The .32 H&R Doesn’t Fall Short
A close-up of Tank’s favorite .32s (lef to rightfully) RCBS 98 SWC,
MP Molds 100 Grain HP, and LBT 120 grain LFN.
Among handgunners, there’s a need for a cartridge between the power of the .22 rimfire and the .357 Magnum. Everyone agrees on the versatility and joy the .22 rimfire provides. From a day of easy plinking to serious target practice, or simply filling the camp pot, the .22 rimfire holds a near and dear place in our cartridge lineup.
A .357 Magnum revolver can also be a top contender of usefulness. Loaded with .38 Special ammo allows for an easy shooting everyday load accurate enough for serious target work. Having more punch than the .22 rimfire, it too can be used for filling the camp pot or eradicating vermin. Full power Magnum loads are perfect for self-defense, or even deer hunting in capable hands.
The top three are .32 H&R guns, the bottom two 327 Federal.
If starting out, get the .327 Federal so you can shoot both
cartridges in the same gun.
All Hail the .32 H&R
I’ve always liked the .32 H&R Magnum. It was introduced in 1984 in a joint venture between Harrington & Richardson and Federal. The .32 Magnum was designed to be more powerful than the .32 S&W Long cartridge and made for Harrington & Richardson revolvers. Ruger also came out with their Single Six revolver, which is where the .32 H&R Magnum begins to shine.
The Single Six is much stronger than the H&R guns. The mild factory loads were quickly surpassed by judicious handloaders turning the .32 H&R into fire-breathing dragons when fired in the Single Six. Advantages included being able to carry a light and petite gun capable of shooting 130-grain cast bullets in excess of 1,100 fps, or 100-grain bullets in excess of 1,300 fps, depending on barrel length, of course.
Comparison of the LBT 120 grain loaded in .32 H&R and ,327 Federal brass.
You can see how the same bullet in the longer .327 brass is too long for the .327 cylinder.
.327 Federal Magnum
Around 2007, Federal introduced its .327 Federal cartridge. It’s essentially a slightly longer and heavier cartridge case than the .32 H&R but loaded to higher pressures for the Ruger Single Seven and comparable guns. Now non-handloaders had a cartridge essentially in the same power level handloaders have been enjoying for the past 20 years.
The reason I like the .32 H&R is for personal reasons. When wanting to shoot heavier bullets, .327 Federal brass is too long for the standard sized Ruger Single Six/Seven cylinder. When using the crimp groove for these heavy bullets, noses stick out past the cylinder face, essentially tying up the gun.
One of my favorite bullets for the .32 H&R is RCBS’s 98-grain semi-wadcutter, which is essentially a “baby Keith” style bullet. From my alloy it drops at 100-101 grains. Another favorite is my deep driving LBT 120 LFN style bullet. When crimped in the crimp groove using .32 H&R brass, the bullet nose is just shy of the cylinder face. When used in .327 Federal brass, it sticks out past the face. Lastly, I have a wicked MP Molds 100-grain hollow point slug that’s in the same boat as the others, too long for .327 brass.
Too, 32 H&R brass is cheaper than .327 Federal brass, $109 compared to $157 per 500. I’ve shot thousands of rounds of both .327 Federal and .32 H&R from my guns and don’t notice much difference in trajectory or impact with vermin.
This is the kind of “peekaboo” you want to avoid when handloading
for obvious reasons. The same bullet loaded in .32 H&R brass fits
fine in the .327 cylinder.
Pet Loads
For my RCBS 98-grain “Baby Keith,” my favorite load is 10 grains of Alliant 2400. The velocity is just over 1,300 fps with excellent accuracy. When using Hodgdon Longshot, 6 grains will give you the same velocity, give or take, with good accuracy. H110 also does a dandy job, with 11.5 grains giving over 1,300 fps. Friend Dick “Sixshot” Thompson likes 3 grains of Winchester WST for an easy shooting, quiet and accurate load running just over 900 fps.
The LBT 120 grain LFN solid likes 9 grains of Alliant 2400 or 8.5 grains of AA #9 for almost 1,300 fps with excellent accuracy. Longshot is also a good powder, with 5.5 grains providing 1,300 fps. I would have no qualms taking a deer with any of these loads if the perfect broadside shot presented itself at less than 40 yards.
Lastly is my 100-grain MP Molds slug. Depending on alloy used, you can make it mushroom perfectly by adding tin or make it frangible for an explosive impact on vermin with harder alloys. That’s the great thing about casting and loading your own bullets, you have the control to do as you please. My favorite loads are, again, 10 grains of 2400, along with 6 grains of Longshot for 1,300 fps. Using 11.5 grains of H110 also provides over 1,300 fps.
Short On Stature, Not Performance
As you can see, the .32 H&R does excellent with bullets in the same weight range as the .327 Federal. You’d be hard pressed to recognize any discernable difference between it and the .327 Federal with handloads. The .327 provides convenience for those who don’t handload, while the .32 H&R is just fine for handloaders, especially those who enjoy shooting heavier bullets.
I have about a dozen other .32 caliber molds in the 130-150 grain range that work great in .32 H&R brass, but not .327 Federal. It’s easier to keep things simple. My best advice is to get a .327 Federal so you can shoot your .32 H&R handloads or factory .327 Federal in the same gun, giving you the best of both worlds.
