Most of the world considered the 32 cartridges adequate for defense and police work before WW2, a trend that continued in Europe for 25 more years. And no less than Teddy Roosevelt recommended that the NYC Police be equipped with revolvers in 32 S&W Long way back when. He noted that it was much easier to shoot accurately than more powerful cartridges were. I've always wondered how the rimfire 32's performed and now I know. Much better than I expected from what would be thought of a weak cartridge today. Thanks for doing these tests, not much real-world data online about these older rimfires.

Interesting about the velocities you got from the 32 short, compared to the long cartridge I can only think that they are both loaded with the same powder charge, but being in a shorter case they have developed a much higher pressure, the first test really must be near the limit as the case expanded so much they were hard to extract, that could be due to them being made from thin brass to give more reliable ignition on a rim fire. You can reload the early cases that did not fire by breaking them down and replacing the fulminate with new compound, you can then re fill with 3 f BP to get a good comparison. Stay safe! Chris B.

I used to shoot the CIL Canuck .32 long rimfire copper case in the S&W Model 2.

I'm impressed too!

Excellent video, thank you👍👍

I tried a penetration test with the .32 short years ago. I fired at an oak cross section at about ten yards, from a Forehand & Wadsworth top break revolver chambered for .32 long ammunition. The bullets put small dents in that hard wood, bounced off in an upward direction & came down & landed on top of the picnic table that was beside the target. The ammo was factory smokeless loads probably circa 1960's. My conclusion from that was I'd be far better off with a modern .22lr. handgun for self defense than that old .32. I tried the same test with a 22 revolver & the rounds penetrated the oak too deep to dig out with my pocket knife. i really enjoy your videos, keep em coming Doc.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

9 ай бұрын

Good to know. Thanks for commenting, Todd

You can get cases that hold nailgun rimfire banks for these pistols.... 🙂 Really nice hat BTW...

I have a collection of S&W model 1 1/2 with all three series and a S&W model 2 series 2. They are fascinating guns for tiny single action revolvers. All are in a condition to be fired except for the model 1 1/2 series 2 which doesn’t lock up tight which is unfortunate as it is the prettiest that is nickel plated and has ivory grips. I have some .32 RF ammo in both short and long but we’re harder to find than the guns themselves. I do have some black powder reloads for the .32 S&W and the .38 S&W though. I also have the old reloading tools for them.

An injury from a .22, .32 or a 38 is still a pain and a threat to life and limb. The old timers never tried to get a hole punched in them! The old mama never measured the hole in their kidders! I would not either! Just be polite and obey the wife! Lol

I have experimented with various pocket pistols, and you certainly would not want to be shot with one. A .32 rimfire might not have much stopping power, but if you suddenly have a raisin sized bullet 5 or 6 inches inside you.... You have a real problem! That's why they sold so many.😊

@frontierwesternheritage1356

9 ай бұрын

Thanks Franz, I'm with you 100%. I didn't have the respect for the 32 rimfire that I should have. I'm glad I did the test. Thanks for watching, Todd

mmm, new hat!👍👍👍👍👍

Good Work Doc - I'm impressed with your video tests. You know even .22" SHORT r/f can be effective while performing close to .22" L.R - Maybe a manufacturer might be persuaded to make a run of 'Antique' 32 Rimfire cartridges as a Marketing exercise ... I have AGUILA in Mexico in my head as they already make an interesting variety of 'two-two' rimfires - including 60 grain sniper rounds in short cases .. Might be worth approaching them? Thanks for sharing.

Surprising what that short could do. Dry or not, a pine 2x4 is a good test for penetration for self-defense rounds. It should have been enough to at least make an aggressor back off. Thanks for the lead on the Mad Hatters.

Interesting that the 3rd model was available with a 10” barrel? I wonder how many of those sold. Can you look into it and get back to us? In your spare time.😉 Love the hat btw.👍🏻

These old pocket pistols are fascinating arms. Having seen gel tests of .32 Short center fire rounds the real world performance was probably not as bad as it seems at first. They usually pass the FBI criteria.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

9 ай бұрын

Good point regarding the FBI criteria. Thanks for watching, Todd

Would be interesting to try and reload the new brass using primall and try to duplicate the black powder load. Bullets might be fun if they are the heel type.

👍👍

You're one of the few guys I watch that does mostly black powder. I have a perplexing question. I loaded up 50 45-70 cases with 1.5 Swiss, 10 rounds each of 60, 62, 64, 66, & 68 grains. Contrary to my assumption, the larger the powder charge the slower the 532 grain lead cast round nose bullet went (exception with 62 grains). Averaging velocity as follow with three shots each from 60 to 68. 1438, 1442, 1385, 1350 & 1308. Can you explain to me what's going on? Let me know if you need more info. Thank you.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

8 ай бұрын

Dogbone, It's the Swiss powder. It's very high quality stuff, but doesn't like to be compressed. Don't ask me the chemical or physical reason for this, it's just a powder adverse to compression. You can compress Goex until your case bulges, but Swiss performs better with minimal compression. It looks like you hit the sweet spot with 62 grains and then started over compressing the powder due to the larger volume. Just for fun, put a couple of extra wads in the case with 62 grains and see if the extra compression decreases your velocity. Or, if the 62 grain load is accurate, rejoice in the satisfaction. Thanks for watching, Todd

@dogbone1358

8 ай бұрын

@@frontierwesternheritage1356 Thanks Todd. Did not know that about Swiss. I’m using .60 fiber wads so the compression issue with the larger powder charges make sense. Next time I load I’ll try your experiment along with using 61 and. 63 grains to see if that fine tunes the velocity and accuracy. By the way, all shots we’re producing 3 inch groups.

As I have read the 22, 32, 38 and 41 rimfire scared bad guys more than the 44wcf and 45 Colt. Why? Because the bullet would not go through you and it probable spent time in a pocket and had all kids of stuff on them. They need to be cut out fast before blood poisoning set in. I did not crony the 32 longs from navy arms that I shot in my number 2 S&W made in 1863. They felt way snappier than the ones you shot. They did shoot to point of aim at 25 yards. I guessed they were loaded with bullseye. My ammo was purchased in the 1980s.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, the longs I had felt awfully tame. It's good to know yours showed a perceptible difference. Thanks for watching, Todd

this would have been a lethal weapon . not a manstopper , but a hit to the heart or head would kill instantly, a hit to the lungs,liver,kidneys or spleen would definately probably be lethal . a hit anywhere else might have caused infection. it has 30 % more energy than the 25 acp.

@frontierwesternheritage1356

9 ай бұрын

Good points. Use it within its purpose and the 32 rimfire would do the job. Thanks for watching, Todd

Thomas D'Arcy McGee wasn't a fan. Neither was Patrick J. Whelan come to think of it. 😎

Those are doing well for 32 short you got 714 fps , magtech suppose to get 747 fps with 32 long, why did your longs fps get lesser than the shorts was it the same brand of ammo

Is that brand less powerful than magtech & seliot & bellot in 32 short or long

What was the name of that ammo again

Did you buy the same brand 32 shorts & 32 long so why is the 32 short more powerful than the 32 long , the bullet grain is not that much different from 80 to 90 magtech shorts are 85gr. Longs are 98gr. Still the longs should be more powerful with more powder , don't understand why your longs were less powerful