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32 S&W Short or 32 S&W long in revolver?

win62win62 Member Posts: 150 ✭✭
edited April 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have two antique revolvers. Both barrel markings indicate "32 CAL S&W CTGE" with nothing regarding short or long. One has a short cylinder(32 short?) and the other a long cylinder (32 long?). Is it possible that back then the length of the cylinder dictated which cartridge to use?
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Comments

  • Jody CommanderJody Commander Member Posts: 855 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .32 S&W was a cartridge designation,seperate and distinct from the .32 S&W long, I do not believe any of the S&W top breaks were ever chambered at the factory for the long cartridge. Harrington and Richardson and Iver Johnson did chamber some models of their top break revolvers in the long version as I recall. I do not think I would attempt to shoot the long cartridge in the old timers before I found out for damn sure. A phone call or letter to the factory would be the best idea.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    You can safely shoot modern .32 S&W but NOT S&W longs out of most of these old guns, though I handload them with blackpowder to make doubly sure. Furthermore, the regular .32 round will work fine in guns chambered for long.
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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