.32 S&W as a small game round anyone?

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

I have an old Iver Johnson owl head that I inherited that is accurate enough that my grandmother shot a weasel in the head at a good distance. Anyone else use the .32 S&W round for small game? I picked up a box of Magtech and I might carry it at some point for up close rabbits and such. Slow moving semi-heavy bullet should whack a critter pretty good. No bear hunting with this one! 

[keith44]

for Rabbits, sure.  I've killed a few with a pellet rifle at 30 yards.  For raccons, feral cats, etc. no.  I tried a few from a .32 H&R Mag I had and was not impressed.

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

I shot old ammo from it and it was weak, hoping the new stuff is a little better than 60-100 year old ammo. 

[Ladobe]

Caution.   
The IJ 'Hammer the Hammer" Safety Automatic Revolvers were good to go with the factory ammo they were designed for when in good condition.  They are revolvers that typically are pretty worn and loose to be shooting modern zippy ammo in - IMO.   
 
I had a bunch of IJ, H&A, etc 32S&W and 38S&W revolvers in the 60's to late 70's, both hammer and hammerless as well as top breaks.  I loaded for those I shot using soft cast bullets and never pushed the loads in them.
That was what was considered safe in them, by everybody, even then.   FWIW I had a shop and was a gunsmith in the 70's, and rather than sell them (worth nothing anyway at the time $5-$20) most were made into permanent wall hangers, and even the few that were in the best condition I shot where as well eventually.
 
 

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

Thank you for the caution. This one was worked over by my gunsmith and is the older owl head, so I would never push things if I hand loaded it. Not sure on how much zip the new Magtech ammo has, but either way the .32S&W round is really a low pressure round in most forms commercially made that I am aware of. Anyone have the stats on the Magtech round versus a black powder one?

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

[/size][/b][/font][/size][/font][/color] Stock No. [/size][/color][/b][/font] Caliber [/size][/color][/b][/font] Bullet Style [/size][/color][/b][/font] Bullet Wt. Grains [/size][/color][/b][/font] Muzzle Velocity (F.P.S.) [/size][/color][/b][/font] Muzzle Energy (ft.-lbs.)

[/size] 85430 [/size] .32 S&W® Ammo [/size] LRN [/size] 85 [/size] 705 [/size] 94

About the velocity of my old plastic Coleman Powermaster 66 I used to have... What do you all think on pressure ion the little gun?

[Lloyd Smale]

ive killed a number of rabbits and squirels with 32sws out of my 32 mag rugers. kills better then any 22 lr ammo ive tried.

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

Might get out to the range today to see what the little gem will do. Stay tuned! 

[tacklebury]

Don't see where you're located in your profile, but might want to be careful.  In Michigan, only rimfire rifles are allowed for small game hunting or shotgun/shotshells.   

[keith44]

Don't see where you're located in your profile, but might want to be careful.  In Michigan, only rimfire rifles are allowed for small game hunting or shotgun/shotshells.   

Ky changed to the following a few years ago.  Until the change, a .32 H&R and a .22 Hornet were my chosen small game stalking arms.  Now I find I prefer either a .22 Magnum or my .22 cal Pellet rifle



LEGAL SMALL GAME
EQUIPMENT
Hunting small game with
slingshots is prohibited.
Hunters may ONLY use the
following to take small game
during the fall and winter
seasons:
• Rifles that shoot rimfire
ammunition, or .22 caliber
handguns.
• Muzzle-loading or breechloading shotguns no larger
than 10-gauge. Breech-loading
shotguns must be plugged to
hold a maximum of three shells
(two in magazine and one in
chamber).
• Lead or non-toxic shot no
larger than number 2.
• Muzzleloading rifles.
• Archery or crossbow
equipment.
• Pellets fired from .177, .20 or
.22 caliber airguns.
• Dogs may be used to aid in the
hunt. 
• Falconry

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

One day Alaska, now just Ohio...  Went out to the range at my club and fired 20 rounds. Windage is on, but elevation from a peppier load is over a foot high! Need to one day work up a load, say maybe around 600 FPS, and that might drop the little pill to what the sights are set for. Neat to get it out, nice white flash and bang with the Magtechs. Would not always want to shoot them long term as they may be a little to "hot" for that, kinda funny at 700 FPS...

[ole 5 hole group]

ive killed a number of rabbits and squirels with 32sws out of my 32 mag rugers. kills better then any 22 lr ammo ive tried.

Totally agree and the 32 H&R mag performs about like the 38 special - not quite but close.

[sidewinder319]

I bought a .32 S&W long Colt Police Positive 4 inch some years ago. I planned to hunt small game with it. I hand loaded for it with cast bullets very accurate and enough power to be very effective. I never did use it but I own it, some day?

[THE_HUNTERIAM]

The old rounds have alot going for them, heavier bullet at less velocity means more edible meat. Lighter higher velocity rounds make a mess out of small game generally, and gone are the old rounds like .32 Stevens, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, even the .44 ball load for the distant in the past Marbles Game Getter. They all anchored small game. .25 Stevens, .32/20..... all the lists of the forgotten greats, newer is better, maybe not. They all need love, now I just need a bunch of cash to give them all a home! 

[Maccool]

Don't see where you're located in your profile, but might want to be careful.  In Michigan, only rimfire rifles are allowed for small game hunting or shotgun/shotshells.   

I didn't know that, I thought that you could use what ever you wanted for small game in Michigan except for when hunting at night and during deer firearm season in the shotgun zone. 

[tacklebury]

You know I went to MI.gov and in the current guide I no longer see this stipulation.  I've sent an email to the DNR and will see what their reply is.   

[FPH]

I bought a .32 S&W long Colt Police Positive 4 inch some years ago. I planned to hunt small game with it. I hand loaded for it with cast bullets very accurate and enough power to be very effective. I never did use it but I own it, some day?

I inherited that exact pistol.  Any idea of the value.  I won't sell it, ( my Dad's) but I need an insurance value.

[S.B.]

Well, Skeeter Skelton sure use to think it was the perfect small game cartridge, even printed his favorite load for it in Shooting Times. I know I'm telling my age here.
Steve

[streak]

Well, Skeeter Skelton sure use to think it was the perfect small game cartridge, even printed his favorite load for it in Shooting Times. I know I'm telling my age here.
Steve

S.B.,
 Go right ahead and talk about Skeeter Skelton all you want too! He was quite a
interesting man and knew his hanguns! I have all of his books and they are great!

[S.B.]

streak, I'm actually old enough to have read them when printed HEHEHE.  Yes I agree.
Steve

[streak]

streak, I'm actually old enough to have read them when printed HEHEHE.  Yes I agree.
Steve

S.B. you only have me about 2.5 years!! He did like the .32 S & W and I remember reading all of his articles in the hunting magazines when he was alive!

[tacklebury]

Well, still no feedback from the DNR as of yet.  I cannot believe it's taken them a week and not even an automated response.  8(  I did read through the current hunting guides online and hard copy, so I guess I'll retract that statement.  I know it used to say something about centerfire on small game, but apparently that has changed here. 

[S.B.]

I live in strange "Illinois" where you can hunt squirrel with a 30.06 but not whitetail deer?
Steve

[popplecop]

In shotgun only deer hunting areas one may hunt smallgame with center fire rifles.  Except during the deer gun season, doesn't make any scense to me either.

[tacklebury]

Well, it took nearly 1/2 a month, but they did finally answer me about using center fires and it is Ok in Michigan now to use them:

Good afternoon,In relation to your inquiry there are no regulations that restrict the type of firearm for small game, but there are restrictions during certain times of year that would restrict your use of a firearm.  So for example from Nov 10 through Nov 30^th you could not use a rifle in S. MI to take small game.  Outside of the firearm deer season you could use a .38 special to take small game, unless you are hunting small game in conjunction with a firearm deer season or archery season.If you would like to talk to me about your specific situation you can reach me at 517 335 1905.
 
Sincerely;
Tami Pullen
Conservation Officer

Figured I'd post back here, so everyone who read this knew what the answer was. 

[Flash]

Here in Pa. Its 23 caliber and under for small game. Id love to use a small 25 or 32 caliber for small game.

[knight0334]

Here in Pa. Its 23 caliber and under for small game. Id love to use a small 25 or 32 caliber for small game.

Yep, and then in some overlapping seasons it is limited to 22 rimfire or less guns.  In the non-overlapping seasons centerfire's are allowed.

We used to be allowed up to .38rimfire for small game, then over the decades they kept slowly bumping it down.  ...from .38RF, to .32RF, to .25RF, down to .23 caliber with the previously mentioned restrictions with seasons.