Anyone ever try to shoot 32 acp in a revolver?

"the firing pin has to travel .010 further"
The crux of the matter, with the firing pin built into the hammer it usually worked. The problem is exasterbated by the rim thickness variation too and how it seats into the cylinder. With frame mounted firing pins like yours it MIGHT work. Also SOME extraction systems work OK, some don't and the case falls under the star.

It has been done, especially in old top-breaks chambered in .32 S&W. I don't consider it to be a very bright idea because the star extractor in a revolver may not pick up the case rim. As you noted there can be a headspace problem too, but given the low pressures usually generated by the round it may not be as big an issue that it might be.

Old Fuff has spoken

One time I inadvertently loaded .32acp in a .32S&W. I caught it when the first round did not fire. I saw my error immediately. Shooting a old Smith top break and Llama X-A at the same table was not a good idea.

It never made sense to me why anyone would want to. I shoot a number of older 32 cal. revolvers and the .311 bullet in the auto round was never as accurate as a rimmed round. all my 32 revolvers are at least a .312 bore and some are .3135. A swaged or cast soft bullet works sooooo much better.

All the time...in my Nagant.

I think 32 ACP would be the easiest of the 32's to obtain if the balloon goes up.

Click to expand...

Given that you might have to stake your neck, and perhaps put other at risk, with this questionable set-up I'd suggest that you pick one or more of the following:

1. You lay in a stock of the correct ammunition.

2. Buy a reloading outfit and stock up on cases, primers, powder and bullets.

3. Buy a pistol chambered in .32 ACP.

I strongly recommend against firing the .32 ACP in older .32 revolvers for the simple reason that .32 ACP has a standard pressure of 20,500 psi vs the 14,000 psi for the .32 S&W. Those old guns were usually made from cast iron and are often not safe (for the shooter or the gun) with even smokeless powder; they don't need ammunition that runs 5-6k psi over their design strength.

Jim

I agree with Jim. The only reason I didn't make the point was because the O.P. said the revolver he had was a (modern) S&W model 632. That said, I'd hate to be in a serious situation and the revolver didn't fire because of a headspace issue combined with a frame-mounted firing pin.

Another reason not to shoot .32 ACP in revolvers is that given the thinner semi-rim compared to .32 S&W ammo, gas pressure drives the case head back smartly against the recoil shield of the revolver frame and contuinued use will either peen the iron frame or loosen the firing pin bushing in a revolver such as a Colt with separate bushing. This is a common abuse you must always look for when shopping for used .32 revolvers, as restaking the firing pin bushing and setting headspace is a $100 repair in most shops.

I fire .32 ACP in my SP-101 regularly. The firing pin travels far enough, and the ejector star is aggressive enough for the smaller rims. It feels like shooting a .22.

As others said, probably not an adviseable practice in old .32 S&W guns, but there's no pressure concern in a .32 H&R/.327 mag chambered revolver.