single six .32 H&R

[Hondo44]

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.

Hi Peyton,

Because of the time the reamer spends in the mail, it will take too long for everyone to rent. So I've decided to request that people send cylinders to me. I'm all set up to ream them and I can do dozens in a day if the reamer is in my possession. Contribution is the same, shipping both ways plus $5 to help replace the reamer when it wears out. It's not a business and I'm not in it to make money, just help out my local friends and friends on the forum.

I've shot 100s of factory .327 FM rounds thru my three .32s since I reamed the cyls to .327 with no ill effect, there are no pressure signs on the primers and the cases usually fall from the chambers (it also didn't hurt that my new sharp reamer leaves a smoother surface in the chamber), but I want to make everyone aware of the pressures as Dougader noted above.
The .32 H&R Mag is rated at 21,000 cup and taking into account that Ruger designs for a 100% overbuild safety margin, the Ruger single six .32 cyl is good for at least 42,000 cup: the .327 Fed Mag is rated at 45,000 cup. Although I also handload the cartridge, I do not "hotrod" it or exceed factory pressures.
Of course in the .32 Mag/.32-20 convertible Blackhawk 'Buckeye' cylinders I ream to .327 Fed Mag, this is a non-issue.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Please send Hondo a little more than he asks when applying for this service. His help to all in other ways more than requires our respect. I'll let him answer for himself but now I see he might help with a similar operation for other hybrids. Up to him it is.

 

[Hondo44]

Very kind words GasGuzzler, but no extra necessary. It's all for the fun and help, not profit.

Thank you all the best my friend,

 

[sheep.dog]

I too was thinking $5 was a little low so will send some goodies from VT along with my cylinder and it does happen to be sugaring season here.

 

[M'BOGO]

A comment, nothing more. Have a stainless Birdshead .32, and a standard 6.5" blued from the mid '80's. Working with some of Brian Pierce's loads with AA9 (from memory around 10 grains, which is the 10% lower charge), and a 115 g cast slug in starline .32 H&R brass. A very accurate load, but the blued one was peening the base pin (a soft one?). When funds allow, plan to get the Belt Mountain replacement for the blued one, and also the cross pin.

As 2Dogs is fond of saying, they are the most fun you can have with you clothes on, or at least up there on the list...

 

[gak]

As 2Dogs is fond of saying, they are the most fun you can have with you clothes on, or at least up there on the list...

+1 Truer words never spoken--at least in the firearms world - I'm thinking blasting down the Big Sur stretch of the PCH in a capable sports car be another one competing for the title! I've said many times - ..32 H&R (even in often derided milder factory loads) and Single Six perhaps the best/most natural mating of cartridge and gun, like they were designed/made/destined for one another. What I've also said of the .44 Special.and midframes. What the SAA "would have been intro'd as, had they only known"...especially had smokeless been around.

 

[TinStarFirearms]

These .32 Single Sixes have totally taken over my reloading and shooting life. I started with a birdshead in blue in 2005 and have since added a 6.5" New Model and most recently a 9.5." It is just the most perfect mating of cartridge to firearm I have found for me.

Andrew

 

[Sheriff]

Usually have one in the pickup or on my hip when I'm 'out and about'. Handy little shooter 'as is'.

 

[gak]

Just something special about the .32 and the guns that shoot them. Except for a family .22 and .38, my first gun was a brand new .32 H&R Ruger - a 5.5" adj sight as one of the first out of the chute in 1984. The first (and second and...) time I shot it I had grin from ear to ear...and this was with factory loads at the time. I had not owned but shot revolvers everything from .22 to .38/.357 and .44 Mag - a lot - but nothing as viscerally pleasing as the .32 combo. Still.

 

[street]

Hondo44 !!! It's a shame that you are not working for Ruger. If you were we would get some really neat stuff from the factory!!! You have some great ideas.

 

[Ethang]

A comment, nothing more. Have a stainless Birdshead .32, and a standard 6.5" blued from the mid '80's. Working with some of Brian Pierce's loads with AA9 (from memory around 10 grains, which is the 10% lower charge), and a 115 g cast slug in starline .32 H&R brass. A very accurate load, but the blued one was peening the base pin (a soft one?). When funds allow, plan to get the Belt Mountain replacement for the blued one, and also the cross pin.

As 2Dogs is fond of saying, they are the most fun you can have with you clothes on, or at least up there on the list...

Not to Hijack but if your talking about the 115's you gave me to sample and the base pin peening I had the same issue. I was not running them hot, just my normal 4 grains of Unique but after 12 of them my basepin was difficult to remove where it was not before. Is this what yours did?

And back to the 32 thread, clothes on or off these 32's are really fun...

 

[M'BOGO]

Not to Hijack but if your talking about the 115's you gave me to sample and the base pin peening I had the same issue. I was not running them hot, just my normal 4 grains of Unique but after 12 of them my basepin was difficult to remove where it was not before. Is this what yours did?

And back to the 32 thread, clothes on or off these 32's are really fun...

Yes, but the load was much hotter than 4 grains of Unique, my Unique load in that range was fine. Recall about 7 grains of 2400 shot nice, without any peening. Just wondering if the base pins weren't hardened?

Yes they are.

I've been thinking, it would be great if Lee made their 311-100-2R mold as a .314 flat point (I know, buy the RCBS 98 SWC, BROKE and cheap). Considering buying one, lapping it out. Then drilling the nose out and fitting flat point pins. Maybe a bunch of people petitioning them would get them to do this?

 

[Hondo44]

Street,
Thanks kindly. If I just had some real talent and machinery, I have lots of ideas, but most are way over my head. Since retried, I have lots of time to fondle my guns and think. Maybe Ruger needs a Marketing Consultant.....

 

[GasGuzzler]

Hondo has been more than most helpful to me. Kudos. Back to the topic.....

 

[Hondo44]

Just something special about the .32 and the guns that shoot them. Except for a family .22 and .38, my first gun was a brand new .32 H&R Ruger - a 5.5" adj sight as one of the first out of the chute in 1984. The first (and second and...) time I shot it I had grin from ear to ear...and this was with factory loads at the time. I had not owned but shot revolvers everything from .22 to .38/.357 and .44 Mag - a lot - but nothing as viscerally pleasing as the .32 combo. Still.

You are so right! The first .32 Ruger I ever saw in 1984 went home with me. My 1st gun was given to me by my grandfather, a little S&W .32 S&W Long Hand Ejector on the small 'I' frame, that he bought new in 1914.

I shoot a lot of .32s and have a 1/2 dozen more Smiths. Up until fairly recently when Smith made a few stainless target models in 327, they made very few with target sights. Mostley before the war and only 296 in 1957. So I needed a target model to match my S&W .22/32 Kit Gun. Had to make this one from a 1966 Model 30-1 J frame fixed sight model. Target sights and trigger from a Kit Gun, center fire target hammer from a 38 Chiefs Special. It's my favorite Smith:

But I really like SAs the most and the ruger 32s are at the top of the list.

 

[bogus bill]

I have one of those in almost new shape. I havent shot it in ages, bought the dies, loaded up some various loads. I didnt shoot it all that much but you guys refired my intrest. I will be shooting it later this spring. I ride quad a lot here in utah and I think it should make a good trail gun. I see in my notes I figure it was made in 1985. I bought it used/new in 1989. What is one worth now in at least 95% ?

 

[GasGuzzler]

My first anything was from my grandfather too but by inheritance via my dad that gave it too me. Good story. I have no Smiths.

 

[GasGuzzler]

What is one worth now in at least 95% ?

I'll give $200. 8) J/K...does it matter? If you wanna sell it there is a line that forms to the left.

 

[Joe S.]

Bought one a couple months ago and it has easily become one of my favorite totin irons.

I like a cast 94 grain rnfp with 3.5 - 4.2 grains of WW231 for plinking and informal target shooting.

I clearly need to spice mine up a little. 100 grain cast with 3.2 is what ive been running...

 

[Joe S.]

What is one worth...

I paid $350 for mine and feel like i got a steal!

Im seein yall are using 2400 and win 296... I really need to spice mine up a little...

 

[dougader]

Bought one a couple months ago and it has easily become one of my favorite totin irons.

I like a cast 94 grain rnfp with 3.5 - 4.2 grains of WW231 for plinking and informal target shooting.

I clearly need to spice mine up a little. 100 grain cast with 3.2 is what ive been running...

Speer 14 lists 3.4 - 3.9 grains W231 with their 100 grain jhp. Using 4.2 grains with the 94 grain cast is zippy, but nice and accurate with no high pressure sign; 1008 fps as I recall. I started using 3.5 grains for just a touch less recoil and blast (relatively speaking) for my young daughter. She likes the 22/45 in .22LR best, so I was trying to get the Single Six to shoot more like a .22 for her.

No real reason to push the cast lead bullets for punching paper. Using 3.2 grains of W231 sounds like it would also be a very nice load. If I was looking for jack rabbits in the sage brush south of Burns, Oregon, (or American Fork, UT) I'd like the 4.2 grain load. I have fired the 115 grain bullets from Hunters Supply with 4.2 grains W231 as well, I really like that load.

 

[Joe S.]

Thats cool. I was going for a rabbit/ possum/ armadillo/ easy shooting for daughter load.

Will bump it up a little bit and try...

Heck those 296/ 2400 loads sound like they'd bring a deer down from close in.

 

[sheep.dog]

I have one of those in almost new shape. I havent shot it in ages, bought the dies, loaded up some various loads. I didnt shoot it all that much but you guys refired my intrest. I will be shooting it later this spring. I ride quad a lot here in utah and I think it should make a good trail gun. I see in my notes I figure it was made in 1985. I bought it used/new in 1989. What is one worth now in at least 95% ?

Just payed 425 for similar. Going to convert to .327 and I'm seriously considering shorting the barrel to 3.75 and switching to a birds head grip frame. I think that would be a hell of a little carry gun!

 

[bogus bill]

I also own a 1st generation colt saa in 32 win (32-20). 4 3/4". They seem fairly similar as far as standard balistics go without souping up reloads. The colt is overbuilt and feels "cluby" in that caliber. My colt is has a bad refinish and a mixture of parts, not a gem to look at but it does shoot well.

 

[dougader]

Going to convert to .327 and I'm seriously considering shorting the barrel to 3.75 and switching to a birds head grip frame. I think that would be a hell of a little carry gun!

I love mine. The 32 H&R mag in the foreground here was cut back to 3.75" and slicked up very nicely with sights my old eyes can see, Bisley hammer, (came with the birdshead gripframe), colt style ejector rod button, and black powder chamfer. I love it.

I have considered having it converted to 327 Federal, but I like the 32 HRM in it so well I will probably pass. I have a DA revolver in 327 FM for concealed carry, a S&W 632.

 

[M'BOGO]

It's funny how these .32 SS threads keep going, and how once folks try one, they fall in love...

 

[ranger1]

And another Single Six .32 H&R

 

[gak]

It's funny how these .32 SS threads keep going, and how once folks try one, they fall in love...

Too bad the "love" wasn't there with more buyers initially and over the past thirty years--in terms of mass appeal.A lot of folks blame the mild factory loads "necessary" because of weaker H&R guns still on the market...But I think it was much more than that. I fell "in love" with the cartridge/gun (SS) "even" with the factory loads. "Twern"t no .22" that's for darn sure! Instead, or at least additionally, I think the "ONLY bigger is better" rags played a major role in an apathetic buying public, effectively killing it from the start, both from benign neglect, but so-so reporting when they did. Back when the paper rags represented virtually the only media for folks to go by, a lot of folks drank the "anti" kool aid, and lackluster sales resulted. More reloading resources (and hind sight perspective) now may also play a role in the apparent new and re-interest. But it's a shame that it's most likely not enough to resurrect the cartridge in any new guns in the future, which is what really keeps things spinning.

The development, availability and role of the .327 (but also the slow and rough path its taken) in the market is another part of the story--for good and bad. I saw the .327 as "oh, goodie, another platform for the .32 H&R!" that'll help my favorite cartridge keep going and still alive in folks' minds. And so it has -- to a certain degree. If the .327 can stay alive, that'll sure be a boon to H&R fans as well.

Long live all the .32s - but the H&R has a special place in my mind!

Dougader and ranger1 - nice!!

 

[Hondo44]

gak +1

 

[sheep.dog]

Any of you guys have a lever gun in .32h&r too?