Charter Arms Undercover 32 and Smith and Wesson 30-1 32 S&W long range time

Just a couple classic revolvers in a forgotten caliber out for some air at the range today.
Charter Arms Undercover 32 in 32 S&W Long
Smith and Wesson 30-1 in 32 S&W Long
Shooting S&B 100 grain flat nose, S&B 100 grain wad cutters, and PPU 95 grain round nose

[@davidabney7700]

Sir, I enjoyed your video of these two great snubnose revolvers. I thought I would share my .32 Charter Arms Undercoverette story. In the early 1970's, I was a very young rookie cop. I was in need of a back-up and since money was tight for a rookie cop, I shopped the used handguns counter in several local pawnshops. I was hoping to get the Undercover chambered in .38 Special. Most of my brother officers carried the Undercover as a back-up/off duty piece since the Charter Arms handguns had a more reasonable price tag, and had already gained a reputation as a reliable and durable gun, perfect for back-up duty chores. All of us would have preferred a S&W or Colt snubnose, but the higher price tag was a deterrent. So the Undercover became very popular with us under these financial conditions of 1973 local law enforcement. Besides, the range qualification for off duty and back-up carry found these Undercovers rugged, reliablele, and trustworthy. A "must" for this type of work. I finally found my off duty carry in a local pawnshop. It was not the five-shot .38 Undercover, it was the 6-shot Charter Arms Undercoverette in .32 S&W Long chambering. Sir, that little .32 snubby would ride in my ankle holster all through my 40+years as a cop. When I retired, my Undercoverette had taken a beating over the passing years. My last qualification for off duty/back-up carry found it operating and performing as a new arm would. After retirement, for sentimental reasons, I sent this Undercoverette back to Charter Arms for refurbishment, with a short note of thanks for over 4-decades of reliable service. My little partner had been exposed to the worst sort of weather conditions the State of Georgia can provide. It was safely tucked down into my ankle holster when struggling with outlaws that were resisting arrest. A silent partner to some of the worst and best times I had as a cop. So your video brought back some great Charter Arms memories for me. I was always confident that 6-shots of .32 Long would and could save my life. Thanks be unto the Good Lord, that I never had to go to it in a desperate moment. Many thanks and sorry for the length.

[@crankygunreviews]

That is an awesome story! I love hearing other people’s experiences with these. I’m a huge fan of older charter arms and Smith, and you’re right- Charter arms are more affordable, and I feel are plenty tough for years of use. The 32 S&W Long may be a small round, but six of those would deter most people. I hate when guys say it’s anemic and they’d never carry it… for some, it may be the largest round they can handle, and if you can shoot it accurately it’s way better than leaving a bigger caliber gun at home. I doubt anyone wants to get shot with 6 rounds of 32

[@professorpewpuew]

If you can afford the ammo, the .32 might be the best round for small revolvers. Glad to see an old Charter making the rounds. They made them better back then.

[@crankygunreviews]

I agree on both counts- the S&W long isn’t that bad of a round, and the older Charter Arms are better.

[@mkshffr4936]

Gotta love a 32.

[@crankygunreviews]

They’re so soft shooting!

[@kenhughes4715]

Oh my God! I love these revolvers. If ammo was easier to get in 32 I would switch to a 32 revolver. I think both of these would be perfect for CC. Thank you for showing these great revolvers, I’m jealous!

[@crankygunreviews]

Can find 32 S&W long online, but it’s like $25 a box and up

[@PassivePortfolios]

That's the problem - the cost of the ammo. The .22 mag has the same stopping power but it is a lot cheaper and more readily available.

[@frankbrowning328]

@@PassivePortfolios 22 mag in equal barrel lengths has far less penetration and makes a smaller wound but it us easier to find and much cheaper

[@PassivePortfolios]

@@frankbrowning328 there are several test videos which confirm what I said. This is why the .22 mag revolvers sell well and the 32 do not.

[@crankygunreviews]

@passiveportfolios But not as cool 😆

[@nightfury6836]

So cool 😎🔥

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks :)

[@frankbrowning328]

These are really nice little 32's, especially the S&W 30-1. The recoil of 32 S&W Long even in a very light subby isn't much more than a 22Magnum yet it offers considerably more penetration and a larger wound channel when both are fired from a 2-4'' revolver. Magtech makes a 98gr hollow point load that probably won't open up but it is one of the heaviest loads availble beside the Buffalo Bore load. I find the Magtech load to be very accurate out of my Ruger SP101 4.25'' 327 Mag. Gunsam has a ton of videos on 32 S&W Long performance in gel, gel + clothing, water and wood.

[@crankygunreviews]

I agree the 32 long isn’t much more recoil than 22 WMR and offers a lot more power.

[@JG-xt9io]

32 is a sweet shooting round , easy recoil . Both of your guns are in very nice shape . A local store was selling a nef revolver in 32 magnum. I don't know much about the gun , but I did picked up some extra 32 and 32 magnum

[@crankygunreviews]

NEF are Harrington and Richardson. They’re budget utilitarian guns, no frills but functional usually

[@glennsammon4465]

I have always had a soft spot for a 32. though I only have one revolver chambered for it. an old S&W M432 in 32 HR Mag. a good really underrated round. do wish I had more.

[@crankygunreviews]

Targetsportsusa has 32 S&W for sale but it’s not cheap

[@glennsammon4465]

@@crankygunreviews and that's the thing, everytime I see one you would think they are selling a Korth.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@glennsammon4465 they’re not common, and they’re a tiny six shot, so…

[@glennsammon4465]

@@crankygunreviews I was just thinking of special ordering from S&W a Chiefs Special in 32 HR Mag. if they still make the new ones.

[@MultiSweener]

Yesterday I saw a Charter Arms 44 Bulldog for pawn sale near me. The same model S of S used.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have a new manufacture bulldog. It’s pretty good!

[@glennsammon4465]

nice guns. the " Bulldog" grips they used to put on the undercover might work better for you. Altamont also has some grips you might like. and tightening your pinky on the grip bottom with lessen the gun turning upright in your hand. when I go to the range I bring a coffee can with me to eject all my empties in so I can reload them.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have a couple pairs of the Bulldog grips as well, if you’re shooting single action, the bigger ones are even better

[@B_R_]

I like that s&w. I owned an h&r 732 6- shot snubby very similar to these although it was all steel. It was in great condition, but I didn't like shooting it. Similar to what I noticed in your video, there is a large amount of smoke and fire, soot and hot debris that blow out of the 32 s&w long cartridges. It seems excessive and disproportionate for the limited ballistic performance of the round. I decided to stick with 38 special and 380 for my pocket guns. Thanks for the demo.

[@crankygunreviews]

A lot of the stuff blowing out is due to lead bullets and weird powder. The S&B smelled really bad.

[@glennsammon4465]

Gun Sam revolver aficionado teasted some nice 32 S&W long defense loads a while back. I think they were magtec and S&B . they were lead hollowpoints and they worked just fine in the jelly test.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah they’re not horrible rounds, even a flat point lead or a wadcutters would be decent with enough velocity

[@glennsammon4465]

@@crankygunreviews actually , he put them through the FBI test and they worked great. they had hollow points and both rounds opened up just fine after the textbook penetration ( I think like 16 inches). I have no problems with 32s. love to get like a all steel chiefs special like revolver in 32HR Magnum.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@glennsammon4465 yeah the 32 H&R magnum is even better from what I’ve read

[@maxhoyle2134]

Hey partner try Pachmayer Compact, grips with a pinky rest at bottom front of grip, they are superb.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have those on my Colt, they’re ok but I prefer wood when I can.

[@guaporeturns9472]

I really want a model 30

[@crankygunreviews]

They’re so nice! I’d get a 31 as well, same gun but square butt

[@CarolinaRimfire]

Thanks for the video! I like your charter arms content a lot. Their undercoverette model in 32 magnum is one of my daily carry options, especially for summer months. That's a beautiful retro example you have. Probably from their Stratford days, correct? Thanks again!

[@crankygunreviews]

Yes, the CA is from Stratford CT- that’s why I wanted it

[@la_old_salt2241]

As a heads up, all Charter Arms revolvers have the same aluminum grip frame, so if you find a set of grips you like for any CA, it'll fit all of them. By the way, I'm guilty of talking Nick Eker at CA into introducing the CA Professional in 32 H&R mag. That one has a three inch barrel and a seven shot cylinder.

[@crankygunreviews]

I’m well aware of the grip frames- I’ve swapped a few. Cool deal on the 32 H&R

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@crankygunreviews Fun times, we had a nice visit. I was very impressed that a president and CEO of a firearms manufacturing company would actually call a customer who had submitted an idea like that. Good stuff.

[@crankygunreviews]

They’re receptive on their Facebook page as well

[@telesniper2]

Convert the model 30-1 to .327 federal mag. Either by reaming down the cylinder or swapping in a 632 Carry Comp cylinder

[@crankygunreviews]

I’m not modifying the cylinder, I can still find 32 S&W long and I can’t find 327 federal anywhere right now.

[@telesniper2]

@@crankygunreviews But you could still .32 S&W long in it after modifying it

[@crankygunreviews]

@@telesniper2 yeah I know, but I am ok with it as it is. If I wanted 327 federal, I'd buy a Ruger LCR

[@steelydannyb.9028]

Both very nice guns right there when I used S&B 380 seems more dirty I do like PPU ammo some of that 22 lr Aguila smells kinda weird but they work.

[@crankygunreviews]

S&B definitely seems dirty and weird smelling

[@naughtystep285]

Aguila works great, but it smells like heated cat whizz to me. Maybe it’s a secret ingredient.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@naughtystep285 🤣🤣 the Aguila doesn’t smell that bad too me

[@naughtystep285]

@@crankygunreviews After awhile you get used to it!

[@crankygunreviews]

@@naughtystep285 very true

[@PassivePortfolios]

You should have used a new target for each revolver and a new target for each brand of ammo to compare accuracy.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah I know but I didn’t have a million targets or unlimited time. Sorry.

[@PassivePortfolios]

@@crankygunreviews we would not want a few extra targets to break your budget and for you to miss out on food and utility bills.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@PassivePortfolios 🤣🤣not the case just don’t always plan ahead that far lol

[@troutslayer5518]

☕️👍🏻

[@crankygunreviews]

Two sweethearts

[@sdkddffffff4359]

The cops call a .32 a ‘woman’s gun’ ‘cause it’s easier to handle and don’t do the damage a .38 does, but - you know - it does enough.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@sdkddffffff4359 I’m sure many people felt like a woman when they got one to the gut…

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

a wrongfully forgotten self defense option

[@crankygunreviews]

It’s really not that bad.

[@naughtystep285]

Sweet guns. Thanks for sharing & Happy Easter!

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks for watching! And Happy Easter to you too!