30-32 cal pistols

RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
I see several of you are shooting 32 H&R and a 327 Federal (may have misread that as a brass brand now that I'm thinking) . How does the bark and terminal preformance compare to purpose loaded 30 carbine?

I ask as I'm kicking around the idea of another pair of companion guns a 100 yd rifle and a 50 yd pistol in 1 cartridge that in a perfect world would share brass . While I have had these in 357 and 45 Colts I was thinking maybe something that would fit in a AR platform and a DA pistol . I had thought about a 9mm Winchester mag ,basically a 223 case cut at 1.285 and 357 mag balistics. The Grizzly pistol prices fixed that whimsy. I know there are a few RBH around still in 30 carb. To be honest I really hadn't considered the 32s or a 30 carb until about an hr ago.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have a BH in 30 carbine. It is an oddity in that I use a .309 bullet in it. Works well.

I have a hankering for a Single Seven in 327 federal. I don't know that I would load it very hot at all. I see it as a reasonable way to have a nice shooting 32 handgun.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Brad,

One of my local gun shops in Birmingham has one of these NIB.
I've looked at it, but have not counted out the $ for it just yet ? ? ?

 
Steve in Micco

Steve in Micco

Member
While Marlin made number of 1894s in .32 H&R mag....they are few and far between. The last time I saw one was at the Lakeland (FL) show two years back....as I recall, it was quite pricey. Also, from recollection, the gun was a pig! That octogonal barrel with but a tiny hole thru it did not help.

I know gun writer Ed Harris has made up a .32 on a tiny pre-war .410 H&R frame. I believe it weighs in at 4 lbs. His mag wears an 18" barrel. I know the firing pin hole would need to be bushed. I am thinking that this may be the only route to have the long gun side of your equation.

I too like the idea, and am considering have a barrel made up. for my granddaughter's Topper jr.

That new 4" SP101 looks like a great idea.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
I was sort of thinking more like an M1 carbine for the rifle ,but a mini Mauser or that little CZ might work for either cartridge. ....
Too many ideas not enough time and money at the same time.
 
williamwaco

williamwaco

Active Member
RBHarter said:
I see several of you are shooting 32 H&R and a 327 Federal (may have misread that as a brass brand now that I'm thinking) . How does the bark and terminal preformance compare to purpose loaded 30 carbine?

I ask as I'm kicking around the idea of another pair of companion guns a 100 yd rifle and a 50 yd pistol in 1 cartridge that in a perfect world would share brass . While I have had these in 357 and 45 Colts I was thinking maybe something that would fit in a AR platform and a DA pistol . I had thought about a 9mm Winchester mag ,basically a 223 case cut at 1.285 and 357 mag balistics. The Grizzly pistol prices fixed that whimsy. I know there are a few RBH around still in 30 carb. To be honest I really hadn't considered the 32s or a 30 carb until about an hr ago.
Click to expand...


Don't know about the .32 H&R but I have owned several .30 Carbines in handgun and long gun ( Well kinda short long guns. )

The .327 is a virtual clone of the .30 carbine. Check the case dimensions.
Performance is indistinguishable. The "Bark" is going to depend on what powder you use in the handgun.
Slower the powder the worse the "Bark".
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
you could do a 32-20 combo and just overlap the 30 carbines performance.
I use my 30 carbine revolver as a 32-20 anyway and cut down the [32-20] brass as it is,,, soo the stretch ain't all that far.
 
9

9.3X62AL

Guest
Marie and I have raised six daughters between us. Steve nailed it. :)

I am a rather passionate shooter of the 30-32 caliber sideirons. 'Way gone on the subject, so my objectivity is suspect. Here goes anyway.......

In terms of Easiest To Accomplish, the rifle/revolver combo in 32/20 might be the way to go. Rifles and pistols so chambered don't grow on trees, but they are out there. I have a Marlin 94 CCL made c. 2004 and 3 D/A revolvers (all from the 1920s-30s) that I enjoy immensely. Uberti and Cimarron occasionally kick out Win 73 or 92 repros and SAA clones so chambered. The Win 92s and Marlin 94s can digest high-velocity loadings; 73s and most handguns need to stick with 1880s velocities/pressures, which are 115 grain-class bullets at 900-950 FPS from sideiron and 1250-1300 FPS in the 73s. I have craved a repro 73 in 32/20 since about forever, even though the current 94 is far more flexible tool.

ALL--and I repeat ALL--30/32 caliber handguns become OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD once bullets surpass about 1000 FPS. Full-bore loadings of the 30 Carbine Blackhawk with WW-296 can trigger earthquakes in fault zones and illuminate adjacent hillsides at dusk. Plugs-and-muffs for these critters. I've owned 3 of them, and all three were more accurate at any range than were the two M-1 Carbines I owned (and got rid of). The current BH was about a dead heat accuracy-wise with a Marlin Model 62 I once had. That remains the only M-1 Carbine long gun I ever owned that was worth the safe space it took up.

Marlin would be out of their mind to not intro a 94 variant in 327 Federal. THAT IS MODEL 94--NOT 39A. I appreciate Ben's great photo of the SP-101, because it shows that excreble RayBar gizmo front sight to be not quite as off-putting as less-detailed photos have rendered it to my eyes. It's still "Fingernails on a chalkboard" to me, but I'm not consulted by Ruger.
 
Steve in Micco

Steve in Micco

Member
It took me a half century to "discover" the .30/.32s. I have since purchased 4 of the magnums (2 Smiths/2 Rugers), a Browning HP in .30 Luger and a .30/7.62 Tokarev, plus a Colt DS and a Colt OM 6' in .32NP. Just downright fun to play with. And think about it....isn't that why we are here?

Al: amen on those plugs/muffs! When I had my old .32wcf Smith 1905 and the Colt PPS it was dad-burned painful with the wrong loads! Have sold them and keep the M92SRC & the M94CL. The .32wcf needs a rifle barrel for Nirvana.

I know that C. E."Ed" Harris is to blame in my case. He penned numerous tomes on Bunny Guns that have caused me to lose sight of my checkbook. ¡Cuidado!
 
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D

Dale53

Active Member
Ever since I was a kid I have used handguns for edible small game (and some NOT so edible). I consider it one of the most sporting activities a guy or gal can have. It is MORE than satisfying to take a brace of rabbits or grouse home with one hole in them. The family always appreciated that, also.

I have used handguns in a variety of calibers: .32's, .38's, .44's and .45's. However, the .32's and .38's are supreme in this category. I slightly prefer the .32's but confess that the .38's are neck and neck with the .32's for the purpose.

Now that we are back home from our Christmas trip to Utah, I hope to cast some more of those NOE 98gr. SWC copies of the RCBS bullet. That new five cavity mold sure spits them out. I am still waiting on my Mihec 98 gr full wadcutter but hope to get a request for money any day now. Then, it should get here in one to two weeks. By that time I'll have four different bullets loaded and ready to test:

Lee's 90 gr TL SWC, Hornady 90 swaged SWC, the previously mentioned NOE clone of the RCBS 98 gr. SWC, and some swaged 90 gr. full wadcutters I had on hand. I'm looking for excellent results from them all. Any of them SHOULD make my 1" at 25 yard standard but that is just speculation until it proves out in actual tests.

I look to have an interesting winter at the indoor range as well as in the spring when the weather breaks.

Here's to .32's for range and small game!

Dale53
 
oldatheart

oldatheart

Active Member
image.jpg

Here is my 30 paxton I rechamberd a 30 carbine BH. I love it however I shoot 110 sierras mostly. I also love my 327 but I thought I would share.
The paxton is a 357 necked to 30 cal.
 
Jeff Michel

Jeff Michel

Member
Serious thread drift......... How does your Paxton differ from the .30 Reece? .30 Reece is 30/357 and shortened a little, can't remember how much off the top of my head, but it isn't much.
Thanks
 
oldatheart

oldatheart

Active Member
The Paxton is longer it the short answer. It can be made from straight 357 but with 357 max it has a longer neck. Since I use jacked bullets the extra neck length is not as important to me. This is basically a 300 blk rimed. But it's a much older wildcat than the wisper.
 
9

9.3X62AL

Guest
Those Paxton and Reece rounds sound like (bad reference, that.....) a whole lot of fun. The current OEM BH x 30 Carbine provides enough Donner und Blitzen to entertain me presently, and I have yet to get a 327 Federal example. Having the BH/30 sort of fills that role, and my preferences lean more toward a nice 32 S&W Long than to another Maggie. Would love a Single-Six or small-frame D/A so chambered with 4"-5" barrel. Might have a Single-Six built by one of the rollergun doctors. I have over 1K of 32 SWL on hand, and only one roller specifically chambered for it. I am loath to shoot short cases in long chambers.......those carbon & crud rings are a PITA to remove. The obvious answer is to build another gun. :)
 
D

Dale53

Active Member
Al,
If you find a good platform for the .32 H&R, I wouldn't turn it down. I got my H&R's before Starline started making brass. The Federal brass was junk. In self defense, I tried some .32S&W Long brass. It worked so well I bought 2000 rounds of the Longs.
I was fortunate. A shooting buddy of mine was a commercial loader and he literally had barrels of the stuff once fired. He let me take home a barrel, sort out 2000 Rounds of all the same brand and return the left overs. All for a very favorable price, too. So, for years, i just fired the Longs with my own cast bullets. I mostly used a 100 gr. SWC over 2.8 grs of 231. It did all I needed done. It was great for range use as well as for edible small game.

Moral of the story, no problem using the short cases. Naturally, before using the mag cases you would need to run a chamber brush through the cylinder (couple of minutes, at worst).

FWIW,
Dale53
 
Steve in Micco

Steve in Micco

Member
Dale, I am with you on using the "shorts" and long S&Ws!

I have taken a little over 50 of my S&W short stash, opened the the flash hole up and loaded them powderless with 00 Buck "squooze" into the case from the seating die. I use these in the backyard of my city house for urban plinking. The Long is a staple with 2.0 grains of BE and the 115 grain soft cast FN in my Ruger Bisley for my 29 acres of Florida Flatwoods.

The Stainless Ruger Single Seven .327 just doesn't appeal to me...... can't say why. Seven rounds just seems wrong. Iff'n it were a six rounder, I'd already own one.
 
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