.32 ACP in an old S&W revolver?

[Miguelito]

I know I am gonna get blasted for this question, but I bought an older (but very sturdy seeming) S&W .32 revolver, Model 732. It was inexpensive and I bought it for the purposes of using some of the 200 rounds of .32 I bought for a Seecamp (which didn't fit, in part because I am an idiot, and in part because other people are also idiots).

Course I get it home, use the Google and realize the .32 is made for .32 S&W. Which I should have known, but I am still learning.

I know the ACP is a higher powered round but it still isn't terribly powerful and this revolver looks (I know, I'm an idiot) like it could handle it. Looking online, most people say don't do it, but others say they do it, and some say just don't use .32 ACP in a top-break .32 S&W revolver.

I really just wanted to do something with the surplus ammo I had, and didn't want to get into a second .32 ammo type.

Any advice is appreciated.

Mike

 

[FPrice]

A lot of people could probably tell you just what round to use simply by looking at this revolver.

But I would suggest that you bring it to a competent gunsmith to examine it first.

 

[PATRON]

You do know what you have there is an H&R revolver.

 

[cstockwell]

32 s&w short ammo most likely. Pretty sure I have a box or 2 at the shop. Or 32 s&w long. You will have to look a the length of the cylinder. I wouldn't shoot 32 acp out of it even if it chambered.

 

[CRSIII]

Something seems a bit off here.

 

[sieveboy]

I’m pretty cavalier, but no way would I throw a 32ACP into that and pull the trigger

 

[CRSIII]

You do know what you have there is an H&R revolver.

Looks like it’s old enough to have been made on Park avenue in Worcester.

 

[rep308]

It's not 32 ACP for a revolver, there is no rim. There are a few options, but not the rimless 32 ACP. Probably 32 S&W or 32 H&R

32 Revolvers | Reloading 32 Revolver Ammo | Rifle, Handgun, and Pistol Brass

 

[Brin747]

.32ACP and 32S&W are two completely different animals. If I am not mistaken, the 32S&W is rimmed, .32ACP is not and will not fit a revolver.

 

[mousegunguy]

It says .32S&W on the barrel.

 

[Woodstock]

No can do. The .32 S&W cartridges are rimmed, like most revolver rounds, and the .32 ACP is rimless.

 

[CRSIII]

It says .32S&W on the barrel.

And that’s not all

This thing is ancient. If I had to shoot it, or my dick would fall off, black powder half loads.
FMD.

 

[Nodak]

You look to have a H&R 732. .32 S&W or long. Modern manufacture. .32 ACP is semi rimmed and can be used in some .32 S&W revolvers. As to using it in your gun if it chambers and headspaces correctly in each chamber you will have to decide to pull the trigger. You might look up Ken Waters and his load data for both the S&W round and the .32 ACP.

 

[Deleted member 67409]

Besides being too high pressure, .32ACP wouldn't work properly in the cylinder because its semi-rimmed, not rimmed like .32S&W. The .32ACP cartridge would either sit on the semi-rim with the end of cartridge exposed or would be inside the cylinder, meaning you'd have to poke it out with a rod of some sort.

This isn't like .45 Auto Rim and .45ACP, the two cartridges here aren't interchangeable.

 

[CRSIII]

F-it dude. Fab up some moon clips for the .32 acp and shoot it. Have a friend vid it for posterity.

 

[nstassel]

I think this is a discussion that I had with Eddie Coyle once but it involved some misguided yute carrying a .32 revolver with .32acp ammo.

 

[Nodak]

Lucky gunner lounge has a pretty good article on the use of .32 ACP in a revolver. It will chamber, you decide to shoot it

 

[CRSIII]

I think this is a discussion that I had with Eddie Coyle once but it involved some misguided yute carrying a .32 revolver with .32acp ammo.

Bando Red?

 

[sieveboy]

No can do. The .32 S&W cartridges are rimmed, like most revolver rounds, and the .32 ACP is rimless.

32 ACP has a rim. It headspaces on the rim.

 

[whacko]

I know I am gonna get blasted for this question, but I bought anView attachment 503687 older (but very sturdy seeming) S&W .32 revolver, Model 732. It was inexpensive and I bought it for the purposes of using some of the 200 rounds of .32 I bought for a Seecamp (which didn't fit, in part because I am an idiot, and in part because other people are also idiots).

Course I get it home, use the Google and realize the .32 is made for .32 S&W. Which I should have known, but I am still learning.

I know the ACP is a higher powered round but it still isn't terribly powerful and this revolver looks (I know, I'm an idiot) like it could handle it. Looking online, most people say don't do it, but others say they do it, and some say just don't use .32 ACP in a top-break .32 S&W revolver.

I really just wanted to do something with the surplus ammo I had, and didn't want to get into a second .32 ammo type.

Any advice is appreciated.

Mike

You have a h and r revolver there (not a Smith and wesson.........that is chambered in .32 s and w. It even says h and r on the grip.

 

[1776]

Do a video for You Tube when you try it, but not before you get an NES membership in case something happens

 

[Miguelito]

Lucky gunner lounge has a pretty good article on the use of .32 ACP in a revolver. It will chamber, you decide to shoot it

Thank you (especially)! I read article and it was just what I was looking for. Long story short, it will generally fire, I won't kill myself, but there are significant enough issues that you should probably only do it in case of zombie apocalypse.

Mike

 

[Miguelito]

Thanks to everybody for replying. And yes, I understand it is not made by S&W, I was really referring to it by its designated ammo. It's a beautiful little gun and very well made. Even if I now have to buy an additional ammo type I am still okay with buying it. Plus I can give it and .32 ACP to one of my less well regarded minions come the apocalypse.

 

[Miguelito]

Did some more research and mine was made in 1971, fyi.

 

[mac1911]

I know I am gonna get blasted for this question, but I bought anView attachment 503687 older (but very sturdy seeming) S&W .32 revolver, Model 732. It was inexpensive and I bought it for the purposes of using some of the 200 rounds of .32 I bought for a Seecamp (which didn't fit, in part because I am an idiot, and in part because other people are also idiots).

Course I get it home, use the Google and realize the .32 is made for .32 S&W. Which I should have known, but I am still learning.

I know the ACP is a higher powered round but it still isn't terribly powerful and this revolver looks (I know, I'm an idiot) like it could handle it. Looking online, most people say don't do it, but others say they do it, and some say just don't use .32 ACP in a top-break .32 S&W revolver.

I really just wanted to do something with the surplus ammo I had, and didn't want to get into a second .32 ammo type.

Any advice is appreciated.

Mike

32 SW is 12,000 psi
32 acp is 18-20,000 psi

 

[Miguelito]

Looks like it will be a moo point shortly, as hopefully will be swapping my .32 ACP with a member for some .32 S&W!

 

[mousegunguy]

And that’s not all
View attachment 503693
This thing is ancient. If I had to shoot it, or my dick would fall off, black powder half loads.
FMD.

My understanding is the caliber marking on the barrel makes this revolver a post 1905. By then all the H&R guns were proofed for smokeless.

 

[Miguelito]

My understanding is the caliber marking on the barrel makes this revolver a post 1905. By then all the H&R guns were proofed for smokeless.

Serial number on the butt points to 1971. For a bit I thought it was older than serial numbers, but the spin-nocks (?) On the cylinder looked pretty modern.

 

[mac1911]

My understanding is the caliber marking on the barrel makes this revolver a post 1905. By then all the H&R guns were proofed for smokeless.

32sw that is loaded with smokeless is to the same specs as black powder if mot even more anemic.

old top break revolvers especially the cheap poorly made ones can be problems.
Old timer said to me once
If that old flip top fails with smokelss 32SW it was going to fail with black powder. Poorly made guns fail

 

[Nodak]

Serial number on the butt points to 1971. For a bit I thought it was older than serial numbers, but the spin-nocks (?) On the cylinder looked pretty modern.

You have a neat gun. A few friends on another Forum have done some load development work which I can’t pass on for safety sake. The ammo is “warm”. By the way, I’ve fired .32ACP out of that same gun in nickel plate. The next one I come across I’m buying.