.32ACP out of a Ruger Single-Six in .32HR?...

[W Turner]

Where I work I am pretty well known for a being a gun guy and periodically I will get asked a question or someone will show off their new toy to me.

The other day a supervisor here (not mine) was talking about a Ruger Single-Six .32 HR mag that he had just had re-blued and asked if I wanted to take a look at it. Whne he handed it to me, he advised that it was loaded and when I opened the loading gate to check it anyway, I noticed that it was loaded with .32ACP JRN.

When I asked if he had shot it loaded like this yet, he said " Yeah, I 've put about two boxes thru it."

He says that it shoots just fine and the recoil is normal as compared to HR mag loads. I advised him that this was not safe and could damage his gun, but he didn't seem to concerned.

My question is whether or not it is actually dangerous to do this due to pressure levels. I figure if pressure is an issue, then if any revolver could handle it, the Ruger could. I understand it is not a good idea (only use ammunition that the gun is specifically chambered for), but is it truly dangerous?

Thanks,
W

 

[Johnny Guest]

IN THEORY - - -

- - Because I haven't actually tried this out - - -
It ought to work fairly well. The .32 ACP is a semi-rimmed cartridge. Without regard to the actual case diameter ahead of the extractor groove, the cartridge will probably hold on the semi-rim well enough for positive ignition. I wouldn't bet on any particular accuracy, though. There's a lot of jump before the lil' bullet engages any rifling.

Best,
Johnny

 

[mec]

A friend told me that the .32 acp was accurate from his ruger SSm. He was just plinking tin cans so, "accurate" is relative. When I tried it from my own ssm, i was getting a good many failures to fire. The rim (semi) is quite a bit thinner than the .32 long/magnum and there is a lot of head space.

 

[Jim March]

From everything I've read, this isn't an unsafe practice. Accuracy may be mediocre and in some cases ignition may be wonky. VERY poor idea if you have to count on the gun going "bang" but for plinking...shrug.

If you're looking for "less power than 32Mag" plinking loads, try either "Cowboy Action Grade" 32Magnums or the old 32S&W / 32S&WLong, which are obsolete but still sell in modest quantities (check gun shows, they'll turn up). The 32Mag is a stretched 32S&WLong so the latter is the proper "special" reduced load for 32Mag guns (there was never any such thing as a "32special").

 

[Johnny Guest]

HAH! Made my day!

But only on a nit-pickin' technicality . . . .

Our esteemed member Jim March is usually a veritable fount of faultless knowledge, but today - - - -

(there was never any such thing as a "32special").

32 Win. Special
Cartridge Type ---------Index No. Wt. (grs.) Bullet Style
Remington® Express® R32WS2 170 Soft Point Core-Lokt®
http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/centerfire/comp_ballistics_specific.asp

I well understand what friend Jim meant - - There is no .32 Special -- .32 Magnum parallel to the .38 Spl/.357 mag and .44 Spl/.44 mag pairings. I just had some time on my hands while awaiting a phone call.

'Twasn't REALLY an error, given the context.


Johnny

 

[Jim March]

Oh well .

 

[RON in PA]

I've shot about 50 rounds of .32 ACP out of my Ruger SS .32 Magnum with no problems. Much less recoil than the Magnum loads, not that the mags have much recoil to begin with. Accuracy OK for plinking.