Performance of .32 S&W Long in a .327?

[tightgroup tiger]

In all seriousness, I have this (SP101 in .327FM) also that I have shot 32 S&W longs out of, and like the others are saying, they were as accurate as the .327 FMs loaded way down.
I just like using the .327 cases so I don't have a mess to clean out of my cylinder.

 

[TTv2]

I've not noticed any especially poor accuracy shooting .32 Long in a .327, but in the Ruger and likely other .327's the throats are usually running .314, so the slightly longer jump and large barrel/cylinder gaps on today's revolvers means potential max velocity is going to be less. How much less, IDK.

I have no issue with shooting it in a .327, but for a lower recoil, lower noise load I think H&R Mag is better, just not as cheap in factory loadings.

 

[jstert]

i only shoot 32long out of my bond arms derringer 327mag, which i like very much. i enjoy a cousin’s ruger lcr 327mag with 32long. any 32long occasion is a fine occasion.

 

[JERRY]

Just a semi related update of information.... Ammo seek has scads of Federal 85 grain .32 H and R magnum sources in stock.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Since I’m long retired and can’t shoot competition anymore (NRA bans the use of beta blockers I have to take for PVC’s); I’ve become a huge fan of .32’s.

I’ve shot .32short, .32acp, .32long, .32H&R, and .327mag in my Single-7.
.30 Super Carry won’t head space, so it’s out (and it won’t shoot .32acp either).


Accuracy is dependent on bullet compatibility to the cylinder throats.
.314” bullets don’t care what cases I use in either the Taurus or Ruger…
But .311” .32acp, aren’t especially accurate. But they are a treat to shoot. Like shooting.22cb caps in a .22lr revolver.
.309” cast don’t shoot worth a hoot, even in my Ruger .30Carbine. Nor my two M1 carbines…. They like .311”.
I bought a NOE 2-cavity 89gr wadcutter mold for.314” molds. Even my rusted out barrel S&W hand ejectors shoot bottle cap sized groups at 7yds.
The bigger, the better, as long as they chamber and don’t split the cases.

Each of my grand daughters will get a S&W .32 hand ejector. My grandson’s gonna inherit the rest.

 

[SteadyD]

32 long will be my choice when I can't shoot 38's or 32 magnums anymore.

I've shot 32 longs out of my 32 magnum revolvers bunches of times. If there's any loss in accuracy, I can't tell.

I also shoot 38's out of my 357 revolvers, 44 specials out of my 44 magnums, and use my 45acp cylinder in my 45colt Blackhawk. All of them seem as accurate with either caliber. If the shorter cartridge in the longer cylinder makes any difference, I'm not a good enough shooter for it to matter. My suspicion is that the lack of accuracy talk with the shorter calibers in the longer cylinders is just that, talk.

I have had the same experience. I’m either not good enough to tell (very real possibility) or it isn’t much of an issue.

 

[contender]

I do not go for bottlecap accuracy. More like 9 ring B27 as acceptable accuracy with the LCR. The 32 Long and 32 H&R are equally capable for my accuracy needs. If anything, i am less accurate with the 327 due to the recoil and blast.

 

[Agsalaska]

I have a Ruger LCR in .327 and used to have a S&W Airweight in .32 mag but sold it cause of the hillary hole. Most of the ammo I have shot is .32 S&W Long in the blue boxes from PPU. I shoot it and buy it quite a bit. It is the only PPU ammo I regularly purchase.

 

[Armybrat]

I have yet to shoot any .32 long through my SP

 

[steveus101]

I like the way you think. My 31-1
View attachment 1153200

I have an Improved "I" frame in .32 S&W that looks just like this, flat latch and all. Love it. Beautiful gun you have there.

 

[Old Hobo]

Others have given you excellent data on cartridges.

I'm going to recommend a barrel length. I have two S&W Hand-Ejector revolvers -- one in 4", another in 3". I much prefer the 3" barrel.

So, if you can come by a 3", I feel you will be best served. And when I say 3" barrel, I mean in whatever .32 cartridge choice you make.

A 3" barrel revolver is still compact, but it gives better performance than a 2" barrel, better sighting ability / pointing ability, and recoil-control during rapid fire.
.

 

[TTv2]

I agree somewhat with @Old Hobo, a 3 inch barrel makes the .32 & .327 magnums better, but they do nothing for .32 S&W as the pressures and velocity are so low you will never get expansion and at that point just use a wadcutter.

As much as I would rather pocket carry a snub, it's probably going to be IWB'd and at that point a 3 inch barrel isn't that much a hassle on the draw and whatever speed loss is outweighed by performance gain.

Sadly, there aren't many 3 inch .32 or 327 Mags out there, only ones I can think of is the SP101 and I hate that revolver. .32 Mag there's the Charter Professional.

 

[LeftyRed]

I have a LCR in 327, and 32SW Longs are all I can find to shoot out of it. They are Magtech WCs and they are pattern instead of group out of my 327. I have some RN and FPRNs I set out long when reloading in the 32 Long case and I get great groups. Going to try some WCs loaded up the same way next week, if I get them loaded.

 

[Tallball]

When in doubt, go old-school...

Harrington and Richardson top-break 32 caliber revolver

• Tallball
• Dec 8, 2018

 

[JERRY]

Just got back from the range with my gf. She and I shot my 431PD using magtech and aguila 98gr. 32 S&W Long and Federal 85gr. H&R mag.
At 5, 7, and 15 yards we found no appreciable difference in accuracy free handed.

 

[TTv2]

When in doubt, go old-school...

Harrington and Richardson top-break 32 caliber revolver

• Tallball
• Dec 8, 2018

They do if you decide the SP101 isn't for you or the quality on a Charter Professional isn't to your liking. Given the options for a 3 inch, the old H&R or IJ top breaks may actually be the better choice for CCW work, you can actually get them in a shrouded hammer DAO configuration, just in a 5 shot .32 S&W short version. IDK if they made the 6 shot with shrouded hammer.

It would have been nice if they made more of the 2 inch bicycle models, definitely would qualify as a pocket gun even in warm weather.

 

[Tallball]

That particular version of the H&R loads and fires 32 S&W long, which is a little easier to find. I did research and to my understanding it's safe to shoot the longs out of it. YMMV. I wanted an inexpensive centerfire top break I could find ammo for.

This Ruger is chambered in 32 H&R magnum. It shoots 32 S&W long with absurd accuracy.

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum

• Tallball
• Dec 13, 2018

 

[GooseGestapo]

I do not go for bottlecap accuracy. More like 9 ring B27 as acceptable accuracy with the LCR. The 32 Long and 32 H&R are equally capable for my accuracy needs. If anything, i am less accurate with the 327 due to the recoil and blast.

A cylinder choke shotgun will hold the 10ring at 7yds. If my Rugers wouldn’t, they wouldn’t be mine….
I guess we’ve got different expectations…

 

[Old Hobo]

That particular version of the H&R loads and fires 32 S&W long, which is a little easier to find. I did research and to my understanding it's safe to shoot the longs out of it. YMMV. I wanted an inexpensive centerfire top break I could find ammo for.

This Ruger is chambered in 32 H&R magnum. It shoots 32 S&W long with absurd accuracy.

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum

• Tallball
• Dec 13, 2018

For a long, long time, the .32 long (w/wadcutter ammo) has been used in target competitions.

My dad's dad ran country roads in the Appalachian mountains for his work and using his .32 revolvers (32-20 his first, then later a .32 S&W Hand-Ejector) put a bunch of small game on the supper table. He'd go with head-shots on rabbits so as to not waste any meat. I've fired Pap's .32 S&W Hand-Ejector and like Tallball sez about his revolver, "with absurd accuracy."

Dang you, Tallball!!!!! Now I want to go out and buy me a single action .327 w/adjustable sights! I'd be able to shoot any of the .32 cartridges in it. Seems I've been a bad boy of late buying toys. Boo-hoooo, I want another .32.
.

 

[Oninotaki]

For a long, long time, the .32 long (w/wadcutter ammo) has been used in target competitions.

My dad's dad ran country roads in the Appalachian mountains for his work and using his .32 revolvers (32-20 his first, then later a .32 S&W Hand-Ejector) put a bunch of small game on the supper table. He'd go with head-shots on rabbits so as to not waste any meat. I've fired Pap's .32 S&W Hand-Ejector and like Tallball sez about his revolver, "with absurd accuracy."

Dang you, Tallball!!!!! Now I want to go out and buy me a single action .327 w/adjustable sights! I'd be able to shoot any of the .32 cartridges in it. Seems I've been a bad boy of late buying toys. Boo-hoooo, I want another .32.
.

Sounds like you need yourself a nice ruger single seven or new model blackhawk. I wholly approve!

 

[TTv2]

I'd like to see if there's any accuracy difference between the .32 Mag Single Six and the .327 Single Six.