single six .32 H&R

[sheep.dog]

Ran across a 4 5/8 single six in .32h&r at a shop today. I never thought much about .32 until now but seeing as it is a good deal I'm thinking of picking it up.
Anyone have thoughts on the .32 h&r?
Also I am sure it has been discussed before but what is the process and cost to convert the .32hr to .327 fed mag?

 

[WIL TERRY]

BUY'N'LARGE it cannot be converted as the cylinder is too short.

 

[dougader]

The SS just needs a longer cylinder made for the 327 FM in a Single Six. Bowen Classic Arms sells these and uses them in their conversions to 327 FM.

Scroll down the page a bit here to see some offerings:

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/workshop.html

But the little 32 H&R mag is a nice round on it's own. In a Ruger it can be run soft to sizzlin'. Brian Pearce wrote an article for Handloader mag awhile back with some nice loads for both 32 HRM and 327 FM.

I like a cast 94 grain rnfp with 3.5 - 4.2 grains of WW231 for plinking and informal target shooting. A Hornady 100 grain XTP -HP with 11.8 grains of W296 (MAX) and CCI 550 magnum small pistol primers is a zippy load even from my 3.5" Single Six.

 

[Ethang]

Buy it. 327 or not it is one heck of a fun little gun and about a perfect trail pistol if you don't have to worry about bears and other people eating things.

 

[willk]

You really have to handload to get to use it. But if you do load your own, it is one heck of a fine little firearm. Great round and a lot of fun when using a Single Six.

No need to convert it to .327, cause you are going to have to load for both and a properly loaded H&R can do some pretty serious shooting in its own right.

 

[varminter22]

I never miss an opportunity to praise the .32 H&R Mag - which I think is the most underappreciated cartridge in America.

Its accurate, fun to shoot, and has energy similar to a .38 Spec (enough for critters up to and including coyotes.)

 

[gak]

Good "factory" loads do exist. The current ammo shortages aside, http://www.georgia-arms.com is a great and warm round (100 gr JHP and RNFP) at not unreasonable prices, and while pricey, recent (year or two) Buffalo Bore and Corbon have introduced some very warm loads. I'll be in the minority and say it's a heckuva little popper even in the so-called "anemic" traditional factory loadings. Loads of fun - and effective. I would not like to stand in front of them and neither would the likes of jackrabbits and yotes. Nothing like a .32 H&R, whether out of a Single Six or Smith J frame Airweight, both great platforms for it.

I have also considered the .327 conversion - for one of my Vaqueritos. It is a pricier conversion than most, requiring the aforementioned new, longer cylinder (but thankfully at least no cylnder window mods to accommodate, just B/C gap "adjustment") and refinishing/new caliber roll mark etc if taking it that far which most do (or at least want to). But I agree, the .32 H&R is a great round all by itself. I don't think a more enjoyable cartridge/gun combo exists. Long live the .32 Mag!

EDIT.
After some thought, I'm not so sure my above statement about the .327 being a "pricier" conversion is accurate. Since it's still a .32, the barrel can remain unchanged except foe the b/c aspect. Virtually all significant caliber--versus cartridge--conversions of course involve both cylinder and barrel work or replacement.
I should have said that, "since a new cylinder is involved, it's not simply a rechamber job." But not many are anyway I guess!

 

[flatgate]

I have a couple shooters. I've had nothing but "smiles" with them! Of course, I've tinkered with 'em a bit.

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

here's all I got left of the last one we had.......

 

[sheep.dog]

Rugerguy, what did you do? Let me get this straight, it used to be a .32 h&r? What is it now?

 

[j p sixguns welldone]

Want to sell them grips dan

 

[gak]

Rugerguy, what did you do? Let me get this straight, it used to be a .32 h&r? What is it now?

Got me wondering too, especially with that barrel - unless a custom new barrel not needed but wanted for the .327 conversion, (or .38 Sp, .41 Colt) etc?

 

[dougader]

38 Special on a Single Six is sweet.

 

[Hondo44]

BUY'N'LARGE it cannot be converted as the cylinder is too short.

I have to take exception with you there. I've done three now and they all function exceptionally well.

The first was a two step conversion; 1st from 22 to 32 H&R Mag, then to 327 Mag'
Here’s the 1959 vintage 22 Mag ‘only’ Single Six conversion to 32 H&R Mag with a factory barrel and cyl , cost $180. Reamer, $80. Gun, $200 some years ago less sale of 22 Mag cyl $75. Total cost, $385.
It has since been sighted in and the front sight shaped to a quick draw ramp, serrated with a checkering file, and blued.

Had to enlarge the loading gate chute slightly for the larger cases.

In these two shots, you can see where I plugged and re-drilled to lower the firing pin and recoil plate for center fire.

I have since reamed the chamber shoulder deeper to shoot .327 Fed Mags.
All conversions I’ve seen used a custom longer cylinder. Bowen and Dave Clements do this routinely and one of them even did a 5 shot .327 Ruger Bearcat! But Federal and American Eagle factory loaded cartridges are only .003 to.004” longer than the factory single six cylinder.

I received my Clymer chamber reamer from Brownells. They didn't have a 32 Fed Mag reamer and a call to Clymer verified that they didn't make one. But all I needed to do was extend the 32 H&R chambers .122" to Fed Mag length. So I ordered the 32 H&R reamer, ground the stop back .122" and reamed my chambers.

When I shot it, even though the Fed mags in the 85 Gr HP Hyrda shock and American Eagle 100 gr JSP loads were longer than the chambers, the .005" or so breechface/case rim gap was sufficient for the loaded cyl to rotate w/o interference.

I may not be able to shoot longer bullets unless I seat them lower, but so far my handloads all work just fine.

2nd conversion, a NM 32 H&R to 327. Same results as above.

3rd conversion was a 32 Stainless Vaquerito on Friday with the same success. Literally a 10 minute job.
Total cost for 2nd and 3rd, $0 since I already had the reamer.

 

[rugerguy]

Nice looking Jim, good job..................

 

[meshugunner]

Sweet. I want one.

 

[WIL TERRY]

BUY'N'LARGE it cannot be converted as the cylinder is too short.

I have to take exception with you there. I've done three now and they all function exceptionally well.

The first was a two step conversion; 1st from 22 to 32 H&R Mag, then to 327 Mag'
Here’s the 1959 vintage 22 Mag ‘only’ Single Six conversion to 32 H&R Mag with a factory barrel and cyl , cost $180. Reamer, $80. Gun, $200 some years ago less sale of 22 Mag cyl $75. Total cost, $385.
It has since been sighted in and the front sight shaped to a quick draw ramp, serrated with a checkering file, and blued.

Had to enlarge the loading gate chute slightly for the larger cases.

In these two shots, you can see where I plugged and re-drilled to lower the firing pin and recoil plate for center fire.

I have since reamed the chamber shoulder deeper to shoot .327 Fed Mags.
All conversions I’ve seen used a custom longer cylinder. Bowen and Dave Clements do this routinely and one of them even did a 5 shot .327 Ruger Bearcat! But Federal and American Eagle factory loaded cartridges are only .003 to.004” longer than the factory single six cylinder.

I received my Clymer chamber reamer from Brownells. They didn't have a 32 Fed Mag reamer and a call to Clymer verified that they didn't make one. But all I needed to do was extend the 32 H&R chambers .122" to Fed Mag length. So I ordered the 32 H&R reamer, ground the stop back .122" and reamed my chambers.

When I shot it, even though the Fed mags in the 85 Gr HP Hyrda shock and American Eagle 100 gr JSP loads were longer than the chambers, the .005" or so breechface/case rim gap was sufficient for the loaded cyl to rotate w/o interference.

I may not be able to shoot longer bullets unless I seat them lower, but so far my handloads all work just fine.

2nd conversion, a NM 32 H&R to 327. Same results as above.

3rd conversion was a 32 Stainless Vaquerito on Friday with the same success. Literally a 10 minute job.
Total cost for 2nd and 3rd, $0 since I already had the reamer.

WELL I'LL BE DARNED, I AM IMPRESSED !!! Learn something new every day if you pay attention, hey?!

 

[Lee Martin]

Great little guns. Mine has been seeing a lot of range time of late:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

So the bullets stick out the front of the chambers, but the arrangement works because of barrel/cylinder gap and headspace allowing the cylinder to rotate?

Cases not completely seated in the chambers at firing . . . ie, not completely chambering on the case rims?

 

[meshugunner]

I'd love to have a SS chambered in 32mag/.327.

I'm curious why Terry started with a .22 since SS's are available in .32mag?

The fact that a SS can handle .327 mag really shows how overbuilt and tough these little guns are.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

"The fact that a SS can handle .327 mag really shows how overbuilt and tough these little guns are."

Well, Ruger doesn't think so, apparently, or they'd offer it up as an available chambering.

We all know that Rugers are tough (witness the "Ruger only" loadings for the .45 Blackhawks), and we've heard no bad reports from Single-Sixes chambered in 327 (so far). The thing we don't know is what Ruger's safety factor is, and how much the 327 infringes on that. I cannot quote numbers right off, but I recall the 327 having pressures CONSIDERABLY in excess of the .32 H&R.

All that said, I still find the 327 Single-Six to be hugely attractive. Haven't yet arranged for one, however.

 

[captainkirk]

I'd love to have a SS chambered in 32mag/.327.

I'm curious why Terry started with a .22 since SS's are available in .32mag?

The fact that a SS can handle .327 mag really shows how overbuilt and tough these little guns are.

Probably for the Old Model lockwork.

captainkirk

 

[Hondo44]

So the bullets stick out the front of the chambers, but the arrangement works because of barrel/cylinder gap and headspace allowing the cylinder to rotate?

Cases not completely seated in the chambers at firing . . . ie, not completely chambering on the case rims?

Ale,

That's correct, with the the cartridge rims fully seated tight to the rear face of the cylinder, you can see the bullets just barely stick out the front of the cylinder but they rotate into firing position without any interference whatsoever. I knew the bullets would stick out before reaming the chambers but figured I would just run the factory cartridges thru my seating die and seat them about .005" deeper. There's at least .010" of room left in the crimp cannalur to seat the bullets deeper. But imagine my surprise to find they functioned fine just as they came from the factory.

I think you're absolutely right that the issue with Ruger in chambering the 327 in the single six is one of strength; not being able to get their usual 'twice normal pressure' margin of safety. Although so many customs have been made and used now w/o problems. The frame window is certainly adequate if they just lengthened the cyl.

 

[Hondo44]

I'd love to have a SS chambered in 32mag/.327.

I'm curious why Terry started with a .22 since SS's are available in .32mag?

The fact that a SS can handle .327 mag really shows how overbuilt and tough these little guns are.

Meshugunner,

It wasn't Terry. I started with a 3 screw because I like 3 screws, especially the single six with the drift adjustable rear sight. Also I had the gun already and I thought a 3 screw 327 Fed Mag would be unique. Now I have converted two NM .32 SSs to 327 Mag as well. And happy with all three.

 

[sheep.dog]

Darn now I am really hooked.
Hey Hondo anyway I could convince you to ream the cylinder for me?

 

[dougader]

I think 32 HRM is supposed to run at SAAMI specs of 21,000 psi. 327 Fed can run to 45,000 psi.

I'm thinking the loads that Brian Pearce listed for the 32HRM are closer to 35,000 - 36,000 psi (same as the 357 and 44 mag). All I can say is my SS handles the 100 grain xtp over 11.8 grains of 296 with ease. No flattened primers and cases fall from the chambers after firing.

I imagine the cylinders that Hamilton Bowen uses, and sells, are heat treated to handle the 327 FM pressures of 45k psi. I have no idea what the Ruger Single Six cylinder is able to handle on a regular basis... maybe it'll be fine with 327 FM, maybe not.

I would think the SS cylinders are heat treated, but maybe not quite enough for 327 FM?

Most people I know with 327 SS's have had a Bowen cylinder fit to the gun. Hondo 44 has the only experience with the 32 HRM cylinders reamed to 327.

Bowen and others have reamed 32 HRM SP101's to hold 327 FM and they seem to be fine. The questions is, I guess, are the SS cylinders as durable/strong as the SP101 cylinders?

 

[Hondo44]

Nice looking Jim, good job..................

Thanks Dan,

It was a fun challenge and I learned a lot.

 

[Hondo44]

Darn now I am really hooked.
Hey Hondo anyway I could convince you to ream the cylinder for me?

sheep.dog,

PM sent.

 

[peyton]

This is an interesting idea, I only have about 6 32's that I would love to be able to fire 327 out of. Put me on the list to borrow a 327 reamer.

 

[meshugunner]

It wasn't Terry. I started with a 3 screw because I like 3 screws, especially the single six with the drift adjustable rear sight. Also I had the gun already and I thought a 3 screw 327 Fed Mag would be unique. Now I have converted two NM .32 SSs to 327 Mag as well. And happy with all three.

Ah. Thanks for clearing that up Hondo. Very fine and interesting piece of work.

I'd love to have a SS in .327 mag. Could kick myself for passing up a nickel SS in .32H&R for $400 (and the vendor said he would deal) at a gun show last year.

My guess (based on near total ignorance) is that the SS is well capable of handling the pressure from a .327 but then it would just be a regular gun, not overbuilt by a factor of 2 so Ruger won't do it. (I think someone made this point above)