Why are .32 Cal handgun cartidges so pricey?

[TTv2]

Any commercial wadcutter ammo loaded that way for self defense?

No, but that's more because most wadcutter ammo is geared toward target shooting. Only Buffalo Bore makes a full wadcutter specifically for self defense and it's flush with the case mouth.

That said, there are molds out there that are a wadcutter profile, but the part that sticks out of the case has a reduced diameter so it doesn't tough the lands, but it's not tapered like a semi wadcutter. Only place I know that has these is Matt's Bullets and they're strictly for reloaders only.

 

[whm1974]

No, but that's more because most wadcutter ammo is geared toward target shooting. Only Buffalo Bore makes a full wadcutter specifically for self defense and it's flush with the case mouth.

That said, there are molds out there that are a wadcutter profile, but the part that sticks out of the case has a reduced diameter so it doesn't tough the lands, but it's not tapered like a semi wadcutter. Only place I know that has these is Matt's Bullets and they're strictly for reloaders only.

Well the British used to load a double ended hollow based wadcutter into a .455 webley case with part of it sticking out. Called the Manstopper I believe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.455_Webley
@218 grain Mark III Mastopper. The .455 was first loaded with 265 grain bullets, so the Mark III velocity should have been higher by good bit.

 

[TTv2]

Well the British used to load a double ended hollow based wadcutter into a .455 webley case with part of it sticking out. Called the Manstopper I believe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.455_Webley
@218 grain Mark III Mastopper. The .455 was first loaded with 265 grain bullets, so the Mark III velocity should have been higher by good bit.

You asked for commercial ammo and currently, to my knowledge, nobody makes any .455 with a wadcutter profile and if they do they certainly don't specify it to be used for self defense.

 

[whm1974]

You asked for commercial ammo and currently, to my knowledge, nobody makes any .455 with a wadcutter profile and if they do they certainly don't specify it to be used for self defense.

I was only giving an example. The only company that I am aware of that still loads .455 Webley is Fiocchi here https://fiocchiusa.com/455-webley.html.

 

[ArkieVol]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see so many 32 fans here. I posted earlier on the "Let's see your carry revolvers" thread about my Ruger LCR 327 mag that I carry with loaded w/32 H&R mags. I reload and have been buying most of my bullets from Missouri Bullet Co. and a few Meisters. As others have mentioned, the 327 mag is pretty painful in an airweight/alloy snub. However, I can shoot 327's all day in a Ruger SP101 and enjoy it. Some of my range friends were shocked when I let them try a 327mag for the first time. They couldn't believe all that flash, bang and power came from such a tiny cartridge. I settled on the LCR/32 H&R combo because the SP 101 was a bit heavy and my S&W 32 H&R only carried 5 rounds. I have several 32's and enjoy them all.
]

 

[Tallball]

This one looks terrible. I won it for a $120-something bid on GB. The trigger is kind of stiff, but it locks up tight and shoots just fine. It was made in 1915-16, IIRC.

Smith and Wesson Hand Ejector in 32 S&W long

• Tallball
• Jan 1, 2018

 

[AZAndy]

I was hoping y'all would start posting photos of .32s, as I really enjoy seeing them. Here are mine:



From top to bottom, that's a 1903 Hand Ejector from 1916, a Regulation Police from 1923, and a Regulation Police from 1957 just before they assigned it a model number. I shot all three of them just a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Any commercial wadcutter ammo loaded that way for self defense?

Not that I know of.