.32 H&R Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
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]
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]
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.
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]