Poll: .32 the caliber time has passed by?

[RVTECH]

The .357 would likely be an uncomfortable gun for me to shoot,

I hear ya! If I even HAD an SP 101 in .357 I would only load lower end for it much like I do for my Mod 66 S & W.

I shoot for accuracy and relaxation and DON'T need massive muzzle blast and recoil!

 

[64MercurysRule]

Ok, enough talk about a .32!

I want one ! I'll be keeping my eye open for one in .327 Mag.

I'm thinking maybe a SP101 as I have ALWAYS considered one (passed on a 3" .357 several years ago, Grrr...)

I don't know if this SP101 sold ......
OP last seen June 2025 .

Thread: Revolvers Sp101 .327, Security Six, Lil' Dan Wesson, Smith M360J, 686, More... https://www.northwestfirearms.com/t...x-lil-dan-wesson-smith-m360j-686-more.510420/

 

[RVTECH]

I don't know if this SP101 sold ......

I'll be looking for one with adjustable sights.

 

[thorborg]

I still have several 32's; Beretta 32 tomcat, Keltec P32, a 1903 colt hamerless, all 32 acp though sadly no rifles and only one revolver the Iver Johnson model 1900 .32 S&W revolver which could be a fun little revolver but my hands are big enough I can hardly hold on to the birds head grip very well and my trigger finger barely fits the trigger hole. All the others I seem to be able to hang on to, though none have much of a kick.

They are fun to play with, but crappy to hand load with large hands.(at least for me)
The good news, they don't take much powder making a pound go a terrifically long way.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I like the older, all black grips, don't care much for the later ones with the "wood" inserts.

I shot a friend that had a custom palm swell insert in the right hand grip, it seemed to help

 

[RVTECH]

but crappy to hand load with large hands.(at least for me)

This will be an issue with me as well but I'll handle it!

I had a .380 once and said I would NEVER load anything smaller than that but I'll manage!

The longer .327 will help.

One of these would be perfect!

 

[orygun]

I'm thinking maybe a SP101 as I have ALWAYS considered one (passed on a 3" .357 several years ago, Grrr...)

The SP101 I regret not buying was actually in my hands and I decided to wait. It was an early one with the barrel marked "For 125gr only".
Yeah, that one's worth a few bucks now.

 

[RVTECH]

It was an early one with the barrel marked "For 125gr only".

I was unaware of this. What was the reason for the 125 gr only warning?

 

[trukinbear]

.30 Super Carry is .312 and is a fine round with equal to 9mm ballistics in a pistol, and exceeding it in a carbine.

 

[Nosferatu]

You might like the SP101

I've never met an SP101 I've liked, unfortunately.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I wan unaware of this. What was the reason for the 125 gr only warning?

The very first SP101's were 38Spl only and the cylinder was sized accordingly. Some gun writers (Massad Ayoob I think) rechambered them to 357 mag and Ruger decided to make it a factory option. Only issue was the cylinder was too short for bullets longer than 125gr and it was possible to load heavier rounds and close the cylinder but they stuck out of the cylinder and would lock the gun up by hitting the barrel

 

[Alexx1401]

I hear ya! If I even HAD an SP 101 in .357 I would only load lower end for it much like I do for my Mod 66 S & W.

I shoot for accuracy and relaxation and DON'T need massive muzzle blast and recoil!

With the 3inch tube and wood grips they feel a lot like being hit in the hand with a bat with full house loads. With over size rubber grips I could learn to shoot them but it took a lot of practice. When the small light auto's started to come into their own mine got sent to a new home. In 38's they were actually fun to shoot but the weight made them not much fun to carry.

 

[Alexx1401]

The very first SP101's were 38Spl only and the cylinder was sized accordingly. Some gun writers (Massad Ayoob I think) rechambered them to 357 mag and Ruger decided to make it a factory option. Only issue was the cylinder was too short for bullets longer than 125gr and it was possible to load heavier rounds and close the cylinder but they stuck out of the cylinder and would lock the gun up by hitting the barrel

Ruger tended to make everything over what it "needed" to be back then. Several smiths were doing custom jobs for people reaming out the cylinder enough to allow the .357 125gr HPs to be used in the gun that was meant for .38s. So much so Ruger finally just started making them in .357. People were doing the same thing with the Black Hawks in .45 Colt. Loading them to .44 Mag specs since the guns could handle it. Back when this was a "thing" I could never understand why they would not just buy one in .44 Mag if that was what they wanted.

 

[Ben B.]

I shot a friend that had a custom palm swell insert in the right hand grip, it seemed to help

Bad luck for that friend!! Not sure who it helped….

 

[Cerberus Group]

6 shot Lipsey's 3" Ruger SP101 327 Fed Mag

I don't care for the 327 ammo on the market, with up to 1,600fps and pressure approaching 30-30 its like shaking hands with the devil.

Downloaded to 1,200fps, the performance still exceeds FBI standards for penetration, reliably expands and is way more easier to shoot...less blast, recoil...easier on both shooter and firearm.

 

[orygun]

I was unaware of this. What was the reason for the 125 gr only warning?

Others have addressed this. Ruger first didn't make any changes to the gun besides the chambers, but they would only allow the shorter, 125gr bullet. Shortly after Ruger lengthened the cylinder by about 1/8" to allow all bullet weights to fit.
If I had one of those Rugers it would live in the safe. I like 158.

 

[orygun]

Ruger tended to make everything over what it "needed" to be back then. Several smiths were doing custom jobs for people reaming out the cylinder enough to allow the .357 125gr HPs to be used in the gun that was meant for .38s. So much so Ruger finally just started making them in .357. People were doing the same thing with the Black Hawks in .45 Colt. Loading them to .44 Mag specs since the guns could handle it. Back when this was a "thing" I could never understand why they would not just buy one in .44 Mag if that was what they wanted.

Cuz ya can!
Bigger bullet + same speed = MO POWA!

 

[Outpost75]

Elderly with arthritis and low recoil tolerance. EDC is Charter Arms Off Duty .32 Mag

 

[thorborg]

This will be an issue with me as well but I'll handle it!

I had a .380 once and said I would NEVER load anything smaller than that but I'll manage!

The longer .327 will help.

One of these would be perfect!
View attachment 2277731

the difficult part for me is getting the bullet started and to stay in place while running it up the die. I cant use my preferred old Pacific press as it sits at a slight angle so I use the RCBS but its designed for long cartridges so has to travel farther to engage the die but at least its straight up. Its not like sticking a boat tail in

 

[RVTECH]

the difficult part for me is getting the bullet started and to stay in place

When you 'flare' the case doesn't the 'flare' kind of 'center' the bullet and support it ?

This is MY experience anyway loading handgun ammo.

When I got my Co - Ax press however I discovered IMMEDIATELY it was much more practical for loading handgun ammo than the Rock Chucker was and made it much easier.

NO disrespect to the RC as it was the FIRST press I started with and it still gets used for certain things but the Co Ax covers abut 80 % of my reloading now.