver?

February 15, 2025, 11:33 PM	#28
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,658	32 H&R has been around for 40 years now. In the 2023 ATF manufacturing report it shows that S&W was top maker of 32 revolvers at 1,000. They produced 21K 38's, 20K 357's, 16K 44's, 4K 50 Cals and even 6K 22's. 32 is going to continue to be the worst selling caliber for a long time.

February 16, 2025, 12:55 AM	#30
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,658	The numbers come directly from the ATF annual manufacturers report. They started making them in 2023 for sale in 2024. Shot Show is in January. It is quite odd that the largest maker wasn't evening selling 32's during the year. That just shows how small the market is.

February 16, 2025, 11:21 AM	#32
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,658	S&W was top producer of 32’s. Ruger was at 317 out of 97,937 revolvers they made for the year. The numbers are low because people don’t buy them.

February 18, 2025, 01:24 PM	#35
micromontenegro Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Posts: 671	I've said it before: What the world needs is a 32 ACP revolver scaled to the cartridge.

February 20, 2025, 12:07 PM	#36
RoyceP Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2020 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 275	Never seen any 32 H&R Magnum or .327 Federal in any of the stores around here. It's available online but very pricey. I think the likelihood of either one replacing the 38 Special is a pipe dream. A bigger hole is always better than a smaller hole.

April 2, 2025, 10:45 PM	#37
Blue Duck Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2006 Posts: 411	I did buy a .32 for my daughter, to compliment her Springfield m&P compact 9mm because I knew she didn't carry the 9mm that much, hoping she would carry it. But I shot it some, before I gave it to her, and frankly, I wasn't impressed, and for my own use, I definitely stay with the 38 plus P for my own use, when a small J-frame is needed. I would say maybe for someone really recoil sensitive, maybe a .32 Old thread, I just realized. Sorry, but since I spent the time to type it out, I am posting it anyway.