I'm about to play with some .32 S&W Long handloads, myself. I picked up a Model 30, 3" barrel, with significant finish wear (but pristine bore, and action as tight as new; apparently carried much, shot seldom; go figure!!
). I'm actually considering it for use by my wife. Its small frame/short trigger reach would benefit her, but she just can't acclimate herself to the recoil of my .38 snubs.
I've been poring over my manuals, and picked up some 95 gr. cast LSWcs and some lighter (85 gr.???; I'll have to look again) JHPs, that I think were intended for the .32 H&R magnum cartridge. I think (although I've not yet worked up any loads) I can accommodate a 95 gr. LSWC at approx. 850 fps; maybe 900 if I'm lucky (I've handloaded other handgun & rifle rounds for about 30 years, & haven't "blown" anything, yet; I'll start low & go slow!). Not as "monster-ish" as a hot .38 Special, but . . . I'm thinking the LSWCs could by a good bet.
Here's my take: I've never had to use a firearm on a human being (thankfully!! Close calls don't count!), but I have hunted large & small game for most of my life. I've seen deer, taken completely unawares, hit solidly through the heart/lung area with premium high-powered rifle bullets, run for hundreds of yards before dropping. I'm not really confident any handgun round will drop a drug- or adrenaline-soaked human assailant like Thor's hammer. I favor the theory of directing a deep-penetrating projectile toward the central nervous system (e.g., head or centerline of body) & (rapidly)repeating until desired effect is achieved! I would be about as confident with a .31 bullet at a decent velocity as in a .36 projectile at similar velocity. I'd give serious thought to a .22WMR 8-shot snubbie, if I were to find one at a good price.
Heck, if my handloads penetrate some old pine boards on a par with my .38, I may carry the old M30, myself, on occasion!