Looking for fun in .32cal

[BullRunBear]

Another vote for the Ruger Single-Six in 32 H&R Mag. With mags or longs it is more accurate than I can shoot. And recoil is negligible, especially when using longs. Once you have the brass they are very inexpensive to reload, possibly cheaper than 22s. (I haven't done the math, so don't hold me to that.) Just a thoroughly enjoyable caliber.

Jeff

 

[Jim NE]

I just ordered a surplus CZ 50 for 185 bucks. It will be the first .32 acp I've owned. I have no idea how well it will work. It's always been my understanding that the CZ 70's are upgraded and improved from the 50's, but the price was right on this one. It's "for fun."

You could get a new Keltec for not a lot, but I'm guessing it may not be the ideal target shooter. There were some old vintage Beretta war/pre-war models out there for not much money, too. Good luck.

 

[Schlegel]

Walther PPs are still not too badly priced, especially compared to the rising cost of a PPK, and are very ergonomic and pleasant-shooting. Because they share mags and small parts with the PPK and PPKS, there's not much worry about a minor breakage rendering the gun useless, even though they've been OOP for decades. I really enjoy mine.

 

[Tallball]

Gratuitous Picture Time!


My CZ70. It appeared to be NIB when I got it. It has yet to malfunction.




My Colt 1903. It is a real sweet shooter.

 

[Tallball]

My Ruger SP101 in 327 magnum with aftermarket grips. I wish the trigger weren't so stiff.

 

[Tallball]

It's not fancy, but I finally found a used Ruger Single Six in 32 H&R magnum for a reasonable price (okay, cheap like me). It is my best 32 for accurate plinking and lots of fun to shoot.

 

[Gun Master]

The ".32cal" as in the OP is somewhat of a misnomer . Caliber is measured in inches relating to bullet diameter.
Semi-auto .32 ACP is actually .319 inches (7.6mm).
Revolver .32 cal. is usually .312 inches (7.9mm). This includes .32 S&W (& S&W Long), .32 Short & Long Colt, .32 H&R Mag, .327 Fed Mag, .32-20 Win (32 WCF)......

Besides bullet diameter there are other differences such as:
Bullet weight, length, grains of powder, length of cartridge, et al......

The favorite that I own is a Colt Army Special .32-20 WCF with a 6" barrel. This is my flattest shooting ".32". Ammo is expensive and sometimes hard to get.

I'd be interested in a .32 H&R Mag or .327 Fed Mag though.

 

[cfullgraf]

The Colt 1903 is a nice shooter. Also, a Walther PP.

I'd like to try a Beretta 1935 and a Mauser HSc.

For new and in revolvers, the Ruger SP101 or Single Seven in 327 Federal Magnum are fun shooters.

 

[larryh1108]

My CZ70 is a fun gun when shooting in SA. The 50# DA pull makes it a SAO gun at the range.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Hand Ejector

 

[golden]

Good 32's

I like the .32 caliber guns for different things.

I have an H&R 732 with a 4 inch barrel in .32 S&W Long and it is just fun to shoot. It is a great range gun with very little recoil. I also had a COLT Police Positive in .32 S&W Long, but the trigger was not as smooth as the H&R, so I sold it.
Beyond the range and maybe as a plinker, I do not see much use for a .32 revolver round.
I looked at an old COLT double action revolver (I think an Official Police) with a 6 inch barrel in .32-20, but passed on it.
This medium sized gun could be hand-loaded to exceed the .32 H&R magnum performance, but is really weak using the factory softpoint or lead ammo. It could be a decent field pistol, but you might as well get a .38 Special even a medium sized .357 magnum. The ammo selection would be a 100 fold large and the .38 +P and .357 rounds are proven.

If someone brought out a .32 H&R magnum in a 6 shot model with a 4 inch barrel, I would consider it. It might be a minimum recoil self defense weapon, but we really need a premium bullet load. It would certainly be a fun range gun.
Not enough attention is paid to the advantages of a low recoil round in self defense situations. This is especially true of senior citizens who lack hand and wrist strength and persons of small stature.

.32ACP is another matter altogether. I have a BERETTA TOMCAT and a WALTHER PPK in .32ACP and both were used as pocket guns for off duty carry. I think the PPK is a BIG IMPROVEMENT over the large PP or PPK/S models because it is much easier to conceal, shoots just as well for me and has a more ergonomically shaped grip which is a weakness of the PP. I find the PPK much more comfortable to shoot than the PP.

I still occasionally carry the Tomcat as it is usefully more compact than the GLOCK 42 which replaced the PPK for everyday carry. My wife liked it so much, she took it and I had to buy another for myself. I find the tip up barrel a really useful feature in a pistol this small.

I also have some larger .32ACP pistols which do double duty as range guns and car guns. My BERETTA 82 is accurate enough to substitute for a .380ACP or compact 9m.m. The BERETTA has the usual smooth trigger, very easy to see sights and the large grip and controls that make the CHEETAH series so useful.
I know that it lacks in the power department, but I keep a FEDERAL Hydra Shok round in the chamber and COR BON Powerball in the magazine.
Actually, the BERETTA CHETTAH'S are the only .32ACP I have come across that can feed the Hydra Shok round 100 %, but I have more of the Powerball, since I use it in all my other .32ACP pistols.

The COLT 1903 in .32ACP is a classic and deserves that status. It has mild recoil, is absolutely reliable, has usable, if small sights and is overbuilt for the .32ACP round. It will last another 100 years without problems. It is a great range gun.
The big negative is the lack of double action trigger on the COLT. I used it a couple of times as a house gun when I had pulled it out of the safe to shoot the next day and loaded the magazine with Powerball, but kept the chamber empty.

If I come across a BERETTA 81 or CZ 83 in .32ACP, I will buy it. They are both very good shooters with very mild recoil, good sights and are very reliable.
I think that the medium size, long barreled .32ACP pistols like the BERETTA 81/82, CZ 83, SIG 230 (the 232 would be much better) and WALTHER PP all can get the advertised velocities of the various premium defense ammo and are so easy to shoot, that they can offset the weak power of the .32ACP with their real world accuracy and rapidity of fire.

The biggest problems with the .32 caliber guns is that not enough good ones are available.

Jim

 

[Ed Ames]

If someone brought out a .32 H&R magnum in a 6 shot model with a 4 inch barrel, I would consider it. It might be a minimum recoil self defense weapon, ...

Ruger makes a 4" 6-shot SP-101 that will fire .32H&R magnum. Sounds like exactly what you are asking for. They also have a 3" 6-shot LCR that will fire .32H&R mag..

but we really need a premium bullet load.

In that case using the .327 federal magnum (which both of the aforementioned revolvers will also chamber) may be advisable. Federal, Speer, Buffalo Bore, and others make premium personal defense rounds.

 

[Onward Allusion]

CZ83 in .32 acp is super rare and will run $700+.

I don't reload .32 acp, so I don't shoot 'em often. When I do, it's with a CZ50 or CZ70 or in my 327 revolver.

 

[lincen]

Picked up a Bersa Thunder in 32acp at a local pawn shop. Has two extended 10 round magazines and is quickly becoming one of my favorite 32's. Another favorite in 32long is a 3" barrel S&W model 31-2.

 

[USAF_Vet]

CZ-61 Skorpion.

 

[1John1:9]

I like the .32 caliber guns. I also have a 327 Fed Mag revolver that is very fun to shoot. Ruger SP101

 

[rodinal220]

Colt Police Positive in .32 Colt New Police is fun to shoot.Less powder and a smaller bullet(uses less lead per pound) can stretch that ammo budget a bit further.
I cast bullets and these older rounds are right at home with PB.

For plinking the various .32 rounds make sense.

 

[golden]

It could be a little lighter

Ed,

My main complaint about the SP 101 is that it is nearly a 2 pound gun. It is supposed to be a compact. A barrel without the full lug profile could cut a few ounces.

The LCR fills the bill, except for the 3 inch barrel. In a house gun, I want at least 4 inches. This cartridge needs all the velocity it can get.

After using them for years, I am pretty much sworn off snubbies.

Now, if we could just get a really good defense load..........

Jim

 

[Ed Ames]

Ed,

My main complaint about the SP 101 is that it is nearly a 2 pound gun. It is supposed to be a compact. A barrel without the full lug profile could cut a few ounces.

You have a point, and actually a pencil barrel sp101 could look neat in an early-20th century retro way. Polish the whole thing and put retro awkward grips on it for people who want an old colt but can't find one. I could see people buying that.

On the other hand... Having handled several 4" .327 sp101s I have never felt they were anything but compact and almost dainty. Yes, they have mass, but they carry it well and still feel small in my hands.

It's like the S&W 69...yes on paper it is a full size and heavy gun, but in my hands it feels svelt, especially after handling a 29.

Disclosure: when the 4" .327 sp101 came out I was ready to throw cash at the first shop willing to sell me one for less than msrp. However, before that happened I came across a new old stock 3" model, a never-sold sample from the first introduction of the .327.

The LCR fills the bill, except for the 3 inch barrel. In a house gun, I want at least 4 inches. This cartridge needs all the velocity it can get.

When I was shopping for a single-seven I came upon a review where they chronoed all three available barrel lengths and the speed was nearly the same despite a 3" difference in length. Point being, size doesn't always make the difference you hope.

After using them for years, I am pretty much sworn off snubbies.

I tend to view "snubby" as relative to bore. I would probably go along with calling a 3" .45c a snubby, but a .32? I'm not sure. And a 3" .22 revolver seems full sized to me.

Then again I like shorter barrels. Even though I grew up with black powder guns that all had 7" or longer barrels, I generally consider 4" to be the longest revolver barrel I want to deal with.

Earlier today I was out shooting a mixture of premium defense loads (the dollar a round rediculous stuff) and .32S&W Longs in my 3" sp101, some random ammo through a Bulgarian makarov, and .22wmr through an NAA PUG. The 1" barrel PUG definitely felt like a snubby, but the 3" sp is longer than the makarov....

Now, if we could just get a really good defense load..........

Jim

If you can find the Speer gold dot 115gr it supposedly runs 13" gel penetration with a large wound channel. Over 1400fps reported from a 4" barrel revolver.

 

[golden]

Really not what i would want

Ed,

1400 fps with a 115 grain bullet is a .327 magnum load. I already have several .357 magnums, so the .327 has not really interested me.

If I wanted to use a .32 revolver for defense, it would be the .32 H&R but only if they put a premium bullet on it. Otherwise, I do not see .32 revolvers being equal to even the .32ACP when you look at the ammo choices.
The .32 S&W heavy loads from BUFFALO BORE offer .38 Special recoil without an expanding bullet, not a winning combination in my mind.

I can get better performance from a 2 pound .38 Special loaded with +P than with any of the .32 H&R loads that I have seen out there.

The .327 magnum is probably an effective self defense load. I have not seen any information on it either way. It just does not have much of a street record the way the most popular .38 Special and .357 magnum loads do.
The problem is that I can get along fine with WINCHESTER White Box 110 grain .357 magnums. They will be quieter, have less muzzle blast and be more pleasant to shoot. PLUS, I can get them at WALMART for about half the price!

As long as I stick with 110 grain ammo .357 magnum ammo, I do not see an advantage for the .327 magnum. If I am willing to except more blast, noise, flash and recoil, I can use the 125 grain jhp that I carried when I switched to an L+frame S&W 681. It is a bear to shoot, but even more effective than the .327 magnum.

My main interest in the .32 H&R is for when I get older and can tolerate even less recoil. I have recently sold my .45ACP and most of my .40 S&W pistols. I just do not want the recoil or weight of these guns.

The same goes for revolvers. I sold off my COLT Cobra and will sell my S&W model 38. They can both be effective with standard pressure loads (I still have a small cache of FEDERAL NYCLAD ammo for them), but I see little advantage over my GLOCK 42, which is easier to conceal and at least for me, much easier to shoot.

I want to be able to shoot about 100 rounds of my self defense load at a time. I could do that with a .32 H&R with a premium bullet in a 24 ounce gun.
At 2 pounds, like the SP 101, I could just go back to the old S&W model 13 with a 3 inch barrel in .357 magnum. This was the gun/ammo combination I was issued when I first went into law enforcement. I found it easy to shoot and it proved effective for my agency.

However, I find I prefer a minimum of 4 inches on a revolver barrel. My 4 inch S&W model 15 has become my favorite range gun.
I have used 2, 3, 4 and 6 inch revolvers for house guns and the 4 is my hands down favorite for balance and handiness.

How about a S&W model 12 (the aluminum framed version of the model 10) with a 4 inch heavy barrel in 32 H&R magnum. Weight would be around 24 ounces, with reasonable recoil and velocity.
I have a model 12 with the skinny 4 inch barrel in .38 Special and it is a pleasant shooter.


I understand that this is my experience and my opinion, but that is what I have to go on.

Jim

 

[TfflHndn]

I have three .32s, and for my money the Ruger Single Seven is a winner. It's a .327 Federal caliber, but can fire the .32 H&R, .32 S&W Long and .32acp. The acp round is not ideal. It is very accurate with the H&R and Federal loads, and available, at least at my LGS. I put oversize Altamont grips on mine, and use it in competitions regularly. Check one out - you won't be sorry.

 

[Zendude]

I really like my Charter Arms Undercoverette in 32 H&R mag. It is a current production model. I demo'd a S&W J frame and the recoil was so unpleasant that I chose the Charter for concealed carry.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Everyone who has shot it loves shooting our Colt 1903 Pocket. "Shooter" condition examples hover around $350-400. They were put together with care befitting a pocket watch and are very accurate despite having small fixed sights (you get used to them very quickly). Once more, it is a classy and stylish American pistol; Bogart gets the drop on the French police chief at the end of Casablanca with one, too.

 

[Gun Master]

Colt 1903 / 1908

I own a Colt 1908, which is the same as the 1903, but chambered for .380 ACP. I like the dynamics and feel of the grip, but have not been able to determine the reason for its failure to feed. Ammo, mag feed lips, polishing feed ramp, or other possible remedies are yet to be determined.
Needless to say it's no fun to shoot if it jams every other round.
I'm about ready to take it to a good gunsmith, but I've been burned in past experiences.
I'd be interested in ways to locate an honest, qualified gunsmith.

Also, I've been told that a 1908 can be converted to a 1903 with a .32 ACP barrel and magazine.
Anybody know if this is true?

 

[zb338]

I have a .327 Ruger Single Seven. You can shoot .32 auto out
of them but it isn't recommended. That gun will shoot just about
any rimmed .32 cartridge there is.

Zeke