..I fired a beauty of a mid-60s Colt Detective Special yesterday while testing the velocity of some different vintage factory 38 Spl loads in my O.P....this snub is in the 32 N.P. and was a real pleasure to shoot...in fact the recoil reminded me more of shooting a 22 handgun than a centerfire gun....I think I am going to sell it off right away and buy a Colt Pocket Positive I am eyeballing..I have owned the Det. before and will probably look for another 38 spl later on...I do like shooting the 32 round though...very, very accurate and plain fun to fire!.might make an ideal pocket gun in my mind..
Colt revolvers & the 32 S&W Long...
- Thread starter aspen1964
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Starter52
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I haven't found an affordable Colt .32 revolver yet, but I picked up two nice S&Ws in .32 S&W this year. Two J-frames; a nickel 2" and a 3" blue. Both were very reasonable.
Both guns (especially the 3") are a joy to shoot. I shoot 2.2 gr. of WW 231 and a swaged Hornady bullet. I've also found that the guns will safely fire and eject the .32 ACP round (don't tell mama).
The .32 is a once-popular revolver round that has fallen out of favor. Good to hear that someone else appreciates it.
Both guns (especially the 3") are a joy to shoot. I shoot 2.2 gr. of WW 231 and a swaged Hornady bullet. I've also found that the guns will safely fire and eject the .32 ACP round (don't tell mama).
The .32 is a once-popular revolver round that has fallen out of favor. Good to hear that someone else appreciates it.
Pocket Positive's are hard to find, at least in "shootable" shape, and if you've found one at a reasonable price I would jump at it. Police Positive's with a larger butt, and usually longer barrel, are much more common. While the Pocket Positive was intended to be (obviously) a pocket gun I have in my collection of odds and ends, a 6"/nickle plated barrel marked "Pocket Positive." Never saw one on a revolver though.
If you use the search feature of this forum, and the key words ".32 S&W Long" you will find there is considerable interest in it.
sm
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Old Fuff is smarter than I, as are others here. Correct and clairify if need...
Trail Guns as we called them were often .32 cal. These were great for potting game, such as rabbits while "out and about".
Little more punch to game than a .22 rimfire, still not that much punch to shooter, and total package weight of gun and ammo, easy to tote. I forget what the "suggested" or "idea" total weight of gun and ammo folks used to say or recommend was.
In case some folks were thinking about handgun hunting...small game with a handgun allows one to keep the woodscraft skills up, and presents a fun challenge as well. .32s were recommended, promoted and used.
Folks also played dumb and acted like they had no idea of what you were talking about when a 'trail gun in .32' came up in conversation. Folks always been known to hoard, and keep stuff secret I guess. *wink*
Trail Guns as we called them were often .32 cal. These were great for potting game, such as rabbits while "out and about".
Little more punch to game than a .22 rimfire, still not that much punch to shooter, and total package weight of gun and ammo, easy to tote. I forget what the "suggested" or "idea" total weight of gun and ammo folks used to say or recommend was.
In case some folks were thinking about handgun hunting...small game with a handgun allows one to keep the woodscraft skills up, and presents a fun challenge as well. .32s were recommended, promoted and used.
Folks also played dumb and acted like they had no idea of what you were talking about when a 'trail gun in .32' came up in conversation. Folks always been known to hoard, and keep stuff secret I guess. *wink*
sm:
Now there you go telling again ....
Used to be the little S&W .32 Hand Ejectors were popular with some mid-west dear hunters who would use them to finish off a critter that was down but not quite out. A head shot would end it all without messing up any meat, or the skull if it was likely to be mounted. They might also pop a partridge or two for the pot - usually not flying of course.
Now before you came along I used to steal... I mean buy these little worthless non-magnums for as little as $150 in excellent shape. Now (sniff) those days are gone forever. Ya don't have to keep speading the word.
Now there you go telling again ....
Used to be the little S&W .32 Hand Ejectors were popular with some mid-west dear hunters who would use them to finish off a critter that was down but not quite out. A head shot would end it all without messing up any meat, or the skull if it was likely to be mounted. They might also
pop a partridge or two for the pot - usually not flying of course.Now before you came along I used to steal... I mean buy these little worthless non-magnums for as little as $150 in excellent shape. Now (sniff) those days are gone forever. Ya don't have to keep speading the word.
sm
member
mec
Brings up another use, these were /are accurate and use[d] in Bulls-Eye were they not?
Oh well, who wants a old antiquated gun shooting a wittle ctg with wittle bullet ?
Folks ought to send these .32's to some old guy living in a cave in the AZ Desert, and get the newest, plastic guns with uber-ammo ctgs.
*smirk*
Brings up another use, these were /are accurate and use[d] in Bulls-Eye were they not?
Oh well, who wants a old antiquated gun shooting a wittle ctg with wittle bullet ?
Folks ought to send these .32's to some old guy living in a cave in the AZ Desert, and get the newest, plastic guns with uber-ammo ctgs.
*smirk*
sm
member
I know. That is why I am a Reprobate.
I never got a Reprobate Certificate from*someone* around here. I started to forge...I mean design one, then I figured out that was the ultimate test on my Repro Exam.
WE Reprobates Know we are, comes from within, and not something one can buy , or get from having a piece paper.
Just like folks that shot / shoot .32s know, and thems that don't - don't.
<rattles book of matches, signals lesson over>
0007
Member
I had a 5" 1st model Colt Cobra in .32NP. Dumbest thing I ever did was let it get away... I'm in the process of buying another 1st model .38 Det. Spl. out of the Mktpl here.
If you decide you want to sell the .32, PLEASE drop me a pm or email and let me know what you want for it. Thanks.
If you decide you want to sell the .32, PLEASE drop me a pm or email and let me know what you want for it. Thanks.
MoShooter
Member
I am curious to know if this stuff works in the revolvers mentioned in this thread?
At one time I used it in a Pardini semi-auto for International Centerfire competition. Now the Pardini is long gone and I have quite a bit of this ammunition left.
If it works I either need to find a pistol or sell the ammo.
At one time I used it in a Pardini semi-auto for International Centerfire competition. Now the Pardini is long gone and I have quite a bit of this ammunition left.
If it works I either need to find a pistol or sell the ammo.
Stainz
Member
I bought one of the closeout Rugers, a SS BHG, earlier this year. A great example of all of my other Rugers' QC boo boo's combined in one revolver. After much work, it is finally a keeper. Sadly, I now want an adjustable sight 4"-er. The only current production - the 4" SP101 - is now gone. I load .32 H&RM brass at lower - near .32 S&WL - levels. My 96gr LRNFP/620 fps load is real fun - and my warmer 115gr LRNFP (.32-20 bullet) @ 730 fps hits coincident POA/POI. Fun round, too. The only commercial ammo I have tried in .32 S&WL is the current MagTech 98gr LRN @ 644 fps. It was a bit nastier than my loads, but nothing like the super nasty, and hot, GA Arms 100gr JHP .32 H&RM's (1,156 fps!). Probably a great SD round from one of those S&W 431/432 Airweights, however. I have plenty of .32 S&WL cases now - even some .32 S&W. Where, oh where, are those old .32's?
Odd - I started with .45 ACP & Colt - went to .454 - then .44 - then .357/.38 - now .32. I guess the DL I carry, depicting an old man, really is mine!
Stainz
Odd - I started with .45 ACP & Colt - went to .454 - then .44 - then .357/.38 - now .32. I guess the DL I carry, depicting an old man, really is mine!
Stainz
MoShooter:
Yes, those are (or at least seem to be, the box end-flap will say for sure) .32 S&W Long mid-range wadcutters, and will work in any of the revolvers chambered for that cartridge that have been mentioned in this thread. That also includes revolvers chambered in .32 H&R Magnum.
Yes, those are (or at least seem to be, the box end-flap will say for sure) .32 S&W Long mid-range wadcutters, and will work in any of the revolvers chambered for that cartridge that have been mentioned in this thread. That also includes revolvers chambered in .32 H&R Magnum.
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