.32 S&W Long - Thoughts?

[Pistol Packin Preacher]

I have been looking at the .32 S&W Long caliber.

I notice it is not really popular.

Just wanted a nice little niche gun for the collection.

What are your thoughts, experiences, and feelings about this caliber.

It looks like it may have been somewhat popular maybe in the 1930s or so.

I have seen mainly revolvers in this caliber.

Are there any semi-autos in that caliber?

Thanks again.

God bless!!

PPP

[cruzans]

I like the 32 long - although not popular any more and ammo can be pricey but it is available. The 32 long is revolver cartridge, 32 acp for auto's - I have a few of both. You could also go with a 32 H&R magnum gun and shoot both the magnum and long rounds. You see a lot of Colt Police Positives on Gunbroker, etc. in the 32 long cartridge, might be a good one to look at too. Good luck!

[Dave_n]

The 32 Long is one of the most under-appreciated calibres out there. In the full wad cutter form, it is still the cartridge to beat for centre-fire competition at international levels. Just look at the cost of a Pardini today. Easy to reload, can even use in a Nagant revolver. I have S&W I frame revolvers in this calibre that are accurate in spite of being >100 years old. Dave_n

[saleen322]

I have been looking at the .32 S&W Long caliber.

I notice it is not really popular.

Just wanted a nice little niche gun for the collection.

What are your thoughts, experiences, and feelings about this caliber.

It looks like it may have been somewhat popular maybe in the 1930s or so.

I have seen mainly revolvers in this caliber.

Are there any semi-autos in that caliber?

Thanks again.

God bless!!

PPP

Strangely enough, many of the best European center fire competition target pistols are chambered in .32 S&W long wadcutter. I currently have two Benellis and a FAS. Additionally, the .327 magnum revolver will shoot .32 S&W both shorts and longs as well as the .32 H&R magnum much like a .357 magnum will shoot .38 specials. Hope this helps.

[saleen322]

Here are two Benellis:

[Armor Snail]

I would go all the way to a .327 Federal Mag.
Can down chamber .32 S&W & .32H&R mag.

Actually a really cool cartridge for carry use in a sub 6" bbl.
Ammo is "normally" available online.
Better ballistics than a .38+P. Can exceed .357 magnum but less flash, noise, and recoil than .357 out of a short(2-6) bbl. .357 excels in a long bbl. A lot of waste in anything shorter than 6". Also holds 6 instead of 5 in smaller frames.

A few months back CDNN was selling a few models of 6 round .327 Taurus on closeout starting at $279.

Ruger, S&W, Charter and Taurus all make a model.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.327_Federal_Magnum

[cruzans]

I would go all the way to a .327 Federal Mag.
Can down chamber .32 S&W & .32H&R mag.

Actually a really cool cartridge for carry use in a sub 6" bbl.
Ammo is "normally" available online.
Better ballistics than a .38+P. Closer to .357 magnum but less flash, noise, and recoil than .357 out of a short(2-6) bbl. .357 excels in a long bbl. A lot of waste in anything shorter than 6". Also holds 6 instead of 5 in smaller frames.

A few months back CDNN was selling a few models of 6 round .327 Taurus on closeout starting at $279.

Ruger, S&W, Charter and Taurus all make a model.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.327_Federal_Magnum

Good call, forgot about the 327 mangum taking the 32 H&R Mag and 32 long rounds. I picked up one of those Taurus's last year Threw some wood grips on mine. If you can still get them, it's a heck of a buy

[saleen322]

I would go all the way to a .327 Federal Mag.
Can down chamber .32 S&W & .32H&R mag.

Actually a really cool cartridge for carry use in a sub 6" bbl.
Ammo is "normally" available online.
Better ballistics than a .38+P. Can exceed .357 magnum but less flash, noise, and recoil than .357 out of a short(2-6) bbl. .357 excels in a long bbl. A lot of waste in anything shorter than 6". Also holds 6 instead of 5 in smaller frames.

A few months back CDNN was selling a few models of 6 round .327 Taurus on closeout starting at $279.

Ruger, S&W, Charter and Taurus all make a model.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.327_Federal_Magnum

The .327 is a good caliber. Here is a range review I did on one:
http://forum.pafoa.org/pistols-41/20...ge-review.html

[pksea]

I recently bought a Colt Detective Special chambered in .32 N.P. I bought it not knowing if ammo was available or not but found out it is the same as .32 S&W long.

A couple days later I was in a local sporting goods store and even though they were out of most of the common ammo, there were two or three boxes of .32 S&W long. I think it was something like $32 for a box of 50 but I picked up a box.

I'll not be shooting this piece too much, so I won't bother getting dies for reloading, but I do like to have ammo on hand for everything I own.

[knight0334]

I have been looking at the .32 S&W Long caliber.

I notice it is not really popular.

Just wanted a nice little niche gun for the collection.

What are your thoughts, experiences, and feelings about this caliber.

It looks like it may have been somewhat popular maybe in the 1930s or so.

I have seen mainly revolvers in this caliber.

Are there any semi-autos in that caliber?

Thanks again.

God bless!!

PPP

All .32 caliber handguns are under-appreciated.

I have an NEF 73R chambered in .32H&R Mag that just loves .32S&W Long.

The reason why you mainly see revolvers in that caliber is because it is a rimmed cartridge, which aren't friendly to loading in a semi-automatic. However there are a few target semi-auto's out there.