.32 S&W Long?

[uscs]

I recently obtained a Colt Pocket Positive that has stamped on the barrel, "Pocket Positive .32 Colt Police", not .32 Colt New Police, if that makes a difference. The gun is in excellent shape. A local gunsmith told me it's at about 97%. When I got the gun the front sight was tilted to the right as if someone had over tightened the barrel when they screwed it on. The gunsmith fixed it for me. When I shoot it with .32 S&W Long's I split the cases. What's the problem? I'm begining to think that the gun was originaly chambered for .32 Colt LONG and someone changed out the barrel on me to one that is chambered for .32 Colt Police which would be the same as .32 S&W Long I think. Someone told me that .32 S&W Long is not the same as .32 Colt Long. Any ideas as to why I'm spliting the cases and how can I fix it?

 

[sd]

I'm not an expert but 32 SW long IS different than 32 colt. I don't know that 32 colt comes in long and short but smith does, anyway our 32 colt cases split in our HR revolver chambered for 32 SW long. You definitely need to hunt down some 32 colt (police) rounds, apparently they are different enough to cause problems.

 

[P. Plainsman]

You're right, the question seems to boil down to whether ".32 Colt Police" on the barrel means ".32 Colt New Police" (which = .32 S&W Long); and also whether your gun's cylinder is chambered for the same ammunition as the barrel is bored for.

Here's one writer's account of this tangle of old cartridges:

[T]he .32 Colt New Police Cartridge . . . is the politically correct name for the .32 Smith and Wesson Long when chambered in a Colt. Colt did this - both with the .32 and the .38 Special - named them the “Colt New Police” to avoid advertising the Smith and Wesson developments. The Police Positive Special will fire the old .32 S&W cartridge as well as the Long and will not do at all well with the old .32 Colt and Long Colt Cartridges. These rounds use the same nominal .312-313 bullet that are of the full case diameter, heeled variety like the modern .22 rimfires. Firing them in 32 S&W Long chambers will over expand the smaller cases ripping them from Dan to Beersheba in the process. The .32 S&W and S&W Long cases are too large to fit in the older Long Colt chambers. This is a good thing.

http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_32Colt.htm

 

[uscs]

.32 S&W Long

Sorry Guys. Let me get it right. On the barrel it says, "Pocket Positive .32 Police Ctg." Now what does .32 Police Ctg mean? Does it mean .32 Short Colt or .32 Long Colt and will it fire any of the .32 S&W?