32 revolver ammo availbility

Zendude said:

So, I’ve been looking for some factory ammo to feed my Charter 32 H&R revolver. 32 S&W long has good availability on the internet shops, but no 32 H&R ammo anywhere. .
Some sites discourage using 32 short in a 32 H&R cylinder because excessive bullet jump length can cause failures.
Maybe it’s time to go with 32 SWL for a while Until more 32 H&R shows up.

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.32 Long is fun to shoot, it’s a good reloader cartridge too. Get what you can get and enjoy shooting.

.32 H&R was always spotty in our local gun shops out here even before the world turned upside down. I found the only reliable way to be able to keep it on hand was to reload it. Heck of a lot cheaper going that route as well.

I've fired a lot of 32 S&W Long in 327 magnum revolvers. It causes no failures or lack of accuracy in a 327 Mag.

Many talk about bullet jump making a round in a certain revolver inaccurate. If that were truly the case the 22 lr in a Model 17 or 617 would be the most inaccurate combo out there.

It's not.

.32 Long target ammo seems fairly available. It’s the self defense bullet types in .32 Long, .32 magnum, and .327 magnum that come out in only small batches of factory ammo.

Got to stay vigilant and pounce when you see it. Or become a reloader.

GRIZ22 said:

I've fired a lot of 32 S&W Long in 327 magnum revolvers. It causes no failures or lack of accuracy in a 327 Mag.

Many talk about bullet jump making a round in a certain revolver inaccurate. If that were truly the case the 22 lr in a Model 17 or 617 would be the most inaccurate combo out there.

It's not.

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.22 LRs and their kin with bullets the same diameter as the brass and straight bore chambers probably has something to do with that.

Have to move up to .22 magnum and centerfire to get a stepped chamber sized to the length of a cartridge.

Zendude said:

Maybe it’s time to go with 32 SWL for a while Until more 32 H&R shows up.

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That will work well for you, I've been doing that for quite awhile now. Enjoy.

32 H&R magnum prices and lack of availability caused me to purchase brass, bullets, powder and primers while preparing for Hillary Clinton’s first term as President. Well, since that didn’t happen, I have sit on those supplies waiting for my retirement to start reloading. Anytime I’ve seen 32 ammo for sale on forums here in North Carolina, especially 32 magnum, I pounce on it and have collected a solid inventory.

On a bright note, Buffalo Bore does offer both 32 long and 32 magnum in a couple loads. They are in and out of stock but be persistent !

For your viewing enjoyment:

H&R magnum is never on the shelf in my location. Federal magnum is rarely seen. S&W Long is an occasional visitor.

Walkalong said:

I’d bet that of the serious.32 shooters reload, because you’re right, just not a lot of local availability.

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When the Zestava .32's were pouring into the country (late 2018, IIRC??) one of the stores I frequent bought cases of them and Fiocchi .32ACP FMJ thinking those were going to be very popular guns for the cheapskate concealed carry/one-thin-dime crowd. They had those guns and ammo just sitting for about two years. Then overnight they sold out of all of the above - about six months into "The New Hindsight Era: 2020"

I have a bunch of online ammo places that I scan frequently. Middle of the night is usually best since that's when the websites seem to update inventory. My local GS lost my business for literally laughing at me for carrying a 32 H&R.
Right now I see a up to 100% spread in price of 32 H&R and 32 S&W ammo - but prices are slowly trending downwards again. Btw: My GoTo carry ammo? Georgia Arms 32 H&R 100Gr JHP and Magtech 32 S&W Long 98Gr SJHP.

chicharrones said:

.22 LRs and their kin with bullets the same diameter as the brass and straight bore chambers probably has something to do with that.

Have to move up to .22 magnum and centerfire to get a stepped chamber sized to the length of a cartridge.

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I've never seen much practical difference using 38 spl in 357 or 44 spl in 44 mag. Shooting them in a rest might make a difference.

I use 100 to 125 grain lead bullets in most of my 327 loads. If they're for plinking I load them lighter. I also have a decent stock of 32 H&R mag brass.
I like the Badman coated 100's the most for clean shooting.

The only 32 mag I ever see for sale are the over priced SD loads sold in boxes of 20 or 25. The factories don't seem to realize sometimes people would just like to shoot a pleasant less than full power load through there guns and never seem to offer the 50 round boxes of mid range lead bullet loads.

The 32 revolver rounds are best viewed as reloader cartridges. I started reloading 32s when I got my first model 31-1 way back in the early 1990s. I never regretted getting set up to reload and cast bullets for that round. The 32 longs and 32 mags are some of my favorite guns to shoot. And for me they are just pennies per round.

I like loading the 32 mag brass with a 94-115gr lead bullet in the 900fps range. Its a real step up from the 32 long without being an ear buster like the full bore mag rounds. I like shooting those from my Ruger single six 32 mag revolvers. My favorite trail and woods walking guns.

Try Ammo Seek for whichever caliber(s) to find and buy:
https://ammoseek.com/

L-2 said:

Try Ammo Seek for whichever caliber(s) to find and buy:
https://ammoseek.com/

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I carry a 32 mag and have had the same issue as the OP. Several months ago I started watching ammoseek and have been able to stock up a bit. It is not always there so when you see it just be ready to buy a couple of hundred rounds of it. The loads I have bought in the last several months off of ammoseek are Black Hills Ammunition and MiWall.

RIght now you can order Ventura lead round nose but I bet if you wait those other two manufacturers will put out hollow points.

I’d like to get a 32 revolver, but prices of everything is too high right now. Definitely a reloading proposition. Besides, I’m too well invested in 38spl.

ThomasT said:

The only 32 mag I ever see for sale are the over priced SD loads sold in boxes of 20 or 25. The factories don't seem to realize sometimes people would just like to shoot a pleasant less than full power load through there guns and never seem to offer the 50 round boxes of mid range lead bullet loads.

The 32 revolver rounds are best viewed as reloader cartridges. I started reloading 32s when I got my first model 31-1 way back in the early 1990s. I never regretted getting set up to reload and cast bullets for that round. The 32 longs and 32 mags are some of my favorite guns to shoot. And for me they are just pennies per round.

I like loading the 32 mag brass with a 94-115gr lead bullet in the 900fps range. Its a real step up from the 32 long without being an ear buster like the full bore mag rounds. I like shooting those from my Ruger single six 32 mag revolvers. My favorite trail and woods walking guns.

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I think part of the reason why the .32 Mag doesn't get sold in 50 round boxes that aren't full power loads by large commercial manufacturers is that if it's not going to be full power, it's pretty much not much more powerful than cheaper .32 S&W Long. The difference being "okay, bit of kick" for .32 Long and "Hey, I could actually feel that" in .32 Magnum. That's really not enough difference in recoil to make a difference for practicing and a real life defensive use.

Between most .32 Mag and current .327 factory offerings, there's a huge difference between them, but I don't see anyone other than Federal bothering to make .327 ammo in 50 rd boxes, let alone stuff that's lower in power. This affects .327 Mag owners more than .32 Mag owners, so for those who own .327, they should reload.

IMO, those who own a .32 Mag revolver, they don't need to reload unless they want to always have ammo on hand or have a specific load they want to make, but if they're just looking for a cheap, easy to source practice ammo and have a box of two of good stuff, it's not impossible if they buy online. Any LRN .32 S&W Long will do the trick for practice, the Hornady 80gr Critical Defense looks good, while Buffalo Bore 100gr would be full power stuff.

TTv2 said:

I think part of the reason why the .32 Mag doesn't get sold in 50 round boxes that aren't full power loads by large commercial manufacturers is that if it's not going to be full power, it's pretty much not much more powerful than cheaper .32 S&W Long.

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Apparently you have never shot any of the Federal 90gr lead bullet 32 mag loads. No, they are not slightly more powerful 32 long loads. They were loaded to 963fps where 32 longs are from factory loads at best getting 750fps. And they weren't just "for practice" they had a real use for guns used for trail guns and small game hunting. When the 32 mag came out the guns had another use besides just SD guns. Today thats about all shooters can see a use for in a handgun. Just another gun to shoot another person with. Back in the 1980s when the 32 mag came out people still used guns for trail guns and hunting guns. Not just SD. So there used to be loads that were sold for that purpose. But not so much anymore.

https://www.munitionsexpress.com/fe...2-h-r-magnum-95gr-lead-semi-wadcutter-20-box/

ThomasT said:

Today thats about all shooters can see a use for in a handgun. Just another gun to shoot another person with. Back in the 1980s when the 32 mag came out people still used guns for trail guns and hunting guns.

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Yup. It makes me sad. I still use .32Long and Mag for trail guns. Mostly in the Spring and Fall when the raccoons and armadillos are on the move for mating season and fattening up for winter. I've messed with cranky raccoons before and it's not nice. Less nice is when they get wounded or sick and their "flight" response goes away completely. They're animals and live by the Law of the Jungle. City folks never seem to learn that and even a lot of "country" people these days tend to forget it because all they see on TV are friendly, talking animals more reasonable than they are. A good .32 at your hip or in a shoulder rig is very comforting and a properly loaded .32Mag will take down a wild pig (in these parts - y'all up north in Arkie and Bama might need a bit more).

Zendude said:

So, I’ve been looking for some factory ammo to feed my Charter 32 H&R revolver. 32 S&W long has good availability on the internet shops, but no 32 H&R ammo anywhere. .
Some sites discourage using 32 short in a 32 H&R cylinder because excessive bullet jump length can cause failures.
Maybe it’s time to go with 32 SWL for a while Until more 32 H&R shows up.

Click to expand...

I am a big .32 revolver fan. I practice at the range often. I buy whatever is a "good" deal for .32 S&W to use at the range. And use .32 Buffalo Bore when I carry or ready for action at home. They carry both S&W and HR hot ammo which I am sure are both more than adequate for carry / self defense.

Long ago I ordered some 32 H&R Mag brass from Starline and forgot all about it. Today UPS delivered the 500 cases to me! Yum Yum.