| Posted: Sun Mar 12th, 2006 11:15 PM |
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hunterfisher
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I'm stumped on just what cartridge to use. I had a pistol left to me by my father in law. Its made in Germany. 2in. snub nose revolver. On the barrel it says kal .32 Su.W. long. There was a half box of .32 Auto that was with it. I'm wondering if this is the correct ammo for this pistol...... Anybody???
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:17 AM |
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caz223
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Need more info.
Maybe a pic, or list off some more writing.
What language is the writing in?
Deutch, francais? If the gun was built by the germans while they occupied another country, it could be almost anything....
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:36 AM |
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greysmoke
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gents
Without any more info its real difficult, but i would say .32 S&W Long?
all the best
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"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:37 AM |
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hunterfisher
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Sorry bout that; Its a Arminius. On the frame, in front of the cyclinder, its stamped HW3. Below that it has three German looking insignias stamped in. The bottom right side of frame says Made In Germany. 
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:43 AM |
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Charley
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.32 S&W Long. I would imagine your FIL was shooting the .32 Auto thru it. The semi rim will make it work in most revolvers. .32 ACP operates at a higher pressure than .32 S&W and .32 S&W long, but bullet diameter is a bit less. I've never heard of a problem doing this, but it isn't a terribly good idea to use the wrong ammunition in most cases.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:44 AM |
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greysmoke
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No problem buddy. Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods....
I still think it might be a 32S&W long....
I see Charley is on-line, im sure he might know more than i do?
Hows about it Charley?
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:46 AM |
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greysmoke
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Hey Charley, i just knew you would know what it might be!!
I remember reading somewhere how to convert a case( I cant remember what) to work in the .32S&W Long, but for the life of me, i cant remember what and how....
All the best
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13th, 2006 11:56 AM |
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Charley
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.32 S&W is a champ for converting to other stuff, and can be used in a bunch of stuff. (I'm not recommending the latter, but it CAN be done!)
.32 S&W makes 8mm French revolver, 7.5 Swiss and Swedish Nagant, and can be fired as is in the 7.62x38R Russian Nagant revolver. Cases bulge, and I wouldn't reload them, bt it is safe.
If you want to turn down rims and other work, .32 S&W can make a bunch of obsolete auto pistol cases, too.
As for using .32 ACP in .32 S&W, I have seen it recommended in print...The late Pistolero magazine. Phil Engledrum was kinda lunatic fringe, but was pretty knowledgable. His reasoning was, if you had to use a .32 S&W long for defense, the only ammunition available commonly was a RN lead bullet, while the .32 ACP, especially Winchester's Silver Tip HP was a much more effective cartridge. I've done it, and it does work.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14th, 2006 01:05 PM |
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hunterfisher
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Thanks for the help guys.  I'd rather be safe than sorry... So Charley, what your saying is, the .32 Auto ammo in Win. HP. Silver Tip would be the best choice for self defence? Seems like it might be a good piece for the wife to carry in her purse. She is very small and doesn't like recoil.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14th, 2006 01:20 PM |
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caz223
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***RIPPED FROM THR***
The Arminius listing in the Standard Catalog of Firearms says to look at the listing for Hans Hermann Weihrauch...
Model HW-3 - Double action, solid frame, swing-out cylinder revolver chambered in .22lr or .32 S&W Long with a barrel length of 2.75" and a cylinder holding either 7 or 8. Blued, with walnut grips. In America this revolver was known as the Dickson Bulldog. In Europe it was the Gecado. 1999 price in 100% condition was $100.
"These pistols (HW-3, -5, -7, -9) all carry the Arminius trademark, a bearded head wearing a winged helmet."
***RIPPED FROM THR***
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14th, 2006 07:38 PM |
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hunterfisher
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Thanks caz, yeah mine has HW3 stamped on the frame. I'm waiting on Charlie to see if the .32 Auto ammo has more punch than the .32 SW Long. Guess I'll never get rich if I sell it, lol. Glad he left me a Colt .45 ACP Gold Cup Nat. Match along with it... Thanks again for all your help bud.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14th, 2006 07:53 PM |
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Charley
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Yeah, the .32 ACP is faster than the .32 S&W Long, and the Silvertip is a good perfroming expanding bullet. There are some SWC .32 S&W loads availble now, and sone full wadcutters from GECO, that have much better terminal performance than the standard RNL .32 S&W Long load.
You'll need to decide whether to use a cartridge the .32 revolver isn't designed for. Again, I've done it, and have seen others do it, I won't advise you to do it, though!
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