Author Topic: .32 H&R Mag Handi's? (Read 2665 times)

tomf52 · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 08:34:06 AM »

Has at any time .32 H&R Magnum been offered in any of the Handi's? I cannot recall ever seeing mention of this caliber in any of the postings here.

DaGris · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:01:55 AM »

ive never seen one before

keith44 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:04:21 AM »

I've had Handi rifles (and a topper shotgun) off and on for 18 years. I have never seen that caliber catalogued. In fact I can't recall ever seeing any rifle chambered for the H&R mag. I think it'd be a niche market inside a niche market without enough sales potential for any company to put one out. It (the .32 H&R) is too under powered for most game (although a careful shot could make it count for itself), and not many would want that much power for small critter gittin.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:40:42 AM »

There has never been a 32 cal offering form H&R or NEF to date.

A number of us have had 32-20's built as stub projects. They are great little cherished guns! As neat as the 32 H&R would be, to my mind the 32-20 simply overshadows it. After all, the 32 H&R was built to fill a niche, vacated by the 32-20, when manufacturers stopped offering the grand old 32-20.

IIRC Marlin offers or offered a 32 H&R lever action rifle.

CW

Couger · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:01:16 AM »

Methinks what is needed is a barrel offered in .327 Federal Magnum! In .308 bore.

At one time T/C before they closed their custon shop offered ".308 cal" .32H&R's, .32-20's, .30Carbones, and .300Whisper's ..... all in .308 caliber.

I don't remember what highest pressure the .32-20 can operate, but the .30Carbine is 1.290 inches max length and operates at 44K units of pressure. The .327 Fed Mag also operates at 44K units of pressure, altho its only 1.200inches in (max) length. (the .32H&R is 1.075inches SAAMI MAX)

A .327 Fed Mag is a perfectly straight case and would essentially be a 'rimmed' .30 Carb.

And i think a great alternative to the .300Whisper for launching subsonic .308 bullets - esp from a 16 to 20inch barrel.

No sure who offeres a die-set with a .308 expander versus a .312 expander.

tomf52 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:56:59 AM »

Couger said - "Methinks what is needed is a barrel offered in .327 Federal Magnum! In .308 bore."

Why would you wanty a .327 with a .308 bore? Everything for them is based around a .312 bore. I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .32 H&R Mag and it's my favorite rifle and caliber, and in handguns too for that matter. Don't under estimate the capabilities of the 32 H&R. Also, it's about as cheap to shoot as anything reloadable out there. The barrel in a .327 Federal Mag would work for me too as you can shoot .32 S&W on up through it with no appreciable loss in accuracy, as least that's what I have found with the .32's.

I would go as far as to have a barrel made for this if I can find someone to do it.

Couger · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2011, 01:30:59 PM »

Quote from: tomf52 on March 27, 2011, 10:56:59 AM

Couger said - "Methinks what is needed is a barrel offered in .327 Federal Magnum! In .308 bore."

Why would you wanty a .327 with a .308 bore? Everything for them is based around a .312 bore ......

Well duhhhh ....... At one time T/C before they closed their custom shop offered ".308 cal" .32H&R's, .32-20's, .30Carbine's, and .300Whisper's ..... all in .308 caliber .

A .327 Fed Mag is a perfectly straight case and would essentially be like a 'rimmed' .30 Carb. And I think a great alternative to the .300Whisper for launching subsonic .308 bullets - esp from a 16 to 20inch barrel.

Why waste time with cowgirl make-believe shooting?

lee1954 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 03:27:11 PM »

My two cents -- About a 32 H&R in a Handi would be a "niche market"
If only deer killing guns are good -- what about the .22rf --
at about X3 of a .22 RF is the 32 long and it would be great on a SB1 action
The 357 barrel loaded with 38 spec. is about the same power
If you have a 30-30 308 or 30-06 you can get a adapter for a 32 H&R at http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm for $20 ... I have a 32 auto adapter and like it ..Others have said that it gets stuck and hate it ! -- I don't load full power loads for mine and have good luck
I like it Enough to want a light weight barrel.in a 32 H&R.

I think have it made for you thought as H&R is not doing well with light weight barrels.......
Here is where I go off the deep end (really bad) --- I wish we could get about 20 people together and have someone build us each a 32 H&R or 32-20 for about $250 - $300 each, even $350 might fly
Dan the Dreamer

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 03:38:54 PM »

I sure enjoy shooting my .32H&R mag it's a 303 Brit bbl stubbed on a old topper 88 410 lug. May of been the first one Larry did for us. Cheap to shoot easy to reload for and pairs great with my NEF Model 73's .32 H&R mag revolvers. Very accurate. Kurt

trotterlg · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:47:11 PM »

I've done a few in 32 H&R Mag and 327 Federal's, they are fun, and can shoot lots of cartridges, kind of like a .38. I really like the .32.20 chamberings, but for the pistsol cartridge chamberings for the primitive weapons states the .32 H&R/Federal is nice, lots of cast bullets and you can load them up with heavy bullets and shoot subsonic if you use a fast twist barrel. Larry

Antietamgw · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:19:29 AM »

Quote from: tomf52 on March 27, 2011, 10:56:59 AM

I would go as far as to have a barrel made for this if I can find someone to do it.

A Tj's or Redman's liner in one of your existing barrels would be fast, relatively cheap.

tomf52 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:34:26 AM »

Couger - Well duhhhh! back to you. There was no need for sarcasm. The question was civil. As to the T/C barrels in .32 H&R Mag and 32-20, yes they did have .308 bores and they were all problematic to shooters of those calibers and not very well received to this day.

tomf52 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:36:29 AM »

Antietamgw - This TJ's or Redman's. Who are they? Websites? Thanks, Tom

jbtazgrabber · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:51:19 AM »

i built a 32 hand r 32 15 years ago was the best tree rat gun i ever owened was stolen with 8 others that 32 and 10 ga was only one i never got back......missed is so bad i built 5 since....seems others like mine so well they end up with them,,,,,,,,,i use 308 dia barrels and heavy lead bullets at sub sonic speeds.....still can hit a tree rat at 70 yards bullets drop fast after that range......lighter bullets good for a lot longer but make more noise....had a 32 20 its deer leagal in okla,,,,,just like the 32 mag better........but still can do same with 322o.....brass is about the same to find........dont know about the 327,,,,,,,have no reamer for it////////jb

blind ear · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:56:52 AM »

tomf52, the 32 H&R and the 327 mag come up a lot in "wishes" but for a production gun, I believe most of us have given up on it. ear

Couger · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2011, 07:03:18 AM »

Quote from: tomf52

Well duhhhh! As to the T/C barrels in .32 H&R Mag and 32-20, yes they did have .308 bores and they were all problematic to shooters of those calibers and not very well received to this day.

YOUR opinion no doubt.

I knew fellows who each had a Contender bbl. The one guy who took his time and got to know the idiosyncrasies of the 32-20 did well with it. Also know another gent who had one of the first Ruger Single Sixes in .32H&R/.32-20 with two cylinders. Shot reasonably well with .30M1 and .30Mauser bullets.

Couger · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2011, 07:12:30 AM »

Quote from: blind ear

tomf52, the 32 H&R and the 327 mag come up a lot in "wishes" but for a production gun, I believe most of us have given up on it. ear

Handi production gun? Why not several other choices for a 'run' before the .327? Like the .303B or .30-40K or 7.62X54R? Also the Bee and the .25-20W?

Of course Remington and any 'suits' have things (H&R) in limbo, as does Thompson/Center and their operation.

Best bet methinks is still a custom shop like Bullberry's (in a T/C) or someone like Larry T. And there's Mr. York in Pendleton, who doesn't come cheap. $:-\$

gcrank1 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:39:59 AM »

I make 32-20 equivelent loads for my 30-30.
The joys of handloading; stuff the factories dont offer (BTW, they used to offer 30-30 'Short Range loads for just this purpose).

tomf52 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:19:33 PM »

gcrank1 - Cat sneeze loads for the 30/30 are another of my pet projects. Hornady .310 round ball about 47 grs) lubed with LLA and hand seated into the mouth of a 30/30 case on top of a miniscule loading of Bullseye make for an indoor shooter that sounds like an air rifle. RCBS 90 and 98 grain RNFP's on top of a light load of Bullseye make for a great tree rat load or 50 yard informal target load.

tallyho · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2011, 02:56:26 PM »

I have a machined stainless steel 30/30 case that I bought from a guy in Alberta Canada about 20 years ago. It unscrews about half-way up, and a .22 charge cartridge is inserted in. The two pieces are screwed back together, and a 30 cal ball pressed into the end. Load it into a 30/30 chamber, press the trigger, it goes "bang" and the lead ball departs the barrel.

He called them Partridge adapters and that's exactly what I used this for. It shot moa of partridge/grouse/rabbit at about 25-30 feet and put a number those tasty critters in the pot while deer hunting. It was not too difficult to chamber it quickly in the Handi when a grouse showed up, but a bit of a fumble to do it efficiently in a Model 94!

I have removed the phone numbers from the photos, 'cause about a year after I bought mine (I also had one for .308) he stopped making them, and the numbers are at least 20 yrs old anyway.

*psst. Tomf52 if I PM or email you would you consider providing more detail about the "miniscule" and "light" loads of Bullseye?

Here are some pics:

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:06:25 PM »

Neat!

Couger · « **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:10:28 AM »

Quite incredible, Larry. And for being in the 'right place' to meet that Canadian gentleman!

Rocky Raab at "Rocky's Reloading Room" lists what he calls his 'universal .30 cal squib load' or similarly described load. Been awhile since I looked it up, so details are sketchy.

In any kind of .30 cal case (except a .30 carbine), he uses 8-10 grains of Unique under a 100 or 110 grain plinker-type bullet (pr cast boolit) for a load for shooting grouse, dirt clods, charcoal briquets set at 30 feet or even 30 yards, etc. Raab claims "everyone" he's ever shared that load with at camp/deer camp, young and old alike, men women - ALL get big cheesy grins shooting the extremely light recoiling/report loads, esp new and sensitive shooters to recoil, etc.

When using a larger case like a .300 magnum, using 10-12 grains of Unique (couple additional grains) yeilds similar performance. In a .308 Win I think he reported getting 1500-1600fps with the 100-110 grain bullets.

Would be interesting to experiment with a case full of Trailboss, too.

Also in "Handloader Digest," 10th edition that was published back in 1972. there was an article for loading the .444 Marlin as the "ultimate survival round!" Whether anyone believes that claim isn't the issue I wanted to share, but rather some findings and technoques the author explains how the .444 can be loaded with a wide range of "do -everything" loads, even including some shot loads. (some of the technieus could be used with the .45/70 or similar rounds).

That author also discusses some techniques that are pertinent to this thread - like taking a round lead ball and running it through an approriate lead bullet sizer, so the "round ball" is now a bit longer and eliptical in shape - with a longer bearing surface to engage the bore's rifling when creating those sqib loads or "cat sneeze" loads.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:17:32 AM »

I did that 'oblong ball' thing 25-30ish yrs ago for my .44Mag Shikari; shot great! I usually used the commonly available .440 RB, though I did try the .451 & .454 (typical C&B revolver) too.
IIRC, at about 25-30yd I could use my 50yd. for conical cast bullet sight setting to good effect.

Couger · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:26:39 AM »

Good deal gcrank1! I have yet to try it, but the theory sounded "real" to me.

I'm not a promoter of the .444 (per se), but several of its claims sounded like they could apply to the .45/70 and other straight-cased-rounds, maybe even rounds like the 460 and .500S&W's (extra long pistol rounds?).

But I've digressed far from the .32H&R/.327Mag. Why couldn't a .330 or .340-sized lead ball be sized (swaged) to fit a .309 or .313 cat sneeze load?

Papa Jack · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:33:58 AM »

I have a "ACE" ( Alaska ) Chamber adapter in Stainless Steel.......30-30X.32H&R mag. ,It shoots good, I use Lead bullets. The only problem is you have to eject the adapter, push out the fired brass, reload....
I shoot it in my H&R and also in my 24V Savage ......Great for plinking.

In a .30-30 Win., I find it easyer and faster to simply use a reduced charge ( 3.0 grns Red Dot ) and a little toilet paper filler under a Hornady .310 Round lead ball ( 45 grns about ) pressed flush with the case mouth and a little grease or bullet lube smeared over the ball....
These are pretty quiet and accurate, fun to play with...... "PJ"