The .32s Are Ideal Small Game Guns
I like .32 handguns and mostly use them for small game such as rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs and the occasional wild turkey.
My two primary small game guns are a 4" S&W Model 31 in .32 S&W Long and a Ruger Super Single Six, 4-5/8" chambered for .32 H&R Magnum, but most of the time I use .32 S&W Long ammo in it.
I recently had a pre-war H&R .410 shotgun on the old tiny receiver redone into a 26" barreled rifle chambered for the .32 S&W Long cartridge, which uses the same ammo as either handgun.
Most often used general-purpose small game load uses the Saeco 95-gr. #325 SWC bullet, cast of soft lead, sized .312: and loaded in Remington cases with 2.0 grs. of Alliant Bullseye. Velocity is about 770 f.p.s. from the revolvers and 950 from the rifle, in which is is very quiet.
You can load up to 2.5 grs. of Bullseye in a modern strong revolver, but this is too much for the pre-1957 S&W .32 Hand Ejectors or Colt Police Positives. It is fine in post-1957 S&W Model 31, the H&R 732, post-war Colt Police Positive special on the full-sized .38 frame, Officer's Model Target and the post-1957 S&W K32s. And, of course, ANY .32 Ruger is no problem. As a small game gun the Single Six is far more accurate than the SP101.
For maximum effort loads in the stronger modern guns, S&W Model 31, H&R 732 and Rugers, you can load up to 7 grs. maximum of #2400 with the Saeco #325 or the 85-gr. Hornady XTP, which approximate .32 H&R Magnum ballistics. These make fine varmint loads, but are louder than I like for small game hunting.
I also load the Saeco #325 in the .32 ACP with 1.8 grs. of Bullseye and find it more accurate and a better killer than FMJ hardball in my wartime Beretta M1935. While not a precision arm, it will stay on a business card at 7 yards, feeds the FN bullet reliably and "lets the air out of bunny wabbbits" just fine.
