| .32 H&R Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 .32 H&R Magnum (left) with a .38 Special (right) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Revolver | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer |
Harrington & Richardson Federal Premium Ammunition | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Federal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1984–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .32 S&W Long | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .312 in (7.9 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .337 in (8.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .337 in (8.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .375 in (9.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .055 in (1.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 1.075 in (27.3 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.350 in (34.3 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small pistol | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 21,000 psi (140 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum CUP | 21,000 [1] CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source(s): Hodgdon [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The .32 H&R Magnum, also known as the .32 Magnum, is a rimmed cartridge designed for use in revolvers. It was developed and introduced in 1984 as a joint venture between Harrington & Richardson and Federal Premium Ammunition.
The .32 Magnum was designed to more than double the speed and energy of the less powerful .32 Smith & Wesson Long cartridge, on which it is based. Loadings for the .32 H&R Magnum even typically exceed hot .38 Special +P loads in terms of both speed and energy. The .32 Magnum also has a higher maximum pressure than the .38 Special. [3]
Performance
The .32 H&R Magnum offers substantially more performance than most other .32 caliber handgun cartridges, such as the .32 ACP, and is considered an effective small-game hunting cartridge. Its higher velocity [4] offers a flat trajectory, while the light weight of the bullet results in low recoil.
Maximum pressure for the .32 H&R Magnum is set at 21,000 CUP by SAAMI. [5]
Use
In 2013, Hornady introduced a .32 H&R Magnum "Critical Defense" cartridge designed for self-defense. It propels an 80 gr (5.2 g) grain FTX (flex tip), bullet at 1,150 ft/s (350 m/s) muzzle velocity. [6] Buffalo Bore offers +P rated cartridges with either 100 gr (6.5 g) JHP or 130 gr (8.4 g) Keith hard cast SWC bullets. [7]
Since the .32 H&R Magnum headspaces on the rim and shares the rim dimensions and case and bullet diameters of the shorter .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long cartridges, these shorter cartridges may be safely fired in arms chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum. However, the longer, more powerful .32 H&R Magnum cartridges cannot be safely fired in arms designed for the .32 S&W or .32 S&W Long. [8]
In 2007, the .32 H&R Magnum was the basis for a " super magnum", the .327 Federal Magnum. The .32 H&R can safely be fired out of any firearm chambered for .327 Federal. [9]
Firearms chambered for the .32 H&R Magnum
Handguns
In addition to Harrington & Richardson, other manufacturers who have offered revolvers in .32 H&R Magnum include Dan Wesson Firearms, Charter Arms (professional 7 round revolver), Freedom Arms, Smith & Wesson (J and K frames), Ruger ( Blackhawk, Single-Six, GP100, SP101, Ruger LCR and LCRx), Taurus, and New England Firearms (NEF). In addition, any gun chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge can fire the .32 H&R Magnum safely.
American Derringer, Bond Arms, and Cobra Firearms offer derringers in .32 H&R Magnum, while Thompson Center Arms offered their Contender pistol in it.
Rifles
Marlin offered the Model 1894CB lever-action rifle in .32 H&R Magnum. Unlike other Marlin 1894s, the 1894CB loads from the front of the tubular 10-shot magazine, like their Model 39A rimfire rifle, and has a faster, 10% shorter throw, lever action. It has a 20 in (510 mm) tapered octagonal barrel, an overall length of 37.5 in (950 mm), and weighs 6.5 lb (2.9 kg). [10]
Gallery
-
.32 H&R Magnum (center) in comparison with .32 Smith & Wesson Long and 7.62×38mmR Nagant -
From left to right: .32 Short, .32 ACP, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum
See also
References
- ^ Saami pressures. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm
- ^ .32 H&R Mag data at Hodgdon Archived 11 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "327 Federal Magnum: A Good .357 Magnum Alternative?". 31 December 2022.
- ^ Ballistics By The Inch .32H&R results.
- ^ .32 H&R Magnum data from Accurate Powder
- ^ Hornady .32 H&R Magnum 80gr FTX Critical Defense
- ^ " Buffalo Bore .32 H&R Magnum"
- ^ Treakle, John W. American Rifleman (May 2011) p. 42
- ^ "327 Federal Magnum: A Good .357 Magnum Alternative?". 31 December 2022.
- ^ "Marlin Firearms – Model 1894CB". Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
