Looking for a 32 revolver

[sean m]

I have a desire to add a 32 caliber revolver to my collection.

I am wanting to be able to have a centerfire revolver that, I can reload economically for the amount of powder used and weight of cast bullets.

Since this will be a plinking and range toy.
I would like double action revolver with 4" or 6" barrel and adjustable sights.
Does not have to be a high performance cartridge, since this would not a defensive tool.

Other than a current production Ruger SP101 in 327 magnum with a 4.2" barrel, what other revolvers in a 32 should I search for.

Would like to hear any thoughts on 32 revolvers that anyone has experience with.

 

[ThomasT]

I am a 32 caliber fan and own 6 32 caliber revolvers. I have 3 32 longs and 3 32 mag revolvers and did own a S&W model 631. That was my only Grail Gun buy=t after I got it I didn't like it as much as a thought I would. If I had to replace the ones I own I would get another Ruger single six in 32 mag. Its been my favorite of all the 32s I've owned and that also includes an SP-101 in 32 mag when they first came out.

I actually own two of the Ruger single six 32 mags. Both have 5.5" barrels and adjustable sights. They show up on gun broker all the time. Just be aware that 32 caliber ammo id expensive and sometimes hard to find. It is a reloaders round for sure if you plan on shooting a lot of it. But since you mentioned cast bullets I am guessing you plan on reloading.

 

[Monac]

Currently, my only 32 Long revolver with adjustable sights is a Weirauch Arminius HW-7 with a 4-inch barrel. It was made back in the days when there was a "West" Germany. It is one of the inexpensive zinc-alloy revolvers they used to make there, but it is one of the better ones. Mine is pretty accurate, although if you lower the rear sight enough, the hammer will scrape against it when cocking or firing the gun. Sometimes you can find them cheap on Internet auction websites, but some people want a lot of money for them. Bonus feature: It holds SEVEN rounds! It's a bit smaller than a K-frame Smith, but not a whole lot.

I used to have a Taurus 32 Magnum small frame revolver with adjustable sights (their version of the 32 Magnum Kit Gun) but I found I did not shoot it very much, so I sold it when I found I could get $450 for it. They are not bad, but for some reason I like the Arminius better. It had a full length under-barrel lug, which made it kind of muzzle heavy for 4-inch barrel small frame gun.

I had a Ruger Bisley Single Six in 32 Magnum with a long barrel - I forget which length. It was built like a bank vault, and quite accurate, but heavy, and I learned I hated loading and emptying SAA-type revolvers. I sold it fairly quickly. You are right to want a short barrel if you get one, IMO.

 

[George P]

32 SWL usually takes between 1.9 to 2.9 gr of powder (WC to SWC); fun for plinking

 

[WestKentucky]

I have 4 and have had SEVERAL others. The one I want now is a single six 32 mag but that’s far from what your asking for. 32swl or 32 mag guns can be reloaded really really affordably. The optimal gun for what you describe is a K32 combat masterpiece but good luck finding one for less than a grand... and even a grand is being optimistic. Colt made a bunch of 32 police positive revolvers and I think that would be right up your alley although most if not all were gutter sights. S&W models 30 and 31 are nice in the J frame and my 3” 30-1 is one of the best guns I have, and they go cheap for what they are, but again... gutter sight. Taurus made several guns in 32 caliber from the SWL up to 327fm, and again they are typically nice guns but gutter sight. Charter Arms is another player but I can’t recommend them in good faith as everything I read has them as being lousy shooters. An older H&R would not be nearly as nice as the others, but it’s the only thing I can think of that bring together the barrel length, potential for adjustable sights, and caliber combination that your asking for. It’s the same conundrum I’m usually in when looking at 32s, but I just find a load that shoots POA and load a couple hundred of those and mark them for that gun. My grandmas RG doesn’t do too bad with my S&W loads so I typically make more of those.

 

[TTv2]

I was going to say look at the Single Seven, but you want a "trouble" action.

In .327, Ruger was making GP100's, but have discontinued them, however they were not hot sellers and you may be able to find some. They will shoot and feel a lot better than the SP101, which is strictly a carry gun and not much of a range plinker. I however prefer a smaller gun for a smaller caliber.

.32 Mag is much more limiting. Most companies outside Ruger and Charter stopped making them, S&W's in the chambering are over a grand used, and the H&R built ones are garbage. Basically, you are not going to find anything worthwhile in .32 H&R Mag.

.32 S&W Long you're stuck with a lot of older guns like S&W and Colt and H&R. H&R did make some .32's with a long barrel and I believe adjustable sights, I believe they called them the model 832(blued) and 833(stainless). They're not ccmmon or easy to find, but given they have much better sights than what was on 100 year old Colt Police Positives and S&W revolvers I think they'd be what you're looking for.

So, if it's .327, go Ruger GP100, if you don't mind the weaker .32 S&W L. keep an eye out for H&R 832's and 833's.

Here's an H&R 832 and the frame is even more beefed up than the 732. I've read of people that have shot .32 ACP in their 732 H&R's, so, while I'm not recommending this, you could use max powder charges in these 832's all day, maybe even go a couple tenths of a grain over, and never have to worry about it. Nice looking sights too.

 

[George P]

he optimal gun for what you describe is a K32 combat masterpiece but good luck finding one for less than a grand... and even a grand is being optimistic.

And the K-32 Target runs 3X that price...........IF you can find one

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I have several 32 caliber Smiths and Colts, but most of them have fixed sights.

A couple of S&W 32 Regulation Police revolvers at the top, a Colt 32 Police Positive at the bottom. All are chambered for 32 S&W Long (or 32 Colt New Police which is basically the same cartridge). Not particularly rare, I came across them at various times in several local shops. Usually not much more than $400 in good condition.







Paid $385 for this Post War 32 Hand Ejector a few years ago.






The only one I have that fits what you are looking for with adjustable sights is this K-32 Masterpiece. It was kind of pricey though.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

I would recommend the Smith 16-4 .32 Magnum.
90's manufacture with a full length underlug barrel.
Mine makes for a very accurate and comfortable shooter with my
.32 Long standard load of 3.7 grs. of Herco under a 110 gr. cast SWC.

Haven't felt the need to mess with Magnum cases as yet.

The four inchers are definitely harder to spot, but the six inch (like mine) seems
to 'hang' just right in offhand work.
I did chuck those finger groove stocks for a set of K-targets though.

JT

 

[GooseGestapo]

The S&W’s are collector’s items. If available they are $$$$ or ragged out junk.

Alpha Proj are what you are wanting. They make an aluminum frame, adjustable sighted equivalent to the Model 16.
RockIsland is currently importing the .357mag version under their banner.
CZECHPOINTUSA is the U.S. importer for the .32 S&WL Alpha Proj.
Currently listed as out of stock.

 

[lincen]

This offering by Ruger has been a joy to shoot all of the current 32 caliber rounds. In single action the Ruger Bisley in 32H&R has a 6 inch barrel.



RUGP32751
GP100 327FED BLUE 5" HALF LUG
1769 ADJ SGTS/WALNUT GRIPS
327 Federal Magnum
MANUFACTURER: Ruger
MFG MDL #: 1769
UPC: 736676017690

 

[shoebox1.1]

Lincen you beat me too it!! Mine is that gun in 357 and it’s perfect for what your looking for!!! (327)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the .32-20 yet.
Still quite a few S&W and Colts around, and ammo aint bad if you reload. Course, good luck finding primers these days.....

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the .32-20 yet.

Yup, there is 32-20 too.






But he said he wanted adjustable sights.


Probably not quite as cheap to reload as 32 S&W Long.

 

[cfullgraf]

Some additional information, the S&W Regulation Police became the Model 30 and Model 31after S&W went to Model numbers. They are still fairly plentiful on the used market for reasonable prices. They are chambered in 32 S&WL.

For the entire production of K-32 and Model 16-0 through Model 16-3 revolvers, all chambered in 32 S&WL, was about 3000 units. One of the reason they are quite pricey.

There were about 8000 S&W Model 16-4, a K-frame chambered in 32 H&R Magnum, made in the 1990's. They generally are about half the price of the 32 S&WL versions, still pricey when compared to other similar vintage K-frame guns.

I'd love to have a 32 S&WL K-frame revolver but they are as rare as hen's teeth. I'll have to be happy with my 32 Fed Mag GP100 and 32 H&R Mag S&W Model 16-4.

 

[.38 Special]

A member here by the name of "Gordon" offered to sell me an older S&W DA .32 for a very reasonable price. It can be seen on the last or next-to-last page of my "fighting revolvers" thread.

The impact of Covid-19 on my business makes it so that I just can't see my way clear to spending money on guns right now, so my loss might be your gain.

 

[Monac]

If $3K+ for an S&W K-32 is too much, there's a minty 6-inch Colt Officer's Model in 32 Long on GunBroker for $2,900 (to start): https://www.gunbroker.com/item/867004540

It might come under the heading of "too nice to shoot" though. (I have nothing to with the auction.)

 

[TTv2]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the .32-20 yet. View attachment 927339
Still quite a few S&W and Colts around, and ammo aint bad if you reload. Course, good luck finding primers these days.....

Good reasons too. Brass is weak at the neck and cases will buckle more easily, brass is more expensive and with all those buckled cases you'll go through them quickly, plus it's never been regarded as accurate as .32 S&W Long has been, and it's nowhere nears as powerful as .327 is.

Other than authentic CAS stuff, there is no benefit to buying a .32-20 revolver today.

 

[lincen]

This offering by Ruger has been a joy to shoot all of the current 32 caliber rounds. In single action the Ruger Bisley in 32H&R has a 6 inch barrel.

View attachment 927335

RUGP32751
GP100 327FED BLUE 5" HALF LUG
1769 ADJ SGTS/WALNUT GRIPS
327 Federal Magnum
MANUFACTURER: Ruger
MFG MDL #: 1769
UPC: 736676017690

I also have one of these in 10mm, I like Rugers !

 

[fxvr5]

In .327, Ruger was making GP100's, but have discontinued them, however they were not hot sellers and you may be able to find some. They will shoot and feel a lot better than the SP101, which is strictly a carry gun and not much of a range plinker.

The 4.2" SP101 is strictly a carry gun? Hardly.

 

[LOLBELL]

GP100, will shoot a lot of stuff starting with 32. Mine is one of the original run. Has a sweet trigger and is the most accurate hand gun I have ever shot.

 

[lincen]

I’ve posted these before but always try to promote the 32 caliber handguns!

 

[ThomasT]

In a couple of different articles by Ross Seyfried he made the point that the 32 caliber guns, 32 long and 32 mag didn't have enough recoil that adjustable sights are needed. Especially in the 32 long. And that has been my experience with the 3 23 long fixed sight revolvers I have. Using the 94 and 100gr lead bullets I cast the fixed sights seem to be right on the money. S&W was good at regulating their revolvers for the standard weight bullets in the guns they made. I bet Colt is the same way too. But the H&Rs I have had not so much.

If the OP finds a deal on an older S&W model 30 or 31 with fixed sights I would get it. He will probably find the adjustable sights aren't needed. Go to gunbroker and the revolver section then in the search box type in 32 long and you will find lots of guns to pick from. Since its not a common caliber anymore the prices are a little more reasonable.

 

[TTv2]

The 4.2" SP101 is strictly a carry gun? Hardly.

Other than carrying what does the SP101 excel at? I wasn't strictly referring to a certain barrel length for the SP's, I was talking about all of them. Their purpose is to be carry guns. Yes, they can be shot for fun at the range, but with the grip and stiff trigger they'll never be as enjoyable as a GP is for shooting hundreds of rounds in a range trip.

 

[fxvr5]

Other than carrying what does the SP101 excel at? I wasn't strictly referring to a certain barrel length for the SP's, I was talking about all of them. Their purpose is to be carry guns. Yes, they can be shot for fun at the range, but with the grip and stiff trigger they'll never be as enjoyable as a GP is for shooting hundreds of rounds in a range trip.

The OP specifically stated he was looking at the 4.2" SP101.

Any gun can be used as a 'kit' gun, 'tackle box' gun, 'truck/car' gun, 'range' gun, 'hunting gun', defense gun, etc. Even the GPs.

I suspect Ruger would disagree that the only purpose of the SP101 is a carry gun. I suspect they would say it can be used for much more than what you claim (see above). For example, Ruger has a Match Champion SP101 for competition. That kinda shoots down your claim.
https://www.ruger.com/products/sp101MatchChampion/models.html