S&W 1 1/2 model, 2nd Iss, 32 Rimfire - Short or Long?

[Daybreak Dave]

I posted this in the BOSS forum also.

I think this gun is a 32 Rimfire long from my research.  Is that correct?  If so, is it OK to shoot the 32 Rimfire short ammo ?  We are assuming the gun is tight, mechanically perfect in every way, of course.  I see some old Navy 32 short rimfire, but no 32 long rimfire for sale.

It is pretty pricey ammo, however.

Daybreak Dave

[Hemlock Mike]

DD -
I have what my books show as a S&W 1 1/2.  Mine is a top break -- that is the barrel tips down.
Mine shoots 32 S&W shorts - Center fire.  For old guns, use the lightest loads available.  These guns are retired and should be treated as such.   If yours is a rimfire, it will have a blade on the hammer rather than a pin.

Mike

[Daybreak Dave]

Hemlock Mike,
A fellow Iowan!  I definitely have the rimfire, with the blade on the hammer.  I just do not know if it is 32 short or 32 long rimfire.  I am thinking the lighter loaded shorts would be OK to shoot, they are about 1/4 inch shorter than the cylinder, so they would "jump a gap" so to speak.  I don't know if this is OK or not.  On modern guns, like the 38 special in a 357 magnum, it works fine.

If I had it to do again, I might buy the centerfire similar to yours.  At least then I could load my own light loads.

Thanks, Daybreak Dave

[Hemlock Mike]

The only 32 rimfire I've found available are Shorts by Navy Arms.
They are about 0.910" OAL.  I doubt that an old feller like that
took anything bigger but I'm not sure. 
My 32 Rim is called a "Defender" and has a cylinder 1.2" long.  But it works
OK with the shorts.  I don't shoot it much.

Mike

[Big John Denny]

Daybreak and Hemlock, I'll try to help if you promise not to get mad at me.

The S&W 1 1/2 was only made in .32 Rimfire. They were produced from 1865 thru 1875. There is no such thing as a 2nd issue. They are broken down by Old Model, Transition Model and New Model.

I doubt you have the Transition Model since only about 650 of them were produced and 450 of those were sent to Japan in 1869.

Both the Old and New Model will chamber the .32 Rimfire Long, though the Old Model was actually meant to be used with the .32 Rimfire short.

The 1 1/2 was a tip up not a top break. The tip up style means the barrel and clyinder release is on the bottom and that section of the gun tips upward so the barrel is pointing at the sky, not the ground.

Hemlock, they didn't make the 1 1/2 in a center fire cartridge at all. The first 32 S&W was the 32 Single Action Top Break made 1878 to 1892.

If you guys give me your serial numbers, and other identifying data on your guns (barrel length, grip style, etc), I'll look them up and give you the particulars and price on your guns.

[Hemlock Mike]

BJ --

I sent you a pm...  This part of the fun of collecting old guns !!  Get 'em, clean them up and shoot a few times.  Then we get to talk about them ------

Mike

[Daybreak Dave]

Big John Denny and Mike,

Big John, I sent you the email with the further info on my Smith.  You can answer here if you want, no email necessary.  Thanks to Mike, I will get a box of the shorts 32 rimfire.  Thanks to both for your info and thanks in advance for any further info you may have.
Daybreak Dave

[Hemlock Mike]

Dave --

Be sure to verify that the cylinder to barrel timing is good.  Some of the old
guns are quite loose and though it may not fire if misalligned, it's best to
check it first.

Mike

[Daybreak Dave]

Mike,
My alignment seems perfect, locks up tight and in line.  Flashlight shined down the barrel and can't even see where the barrel stops and cylinder starts.  Thanks.
Daybreak Dave

[ponyman]

Looking for an "authoritative" source for dimensions of .32 RF Short and Long cartridge and case.
Or, someone with a round in one hand and a micrometer in the other!
Any help?

Rim diameter and thickness
Case diameter and overall length
Nominal bullet diameter

[Camille Eonich]

Ponyman?  Izzat you?

[Camille Eonich]

Check here and see if you can find what you want.

http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/aimasterlist.cgi?sn=BLFfFxMhCk

Short Colt
.32 Bullet Diam .311
case length .650
rim width .375


Long colt/New Police
Bullet Diameter:  .315 
Case Length:  .920
Rim Width:  .375

[Delmonico]

Those are the 32 Colt Centerfire specs, I don't know if the Rimfire Rounds are the same.  I can check this evening when I get home, I should have that information.  I think the rimfire round has a larger bullet and the the original centerfire also because they were outside lubed rounds.  Later the centerfire was loaded in a hollow-based inside lubed round like they did with the 41 Colt and the 38 Colt Short and Long.

[44caliberkid]

This information is from many extensive discussion threads on antiqueguns.com about shooting Navy's rimfire 32's in antique revolvers...DON'T!   They are fine for rimfire, singleshot rifles, but the smokeless powder is too high a pressure for antique revolvers.  A nice, tight example will have excessive fore and aft cylinder play after five rounds of Navy's ammo.  These are defineitly black powder only guns, I'd hate to see you mess up a good collectors piece.

[Delmonico]

OK this is what I came up with for the 32 rimfires.

Bullet on both 0.316

The case is straight and measures 0.318 in dia.

The rim is 0.377

Case length for the Short is 0.575
The Long is 0.791

C.O.L. is 0.948 for the Short
1.215 for the long.