32 Magnum

[carguychris]

Can you tell when it was made by the serial number?

Call S&W Customer Service at 1(800)331-0852. This won't work for pre-1980 S&W handguns, but it's usable for S&Ws with a 3-letter 4-number serial number format.

what is a kit gun?

In the early 20th century, an outdoorsman's gear that he took into the field was commonly called his "kit". A "kit gun" was a small and lightweight small-caliber handgun that he would bring along to bag small game or ward off varmints.

[jondar]

I'm not being sarcastic, just want to know. What is the advantage of the .32 H&R Magnum over the venerable .32-20 Winchester? In reading about the ..32-20 in Keith's book "Sixguns" he spoke about reloading this cartridge for use in heavy duty sixguns, in this case his Colt SAA. He gave a load that approached 1500 fps, I can't remember the bullet weight, may have been the 85 grain used in one of the ballistic tests mentioned in the posts. Maybe some of the revolvers pictured could be loaded to that velocity. What do you think?

[carguychris]

What is the advantage of the .32 H&R Magnum over the venerable .32-20 Winchester?

1) The .32 H&R Mag case is smaller and will fit into a more compact gun. (This is far and away its most significant advantage.)

2) The .32 H&R Mag shares its caliber, case diameter, and rim thickness with the .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W (aka .32 Short), allowing shooters to use those cartridges for low-recoil practice.

3) Bottleneck cases like the .32-20Win tend to blow backwards as the case expands against the sloped shoulder in the chamber. This can cause a revolver cylinder to drag or even lock up if the case blows backwards hard enough. However, the .32-20 has such a subtle shoulder that it's hardly a bottleneck at all, making it one of the only such cases that's practical to use from a revolver.

In terms of power, the .32-20Win will send the .32 H&R Mag crying for its mama. Its ballistics from a pistol-length barrel compare well with the new .327 Federal Magnum, which is a hot-rod .32 H&R Magnum. However, you have to do a little interpretation when reading load data for the .32-20 since much of the published data (although obviously not Elmer Keith's) was generated using a rifle. The case volume of the .32-20 is greater than what you can realistically utilize with a sub-4" barrel in this caliber, so many rifle loads will generate excessive muzzle flash but lower velocities than a pistol load that uses faster powder. Its performance advantages are much smaller from snubnose-length barrels.

[SP Shop Foreman]

My .327 magnum will be in this afternoon and I'll take pics of it tomorrow but I might wait till the first target is shot and post that too.
115gr JHP, 1,300fps and 400+ foot pounds of energy makes it interesting at the very least.
And the nice part about this little 6 shot is that it will shoot all of the .32s
SP

[Hammer It]

what is a kit gun?

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thanks

Hello Hoosker
A Kit Gun is a 4" -J-Frame with Target sights. The name came from S&W Nick Naming it that do to it being able stuff it in a Tackle Box and Take it along fishing with you, Hence the meaning of Kit Gun as a Fishing Kit Gun for the Sportsman. Regards, Hammerdown

[Hammer It]

Double Post... OPPPPSSS

[liberty1]

Bought a model 16-4 6 inch new In 91. Love this gun. Lost it in the divorce in 2000 bought it back last year for 100 more than I paid the first time. Didn't tell her how much more than that it is worth now.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I just got my stainless single six back from my machinist... turns out the throats of the cylinder were tighter than the barrel by about .002... I'm hoping to set up the gun as a very low recoiling target / hunting type gun, for me to pop squirrels & rabbits, & my wife to shoot along side when I shoot my Vaqueros...

I bought 500 Lapua 98 lead HBWC, & am looking for the lightest load that I can get good accuracy out of... I found that the best groups I could get before were only 5-6" at 50ft, & the barrel leaded badly from the forcing cone to about the 1st 1/3 of the barrel... I was discussing this with my local builder/ friend & mentor, as a reloading issue, looking for suggestions... he slugged the barrel & the cylinder throats, & discovered the throats were tighter than the bore

he also made me a larger expander plug for my dies that better fits the soft lead bullet diameter of .314... with any luck, I'll get the chance to tighten up the groups this weekend...

[gak]

Just a thought: a New Vaquero in a 32-20/.327 (and hence .32.Mag, etc) convertible would be just dandy....especially in a 4-3/4 or even better yet Montado--those seven little holes = a fair amount of weight in larger framed guns.

[dennis228]

While we are on the topic of 32 Magnum, I have a nice Ruger SP 101 with 3 inch bbl. in 32 H&R. I don't reload. As one might expect lately I have not been able to find any ammo. I'm down to my last 3 boxes of Federal 85 HP.
Have not found any 32 S&W Long either. So my Ruger stays in the safe.

Question: Is it possible to safely fire 32ACP in my SP 101? Has anyone here done so? My dealer has plenty of 32ACP in stock and I know a guy who claims it can be done safely for shooter and gun?

Would greatly appreciate any advice.

Dennis228

[Radagast]

A kit gun is a gun to put in your kit bag, a small frame, light weight gun, usually in a small caliber, the most common being the 22 long rifle. The S&W model 34 in .22lr was originally known as the .22/32 Kit Gun, meaning it was a .22 chambered in a gun based on the small frame used for the .32 long caliber.

The idea was it was something to take when fishing or hiking, capable of taking small game and for general plinking.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

32 acp is semi rimmed ( small rim... but about the same size as the 45 Colt which also has a small rim )

so it is "possible" to shoot the acp ... the extractor star might have some issues with the smaller rim, & might have the semi rim slip past, which might require some jiggling around to get all extraction

[timdennis]

I found an old, near mint Charter in .32 H&R. Unlike the new ones it has a six round capacity. It feels heavier then my airweight J frames but lighter then my steel J frames. It has tiny wooden grips and I posted a thread here about Tyler T-grips-if they'd fit. I'm puzzled why the current Charter makes these with only five shots?