[Bandit01]

What is a .32 caliber? I'm looking into getting a snub nose and keep coming across .32 calibers. I'm not famililar with that one. I'm a reloader and I don't want to purchase something that's difficult to get supplies for.

[Nitram68]

There's tons of .32's out there. I'm sure reloading for these is a easy as a .380 or .25....

[anapex]

My guess the most common one right now for a revolver would be the .32 H&R Magnum. If it was an autoloader it'd be the .32acp. I'm sure the list will get longer as others more knowledgable then I join in.

[Ala Dan]

In Europe its called 7.65

[Majic]

What is a .32 caliber?
Quite a popular caliber in the not so distant past.

[priv8ter]

Since you use the term Snub Nose, I am going to assume you are talking about revolvers.

In modern revolvers, .32 should refer to the .32 H&R Magnum, which was developed in 1984 as a joint effort between the Federal Cartridge Company and Harrington and Richardson, for H&R's pistols.

A revolver chambered in .32 H&R Magnum can also shoot the shorter .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long cartridges.

The only companies I know of that load for it are Federal and Georgia Arms. Strike that...several other companies load for it, but they are just Cowboy Level loads. Federal makes an 85gr JHP load that generates 230FPE(out of a 4" barrel). That's not too shabby, and excedes most .380 loads. Georgia Arms is supposed to be even stouter.

According to one Speers manual, you can drive a 100gr bullet at 1040 FPS(out of a 5.5" Ruger Single Six). That's a very healthy 290 foot-lbs.

I own a Taurus in .32 H&R Magnum, and I like it. The only thing I have to say is energy numbers aside, it looks kind of small next to a .38. But, you do get that one extra round, which I consider a fair trade.

If you are looking at small auto's, then .32 means .32ACP, which I don't know as much about.

greg