Help me decide on a S&W

[Publius1688]

Alright, folks, I've got the itch again, the one that can only be cured by a Smith and Wesson wheelgun. I have narrowed it down to two "new to me" pistols:

-.44 Special S&W Airweight, 5 shot, nickel.
-.32 S&W Long, hand eject, 6 shot, blued.

The .44 is near new, the .32 is vintage, but well loved. I will be handloading for either one--already have dies for the .44 (magnum), but the .32 would require a new die purchase.
Price isn't the primary concern, but the .32 is about $100 less.

If y'all were going to buy just one for target shooting and reloading enjoyment, which one would it be?

 

[OldCavSoldier]

For shooting enjoyment, I'd go with the .32 Long. Shoot them all day long with no recoil effects.

For ease of reloading, I'd go with the .44 SPL. Components are more easily come by.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd of course like to have both.

But I'd really get some SERIOUS use out of that .44! What a "heater!"

 

[jhvaughan2]

.32

I assume you already have a .44 so you know the fun there. I also guess you are not a "recoil junky" or you would not "waste" your time on a .44 special.

In that case, I'd suggest the .32 but only if it is real old or real nice. From what I've seen there should be more than a $100 difference in the two. (I cannot find a .44 special for < $500, but I've recently bought a nice .32 for $300.) I'd love to have a .44 airweight (IMHO The best care revolver option out there.) but the newer guns do not have the class the older ones have.

When you discover the joy of shooting the .32 you will not be disappointed. And for the price of some dies you will discover the least-expensive centerfire shooting there is.

On the other hand, if you have a great price on a .44 airweight, you should take it. You'll get another chance on a .32 before another great deal on a .44.

(Heck I'd just have to buy both.)

 

[FoMoGo]

.44... in a red hot minute...


Jim

 

[Brian Williams]

I would get the 32.

 

[MMCSRET]

32,32,32,32,32!!!! May I suggest the 32? I have several; S&W, Colt, Charter Arms. All much more fun to shoot than any 44 I've ever owned(several). 32 components are available from most commercial casters, even Hornady offers two swaged lead bullets and Speer offers one. Cheap and easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much,much fun and accurate!!!!!

 

[Publius1688]

The .32 is top on my list right now, I'm liking the classic look. Will go down and 'pull the trigger' on one of them in the morning!

 

[eagle24]

.32

Airweight and .44 do not go together IMO.

 

[philbo]

Everyone should have a 32 at least once. Love the cartridge

 

[owlhoot]

Go for the .44. You can tailor a load so that it is a pleasure to shoot in the air-weight.

 

[Stainz]

A 'nickel' Airweight 5-shot .44 Special is a pipe dream. The 5-shot .44 Specials were made on the L-frame: the SS 696 and AirLite Ti 296 & 396 being old examples; the 396 Night Guard, in blackened Sc/Al alloy and SS cylinder, being the only current example. Nothing in nickel, however. I've had a 296 and 696, both bought new, for ~7.5 yr. The 296, @ <20 oz, is a CCW - not a plinker as it has a healthy recoil even with mild loads. The 3" barrel, adjustable sight, and heavy construction (>35 oz) of the SS 696 make it a decent plinker, if a bit dear in it's cost due to the near cult-like following it has commanded in latter years.

I had a '.32 phase', satiated for a while by a pair of new Rugers I bought, a 4.6" BHG SSM and a 4" SP101, both in .32 H&RM. Both had oversized chambers - worked the little brass too much, resulting in a short case life for reloading. Add to that the scarce supply of reloading components, with a price higher than .38's, and .38 plinkers look a lot better. My 'phase' ended two years ago, when I sold even the the left over components and dies. Still, a decent S&W .32 might have prolonged the agony. In all honesty, as cute as .32 S&WL & .32 H&RM's were, I don't miss them.

Today I have .22 rimfire and .38/.357M S&Ws - and I am a happy plinker with each. I would suggest, from my experience, a different S&W than the 696 as a .44 Special plinker - a 4" 629! It weighs but 6 oz more, will be easier to find, and, even brand new, is less than what some folks want for a used 696. Also, it has an additional inch of barrel, holds six, has larger hammer & trigger, and is .44 Magnum-rated, should you get the itch. My 4" 629 will be here long after the 696 is gone. YMMV - these are just my opinions.

Stainz

 

[MCgunner]

Not a contest...get the big bore, da forty four.

 

[oldfool]

tuff call, but I would probably do the 32, as a for-fun-gun

 

[MachIVshooter]

What are the prices? I ask, because with $100 difference, it seems that either the .32 is over priced, or the .44 is a steal.

 

[pmeisel]

I have a .32 that I came by fortuitously and really like it for plinking.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a 21 oz .44 Spl. Great little gun, but not particularly fun to shoot a lot. I much prefer my 696 for a range session, or use a .44 Mag to shoot specials in. Almost no recoil in a full sized .44 Mag.

The .32 is a fun little plinker. It's as easy to load as any other. I shot my .32-20 some yesterday. Lots of fun. Low recoil. I did not bring my .32 S&W L though. I can always get out the .41 or .44 Mag if I am in need of some recoil.

 

[Guillermo]

it seems that either the .32 is over priced, or the .44 is a steal.

good catch MachIV...that is what the decision should be based on

 

[bob.a]

Those old .32s are sweet to shoot. I'm very pleased with mine, and so is everyone who has had the opportunity to shoot it.

 

[searcher451]

With S&W, in my view, the longer in the tooth the piece is, the better -- and by far. I am of the belief that the quality of the older S&W revolvers is far superior to anything that's coming out of Houlten these days. In addition, the .32 round is far easier on the hand for long days at the range. Of course, all else needs to be equal, including mechanical condition, price, and your own needs and wants.