LOW RECOIL Personal PROTECTION: Wadcutters .32 S&W Long VS .38 Special

Using wadcutters for self defense? We have established in the past that they are adequate for self defense, but in a practical sense, how do they compare when fired at combat distances from snub nose revolvers- 7 and 25 yards? What about felt recoil? Watch and find out what my take on it is. Always appreciative of any channel help :)
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[@willknowdoggs4764]

For years I focused on .38 snubbys,. Recently I bought a LCR and discovered the .32 S&W long and .32 H&R Mag. The lower recoil is more comfortable to shoot, but the real benefit is the improved accuracy that results. Thanks for the info on these cartridges.

[@GunSam]

Thanks for watching.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Sure hope the .32 cartridges pick up steam in the coming years.

[@RandyWittmann]

You also get an additional round. Nothing wrong with that

[@martinredcoat8233]

Excellent review Sam, I shoot both 32 and 38 wadcutters exclusively now, feel totally confident in their ability for self defense. My 32 SP 101 is extremely accurate, due to the imperceptible recoil. Thanks for all of the great work you do.

[@GunSam]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@ekg1862]

Thank you for doing so much with the LCR 327. I picked one up a short time ago and you are answering all my questions without me asking:)

[@GunSam]

Thanks for watching. I plan more videos with it for sure. Trying some Remington 88 gr .32 S&W in it soon just to see how it does.

[@everydayj9330]

Being that we will see: ammo.& reloading supplies shortages for the next few years... the use of wad cutters for defense may become more common. In the "old days" we used to cross notch them to cause fragmentation... man I feel old now 🙃

[@gregmodelle7343]

What if you loaded the HBWC backwards?

[@jimmyruger7529]

U R and gettin older EveryDay , lol , like me

[@paulross9287]

@@jimmyruger7529 Only if you're lucky.

[@carminegraves]

thanks for doing this. the 32 long is an under appreciated round. keep it up.

[@GunSam]

It's a nice little round for sure.

[@mikeseier4449]

Watch all your videos, always enjoy the revolver content. You shot a head sized group at 25 yards with a little pocket gun ( Ruger). Excellent shooting. Can't beat those wheelguns for precision shooting.

[@GunSam]

Thank you.

[@celowski6296]

Very well done sir!! My local gun shop has a 32 S&W pocket positive colt for sale. Made in 1929. This vid did convince me on bringing a "homeless" gun home. PPU ammo at $22 a pack of 50 is the same as a .38. Thank you for this vid.... Later I may upgrade and get a .327 mag..

[@joeterp5615]

Another great video! These videos of yours helped persuade me to get a Ruger LCR .327. Just bought it tonight!

[@denniswilson1903]

Thanks for the test, you reinforced the idea that hits count more than misses. Good work. Anything that facilitates hits has to be a good thing.

[@GunSam]

Thanks!

[@BJWeed1]

I personally would have no problem carrying a 32 long wadcutter for a self-defense round, as always thanks for the video 👍👀

[@GunSam]

Thanks for watching. Personally I like a little more power, but truth be told I think these wadcutters would do just as well.

[@BJWeed1]

@@GunSam to be honest with you I think shot placement is more important then foot-pounds of energy and with less recoil you get better shot placement

[@chaosrex5702]

Keep giving us those sweet .32 vids.

[@GunSam]

Thanks! I will

[@RJ-sr5dv]

Gun Sam-- you have some incredibly good skills... thanks for doing the video. It is a great overview of the 32.. I have been collecting 327 and 32 H&Rs revolvers for a few years. The LCRX 327 is my EDC. & the rest (Taurus and Charter Arms in both 327 & 32 H&R ) are strategically placed in vehicles and in the house. I originally bought the 32 for my better half as she could not comfortably shoot a 9, or clear a jamb... Instead of not going to the range she now enjoys our trips... I have been a reloading for many years and find I can get the cost of shooting the 32s very low. Thanks for the tips on the wad cutters!! Well done on the video production To the point without a lot of jabber we find so much of these days!!!

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

I have a Charter Arms Professional, I love taking it to the "range", its pleasant to shoot, it's accurate. The only drawback (besides the current shortages) is pricing of the ammo. I can personally verify your observation reference the felt recoil between the 22 LR/Mag vs. the .32, my wife really enjoys her Taurus 942 in 22LR, and has no fear shooting the Charter Arms .32 even with .32 Mag's, but will rarely pick up the SP101 (.357, 3") with even the lightest .38 loads.

[@michigunsanta8680]

I leave my wife S&W long soft lead nose rounds in it for her if I’m not here. She doesn’t like recoil and has only went to a range once. I think she could probably shoot H&R magnums in the LCR but I figured under stress it be better if she could shoot faster follow up shots if someone were to break in. 👍🏻

[@filianablanxart8305]

The thing is , that mainstream .32 S&L Long is loaded really, really mild , significantly slower than mainstream wadcutters , plus the round nose is a less effective shape . So for mainstream ammo ( or if deliberately seeking absolute minimum recoil ) the Wadcutters are actually the best choice . Yes I know there are some JHP offered in .32SW-L , but at SAAMI level pressures , the velocities are even lower than RNL , and there is zero chance of expansion at the barely lukewarm spit velocities . Until the .32 Mag was introduced , most loading manuals had a seperate section for * .32 SW-L , for use only in Modern Swing Out Cylinder Revolvers * , which brought the ctg alive, yet still significantly less recoil than standard pressure .38 spl . Once upon a time , a friend carried a 3in M31-1 as a hideout , and he carried his handloads with 90gr SWC . Eventually thru wheeling & dealing , I ended up with the gun . Without refighting that debate , I do not carry handloads on purpose for social purposes . But I did chrono his loads that came the the gun , and IIRC , went 900 plus fps . At that time Joe Zambone was still alive and running Mag Safe . In corespondence he indicated that as a public service he offered loads in obscure calibers that had no other available " suitable " defensive loads . They weren't individually profitable , but as long as he was making a decent living overall , it was the right thing to do . One of those was .32S&W Long . Life was good . So loaded , it was a regular BUG for me . But ammo actually carried , particularly exposed to heat and sweat carried inside my shirt , and ammo needs to be rotated . AND eventually Joe sold the company to retire ( and shortly afterwards died in tragic motorcycle accident ) . The new owners sought to maximize profits , and streamlined the product line to the popular cals . I was stuck. ( Before Buffalo Bore in those days ) , faced with only factory options being non expanding warm spit loads , I retired the M31 to strictly recreational . ( My handloads were 85gr jhp @ 935fps , which essentially matched real world velocities of factory .32 Mag from same bbl lengths .)

[@TomMJH]

Great information on felt recoil on different calibers!!!

[@MrAlin311]

Very glad that i came by this channel!!

[@jimmyruger7529]

Brother Sam / I love these videos !!! I have a Sp101 32 mag and a Taurus 357 snub. . . . . just while Im typing, bouht a new Canik 9mm. Best shooting 9 i have ever shot.And I own a CZ 75, nuf said

[@stonegiant4]

My homebrewed 357 mag wadcutter loadings are my go to carry ammo when I can't get the "federal hst 38 +p low recoil micro gun" that I prefer. They load it like a wadcutter seated all the way in the case and it has a nasty huge hollowpoint.

[@ObservingLibertarian]

I know from first hand experience firing two different LCR's, one being an LCR and the other being an LCR-X: the LCR series are remarkably accurate. I'm a 1911 guy, I was astonished how well I could shoot an LCR. I was debating over possible choices of a snub nose revolver for my mother and when I range tested the lcr I was utterly amazed at how accurate they are. For me, a not-wheelgun-guy, to pick it right up and drill a quarter sized group at 15 yards my first time shooting it - I realized my bank account was going to take a hit.

[@thebluesrockers]

hahaha...That's why I don't want to start firing a bunch of different guns. I think I'd throw the wife out just to make room for more of them. hahaha..how does your mom shoot with it? I bet decently. peace..

[@ratagris21]

I've shot .32 S & W longs out of a Nagant revolver. You can also use .32 S & W shorts as well. The only draw back is that the cases expanded, and can be difficult to extract sometimes. They work when you can't get 7.62x38Rs. The modern version of the 38Rs are recessed wad cutters.

[@GunSam]

I tried Remington .32 S&W (short) a few tests back. Very low energy and recoil. Accurate though.

[@oldcop18]

It looked like you didn’t allow the trigger to reset that one time it misfired. That said thanks for making this realistic. Fast shooting is what happens in a real life deadly confrontation.

[@michaelgonthier3360]

I like your control using left thumb rolling cylinder ... Stable dude... Great style...

[@CeltKnight]

Another excellent video and featuring one of my favorite cartridges (.32 S&W Long). In my unsolicited opinion, Accuracy beats Power, Penetration (to a point) beats Expansion, and PLACEMENT is EVERYTHING. With that in mind when considering the .32 S&W Long, it's not such a big surprise that "way back in the day" it was such a popular police cartridge, though 2nd to .38 Spl. Many a bad guy was felled by a .32 S&W Long (or .32 "Colt New Police" since Colt wouldn't put "S&W" anything on their revolvers, heh-heh). I've probably said before by my .32 J-frame is one of my handguns that stays loaded and ready. Easy to carry, accurate beyond all expectation, powerful "enough", AND I can find ammo for it even during crunch times. :D

[@GunSam]

Thank you. I am really surprised about how popular .32 S&W Long is, more so than anything .32 even .32 ACP based on what I have seen in stores for ammo choice. It's basically the .38 Special of the .327/.32 H&R so testing .32 Long makes a lot of sense.

[@CeltKnight]

@@GunSam - Indeed it does. It's a great old cartridge that is still very relevant today, even more so, as you noted since .32 H&R and .327 came on the scene. It doesn't get a lot of press but on several forums I've seen it definitely has a following. Not hard to see why.

[@filianablanxart8305]

That was a very narrow slice of history of widespread Police issue usage , essentially between the introduction of swing out cylinders until not long after the introduction of .38 Special . ( Ok , few PDs will imeadately scrap their existing fleet of dept owned guns when something new & improved is introduced , but certainly by the next time they otherwise needed replacements . .38spl took over the Police market even faster than the .40S&W did circa 1991 .) But interestingly , the Second most popular cal was a .32 , the .32-20 aka .32WCF . 20-25% of pre WWII S&W M&P were chambered in .32-20 . Equivalent effectiveness with .38 158gr RN , flatter trajectory , and more penetration . Also popular with outdoorsmen who didn't feel the need of a .44 or .45 .

[@MSM4U2POM]

Everything in moderation. What's not to like? Nice one, my friend.

[@mkshffr4936]

Yep, moderation can definitely be a great virtue.

[@craigfinley2507]

That little LCR shoot real straight

[@k_enn]

Wadcutters are known for accuracy. That is one of the reasons why they are used for Bullseye competition. The real issue would be the stopping power of these rounds. While they may not be a effective as hollow points, you might expect them them to be as effective as round nose or fmj since they strike with a larger frontal area. However, I would expect penetration to be less than round nose of fmj.

[@stevestone5671]

i picked up the lcr 327 a couple of weeks ago. shot s&w long and the H&R magnum. the former was as you describe and the latter was also very manageable though noticeably more recoil. the h&r magnum out of the lcr still feels lighter to me than a standard pressure 158 gr fmj out of my ruger sp101 38. i was struck by the large amount of smoke produced by the s&w long wadcutter when i shot them at my lgr. not sure i would want that in the house but certainly if it meant saving me or my family it would be a non issue. enjoy your videos. thanks.

[@maverick0171]

WC great ammo for my steel 36 no recoil at all. Hugs from Warsaw Poland 🇵🇱🖐🏻🇺🇸

[@GunSam]

My grandfather came from Hungary. I'm 2nd generation American.

[@jtns2845]

2nd generation from rzeszow poland. that’s great you can own a handgun. i thought that poland suffered under strict gun control. second amendment plus a.k. home army = 👍

[@maverick0171]

Hi guys🖐In 2016 it took me 10 months to make all the papers and pass exam and buy first gun for sporting and collecting purpose. I have permission for 15 guns any caliber, any lenght. No magazine or brace restictions.

[@armedhippy7685]

I enjoy these experiments!

[@crockett11000]

Damn good shooting bro!! All your practicing and tests sure have paid off!!

[@GunSam]

Thanks.

[@cultofmalgus1310]

Need to make the .32 a popular cartridge again. I've always, always, always loved em. I'm extremely accurate with my .32 acp. I do own a few 9mms, .380's, .22's, and .25's. I always do best with my .32 calibers though. I've had a lot of people give me flak for carrying .32's primarily for the last decade or so since I first was licensed. It's what I'm good with, it launches a lead ball, and it's gonna do more damage hitting a vital than a miss with a 9mm or .45 sooooo yeah I loved .32s. I also own a H&R 732 as well. But I am not as accurate with revolvers as semi autos.

[@GunSam]

I don't have any experience with .32 ACP but would like to try it. What I have seen in videos is it's a pretty low power cartridge but still pretty neat. What makes ".32" legit in my opinion is the low end .327 Federal Magnum ammo that gives 250 ft lbs energy in my 17 oz 1.875" LCR. Perfect power and less recoil than .38 Special.

[@filianablanxart8305]

.32acp is another very fine , and underrated cartridge . And ( similar to .380acp) needs to be considered different things from Micro pistols vs " Traditional Size " pistols ( think PPK size and larger) . Among the people who study and analyze real world shootings , the .32acp is only about 2% behind the .380 , but with much less recoil and better accuracy , and better penetration . Micro sized .32acp are the size of average sized .25acp guns . The week that medium priced subcompact .32acp became available , every .25acp in the world became obsolete , fit for only being an interesting paperweight . ( Slightly kidding . Some of the better .25's are accurate enough for plinking soda cans at 10yds , albeit expensive ammo for plinking .)

[@Fudmottin]

I'm always impressed by how well you can group your shots. Those 32s impress me. It's like with a little practice, you would be shooting MOA. If you could maintain your calm, you could certainly put those rounds where they need to go to stop an attacker.

[@GunSam]

Thank you. I really want to practice like I used to. I at one point lived on that land and would hand load 1,000 rounds of .38 Special over a weekend then shoot them all up the next week. Now I shoot 100 rounds a month at best, well except for the past month lol

[@Fudmottin]

@@GunSam Yeah, those zombies plus ammo scarcity is a bad combination.

[@filianablanxart8305]

( Speaking of the mechanical accuracy of the gun , with human factors minimized ) Minute Of Angle with any mass produced repeating handgun is not within possibility . For a rough rule of thumb of contextual equivalency , think of 1 inch groups @ 25yds as sort of equivalents to 1 inch groups @ 100yds with a rifle . In addition to my guns , and those of my shooting compadres , once upon a period of time , I had opportunity to inspect , tear down , and wring out an entire fleet of S&W, Ruger, Colt, and Rossi .38spl revolvers . ( FWIW , I like S&W and Service Sixes , Colts are quality guns , but I don't prefer them by personal druthers , and Rosi's would actually go bang 75% of the time , if it would go for a whole cylinder w/o locking up .) Even with very ugly revolvers with huge estimated round counts , average groups @ 25 yds are about 1.5 inches , with ammo of sufficient accuracy potential . The handful that did 1.0in or better are brag worthy and memorable . 1.25in are not uncommon , and will outshoot virtually everyone shooting them from standing position . If they were 2in or more , they had mechanical issues , usually damaged muzzle crown . Interestingly , I've seen plenty of seemingly beat to death revolvers with " slop" and end shake well beyond factory spec , and only sort of close to kinda being in time , still shoot 1.5- 1.75in @ 25yds .

[@Fudmottin]

@@filianablanxart8305 One inch groups at 25 yards is outside my shooting skill with a handgun, no matter how good it is.

[@BobMarley-pm1xb]

Good shooting at 25 yds. Sam!

[@sean0181]

I carry the underwood wadcutters in mine still .Great vid as usual.

[@GunSam]

I should try those. Thank you.

[@sean0181]

@@GunSam Definitely not low recoil but manageable.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

I think that LCR trigger is a gem. So smooth, snaps like glass.

[@GunSam]

It's different for sure. Sort of like a toy gun feel, too good to be true.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@GunSam Waiting for their 3" LCRx .327 Fedmag.

[@GunSam]

@@exothermal.sprocket If it were me personally i'd get the SP101 if going to 3". I would love to test some of the really hot rounds like Buffalo Bore, and a heavy 3" SP101 should be getting close to 30 oz, so that would handle them well.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@GunSam Their 4.2" is 29.5oz. 3" is 27oz. About the weight of duty pistols in semi-auto frankly. I bet that 4.2" would really scream some .327 in Buffalo Bore. Then again there's the .327 Fedmag 7.5" Single Seven. haha

[@mkshffr4936]

That .32 did very nicely.

[@norby0418]

Don’t forget there is a reason that LE quit using the 32 long and went to the 38 special. The 32 didn’t stop suspects near as well as the 38!!

[@Just1American1966]

It was actually as much about car doors as it was about flesh. When law enforcement did make the switch to the .38 Special, they still used a LRN projectile for quite a while.

[@freedomfirst5420]

A fmj tends to tear tissue, the wad cutter tends to cut tissue, allowing for more blood loss and lower blood pressure. So the wad cutter should be more effective, just my observations and opinion. Just about anyone, could shoot .32 S&W Long all day long.👍 Another good video Sam!👍👍

[@GunSam]

Thank you. I will have to go more into .32 Long ammo, maybe even .32 S&W and ACP.

[@filianablanxart8305]

With .32 S&W ( and the non- interchangeable .32 Short Colt ) they were seriously weak . You would have to squint really hard to claim they were an improvement over a .22 rimfire of the day . The .32 Long of S&W or Colt were a significant step up . The interesting thing today is that a .32S&W fired from a long barell .32mag is very quiet , sounding like a BB rifle . From a 7.5in bbl wearing ear protection I couldn't tell if it actually fired . Removing the ear protection , it was pleasant to fire .

[@dcidci1012]

Looking back, you now know that a Smith would have been more accurate then the Taurus. A thank you from a Sam fan.

[@troy9477]

Wadcutters do have their place. I suspect if you ramp that 38 up to full power of 800-850 fps, it will do interesting things. I know BB does that with 38, 44 Spl, and 45 Colt. The humble 32 is certainly accurate and low recoul. Interesting how you compare it to .22 WMR- i never thought of it that way. And of course there are wadcutters and semiwadcutters in 32 H&R as well. I may recommend to my lady in AK (constitutional CCW there, no permit needed) to look into an LCR and to consider the 327. Currently she carries a SCCY 9mm. She owns a GP-100, and she made me proud awhile back when she bought a 2.25" SP-101. I have often talked about mine. The 327 chambered revolvers seem every bit as versatile as a 357 chambered revolver. The renewed interest in 32 H&R as a result has given us some updated ammo types for it. Life is good

[@benjaminhenry5762]

Own both. Both have a use. Prefer the .38 for a defense rd.

[@filianablanxart8305]

Instead of burying this in a sub comment thread , I thought I make this its own comment . The concept of using .38spl wadcutters as lower recoil loads in small-ish snubnoses probably goes back to the first Colt Police Positive Special ordered with a 2in bbl , back before the Detective Special became a seperate Named Model in 1927 . But IF low recoil is a primary goal either for comfortable recreational shooting , or Defense in someone with actual physical limitations , there IS an even better alternative available nowdays . The 125gr gr lead flat points intended for Cowboy Action Shooting . Gamer competitors want mouse fart level velocities to shave hundredths of seconds off there stage times , so they are loaded to similar or slower velocities than wadcutters , but with 23gr lighter bullets . Laws of physics , about 20% less momentum than 148gr wadcutters . ie , roughly midway between .38spl wadcutters and .32S&W-L . And while not as good as a full wadcutter , the flat point is advantageous over a round nose . In the really old days , when the baseline was 158gr Round Nose , using a 148 WC , or a .38S&W ( not Special ) instead had validity ; none of them expanded anyway , and penetration was plenty deep enough with at least similar perment wound cavity diameters . But in the modern era there are several standard pressure HPs that are an improvement . Probable expansion from 4in , and signicantly greater than zero probability even in 2 inch . several conventional HP designs in 110-130gr , and the Pink Tip Critical Defense out of a 2 inch duplicates .380 ballistics .

[@bcaffrey98]

Better to use the .32 and make hits than a .38/.357 and miss. The .32 is underrated, mostly because defensive loads are hard to find in the .32 S&W Long. GT Bullets makes .32 caliber lead hollowpoints that look good (haven't tested them). You should repeat this test using the .32 H&R ammo. Recoil is not significantly higher than .32 Long IMHO and the .32 caliber rounds seem inherently accurate (they were a favorite in old bullseye matches in the 40's and 50s). A real "combat" test, IMHO, is rapid firing controlled pairs, like you might do in real life. That'll tell you how much your shots will spread when used defensively.

[@filianablanxart8305]

.32 Mag Does recoil significantly more than mainstream .32 S&W Long , while being noticeably less than .38spl . .327 Mag ( in full power loads ) will kick More than .38spl +P , but less than .357 Mag .

[@Lugermonger35]

What is the equation you used to calculate the felt recoil energy?

[@GunSam]

I don't have a known equation as I use an online ballistics calculator that takes the gun weight, bullet weight, velocity and grain weight of powder charge into play. Sometimes the powder weight has to be a guessing game from reloading data of similar loads, but it will be in the right ballpark to quote it. That's why I say about 2 ft lbs recoil energy with the .32 Long even though I calculated something like 1.86 ft lbs, because powder charge isn't exact.

[@theepicgamerultimate4831]

Thank you covering a forgotten cartridge and also an almost ignored platform the revolver. I have an old ( i ) frame S&W 32 hand ejector with a 3 inch barrel. I wonder if I might get a slight if any velocity advantage over your 2inch Ruger LCR. The only gripe I have is the original grips on my S&W are small. Like both you and Greg Newton of Lionquest I favor revolvers. As a retired law enforcement officer the only semi auto I trust is my Glock 19 gen3. However being retired my EDC and home defense choices are both revolvers. I could explain why but I'm quite sure I wouldn't be telling you anything new. Keep up those wonderful revolver videos.

[@GunSam]

Thanks for watching! I would guess going from 1.875" to 3" would be minimal increase in velocity with this wadcutter ammo, maybe 25-30 FPS more at best. Now if we were to talk about Buffalo Bore .32 S&W Long (which you probably wouldn't run through a hand ejector) then we would probably see bigger gains.

[@filianablanxart8305]

Your I frame is actually a 3.25in bbl . The I frame grip shape is very similar to J frame round butt . The difference is the butt is shorter on the I . Many wraparound grips for the J can be adapted to the I. . You would need to research further into the exact manufacturing date of your HE ., as regards the improved heat treatments starting in the late 1920's .

[@paddywonka]

Great informative video. Thanks

[@fredsavage4925]

let's keep .32 long a secret a little longer so we can still get ammo :)

[@GunSam]

I don't think there's any worries. Even if they knew there's not enough .32 revolvers out there to consume them.

[@fredsavage4925]

@@GunSam there will be if you keep making great videos showcasing their unique and wonderful beauty!

[@ted.angell7609]

Sam, an idea: load your cylinder with .32 wadcutters and .327s of your choice, alternately. That way you can double-tap in an emergency. With almost no recoil from the .32 wadcutter, your barrel is already in place for a followup .327.

[@GunSam]

It's not a bad idea for some, but personally I prefer all my rounds to feel the same.

[@filianablanxart8305]

It's a discussion in itself , but complete Stagger Loading is overall a poor idea .

[@chuckb8945]

I'm amazed at how well that little 32 shoots at 15 and 25 yards. That seems like plenty to take care of an intruder.

[@chuckb8945]

Just give me the first shot and the intruder can have bazooka for all I care.

[@michaeldoe4805]

32 long wadcutters are frequently used for bullseye shooting. Out of my 7.5 barrel Ruger Single Seven, I can score 10's all day long (1.5 inch groups) on an official 25 yard slow fire target while standing single handed bullseye style using the Fiocchi 100 grain wadcutters. And that Ruger single action is far cry from a target gun, but my guess is that the typical imperfections of a revolver are being covered up mainly by the 7.5 inch barrel. And if you want a mini hand held carbine, you can always pop the 100 grain 327 magnums and blast away with same accuracy.

[@filianablanxart8305]

Don't sell Ruger SA's short on accuracy potential . In addition to hunting, and long range field shooting , stock 'Hawks frequently win matches and championships in IHSMA , which shoots out to 200 meters . And on the Target Shooting theme , semiautomatic .32Long target pistols made specifically for the flush seated wadcutters for in Olympic style target competition . Thus why all the brands of .32 wadcutters are very accurate, and all loaded to the same nominal velocities .

[@jaime3739]

Loved this video, Thx. I really appreciate the splash target at 25 yards. If you review the footage it looks like holes disappear on plain cardboard at that distance. I have been fascinated for a while with 32 caliber family. I hardly ever see 327 Ruger SP101's used anymore, or any other 327's used. I used to see them occasionally. I am beginning to suspect that people that have them love them and they aren't being sold on the used market very often. Currently my next dream gun is a Charter Arms professional 32 H&R mag. I like the 3" barrel but I love the 7 round capacity. I am really anxious to hold one and see how it feels in my large hand. Alas I must wait for better work and country/world situation. I would really love to see/hear your thoughts on best 32 caliber rounds the same way you did best 38 special rounds. Thanks again

[@GunSam]

Thanks. I am slowly building my experience with .327, .32 H&R and other .32 ammunition. I haven't done a video yet and really can't for awhile, but from all I have tested I would say the best round so far in these .32 caliber options is the Federal Hydrashok 85 gr .327 Magnum. It's a very low end magnum but perfect in every respect. Low recoil, perfect penetration and expansion and smooth case extraction.

[@jaime3739]

@@GunSam Thanks again

[@michaelturner4680]

It’s not just low recoil, the 32 is a more accurate caliber.

[@philvogt7671]

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Gimme that hard nasty recoil. Let’s me know that bullet means business.

[@GunSam]

Possibly. The difficult part is deciding how much is too much power for the job. Example; 9mm and .38 Special are identical on flesh targets effectiveness even with a significant discrepancy in energy, however if you had to go through a hard barrier first, you will soon find out what that extra energy is useful for.

[@philvogt7671]

Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ What about 357 magnum?

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@philvogt7671 357 is better served in 4" barrel minimum. Otherwise you're just burning fresh gunpowder in the air, making noise, blinding your eyes with flash, and hurting your hand in small revolvers. I think snubs need .38spl or less honestly, and you get plenty of performance with that cartridge without the need for magnumizing in compact revolvers.

[@bcaffrey98]

@@exothermal.sprocket With today's modern .38 +P JHP ammo that performs reliably out of a 2" launch tube, I think .357 doesn't buy you much from the short barrels, except flash, noise and recoil.

[@bcaffrey98]

@@GunSam I have a few .41 Magnums which are evil fire breathers in 3-4" barrels with some really sporty recoil, even for an N-Frame S&W. Turns most hard barriers into concealment inside 25 yards. In the 60s-70s, the Remington "police" load of a 210 grain LSWC at around 1150 fps hit like a freight train, with several recorded 1-shot stops. Am currently getting a reloading set up to load .41 Special brass (Starline) to replicate those. Closest factory ammo is Winchester's 175 grain Silvertip. Moderate recoil.

[@lonewanderer3603]

32 swl is known to be a flat shooting target round. It's really cheap to hand load as well. I think max load is less than 2 g of bullseye. That's a lot of rounds per pound.

[@GunSam]

I have been reloading for 5 years but mostly .357 Mag and .38 Special and haven't loaded .32 yet. I do have some dies in my shopping cart online, looks like Lee only has a 3 die set, I will probably add a crimp die to the purchase.

[@lonewanderer3603]

@@GunSam I've been reloading the 32 family for a couple of years. You really have a wide range of options.

[@filianablanxart8305]

The three die set also crimps .

[@brandongilligan6893]

My mom shoots 32 s&w long. I try to do ballistics research, but it is sparse. Thank you for some info on this round.

[@GunSam]

Thanks for watching. So far the few rounds I have tested average about 100 gr at 750 FPS about 125 ft lbs energy. The Magtech 98 gr SJHP gave better results in the snub, 785 FPS, gave adequate penetration of *15%* and expanded to about .40".

[@jameslarsen3184]

Great video real world comparison.

[@GunSam]

Thank you.

[@Predalien195]

It's no surprise but I prefer the .32 Caliber guns to the .38's. Lighter recoil, flatter trajectories, an extra round or two depending on the gun. It all adds up to be a great package for EDC in revolvers. .32 Wadcutters meet FBI minimums, most people being shot even by .22's arent willing to fight back, and for target practice it's easy to keep on target which translates well to defensive use. While the .38 makes a bigger hole and rare cases have happened where that extra diameter nicked an artery or outright hit it as a result HAVE happened, nearly all rounds used in self defense for handguns rely on proper shot placement. And with the lighter recoil and extra round given in a .32 caliber gun of the same frame size, this increases your chances for proper shot placement. One fact often NOT talked about with .32 caliber revolvers is in small frame 6 shot .22's you can often get a 5 shot .32 caliber in the same size frame. This allows for some awful tiny and thin guns.

[@GunSam]

True on all aspects. Another point, I would be willing to wear no ear protection and fire 6 rounds of these .32's. I don't think i'd say I would do that with .38 Special. So, situations where auditory exclusion does not come into play like dispatching a wounded animal, the .32's would be a better choice.

[@filianablanxart8305]

With wadcutters at similar velocities , and similar Ballistic coefficients , you will have similar trajectories from .32 and .38 . If you step up to .32mag , or .32-20 , then you will have flatter trajectories than std pressure .38spl .

[@Ford360CID]

ironically after watching your test with the .32 long it is no wonder why then new york city police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt adopted the .32 long cartridge and revolver as their police dept's side arm your results show the ease and accuracy of both revolver and cartridge combination.

[@GunSam]

I can't even imagine how it would do in an older heavier 4" revolver.

[@filianablanxart8305]

But keep in mind the Contexts . Prior to this , NYPD did not issue Any firearms . Many ( possibly most ? ) NYPD Ofc didn't carry any firearms . Fist fighting , to include billys, brass knuckles , and blackjacks were predominant . Those that did opt to carry personally owned firearms had a wide variety . Prior to Teddy , NYPD had Zero firearms training or Qualifications . Teddy knew he was having to deal with previously untrained men , and beancounters then were like beancounters now , and minimizing expenditures of money or man hours , maked beancounters hearts go pitter pat . So Teddy placed great emphasis on being very easy to shoot , and of a size suitable to slip into the pocket of either a Uniform Blouse , or a suit coat of the era . For his own use ( or use by competent shooters generally ) he knew better . During the part of his life previous to this ,he lived out West and dealt with malcontents , thieves, and rustlers , he carried a .44 .

[@jameslarsen3184]

Nice vid!

[@MikeUman]

Dude, that .32 S&W Long has your name written all over it.

[@GunSam]

It's a nice cartridge for sure. It's funny what is accomplished when flinch is takes out of the equation, like how it is with .32 S&W Long. I am doing a test whenever I get my ammo delivery between .38 Short Colt and .32 S&W. Those will be fun.

[@MikeUman]

@@GunSam That should be interesting. 👍

[@richardhenry1969]

I was taught placement always out weight fancy calibers. I was just gifted a 32s&w long so I was watching. I never really bothered with 32 and I can't tell you why. Maybe because it was never the flavor of the month like 357, 9mm, 38. I do like 38 super used that round a lot. When I was in the service. Now I'm older I don't need a gun that's a hand Cannon. In fact I would prefer to never kill. I carry a 22 usually because it's very accurate and very cheap to practice with. I learned in the service from great men. Practice, practice, practice, practice then practice some more. Everything needs to become action without letting thinking mess you up. So from your videos and others 32s&w long seems a capable round. It's been a year since this. Has anything changed in your thinking.

[@glenmo1]

Never had misfires with 38 special except for possibly some old Carol reloading company reloads.. but all the factory 38 always went bang and my 38 snubbies whether it be my charter arms off duty 38 manufactured in the 1980s or my 1980s manufactured All steel Taurus model 85.. my snub noses were always extremely accurate with factory wad cutters

[@balancedfordaylight1]

Buffalo bore and under wood have a "hot' loaded version of the 38 special wadcutter it'd be interesting to see if the same bullet moving faster performs any different than the regular version of those rounds.

[@GunSam]

I have seen those and have been interesting in testing them.

[@ted.angell7609]

Buffalo Bore has a hot .32 wadcutter, too.

[@DanTheWolfman]

The don't mess w grandma vid cool I did the felt recoil...from Chuck Hawks or where? Should add that more often maybe in ur 9mm vs 40 vs 45 vids because cool data is cool! U should also run a couple more rounds of 10mm CD someday see if u get expansion on another day. Hoping to get a ruger 10mm someday and can shoot .40 cheaper than .38

[@YellowHammer26]

I do carry wadcutters sometimes in my 38spl. and honestly I feel very little recoil. They are also very accurate for me.I carry a s&w model 437 j frame.

[@GunSam]

That's a nice J-frame, hard to find now days!

[@podsmpsg1]

I'd go with .38 Special, I just think it hits harder.

[@GunSam]

Easier to come by ammo.

[@midisax]

Great shooting!

[@GunSam]

Thank you.

[@ericktamberg670]

Wadcutters can still more accurate with bullets loaded in full-chamber length cases. Try it in a real .32 S&W Long revolver instead of .32 Magnum.

[@randallkelley3599]

I purchased 110 green jacket and hollow points 38+ P’s for my K frame revolver. Very little recoil and somewhat more force on target

[@GunSam]

110 gr+P are decent loads, about 1,000 FPS in a 4" barrel.

[@somethingsmith3242]

I counted five holes and and five shots @ timestamp 4:00, I did not see any miss fires, maybe a short-stroke of the trigger, but they all went bang.

[@johnkellmer5133]

I'd like to try that new Taurus 327 in three inch. But I think only the two inch is in production as of now. I'd bet with .32 S&W long it'd be a hoot.

[@livincincy4498]

Lucky Gunner interviewed the Balisticians at Speer & Federal doing handgun rounds. Their opinion is handgun rounds are not powerful regardless of caliber ( diameter ). Think about how Rifles shoot smaller calibers at 4x the velocity and are devastating. Handguns make holes. Rifles destroy tissue. Magnum Handguns double velocity. Not really as practical in urban environments to shoot magnums. I recall FBI data in a story showing that handguns require 2 shots in round numbers to stop an attacker. This about 2 shots is across calibers. Calibers that pass thru do not deliver all of their energy on the target. WE ALL KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT CALIBER SIZE AND THE NEED TO SPEAK ON IT ALREADY !!! It has been stated & repeated before by thousands. NO NEED TO REPEAT BELOW !!! The wad cutter bullet is proven at being extreemly accurate in Bullseye Shooting at 25 yards for 100 years. It is an excellent choice for putting (2) hits in an X-ring. So it makes sense that it would be a good choice. It is overlooked because a soup can is not sexy or high tech. The low felt recoil lets many shooters score a high rate of X-ring hits. You can also practice shooting many of them and not regret it. The Chater Arms 3" Professional in 32 H&R Magnum is on my wish list.

[@GunSam]

I saw that video. I agree with exceptions, and those exceptions are what barriers are in the way. We do see that with no barriers, stuff like .32 Long, .38 Special, 9mm and even .357 Magnum are not massively statistically different. However, put a car door in the way and then we have only two I just listed that are effective at all.

[@Predalien195]

This is true to an extent.. Handgun calibers IN handguns often are the same across the board generally except when you account for barriers. However, in carbines there are more than a few pistol calibers that break the mold and perform much closer to rifle rounds with similar results. There's even super lightweight handgun loads IN handgun length barrels that also cause these effects at the cost of shallow penetration. So in short, in most scenarios even wadcutters are more than accurate I'd agree. I have a Charter Arms Professional, and while I enjoy it, my Ruger SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum seems to be more accurate even using the same .32 H&R Magnum loads. I havent had it long enough to put it through the wringer, but the loads I've tested so far, it leaves a little to be desired. Still plenty accurate and more than adequate for the needs though. Really love the feel and looks of it too.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@Predalien195 I've also heard things from important source that conflict with the caliber/power statements you've made. Such as the well established history of .45acp and .357mag making 1-shot stops. You can go ahead and shoot twice, but if you don't need to, you don't need to.

[@filianablanxart8305]

Yeah , Yeah . Philosophically , Rifles ( and shotguns within suitable distances ) have massively greater ( insert term for @$$ whompping ability) than handguns as a class . And the classic observation about Lies, Damn Lies , and Statistics . Excuse the blatant sexism and objectification , but I will try for a widely comprehendable comparison : Super Models and high end porn stars are more attractive than everyday real world women , by an order of magnitude . So by following that logic , all real women are the same, and there is no meaningful difference between them as to their looks . No , I don't think so . If you carefully set your parameters as something like : " Among the half dozen or so most common handgun rounds for police duty , and serious self defense , and use suitable ammo of modern design for intended purpose , they will all be at least Reasonably Adaquate , and any marginal differences in performance are far less important than differences in shooting skills , situational awareness , proper movement and use of cover " , and have a basically correct and useful statement . Recently one side of the Debate has staked out a Ten Commandments level position to the effect of : " 9mm is currently Most Best-est , and better in ( @$$ Whomping ) than all others , especially including X, Y, and Z ." Other than factually not being correct , it is inflammatory , and impossible to every reach a consensus . Had instead a stone tablet been released to the effect of : "9mm , and X, Y, and Z are all more than Adaquate for the required ( @$$ Whooping ) per se , AND all these other important favorable qualities of 9mm contribute to our choosing it for our usage , and we also recommend it for all LE Agencies generally ." , that would be plausible , reasonable , and helpful . But kick the parameters wider to the universe used/ intended for Police , Millitary , or purported with a straight face for self defense . The universe is bigger and a lot more diverse . Including rounds somewhat more effective to a lot less effective than the first statement . Some of them are meaningfully different from each other . Some were designed for one exact specific purpose at the tradeoffs of virtually everything else . Heck , even " Law Enforcement Use " isn't homogenous . The requirements are different if the defining environments include courtrooms , subway platforms at rush hour , densely packed crowd vs traffic stops or road blocks vs rural environments that include wide open spaces , large animals both wild and domestic , for both attacks , or injured by vehicles , or seasonal appearance of very heavy winter gear vs places with tee shirts and shorts year round . So yeah , there are meaning differences worth discussing things like Treasury Load or 1st generation Border Patrol .40 vs ( the herd of similar midweight bonded LE ammo)vs .45 or full power 10mm , or .357 mag, or big bore revolvers .

[@Predalien195]

@@exothermal.sprocket Well in recent times there was a study that concluded, gathered data from 13,000 shootings. Recorded the caliber used and all. Numbers came out to show something that was already known to me. Most instances with civilians in self defense shootings are solved in 4 rounds or less on average. Calibers ranging from .380, 9mm, .40, .45, .357, and things like that were on average taking 3 shots to solve the problem. Yes, most people being shot WILL stop upon being hit even just once. It's psychological, it hurts, people don't like or want pain. I would agree 100%, if you don't need to shoot twice, don't. But one should never rely that once will be enough and be prepared to possibly fire again, and again if need be. The statement about them performing roughly the same in tissue is coming from decades of medical research and people compiling studies on the effects of things like "Stopping Power" and 1 shot stops as well as defensive shootings in general. Early reports never truly finished their work and we saw things like .357 Magnum having something like a 98.99% chance to 1 shot stop. That was in part due to how much data there is on .357 since it's introduction and how it was still massively popular at the time the study was concluded. I can assure you a study today on that would place something like 9mm at the top because of how common it is and nothing more really. But yes, when talking about carbines generally speaking most pistol calibers don't gain any significant ballistic change to the way they perform. Sure they gain energy and velocity but until those numbers hit a certain range, it doesn't mean anything internally usually. And this is well demonstrated by ballistics gel tests and other mediums. Same thing when you add barriers to the mix. A .32 ACP 71gr FMJ will penetrate 13-16 inches average in bare gel. Throw some plywood layers in front and this changes. Same thing with a lot of calibers. It doesn't mean they "Fail" it just means performance is indeed effected in a noticeable way. So I'm not sure what I've said that would conflict with anything outside of anecdotal accounts on the subject as most actual data shows/says otherwise. I always encourage people to do their own testing and research and I find that not everyone comes to the same conclusion on the matter. But this is one thing I have researched and tested extensively myself and my results seem to mirror the data more than they do to support claims people make about how caliber "X" is better than the rest.

[@torqueguy1]

Nice shooting! I shoot a heavy shadow II and I can barely catch you

[@Tinman3187]

If you think that's fun, shooting 32 s&w long from a 3 inch sp101 with pachmyr rubber cushioned grips is about as pleasant a revolver can get. If you cock the hammer and shoot from a bench, 25 yards is easy.

[@SaltyCheese7676]

Really like this series of videos. Is it safe to shoot then out of a rifle for .357 like my Rossi 92? Seems like it would be a great rabbit hunting round.

[@GunSam]

I have no experience with lever guns in pistol calibers, but I do recall hearing people talk about shooting .38 Special in .357 Magnum ones, so i'd assume it's okay to do. What I do know is that a .38 Special in a rifle does not gain much velocity the way a .357 will. Rather than maybe a 500 FPS gain in .357 from handgun to rifle, the .38 Special might gain 200 FPS, so yes it would probably do well on small game, about the energy of a 9mm pistol but from an easy to aim rifle.

[@mkshffr4936]

As long as it feeds ok there is no problem. My concern with the WC for small game is there might be excessive meat damage. Round nose or even round ball might be a better choice. Won't know unless you try. :)

[@thebluesrockers]

5 out of 6 at 40 yards with that 32 was quite impressive. I was very surprised to see the poor performance with the 38 special using Wadcutters. I had always heard that Wadcutters were supposed to be competition rounds. I know you're one hell of a shot with that 38 special at long distances, I'm not sure what the problem was, but I was truly shocked by the 38 special. Have any idea why the 38 rounds performed poorly?

[@craigfinley2507]

What grain are the waddcuters. Is a wadcutter a good round for defence. Let me know.

[@MPGunther1]

Next time around, can you try moving to your left and right and shoot on the move to see how your accuracy is?

[@GunSam]

Possibly. I know I would do better with a semi auto in that test, but we shall see!

[@battleelf6523]

Please shoot these rounds out of classic Colt's and Smith & Wesson's? My Grandpa killed a home invader with a .32 Smith & Wesson? Grandpa was eating dinner when one of his tenets ran crying into his apartment? She was followed by her angry husband? The man was carrying a 2 x 4 and began attacking my Grandpa? Grandpa reached into the hutch behind him and grabbed a .Smith & Wesson .32? Grandpa was a veteran of Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Bougainville and several other battles? Grandpa pressed the little .32 up against the intruder's liver and let them fly he then stepped on the man's neck and was going to put a few in his dome but the man's wife pleaded for his life? It took several days for the guy to die?

[@GunSam]

I would if I had access to guns like that, but I do not. I have what I have.

[@battleelf6523]

@@GunSam Thank you for all your work. I see your efforts as a kind of firearms archaeology where you test the ballistics of various rounds used in the past. Best wishes.

[@plk7592]

Sorry, I just don't get long range shooting with snubbies. They were designed for up close and personal self defense. I have no plans to ever get in a situation where I would need to shoot someone or something at greater distances than 10 feet. No more than 1 or 2 well placed rounds would be needed to resolve any issue up close, so worrying about recoil to me is not an issue. I'll take a .357 mag. snub nose every time, and if I prefer, shoot .38's instead. At 10 feet, I'm not too worried about accuracy, just point and squeeze. So, I mostly practice getting it out of my holster as quickly as I can. Being first to shoot is the most important for me. I could be wrong.

[@GunSam]

My philosophy is shooting at long range is a challenge with any handgun, so it sharpens the skills. As far as being a snub nose VS any other barrel length, long range makes very little difference. I have heard so many people talk about longer barrels being better for longer range, quotes about sight radius etc, but in my experience all handgun barrel lengths shoot about the same at longer range because everything at long range is small and even a 6" barrel at long range is difficult to group well. Now at close range, I do see the longer barrels grouping better because at 7 yards the sight radius does make a difference for me personally.

[@filianablanxart8305]

You can guess , and even when not statistically manipulated to give pre determined results , averages are only average , and individual numbers vary widely . Taking admittedly small sample of a police department with 5 incidents with at least 7 officers involved . One was grappling with suspect , one was literally at arms length, one was just beyond arms length , one was high volume running gun battle between two ofc and one felon , one was a first shot takedown at measured 76 yds . How would you even attempt to figure an " average " ? Huge difference between the Mean and the Median . Distance for each shot fired by each participant , or just the initial distance ? Weighted by outcome ? The Ofc grappling, and just beyond arm's length were killed . The exactly arms length survived with injuries . through the intervention of Ofc from another Dept . The running gun battle and 76yd were all uninjured . So there's a strong case to be made that the longer the distance , the better the outcomes for a reasonably proficient Good Guy . You can guess , but you won't * know * until the instant it actually happens . And even when the absolute distances are moderate , there can be situiations where it is necessary to make precise shots to a small target area . My oversimplified concept is that if you have the ability to make precise hits either at longer distances , or very small targets up close , it only makes it easier to make close hits on big targets , but if you only practice at spitting , if not bad breath distances , you will be disadvantaged at longer distances or small target areas . ( I could go on about observations of small frame vs medium frame ( big difference ) or bbl length per se ( small difference ) , but I've rambled enough for one comment .)

[@norby0418]

I would still not trust the 32 wc in a defensive situation. And I’ve been carrying a j frame as a backup and off duty for over 40 years

[@jtem9313]

My understanding is that water doesn't compress and the human body is mostly water. And, the smaller & slower a round is, like a .32 long, the less water it's pushing against and the more time it has to get out of the way, so they do get decent and sometimes over penetration... providing they don't hit any bone!

[@GunSam]

There's always a balance between energy, momentum, diameter and velocity. While in theory some lower velocity rounds should penetrate better than some higher velocity rounds, once you get the bullet light enough and or the bullet is so slow it's energy is low, those factors in and of themselves will lower penetration. Example would be lets say standard pressure .38 Special VS .45 ACP. You can shoot them both at 800 FPS, and even with more drag with the .45 ACP, the .45 ACP should penetrate more as 800 FPS rounds would be 125 gr VS 230 gr. That 230 gr's momentum will plow through fleshy material and is unlikely to change course while hitting bone.

[@filianablanxart8305]

The operative comparison is Sectional Density , commonly abbreviated as SD . It is a calculation of the amount of mass per square inch of cross sectional area . ( I have memorized my simplified method of quickly calculating , consult google for in depth physics and fluid dynamics lessons ) The simplified version is the higher the SD numbers , the deeper the penetration , the other important factors being equal . Positing a non expanding FMJ and a non expanding hard cast Round Nose assume the nose shapes to be equal , and ignore any difference in coefficient of friction between copper jacket vs lead passing through flesh and organs . .357dia 158gr = .177 SD .452dia 230gr = .160 SD At the same velocity , the 158gr .38 will outpenetrate 230 gr .45 . This fits with real world accounts , and you can demonstrate with ballistic gel , or with the largest game animals , or livestock otherwise destined for dispatched , that you would ethically shoot with a round nose .38spl . ( The .38 will penetrate farther , but the .45 will have more terminal effect , because other factors equalized , Bigger ( diameter ) is Better . ( Heavy bones behave differently , and the presumption was avoiding femurs , skulls, and shoulder blades .) Yeah , I can geek out over comparitive ballistics . What's all that mean in practical terms ? One of them over penetrates , the other overpenetrates a lot . Achieving sufficient penetration isn't a limiting factor for either for self defense , or broadside shots on deer sized thin skinned game . ( please Don't run out and go hunting deer with standard velocity .38 Round Nose . While penetration is plenty , but energy transfer and wound channels are deficient . )

[@michaelgonthier3360]

Either, or...wadcutters punch a CLEAN HOLE... THROUGH THE PAPER... Same as soft targets... I dont care for h.p.'s because of inconsistent expansion...wads are accurate ... Giggle olympic match pistols in s&w long are tackdrivers...

[@Max-wd8ox]

@Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ why did you sell your ruger SP101?

[@GunSam]

I traded it in, actually traded in two SP101's 7 years ago. This was back when I had to sell guns to buy new ones, and at that time I would only own like 2-3 guns max at a time, no way I could have afforded to work my way up without letting something go at the time.

[@richki.24]

good video ...

[@GunSam]

Thanks

[@dadders6]

How do you 'measure' felt recoil, you mention foot pounds.

[@theodorebrego3737]

How much did the trigger play a factor? I hear the lcr has a fantastic trigger pull

[@GunSam]

Probably a little bit. Most of it was the lack of flinch from the low recoil though.

[@mikem.2078]

The 32 SW long still has rather loud report? Any options to get low (i.e. don't need ear pro)?

[@GunSam]

.32 long, .38 Special and so on are less loud. Probably the quietest load that is good for practice and defense is .38 Special wadcutters. Very low powder charge but covers a lot of terminal ballistic bases

[@owenlm37]

would you recommend a Taurus over a Charter Arms? I'm hesitant on Taurus bc of all the ppl who have transfer bars break + fall out on them. The new professional 3" 32 h&r from charter arms looks promising

[@GunSam]

Charter arms and Taurus both use a transfer bar. Now, I as well had transfer bar breakages on Tauruses but they were all rimfire, so with centerfire we are dealing with less hammer force. All I can say off the bat is that I have not had any issues with this Taurus 605. Personally, I would trust the Taurus more. Remember, Charter Arms will not even put ".38 Special+P" on their .38 Special revolvers, just ".38 Special", so that concerns me.

[@RustyOpel]

@@GunSam I could be wrong but I think Charter says +p is OK but not recommended due to insufficient powder burn in the snubs.

[@craigfinley2507]

Why does wadctter do more damage than a regular lead bullet aren't they lead as well

[@GunSam]

Shape. A round bullet eases it's way in. A wadcutter cuts a cylinder through what it hits.

[@craigfinley2507]

@@GunSam ok sam thanks

[@jk6869]

.327 LCR all day…

[@RandyWittmann]

Thank you !! Great video as always !! What state are you in? Always snow on the ground lately

[@GunSam]

Thank you. It's Michigan. Funny thing is when I filmed this video there was snow on the ground, then as I was packing up to leave it was gone. So within 20 minutes after filming it was gone.

[@RandyWittmann]

I looked at the 327 Ruger LCR. I have it in 9mm and 38 special. But I felt the ammo was expensive compared to the 38 and the 9mm. Surprised by the ballistics on the 32. Love your Chanel !!

[@GunSam]

@@RandyWittmann I didn't realize until after I acquired this revolver, than .32 S&W Long is plentiful and inexpensive. It's like the .38 Special of the .327 Magnum world. Here's some ammo links, still some in stock even with ammo shortages of others. www.targetsportsusa.com/32-sw-long-ammo-c-48.aspx /// www.midwayusa.com/32-s-and-w-long/br?cid=7505&targetLocation=%2F_%2FN-7505%3FNp%3D2%26Nr%3DAND%2528p_visible%253A1%252Ccustomertypeid%253A1%2529%26Nrpp%3D24%26Ns%3Dp_metric_sales_velocity%257C1%26Ntpc%3D1%26Ntpr%3D1&customerSelectedSort=False

[@RandyWittmann]

Thanks Sam !! I really appreciate it.

[@nbip2845]

But can the 32 vaporize a zombie brown bear on steroids and cocaine with ONE BULLET?

[@GunSam]

No. Unless he laughs you bounced a bullet off his fur, then you might have time to retreat.

[@jtns2845]

i only use wadcutters in lightweight 38sp revolvers. there is no point shooting at something if heavy recoil prevents consistent accuracy. it is a real shame that wadcutter ammo is almost never found at retail gun shops, i get mine by mail order or at gun shows exclusively. magtech’s 38 cbc shorts are even softer shooting.

[@GunSam]

I have also noticed that reloading bullets for wadcutters are really cheap. What you might get 100 JHP bullets for $20, you can get 250 wadcutters for $25.

[@filianablanxart8305]

That's not s specific Wadcutter thing , that's a more general Commercial Cast vs Jacketed thing .

[@filianablanxart8305]

And the most important factor in that sentence is the Gun . The single biggest factor a recoil adverse or inexperienced shooter can do for themselves is to use a Steel frame snubbie . Yes, yes , lightweight is good . But don't obsess over the most-est lightest possible , the goal is Appropriately Light . For a period of years , I carried Two BUGs , most frequently an Airweight 2in J frame and a 3in all Steel J frame . Which one was easier and more comfortable to conceal ? Surprise ! No difference . And this was for long days , doing physical activity , sometimes strenuous . Between a 13oz Airweight Chief Special , and an 18oz all Steel Chief Special , which one was easier to shoot/ less painful to shoot ? Huge difference in favor of the steel . ( At that point I was doing a prodigious amount of DA practice , to keep my edge with hard kicking revolvers , most specifically with primary with full power .357 . With the Airweight , I could shoot Expert on the then standard 50 round Qual course . But even with custom Boot Grips , 50 rds of 158 +P Hurt !

[@chriswesterman5331]

Is that black revolver a Ruger LCR 38 special? Meaning, can you shoot 32 S&W Longs through a Ruger LCR 38 special?

[@GunSam]

No, its a .327 Federal Magnum LCR.

[@chriswesterman5331]

@@GunSam Thank you.

[@dr53love]

Volume ...

[@kitjazz66]

You have a 3 yr old video saying that 38 is the best cartridge overall. But in all your comparison vids the .327, 32H&R mag & 32 S&W long all hold their own or best the 38. Comment ? ... (Hadn't seen the 38 Colt short when I wrote this )

[@GunSam]

The problem with .32 caliber is there isn't enough ammo support. I even started hand loading .32 Long and .32 H&R Magnum today and even with data, it's difficult to find data. With .38 Special there's not only a lot of ammo choices but also lots of load data. Now I do feel like for the recoil and energy, .32 caliber take .32 H&R Mag for example, is excellent because it takes very little energy to penetrate a bullet well but also expand one, the diameter is small so it penetrates but the bullet weight is light too which helps them expand. Great cartridge, but it's still a niche market as where .357 mag and .38 Special revolvers are everywhere and the .38 Special is still the best.

[@kitjazz66]

OK ... I get it .... As a senior & beginner I think I'll go with a .327 and move up later ... Love your videos and thanks for the quick response.

[@patrickbolthouse7354]

Can you list models cal. and barrel lengths.

[@GunSam]

In this video the black revolver is the Ruger LCR .327 Federal Magnum 1.875" barrel. The stainless revolver is the Taurus 605 .357 Magnum 2.0" barrel.

[@patrickbolthouse7354]

@@GunSam Thanks. www.genitron.com good site for info, including recoil. Check it out if you haven't. Not real easy to use until, you get use to it.

[@howardschwartz1462]

What is the foot/lb for 380 in lcp

[@howardschwartz1462]

I mean recoil foot/lb

[@GunSam]

I didn't run through a calculator, but I'd say probably 6 ft lbs recoil energy, in reference a Glock 19 9mm is about 5 and a snub .357 is about 12. That being said, an LCP feels worse for recoil because its so thin.

[@howardschwartz1462]

Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ thank you. I carry a ruger 327 lcr with 32 long wad cutters. Do you think reversing the wad cutter is a better option? I reload so it is no problem.

[@markmuch1295]

Thanks for this video. Paul Harrell likes semiwadcutters best for defense with .38 special revolvers. Do they make semiwadcutters for .32 S&W long revolvers? Do you think a .32 wadcutter would be better for defense than a Magtech .32 hollow point?

[@filianablanxart8305]

Paul Harrell's views on .38 Special ammo are more varied and nuanced than that . To broadly paraphrase his body of work , he considers wadcutters viable in some contexts , but many other flavors viable also . YES ! Absolutely there are Semi Wadcutter Bullets for .32 ! ( And a plethora of worthwhile flat points also ) But the bad news is you won't find them in mainstream factory ammo . The Magtech JHP will NOT expand at those velocities . OTOH , probably wouldn't do any worse than Round Nose Lead . If you handload , the 60gr jhps intended for .32acp can be driven fast enough at these pressures in the larger cases to reach their intended velocity window . But the very short bearing surfaces , and the jump thru the B/C wil decrease accuracy . At least accuracy will be terrible by the standards of .32 SW-L revolvers . Since my micro .32acp has expectations of 4in groups @ 7yds , It could probably best that . Other than Buffalo Bore , options are limited if you have an actual .32 S&W Long revolver . If you are using as a sub load in a .32mag , practice your skills some more to be able to set up to a proper, .32mag jhp . It kicks more than the wadcutters , but still milder than .38spl . ( Unless you are actually handicapped , and actually need as close as possible to zero recoil . In that case , roll with the full WC , and tell yourself that penetration is great , and you don't want no stinking expansion .

[@independentthinker8930]

15 steps,not paces