I went to the gun range yesterday and got to browsing the handguns in the glass case and made the mistake of asking to see a couple of them. Handled the Ruger Blackhawk and vaquero-liked the vaquero better but then the fella behind the counter pulled out a ruger single six in 32 H&R and MAN O MAN did that gun feel RIGHT! Blue barrel with the case coloring and imitation ivory handles--but at $439 it was too much for this po-boy to handle. I don't know much about this caliber and can't really find a way to "justify" it-the facory ammo costs more than 22lr or 38 spl/357 mags and I have guns in both these calibers so the only reason I can come up with is "just because" but that will not fly with the wife or the "adult" in me. some one please educate me on the 32 and give me a reason...

Dave

The cowboy action shooters like the 32 H&R mag because it is CF and can be loaded with almost no recoil ,for speed.
I have a 10" TC barrel from my IHMSA shooting days

A shop in my area has a Ruger SP101 in .32
for sale, nice looking gun.

romeo,

what is the price tag on that ruger? and do you have contact info to the gun shop?

Thanks

Dave

lubbockdave:

I've been shooting the 32 Mag for around 12 years. I presently have 2 guns in this caliber. They are both Smith and Wesson Model 16-4's. One is a 4" and the other is an 8 3/8" I originally viewed the cartridge as a woods gun in a K frame that made for easy carry. And it is a good small game round. I've killed a few woodchucks and a couple of squirrels just to say I did it, I guess. But what the 32 is at its best is a fun round. Jane and I probably shoot more 32's than 38's or 44's. Its very accurate. The 8 3/8 gun shoots just about any load like a rifle. The 4' is a little more touchy but it still shoots wadcutter loads into an inch at 25 yds. It likes 8 gr of 2400 and a 95 gr SWC a lot too. It is a great recreational target and plinking round. As far as I know at present, Smith, Ruger, and Taurus chamber guns in this round.

It was conceived as much as a persoanl defense round as anything. The factory loads about equal a 38 special but with far less recoil. In order to bring out the best of the 32 Mag it is necessary to reload. The cartridge is anemic in factory loadings since the first guns were weak H&R's. That Ruger you mention will take some pretty hot loads.

Here is a link to a lengthy thread from another forum that will tell you far more than I can about the 32 Mag.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=4839

knobmtn

I have a pair of the 6.5" older model single six 32 mags with adjustible site.You can handload that thing for nothing.Its cheaper than 22 mag to shoot with cast bullets.Its also a little mean machine loaded up in the rugers.I have gotten 1400fps with 100 gr and 1300 fps with 115 gr hard cast.I like winchester 296 powder ,h110 and small rifle primers.Its a little fireball loaded up .Its close to the 357 mag when it loaded hot.It has very little kick and is a blast to shoot.I know a shop that has some of those Ruger Vequeros for $269 in blue with 4 5/8" barrels.Thats a bargin in anyone book.Ruger has quit making the 32 mag in the single six leaving it only in the sp101.I want one of those also.

I load my Single-Six mag about the same as you do. It really likes 2400 and cast bullets.