H&R .32 pocket pistol

[Silver Creek Slim]

The picture below is of my H&R .32 pocket pistol that I am currently developing loads for and trying to get into working condition. I am using a 91gr Lee boolit, .32 S&W Long cases, and 14grs of FFFg Goex. It makes nice smoke and flame (at night  ). It shoots POA at 7 yards with this load. It's a fun little pistol.

Slim

[44caliberkid]

The H&R, S&W, and Iver Johnson pistols, which tend to shoot quite high with modern smokeless ammo, generally shoot dead on with BP loads, which is what they were designed around.  Imagine that?!!

[Pukin Dog]

That will be an interesting sight to see at Fandango. . . . Sliim with his itty bitty .32 pistolas and his mighty 10ga goose gun   Trying to go gamer with one and warthog with the other???

[Silver Creek Slim]

PD,
When I get it in working condition, I should shoot a stage with it and my .45 just for the comparision. 

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Cool lookin' pistola, Slim!

Mine isn't near as nice (Iver Johnson 38 S&W, made about 1883), but it's a hoot to shoot!  I have some factory loads that I sometimes shoot, but mostly I shoot some "special" BP loads.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Thanks, Steel Horse Bailey.

I just ordered parts from Numrich, so I hopefully will get it to work correctly.

Slim

[Mason Stillwell]

WOW nice Pistola !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bet it is a HOOT to SHOOT specially with BP.


Got any photo's of it at night???

Mason (collector of bp photos)Stillwell

[Silver Creek Slim]

WOW nice Pistola !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bet it is a HOOT to SHOOT specially with BP.


Got any photo's of it at night???

Mason (collector of bp photos)Stillwell

No I didn't take any. Sorry.

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

ANY photo of BP shooting after dark is cool.  Slim, iffn you were a bit closer, I'd volunteer to be your gopher/photographer/fellow nite-time shooter!

Alas, it's not to be.

[Lincoln Co. Regulator]

Yup, that one looks pretty good. I have a S&W hammerless in .38 S&W that all I shoot in it is BP. Works great, won't wear out the gun, and, as has been noticed, hits the target.

[litl rooster]

This is interesting....Are any of you familar with the British Bull dog .32 pocket?  I've been eyeballing one. Not sure if I would be able to get parts if needed.

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Slim,

Mayhaps we kin find us a side match at Fandango.  I'd like to shoot with ya.  Got me a lil spur trigger Remington 31 with a Kirst Konverter cylinder that shoots 32S&W jest fine.  It's the hideout gun that fits in the middle of my back.

DD-DLoS

[St. George]

I've talked about the various 'Bulldogs', 'Suicide Specials' and 'Pocket Revolvers' on the Historical Society Forum, here at CAS City.

The parts for a 'Bulldog' (or 'Bull Dog')  most generally reside in other folks' guns.

Spare parts can be a 'by Guess and by God' affair - but the search will keep you going to even the smallest gun show in search of what you're needing.
That's not all bad...

That said - if the piece is in good condition, externally - it's a pretty fair indication of how it is internally.

Look for a fairly tight lock-up when the hammer's fully forward as in firing.

A thorough cleaning and lube will greatly improve the feel of the action.

These small revolvers - especially the foreign-made 'Bulldog' varieties - were built for hard service and were probably even a bit 'over-built'.
As long as no major parts are actually broken or missing - you're in good shape.
Spare springs are an 'interesting' thing to have to find - but the past weekend I got several out of a dealer's junk box, so they're out there.

If you have questions about buying one - first read my 'Notes' and send me a PM.

If there's a 'drawback' to them - it's that there are no schematics at all.
They all seem to run to a 'pattern' - but there are idiosyncracies that individual manufacturers put in purely to confound us.

I'll be happy to help where I can.

Scouts Out!

[litl rooster]

St George, thanks for the input, I will go look again next weekend...I believe in this pistols case the grips (real ivory) are worth the price if I parted it out. I just liked the way it looked and am a sucker for a short barrelled gun or unsual types.

thanks again
lr

[Silver Creek Slim]

I got the parts (sear spring, trigger, and trigger return spring) installed. I had to cut a coil off the sear spring because the trigger wouldn't release the hammer in single action mode. Single action now works, but the trigger return spring is either not longer enough or strong enough to return the trigger to the forward position. So, I have to manually return the trigger forward.  Kinda a pain.

Slim