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 S&W Long
A small, rimmed revolver cartridge with an established target-shooting role. Wadcutter and round-nose factory loads can look quite different while carrying the same cartridge name.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.230–1.280 in
31.242–32.512 mm - Case length · max
- 0.920 in
23.368 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
- 5 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 97–100 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.32 S&W Long is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 32 Smith & Wesson Long. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
A flush-seated wadcutter's appearance does not identify its pressure or compatibility. Read the full box designation.
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
Smith & Wesson introduced the .32 S&W Long with its first Hand Ejector revolver in 1896. The pairing marked an important mechanical change for the company: a swing-out cylinder and manually operated ejector replaced the top-break arrangement associated with many earlier Smith & Wesson cartridge revolvers. The longer .32 cartridge was part of that new platform’s identity.
The Hand Ejector system became the foundation for a much larger family of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The cartridge itself developed a lasting reputation in target shooting, where mild recoil and consistency mattered more than maximum power. Its history also continued through later .32-caliber developments: the .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum belong to the subsequent lineage of longer, higher-performance rimmed .32 cartridges. The Long’s importance is consequently both mechanical and sporting: it accompanied a major revolver-design transition and retained a distinct target-ammunition role.
Historical sources: American Rifleman: original Hand Ejector and .32 S&W Long 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.
The expanded factory selection spans 97–100 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
100 grains
853 fps
Lead flat nose
Compare all 5 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sellier & BellotV311312 | 100 gr 6.48 g | Lead flat nose | 853 fps 260 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Sellier & Bellot ↗ |
| Sellier & BellotV311302 | 100 gr 6.48 g | Wadcutter | 735 fps 224 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Sellier & Bellot ↗ |
| Fiocchi32SWLA | 97 gr 6.29 g | FMJStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 800 fps 243.8 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 31 ↗ |
| Fiocchi32LA | 100 gr 6.48 g | LWCStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 730 fps 222.5 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 32 ↗ |
| Fiocchi32SWLL | 97 gr 6.29 g | LFPStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 800 fps 243.8 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 32 ↗ |
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 S&W Long: published factory velocities
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 100 gr Sellier & Bellot Lead flat nose | Sellier & Bellot | 0: 853 |
| 100 gr Sellier & Bellot Wadcutter | Sellier & Bellot | 0: 735 |
| 97 gr Fiocchi FMJ | Fiocchi | 0: 800 |
| 100 gr Fiocchi LWC | Fiocchi | 0: 730 |
| 97 gr Fiocchi LFP | Fiocchi | 0: 800 |
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .32 S&W Long?
A small, rimmed revolver cartridge with an established target-shooting role. Wadcutter and round-nose factory loads can look quite different while carrying the same cartridge name.
What diameter does .32 S&W Long 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?
A flush-seated wadcutter's appearance does not identify its pressure or compatibility. Read the full box designation.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from 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. 43 ↗
- Sellier & Bellot ↗
- American Rifleman: original Hand Ejector and .32 S&W Long history ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
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.