Practice & target
Full-metal-jacket, plated, lead, and wadcutter bullets describe different constructions. Grain weight is projectile mass; it does not state a powder charge or guarantee recoil.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · RIMMED CENTERFIRE
.32 H&R Magnum
A rimmed .32-caliber revolver cartridge occupying a separate case and pressure specification from .32 S&W Long and .327 Federal Magnum.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.300–1.350 in
33.020–34.290 mm - Case length · max
- 1.075 in
27.305 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.315 in
8.001 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.375 in
9.525 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Rimmed centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.3150 in / 8.001 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 4 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 85–95 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.32 H&R Magnum is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 32 H&R Mag. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Do not infer ammunition compatibility from a family tree. The firearm manufacturer must authorize any alternative cartridge.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .32 H&R Magnum grew out of a long American line of .32-caliber revolver cartridges, particularly the .32 S&W Long. Harrington & Richardson’s early-1980s project sought a more capable small-frame revolver cartridge for recreational shooting and small game, using a longer case and a higher operating level than the older Long.
The result gave the .32 revolver family a modern magnum branch rather than simply another historical pocket-pistol loading. Other revolver makers subsequently offered the chambering, while bullet makers developed projectiles specifically for its performance range; Sierra introduced its 90-grain jacketed hollow-cavity bullet in 1987. The cartridge later became part of the developmental background to the still longer .327 Federal Magnum. Its place in that progression is important: the different .32-caliber names record successive cartridge designs, not just alternative labels for one round.
Historical sources: Sierra: .32 H&R Magnum cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Expanding factory bullets
JHP, XTP, FTX, HST, and similar product names refer to particular designs. Muzzle energy alone does not show expansion, penetration, or reliability in a particular firearm.
Specialty load families
Reduced-recoil, subsonic, monolithic, and heavier-bullet offerings are product-specific. A +P marking is a pressure category where standardized, not simply a heavier bullet. Follow the maker’s exact product and firearm guidance.
In the cited .32 H&R Magnum examples, bullet weights are 85, 95 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
85 grains
975 fps
JSP
95 grains
980 fps
LSW
Compare all 4 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalAE32HR | 85 gr 5.51 g | JSP | 975 fps 297 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalC32HRB | 85 gr 5.51 g | JHP | 1,120 fps 341 m/s | 5 in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalP32HRHSD1 | 85 gr 5.51 g | HYDRA-SHOK DEEP | 1,025 fps 312 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalC32HRA | 95 gr 6.16 g | LSW | 980 fps 299 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.32 H&R Magnum: velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| Federal 85 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 845; 3: 953; 4: 1031; 5: 1114; 6: 1134; 7: 1156; 8: 1201; 9: 1223; 10: 1201; 11: 1219; 12: 1233; 13: 1221; 14: 1211; 15: 1224; 16: 1155; 17: 1186; 18: 1260 |
.32 H&R Magnum: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 85 gr Federal JSP | Federal | 0: 975; 25: 939; 50: 907; 75: 878; 100: 852 |
| 95 gr Federal LSW | Federal | 0: 980; 25: 937; 50: 899; 75: 865; 100: 835 |
| 85 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1120; 25: 1070; 50: 1020; 75: 990; 100: 950 |
| 85 gr Federal HYDRA-SHOK DEEP | Federal | 0: 1025; 25: 988; 50: 957; 75: 928; 100: 902 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .32 H&R Magnum?
A rimmed .32-caliber revolver cartridge occupying a separate case and pressure specification from .32 S&W Long and .327 Federal Magnum.
What diameter does .32 H&R Magnum use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3150 inches (8.001 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Do not infer ammunition compatibility from a family tree. The firearm manufacturer must authorize any alternative cartridge.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
BBTI points come from the cited cut-down barrel study. The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 41 ↗
- Sierra: .32 H&R Magnum cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗
- Ballistics by the Inch: archived measured barrel data (2020 archive) ↗
- BBTI: study index and source records ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.