32 H&R Magnum -- a useful caliber, or obsolete?

[cal44mag]

I have a Smith and Wesson revolver that shoots 32 H&R Magnum (as well as 32 S&W long).

I find 32 H&R Magnum a fun round to shoot -- even in a light weight gun.

It has similar muzzle energy to a 38 Special (even a +P depending on selected ammo), reasonable recoil, and a S&W J frame can hold 6 rounds instead of 5.

But is it obsolete now that 327 Federal has come out?

Anyone else shoot 32 H&R?

My 32 H&R Magnum -- S&W Model 431PD.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

I've always liked the idea of .32 H&R magnum but never got around to getting one. Partly i was put off by the spotty availability of ammunition, and the guns weren't always easy to find either. If more people don't adopt the .327 it may become another caliber that barely hangs on.

 

[TfflHndn]

I don't think it's obsolete at all. I use .32 H&R for some competition shoots because of its accuracy, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it for SD applications, particularly as a house gun where the .327 Fed Mag is just too loud and flashy. I think it's a good round for recoil sensitive shooters and at the same time is respectable for SD. One of my favorites to shoot.

 

[eastbank]

i have a ruger single action .32 mag and i like it as a light walk around revolver when i want more power tham a .22-.22 mag. eastbank.

 

[MedWheeler]

I had an older Charter Arms Undercoverette in my hands at Gander Mountain once (I have three vintage Undercover models.) It felt and looked pretty nice; should have bought it. It would have made a nice option as a "leave-out" gun for my wife, who has yet to warm up to anything bigger than .22/.25.

 

[bannockburn]

Years ago I had a couple of Rugers in .32 H&R Magnum; one was a Single Six, the other a Bisley model. Both were nice guns but I had a hard time finding ammo for them and over time I decided it just wasn't worth the time, money, or effort to carry another handgun cartridge. Eventually I traded them in on something more mainstream in terms of cartridge choice.

 

[Dog Soldier]

If you like a gun or a caliber that is enough justification to own it. I would not want to justify my 50 years of firearms accumulations. OK then! I am just a hopeless gun lover.

 

[WestKentucky]

Obsolete? No. that means it is no longer useful, or has been improved upon. It's like saying 38spl is obsolete because we have 357. There is still plenty of use left in 32 mag. There just needs to be more interest in 32 calibers.

 

[bikerdoc]

My safe only has .22, 22 mag, 380, 38, 357, 9, 45, 12 gauge, 223, and 30.06.

The only thing it means is that Im old, boring and not very adventurous.

Enjoy what you like, ignore what you dont and love all the people around you.

 

[philbo]

Is the 32 mag obsolete because of the 327? Absolutely not. Nor is the 32 Long obsolete because of the other 2. I have revolvers and load for all three calibers and each serves it role. My Ruger SP101 with a 4" barrel in 32 mag has accompanied me on many a walk thru the woods dispatching a few small rodents and even a copperhead along the way. It's very accurate, light recoiling and doesn't damage the meat like larger and/or more energetic calibers might. I consider it my perfect kit gun. While the 327 has more flash & bang (and the recoil to go with it) I wouldn't consider myself under-armed with your S&W 431 loaded with a decent bullet.

 

[Dain Bramage]

One definition of the word "obsolete" would be "no longer in production". However, I see Charter Arms still lists an Undercoverette in .32 mag, so no, it is not obsolete in any sense of the word.

My wife has a 431PD like the OP, and I have a Ruger Single Seven, and this beauty:

631r

• Dain Bramage
• Oct 25, 2016

SW Model 631

 

[Panzerschwein]

The .327 Fed Mag is a tremendously better and more powerful cartridge for defense, but at least one company still makes a .32 H&R revolver.

 

[eastbank]

my other .32,s, a model 31 S&W in 32 long(adjustable sight) and a colt ww-2 .32 auto. eastbank.

 

[cal44mag]

One definition of the word "obsolete" would be "no longer in production". However, I see Charter Arms still lists an Undercoverette in .32 mag, so no, it is not obsolete in any sense of the word.

My wife has a 431PD like the OP, and I have a Ruger Single Seven, and this beauty:

631r

• Dain Bramage
• Oct 25, 2016

SW Model 631

I really like your 631. Love to have one like it.

It's the stainless steel version of my Aluminum 431.

They are both updates of the original S&W Model 31 which is blue and all steel.

I had my 31-1 below before getting the 431. I used to carry it, but the 31-1 came out before the 32 H&R Magnum cartridge was developed so it shoots 32 long.

I used to carry the 31, but it was kind of under powered so the 431 was a nice upgrade.

 

[Tallball]

I like it a lot and have three revolvers chambered in it. My wife and daughter can shoot it easily. It is a WAY better alternative to 22 for someone who can't tolerate recoil easily. It's not an easy caliber to get ammo for, in some ways. If you are willing to reload it or order it from the Internet, there is no problem. I seem to always see it at the gun shows, too. But the "big box" sporting goods stores don't seem to carry it. It's ironic that one of the better SD calibers for the non-enthusiasts is something that only an enthusiast would know about or know how to acquire.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Why has the .32-20 been around for over a century? Well it was a hunting round and a police issue and a Damn fine trail gun. Today the Cowboy shooters choose them for competition. The .32/8MM rounds are useful rounds to many gun owners. Humm? Yes I am one of those.

 

[Mark 40]

I really like the 32 H&R. mag. I own the 327 LCR and found the 327 fed mag round is a bit too much for me. So the 32 H&R mag does nicely.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

I have a half dozen 32's and 327's. Great shooters.

 

[Varminterror]

I'm a huge .32 H&R fan, and have been for many years. I picked up a

The over-hyped marketing in the early 2000's resurgence of the 32 H&R is what nearly killed it. We were trying to bring it back from the grave, but all of the mis-marketing which claimed it matched the 357mag in Energy (when they meant velocity) really did it a dis-service. It took about 10min for anyone with any shooting experience to figure out it's not as effective as a stopping cartridge as even the 38spcl, despite having greater energy.

Now, does that mean it's not a viable choice? Eh, I often carry a .32 H&R, but I'd never recommend one over a 38spcl. In those very few instances where a shooter can't manage the recoil - HONESTLY SO - of a 38spcl, then the 32 H&R is a better choice than dropping down to a 22 mag or 22 LR by a long shot.

For the reloader, it's really not significantly more cost efficient to load 32's over 38's or 357's, and for factory ammo, there really isn't a savings to speak of.

Now - where does the 32 H&R really shine? Small game hunting! Most folks never bothered to employ their Single Six Vaquerito's as hunting pieces, and of course, the snubby little SP-101's and S&W Airweights don't really fit the bill, but when you transfer over from the defensive application to small game hunting, it's a very viable option. I purchased one of the Single 7 .327FM's, barely eek out any more energy than I had been getting from my .32 H&R mags (over book loads running .327FM pressure, effectively) and have been very happy with it as a bunny slayer, just as I have been for over a decade with many of the .32 H&R Vaqueritos. Lower recoil, smaller frame revolver, flatter trajectory, and more than enough power to reach 100yrds and put a hole through any bunny on the planet. THAT's what I love about the 32 H&R. The only revolvers I've come to favor more than the .32 H&R/.327FM for this purpose are the Taurus .17 HMR Tracker, and of course, the Taurus Raging Hornet in 22 H. Give me a Reeder conversion GP100 in .257 Banshee or .256win mag and I'd have to bump those down the list a ways though...

While I'm not a blued revolver fan, here's one of my favorite pairs of .32 H&R Vaqueritos:

 

[Alte Schule]

Buffalo Bore has some decent .32 H&R Magnum +P ammo. 100 Gr. JHP and 130 Gr. Hard Cast. I use them both in my LCR .327 along with the Hornady 85 Gr. FTX Critical Defense.

 

[bannockburn]

Varminterror

Nice brace of Vaqueritos you've got there!

 

[Fiv3r]

I rather like the .32 H&R. The .327 is a criminally underappreciated round. That said, it is a little loud and blasty. I usually only stoke my 4" SP101 with .327 on woods walks in cat country. Most of the time, .32 wadcutters are just fine. However, when I want to split the difference between a powder puff hole puncher and a rip snorting .327, the .32 H&R is a good compromise.

I really wish there were more interest in .32 guns. Its a fun and useful caliber to be sure.

 

[mnrivrat]

I carry a Taurus Total Titanium in .32 H&R . They won't be obsolete while I am still alive.

 

[Kendal Black]

It ain't obsolete while you can still get ammo, or make some. .32 caliber cartridges in general seem to be under-appreciated in the US. .22 and .36 are far more popular, leaving the .32's sort of stranded in the middle ground. I'm not sure how that happened. The .32 H&R makes good sense in small concealed-carry revolvers.

 

[MAKster]

While obsolete might not be the right term, 32 H&R magnum ammo is definitely uncommon and you won't find it in your local store. Unless you really want it for a specific reason it doesn't make much sense to choose it over a 38 special.