King of the 32s?

[Chev. William]

If I remember my reading correctly, the .30 Carbine cartridge was derived from the old Winchester .30WCF cartridge, not the 30-30 one.

Chev. William

[nhithaca]

The 30 M1 Carbine cartridge was developed in 1941 directly from the 32 Winchester Auto cartridge that existed prior to WW1. There is an article on the M1 in the latest Rifle magazine showing picture of both cartridges side by side.

[megasupermagnum]

If I remember my reading correctly, the .30 Carbine cartridge was derived from the old Winchester .30WCF cartridge, not the 30-30 one.

Chev. William

I can assure you the 30 carbine was not based off of a rimmed cartridge. Is there any difference between 30 WCF and 30-30 winchester? I was under the impression they are one and the same.

[Chev. William]

The 30 M1 Carbine cartridge was developed in 1941 directly from the 32 Winchester Auto cartridge that existed prior to WW1. There is an article on the M1 in the latest Rifle magazine showing picture of both cartridges side by side.

Memory corrected.
Chev. William

[35 Whelen]

I recently got the .32 itch as well, and initially scratched it with a couple of 32-20's. One thing I can say about cartridges such as this is when loaded to maximum they are LOUD, and now I see absolutely no need in a .31" bullet running 1200-1500 fps.

To that end, I've backed off to the 32 S&W Long. Just today I got in a fine little 3.25" pre-Model 30 in .32 S&W Long. I threw together a quick load of 2.6 grs. of HP-38 under a 100 gr. cast SWC. Accuracy is great-



At about 18 oz. it's and handy and can be carried in the pocket of my shorts.

The last load I tried was 3.2 grs. of Unique and a 118 gr. FP from a Lyman 3118 mold for a velocity of 835 fps. Accuracy was fine with this load as well and it will easily handle anything from coyotes down.

35W

[EMC45]

I recently got the .32 itch as well, and initially scratched it with a couple of 32-20's. One thing I can say about cartridges such as this is when loaded to maximum they are LOUD, and now I see absolutely no need in a .31" bullet running 1200-1500 fps.

To that end, I've backed off to the 32 S&W Long. Just today I got in a fine little 3.25" pre-Model 30 in .32 S&W Long. I threw together a quick load of 2.6 grs. of HP-38 under a 100 gr. cast SWC. Accuracy is great-



At about 18 oz. it's and handy and can be carried in the pocket of my shorts.

The last load I tried was 3.2 grs. of Unique and a 118 gr. FP from a Lyman 3118 mold for a velocity of 835 fps. Accuracy was fine with this load as well and it will easily handle anything from coyotes down.

35W

I've got the twin to that gun. Mine prefers the heavier bullets.

[rintinglen]

I have a 1950's era S&W HE that strongly resembles the one 35 Whelen has.

[Green Frog]

I still kinda miss the Model 30 I sold off to pay for my Baby Chief, but since I had a post-War Transitional I-frame 32 HE snub, I thought I would be OK... as a wise young woman once told me, "you can't have them all, if you did where would you put them?"

Froggie

[Bill*B]

Really, the "King" is whatever grabs you - its an emotional thing, far from reasoned analysis. The "King" just speaks to you. For me, it was the .30 Luger.

[Crash_Corrigan]

I believe the Joker (Batman movie nemisis) used one of those 32's with a longer barrel than the Guesser's and he managed to hit Batman's car/plane.

[EMC45]

This is my Model 30 I Frame

[HumptyDumpty]

I voted 327, with a caveat. I actually use 32 long and H&R brass far more than 327 Federal. In my opinion, the 3" barrel of my Sp101 is not well matched to the powder capacity of 327. The resultant muzzle blast/flash (not really the muzzle-rise/recoil) from full-power 327 is very unpleasant, and indicates a great deal of wasted potential. My defense loads lay somewhere between factory 32 H&R and 327. I consider them full-power 32 H&R. They shoot the same from either H&R or 327 brass. I've also got some very useful loads for 32 S&WL. So, 327 overall for the versatility of the gun. In shorter barrels, 32 H&R power levels for shootability, and 327 in longer barrels for power.

[Markwell]

.32 H&R is our favoritein either a 631 S&W or the custom Single Six shown here with the RW Grip Frame.

https://i.ibb.co/3hP3dC2/download-jpeg.jpg

[Green Frog]

The more I delve into this topic, the more I find that each 32 has its strengths. I “need” a handful to do everything a 32 can do, so have come to the following conclusions.

For pure concealability my tiny old I frame 32 S&W L snub wins. That case also seems to have an edge for dedicated Target work in the K-32 and Euro Target autos. The 32 H&R was designed to provide some serious power to a 32 revolver platform. It probably stopped short in the power department, but can be accurate and has sufficient power for small game and varmints, but then again, hand loaded 32 S&W Longs can pretty much fill the same niche.

The 327 Fed Mag was designed to be used for personal defense. At maximum loadings it can be a ground stompin’, fire breathin’ monster, doing everything a 32 handgun can possibly do. If your 327 FM revolver is of a handy size and is manageable for you, it becomes the king, because it can shoot the long and H&R rounds just as well. If I limited myself to a single 32 revolver, this would be it.

Froggie

[tejano]

A month or two ago I bought a S&W 331 at my LGS. It was my second. I have no idea why I traded the first one many years back. Here it is all dirty after a recent range outing.

[HumptyDumpty]

A month or two ago I bought a S&W 331 at my LGS. It was my second. I have no idea why I traded the first one many years back. Here it is all dirty after a recent range outing.

Now that looks nice.

[Good Cheer]

Liked the Italian 6" barreled .32ACP.
A camp meat son of a gun.

[tejano]

Liked the Italian 6" barreled .32ACP.
A camp meat son of a gun.

Here is mine.

[Green Frog]

Apparently the “King of the 32s” is the one you have at hand (with sufficient ammo around). At least that’s how it works at my house!

Froggie

[JoeJames]

I have a pre-model 30 HE 4" which I loaded per Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers - 98 grain lead bullet with 2.1 grains of Bullseye @750 fps. I used that load because I assumed that is what it was regulated for by S&W and I was correct. It shot to point of aim at 15 yards.