Can 32 S&W (short) ammo still be found?

[Jlr2267]

I have an Iver Johnson 32 S&W that was my grandfather's pocket gun. I have not fired it in the 20 or so years I've had it.

Now I want to shoot it but cannot find this ammo ANYWHERE.

If anyone knows where it can be found or special ordered, I would appreciate the info.

Can 32 long be trimmed & reloaded as 32 short? Even the "long" is hard to find.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

The dimensions of the .32 H&R mag are close enough with a trim.

 

[Al Thompson]

Your local gunshop should be able to order some from Elliot Brothers. I think Palmetto Firearms in Columbia has some in stock.

 

[Mayvik]

Depending on age and condition, you may want to stick to black powder only. Try Buffalo Arsm (not Bore) for loaded BP ammo.

 

[Swing]

Some years back, I could find it. I no longer have a gun that fires said, but I think I still have some floating around.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Pretty sure it is still offered by Remington and Magtech

 

[mnrivrat]

Every place I looked I got out of stock. Several makers supposedly still make it but good luck.
I just bought 2 boxes off Gunbroker but they were with 3 boxes of .32 S&WL.
Cost me $24 a box to my door which is high but not crazy high these days.
I also shoot the longs so they won't go to waste.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Try your local Bass Pro Shop. The one here in Denver has had .32 S&W in stock for months.

 

[AK103K]

If you reload, you can get dies (Lee), 100 pieces each brass, and bullets from Midway, for about $75, about $25 more than a box of loaded ammo.

At the time I was looking, about a year or so ago, I looked pretty much everywhere online, and was only able to find two boxes of loaded ammo (smokeless), and they were both about $45 a box plus shipping.

I found an S&W 4th model top break in my dads drawer when he died. It was in real good shape, and locked and timed up well. Didnt know the caliber, as they arent marked, so it took a little detective work. Being an S&W made it a little easier. I also found out it was a black powder era gun, and most of the recommendations pushed me in that direction.

Ive had a couple of other similar guns over the years, H&A's, and Iver Johnsons, etc, that while decent looking, I would not have shot them, as they were pretty sloppy in lockup and timing. You may want to consider looking closely at that before you lay out the money for ammo or components. The S&W I have, other than some surface patina, looks/feels like it had little use.

While doing the research, I got a lot of conflicting info on the use of smokeless loads in the BP era guns. Many said it was OK, while others said it was a bad idea, and would likely stretch the frame. I chose to err on the side of caution, and went with BP.

This is my S&W with some of the reloads......

 

[WestKentucky]

I keep finding 32sw when I actually want 32swl to get more brass. 2 local shops, academy nearby, basspro, a few more small shops in the city south of here. You can order from bass pro. It's usually about 35 bucks a box, do add shipping and your st 50....better get 2 boxes and save a bit.

 

[Jlr2267]

I've found just the opposite WK, the SW "long" is often labeled simply "32 S&W" nowadays.

I didn't see any 32 S&W ammo on the BP website, short or long...

 

[Jlr2267]

If you reload, you can get dies (Lee), 100 pieces each brass, and bullets from Midway, for about $75, about $25 more than a box of loaded ammo.

At the time I was looking, about a year or so ago, I looked pretty much everywhere online, and was only able to find two boxes of loaded ammo (smokeless), and they were both about $45 a box plus shipping.

I found an S&W 4th model top break in my dads drawer when he died. It was in real good shape, and locked and timed up well. Didnt know the caliber, as they arent marked, so it took a little detective work. Being an S&W made it a little easier. I also found out it was a black powder era gun, and most of the recommendations pushed me in that direction.

Ive had a couple of other similar guns over the years, H&A's, and Iver Johnsons, etc, that while decent looking, I would not have shot them, as they were pretty sloppy in lockup and timing. You may want to consider looking closely at that before you lay out the money for ammo or components. The S&W I have, other than some surface patina, looks/feels like it had little use.

While doing the research, I got a lot of conflicting info on the use of smokeless loads in the BP era guns. Many said it was OK, while others said it was a bad idea, and would likely stretch the frame. I chose to err on the side of caution, and went with BP.

This is my S&W with some of the reloads......

Thanks AK. Lockup is marginal, but acceptable IMO. I've shot worse (won't mention brands, but modern firearms). This particular revolver is not one of the black powder models.

Looks like I'll have to roll my own if I want to shoot it anytime soon.

 

[rule303]

Remington, Federal, and Magtech still load it on a seasonal basis. It isn't exactly a high priority for them since the newest guns chambered in it are approaching 100 years old.

 

[splattergun]

showing in-stock this morning
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...er-32-sw-long-98-grain-lwc-50-rounds?a=289669

No. Excuse me, this is for Long.
Never mind

 

[delrom418]

I also had a hard time finding either loaded ammo, or brass. Last August I found loaded ammo online at K&L Surplus and Ammo. It was Magtech 85 grain LRN for $23.29 per box.

My gun is an older model and only proofed for black powder so I pulled the bullets and reloaded it with black powder. It shot fine, but of course was a lot dirtier!

I just checked their website and it looks like they are now called A1Ammo.com, (but still owned and operated by K&L Surplus). It's still listed at $23.29 per box, but unfortunately, out of stock!

 

[AK103K]

Even if it is smokeless, I wouldnt discount using black powder. Most of these guns are old and not always made of the best materials. Why put any more strain on them than necessary? Not that the 32 S&W smokeless loads arent loaded with that in mind.

This was the first time Id loaded black powder cartridges. Its really pretty simple, just fill the case with powder, so that the bullet compresses the load, and youre good to go. I went with FF instead of FFF, since it was what I had on hand for my old cap and ball gun. I also figured that Id get a slightly lighter load, since its a little coarser, and you get a little less volume in the case.

Clean up is easy enough. A little soapy water first, then clean as usual.

 

[Jlr2267]

Even if it is smokeless, I wouldnt discount using black powder. Most of these guns are old and not always made of the best materials. Why put any more strain on them than necessary? Not that the 32 S&W smokeless loads arent loaded with that in mind.

This was the first time Id loaded black powder cartridges. Its really pretty simple, just fill the case with powder, so that the bullet compresses the load, and youre good to go. I went with FF instead of FFF, since it was what I had on hand for my old cap and ball gun. I also figured that Id get a slightly lighter load, since its a little coarser, and you get a little less volume in the case.

Clean up is easy enough. A little soapy water first, then clean as usual.

Not against using BP...it just wouldn't be my first choice since I don't use it for anything else. If I found a special order BP load I'd certainly try it, but if making my own I'll stick with what I have on hand.

 

[Monac]

When I went to gun shows regularly, there were always partial boxes of 32 S&W NotLong of widely varying ages for sale. It's one of those cartridges where people buy a box, shoot a few rounds, then never shoot it again.

You might ask at independent gun stores too; often when people get rid of an old gun, they insist that the store take the ammo too, so they wind up with boxes they cannot normally sell, in my limited experience. The big chain stores, like Gander Mountain, no doubt have a procedure for getting rid of that stuff; the little guys probably just stuff it in the back somewhere.

I apologize if this is all stuff you know perfectly well, but which is useless because there are no shows or shops where you live.

 

[Jlr2267]

When I went to gun shows regularly, there were always partial boxes of 32 S&W NotLong of widely varying ages for sale. It's one of those cartridges where people buy a box, shoot a few rounds, then never shoot it again.

You might ask at independent gun stores too; often when people get rid of an old gun, they insist that the store take the ammo too, so they wind up with boxes they cannot normally sell, in my limited experience. The big chain stores, like Gander Mountain, no doubt have a procedure for getting rid of that stuff; the little guys probably just stuff it in the back somewhere.

I apologize if this is all stuff you know perfectly well, but which is useless because there are no shows or shops where you live.

Thanks Monac. I just passed on a local gun show, although I thought hard on it. $10 parking, $10 entry to buy a $30 box of ammo...if I'd any other reason to go, I probably would have. No inexpensive answer to this quandary.

 

[suemarkp]

I bought a 100 pack of 32 S&W brass and a set of 32 S&W carbide dies I'm never going to use. Will let either or both go at cost and both were rather hard to get at the time.

 

[lowercase]

I've found .32 S&W at multiple stores in my local area (Tacoma, WA).

There wasn't been a lot, but I was surprised to see it at all.

 

[rogdigity]

I used to own an s&w mod 2 in 32 s&w short. I also had a nagant revolver which I would shoot 32 s&w long and 32 short through.

I was always able to find it pretty easy. Then again, if I was buying online I was usually stocking up on 223 or 7.62 of some sort ad well so the shipping difference to add a couple boxes of 32s was negated. Look around at old gun shops. The last couple times I bought it was at a basspro shop by my last job.them and cabelas seemed to have it regularly.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The dimensions of the .32 H&R mag are close enough with a trim.

This is the Revolver forum, not the Reloading forum. The OP is asking about ammo, not brass.

 

[AK103K]

He was asking about trimming/using other brass as well.

 

[ATLDave]

A couple of years ago (maybe just before the last/current panic set in), a local gun store ordered some .32 S&W (non-long) for me. It was winchester white box.