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Month: June 2022
The Smith & Wesson K-32 is an exceptionally accurate .32
My major growing up, my true formative years, took place in the 1950s. The 1950s were also a great time for sixgunners. During those few short years Colt resurrected the Single Action Army and introduced the .357 Magnum and the .357 Python. Ruger gave us the .22 Single-Six, the .357 Magnum Blackhawk, the .44 Magnum Blackhawk and the .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk. Smith & Wesson outdid both companies with the arrival of the 1950 Target and Military Models in .44 Special and .45ACP, the .357 Magnum Highway Patrolman, the .357 Combat Magnum, the 1955 Target in .45ACP and Elmer Keith’s long-awaited .44 Magnum.
My grade school, the house I lived in the 1950s, the shipping and receiving docks I worked on after high school — all are now just a memory. The same is true of every single sixgun mentioned from the big three manufacturers of the 1950s. Most have been dropped while others exist in name only. The only Colt which remains is the Single Action Army and it has changed in several ways. All the Old Model Rugers have been dropped or replaced by New Model versions and only a few Smith & Wessons are resurrected from time to time in their Classic Series. The latter guns are excellent, but definitely not the same as they were in the Golden Years.
These are the guns I have used and prefer; your choice may be entirely different. Choosing favorites is not always easy. Sometimes I can pick one favorite; other times it will be several. With that in mind we herein look at Taffin’s Top .32 Magnum sixguns.
The Smith & Wesson K-38 chambered in .32 S&W Long was the middle sixgun to the K-38 and K-22 in the line-up of target revolvers.
When the .32 Magnum first arrived, I didn’t take it seriously. My friend Joe Penner acquired one of the first 9-1/2” Ruger Single-Sixes available. We loaded up some JHPs and searched for suitable targets. I found some well out of date cans of split pea soup and since I don’t like the stuff anyhow, I figured it would be great for experimenting. Putting a jacketed hollow point through the first can set at 25 yards changed my mind about the little Mighty Mouse Magnum. The can of split pea split — sending green soup all over us and my red Bronco. This cartridge was no toy!
The first factory loads from Federal were very mild as the .32 Magnum arrived in Harrington & Richardson revolvers. (That’s why it is officially known as the .32 H&R Magnum.) The old H&Rs were not especially strong, but handloads for use in the Ruger Single-Six could be loaded much hotter.
Hornady, Sierra, and Speer all offer excellent jacketed bullets for the .32 Magnum.
The .32 Magnum begins with the .32 S&W Long and is nothing more than an elongated .32 Long — a most pleasant shooting and accurate cartridge especially when chambered in the Smith & Wesson K-32. Back in 1956 I passed up a brand-new K-32 at the local gun shop. A friend bought it instead. He still has it and a half-century passed before I ever came up with one at a reasonable price. These excellent sixguns are regarded as collector’s items, however thanks to a reader I was able to get one for an unbelievably low-price. It had been nicely re-blued, which may bother a purist collector but certainly not me as a shooting collector. When Bullseye was the number one handgun shooting sport in the middle of the last century, Smith & Wesson offered three K-Masterpieces in .22, .32 S&W Long, and .38 Special — all having the same balance and weight controlled by the length of the rib on the barrel. Classic K-22s and K-38 are relatively easy finds but not in the .32 version. The .32 Long WC is a viable solution for those who have trouble with recoil. My wife, Diamond Dot, has a fully engraved, ivory stocked 4” S&W .32. She does not feel undergunned at all.
Moving up to the .32 Magnum, my stable of Ruger .32s doesn’t include a single factory version, but customized sixguns by both Andy Horvath and Gary Reeder instead. Andy is well-known for his Lil Guns and I’m proud to know I introduced him to sixgunners more than 25 years ago. The first Lil Gun Andy did for me was a 4” round-butted .44 Special followed by a trio of .22s and then .32 Magnums. Starting with a standard Single-Six and a Bisley Model, he cut the barrels to just under 4” along with the ejector housing and ejector rod, totally tuned the actions, round-butted the grip frames, and finished both in a high bright blue. They make excellent single action versions of the classic Kit Gun, and fit easily into a backpack or carry nicely in a holster. I mostly use these with the Sierra 90 JHC, Hornady 100 JHP, or Speer 100 JHP over 8.5 grains of #2400 for an accurate shooting 1,060 fps.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators have moved to the brink of an agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill, Democrats’ lead negotiator said Tuesday, potentially teeing up votes this week on an incremental but notable package that would stand as Congress’s response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation.
Nine days after Senate bargainers agreed to a framework proposal — and 29 years after Congress last enacted a major measure curbing firearms — Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told reporters that a final agreement on the proposal’s details was at hand.
The legislation lawmakers have been working toward would toughen background checks for the youngest firearms buyers, require more sellers to conduct background checks and beef up penalties on gun traffickers. It also would disburse money to states and communities aimed at improving school safety and mental health initiatives.
“I think we’ve reached agreement,” Murphy said. “And just we’re dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s right now. I think we’re in good shape.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the chief Republican bargainer, spoke on the Senate floor moments later and said he, Murphy and the other two top Senate bargainers had “reached agreement.”
The senators did not initially say how they’d resolved the two major stumbling blocks that had delayed agreement on the plan’s legislative language.
One was how to make abusive romantic partners subject to the existing ban that violent spouses face to obtaining guns. The other was providing federal aid to states that have “red flag” laws that make it easier to temporarily take firearms away from people deemed dangerous or to states that have violence intervention programs.
If enacted, the election-year measure would spotlight a modest but telling shift in the politics of an issue that has defied compromise since Bill Clinton was president.
After 10 Black shoppers were killed last month in Buffalo, New York, and 19 children and two teachers died days later in Uvalde, Texas, Democrats and some Republicans decided that this time, measured steps were preferable to Congress’ usual reaction to such horrors — gridlock.
What’s uncertain is whether the Senate agreement and its passage would mark the beginning of slow but gradual congressional action to curb gun violence, or the high water mark on the issue. Until Buffalo and Uvalde, a numbing parade of mass slayings — at sites including elementary and high schools, houses of worship, military facilities, bars and the Las Vegas Strip — have yielded only gridlock in Washington.
Republicans refused to include proposals in Tuesday’s compromise that were sought by President Joe Biden and Democrats to ban assault weapons or raise the minimum age for buying them, prohibit high-capacity magazines or require background checks for virtually all gun sales.
It seemed likely a majority of Republicans — especially in the House — would oppose the legislation. Underscoring the backlash GOP lawmakers supporting the pact would face from the most conservative voters, delegates booed Cornyn at his state’s Republican convention Saturday as he described the measure.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said his goal was for his chamber to debate and vote on the legislation this week. Momentum in Congress for gun legislation has a history of waning quickly after mass shootings. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin a two-week July 4th recess at the end of this week.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he supported the outline bargainers announced last weekend. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also said she backed the effort and seems sure to set up votes on it as quickly as she can.
California would be the first state to require gun owners to buy liability insurance to cover the negligent or accidental use of their firearms, if lawmakers approve a measure announced Thursday.
“Guns kill more people than cars. Yet gun owners are not required to carry liability insurance like car owners must,” Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner said in a statement.
She said the costs of gun violence shouldn’t be borne by taxpayers, survivors, families, employers and communities: “It’s time for gun owners to shoulder their fair share.”
The state of New York is considering a similar requirement in the wake of numerous recent mass shootings and a rise in gun violence.
In January, the Silicon Valley city of San Jose approved what’s believed to be the first such insurance requirement in the United States.
No insurance company will cover the misuse of a firearm, predicted Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California.
He said such requirements are an illegal infringement on gun owners’ constitutional rights.
“We don’t believe you can put precursors on the exercising of a constitutional right,” Paredes said. “By requiring somebody to get insurance in order to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, that ceases to make it a right.”
Skinner is amending an existing bill on another topic to allow gun owners to be held civilly liable if their firearms are used to cause property damage, injury or death.
The bill would also require gun owners to have insurance that covers loses or damages from the negligent or accidental use of their firearm. And they would have to keep proof of insurance with their firearm and show it to police if they are stopped for some reason.
Paredes had similar objections to a second bill that also would affect gun owners’ costs, this one by imposing an excise tax on firearms and ammunition.
The bill would impose an excise tax equal to 10% of the sales price of a handgun and 11% of the sales price of a long gun, ammunition or parts to build firearms.
Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine estimated his bill would bring in more than $118 million annually that would go toward gun violence prevention programs.
Because it would impose a tax, Levine’s bill would require approval by two-thirds majorities in the Legislature. His similar measure last year fell four votes short of the 54 it needed in the 80-member Assembly.
The bills are among numerous firearms measures being considered by California lawmakers this year, including one that would make it easier to sue gun-makers and another that would allow private citizens to sue those who traffic in illegal weapons.
Reliability brings us the same comforts as a warm shelter and full stomach does. Maybe that’s why everyone loves Stan so much? You see, Stan shows up every weekend at our club shooting range. There’s nothing extraordinary about him, unless you count the fact, he’s 92. Some guys show up just a much, but they’re nowhere near as loved as Stan.
Sure, he moves slow, but he’s moving. He takes his time carrying his cased rifle to the bench he’ll be shooting at. Then he gets a few sandbags, a couple of carpeted shooting blocks of wood and shuffles them to his bench. On weekends our range has designated range officers (RO), usually four. When Stan comes, most of the RO, if not busy, help Stan get set up, carrying his blocks and bags for him to his bench.
They’ll help set his target up, usually running it out to the 100-yard line for him. Stan doesn’t ask for help but appreciates the helping hand. He’s earned the respect of every RO at the club with his grit and determination. He just doesn’t give up. He comes every weekend to shoot, while obviously in pain. As he says, “beats sitting at home doing nothing.”
Even at 92, Stan shows good firearm safety and handling abilities.
Smoke Poles
Stan’s favorite shooting rifles are muzzleloaders, beautifully built muzzleloaders. Some were built by Stan, some were bought as is, others were repaired by him. He shoots both flint locks and cap lock guns. He has a steady, methodical ritual when loading his guns. Taking his time, he looks around, smiling, taking in the day, as he loads. Even with the muzzleloaders crude sights and his aging eyes, everyone is amazed how well he still shoots.
As Stan shoots and reloads, everyone always stops by to talk with him. He’s that kind of guy. He usually tells a story if prodded. He grew up in the Bronx and is a Korean War veteran. He married his sweetheart after the war, was a successful businessman, and had several children, two of which are doctors. After the war, he continued his fascination with guns.
No muzzleloader today! Stan showing me his AK-74.
Surprise! Surprise!
This past weekend, as I write this, it was one of my days to be RO. It was a beautiful day, steady with shooters, and filled with good conversation naturally about guns, handloading and the latest politics.
Around 1 o’clock I see the unmistakable silhouette of Stan walking towards the range house to sign in. The range being slow at this time, everyone acknowledges Stan, helping him get set up. I help Stan carry his cased rifle to his bench, asking him what muzzleloader he brought this day. Stan chuckles, saying I got a surprise for you today.
Stan unzips the case, revealing a scoped AK-74 rifle. He goes on explaining it’s the only scoped rifle he owns, stating, “ever since my eye stroke, I can’t see the front sights on my muzzleloaders. So, Stan improvised, bringing his AK-74 to the range so he could enjoy some rest and recreation. I just laughed when I saw the rifle, surprised a die-hard muzzleloader man would have such a rifle. Not that there’s anything wrong with having an AK-74 rifle. Heck, everyone should have at least one.
Stan goes on telling me about his monthly injections in his eye to hopefully regain vision in it. He says it’s slowly starting to get better. He hopes to be shooting his muzzleloaders before too long.
Stan showing good form aiming at his 100- yard target.
How many guys carry a picture of their wives when they first met? Stan Does!
There’s More…
This naturally led to a discussion on today’s Russia/Ukraine conflict. Stan stated his ancestors were from Ukraine, before immigrating here, to the Bronx. Stan continues about meeting his wife, even showing me a picture of her when they first met.
We close the range at 5 p.m. and Stan was waiting for the range to go cold, so he could retrieve his target. Of course, I offer to get it for him. Ol’ Stan had every shot in the black bullseye, his entire box of 5.45X39 in about a 4-5” group. I ask Stan if he wants the target and he says, “yes, because you never know when your last day of shooting will be, and I can always look at the target and remember…”
Here’s what Stan feeds his AK-74.
Be Like Stan
I don’t know why this story touches me so, but it does. Maybe its because if we’re lucky enough, we will live to be as old as Stan. I know I was tickled by his diverse choice of guns, but I shouldn’t have been. Gun guys like every type of gun as we rotate through every type of gun type there is, eventually. I know I’m looking at AK-74’s now after shooting Stan’s.
Also, his grit is lovable, making it to the range every weekend and his statement, “beats sitting on the couch.” When I asked Stan how old he was he replied, “92, can you believe it?” I replied, “that’s great!” And he chuckled, “not for me, I hate it” showing we’re still the same 13-year-old voice in our head as our bodies and time betray us.
All I can say is try and be like Stan. He’s truly worthy of someone to aspire to.