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Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Glaciers said:
Yeah versatility for sure, but I have the 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R mag as well as the 327. So I’m well satisfied with that selection As I have brass for all 4. Not sure if I’ll bother with the 32 S&W, certainly not adding into the mix the 32 ACP, fingers manage to fumble the long cartridge enough as it is now. LOL
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If you stick the tiny 32 S+W in a rifle length barrel of 16-18" (carbine length I suppose) it becomes something entirely different than it is in a little 2" snubbie. It will pretty much do what the 22lr will in standard velocity loadings, although it will not have quite the range and will be more prone to ricochet. The loads that barely break 700fps in a snubbie can see pretty close to 1K in a rifle! I've seen 1100 fps with nice round primers. It's just a drastically underloaded cartridge due to it's near exclusive use in light framed, cheapie guns.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Rally said:
Well, if I rubbed a magic lantern,the gun genie appeared and granted me a wish for any gun, my request would be for a 4” S&W 631. I have a hole between my Model 63 4” and my Mod 60 3” that needs to be filled!
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Make mine a 31 with good adjustable sights. Just can't warm up to stainless, even after all these years.
 
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david s

Well-Known Member
Did S&W ever offer the model 31 in 32 S&W with adjustable sights? I don't believe that I've ever seen one. Personally, I much prefer a 32-wad cutter at pop gun velocities over the 22 L.R. for shooting grouse during hunting season. Grouse don't fly off if you miss the head and land the bullet lower with a 32 hit like they will on occasion with a 22 rimfire. I do have plans on making adjustable sighted model 31 just haven't had the time to actually do the work.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I didnt realize I had so much classic 32 ammo! I posted a video in a cartridge collecting post tonight with a large supply of 32's.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
david s said:
Did S&W ever offer the model 31 in 32 S&W with adjustable sights? I don't believe that I've ever seen one. Personally, I much prefer a 32-wad cutter at pop gun velocities over the 22 L.R. for shooting grouse during hunting season. Grouse don't fly off if you miss the head and land the bullet lower with a 32 hit like they will on occasion with a 22 rimfire. I do have plans on making adjustable sighted model 31 just haven't had the time to actually do the work.
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I don't know if they did or not. The M30 and 31's (I've never been able to see how the 2 models really differ) I've run across have all been 1 7/8" or 2" examples. I'd prefer a 4" like my Kit Gun and I'd want it set up with the same sights. If Smith ever did catalog an adjustable sighted version they must be rare indeed! The 631 was offered with adj. sights and I should have bought one, stainless be hanged! But again, I've never seen one in real life and as far as I know they are as elusive as the $500.00 70 Chevelle SS with 32K on it, sitting in some old ladies garage!
 
L Ross

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Rally said:
Well, if I rubbed a magic lantern,the gun genie appeared and granted me a wish for any gun, my request would be for a 4” S&W 631. I have a hole between my Model 63 4” and my Mod 60 3” that needs to be filled!
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Hahaha, I happened to have that same exact hole, but is such a small orifice it likely will go unfilled now. When I prowl around the woods here at Thorn Hollow maybe I need the .22 on one hip and the .38 on the other. No no no, over thinking again.

Now perhaps the correct solution would be to get a 631 and sell the 63 and the 60? Viewed that way, still a no.
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Bret4207 said:
I don't know if they did or not. The M30 and 31's (I've never been able to see how the 2 models really differ) I've run across have all been 1 7/8" or 2" examples. I'd prefer a 4" like my Kit Gun and I'd want it set up with the same sights. If Smith ever did catalog an adjustable sighted version they must be rare indeed! The 631 was offered with adj. sights and I should have bought one, stainless be hanged! But again, I've never seen one in real life and as far as I know they are as elusive as the $500.00 70 Chevelle SS with 32K on it, sitting in some old ladies garage!
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I researched the S&W models 30, 30-1, 31, 31-1 and the pre-model number guns as well.
As near as i can tell, there's not a lot of solid rules. The model 30 could be had with round butt or square butt. The model 31 should only be square butt grip frames. The 30 and 31 were built on I-frames, improved I-frames and J-frames - so no hard rule there. The cylinder lengths changed during the production run, thumb peice changed, etc.
I looked at the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (4th edition), I looked at old advertising, I looked at old article and other sources.
I think one would have to be a hard core collector to know all the variations.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Smith at one time turned out a J frame, stainless 38 with a 5 or 6" barrel with adjustable sights. I saw one once, think it was round butted too. That would make an extremely nice general field gun.

Some folks look at the 38 as "lacking" something and the 32's as lacking more of the same. I never fell into that trap, and I'm happy I haven't. Of course, having gone through the "load that sucker as hot as it'll go!!!" in light framed revolvers never intended for +P, much less +P+ 38/44 loads phase, maybe my perspective is different than some others have. In a field gun intended for woods, swamp and field walking, you don't need a 357 or anything bigger, at least IMO.
 
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david s

Well-Known Member
The one that I'm hoping to add sights to is a four-inch barreled 31. Most as you've noted tend to be shorter barreled. I've a couple of similar pistols in the four-inch model 63, 22 L.R. and one of the 631, 32 magnum Kit Guns. Currently the 32 magnum is loaded softer than the 32 long for grouse shooting.
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
DSCN0063.JPG
It's completely in the "fun" category and not the "serious" category,
A 96(ish) grain wadcutter from a fairly soft alloy, a couple of grains of Bullseye, the correct expander.....you really can't go wrong.
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
david s said:
The one that I'm hoping to add sights to is a four-inch barreled 31. Most as you've noted tend to be shorter barreled. I've a couple of similar pistols in the four-inch model 63, 22 L.R. and one of the 631, 32 magnum Kit Guns. Currently the 32 magnum is loaded softer than the 32 long for grouse shooting.
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I like those grips
Herrett's ?
 
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david s

Well-Known Member
Yes Herrett's. Like quite few other 32 shooters the RCBS 98 grain SWC is my standard bullet from 20-1 alloy. And I have a few different wad cutter moulds.
 
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