.32 S&W
| .32 S&W | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Handgun | |||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Smith & Wesson | |||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1878 | |||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1878–present | |||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .320 Revolver | |||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .312 in (7.9 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .334 in (8.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .335 in (8.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .375 in (9.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .045 in (1.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case length | .61 in (15 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length | .92 in (23 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small pistol | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 12,000 psi (83 MPa) | |||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source(s): "Cartridges of the World" https://gundata.org/cartridge/131/.32-smith-&-wesson/ | ||||||||||||||||
The .32 S&W is a straight-walled, centerfire, rimmed handgun cartridge (also known as the .32 S&W Short), and was originally designed as a black powder cartridge. It was introduced in 1878 for Smith & Wesson pocket revolvers. The .32 S&W was offered to the public as a light defense cartridge for "card table" distances.
The .32 S&W Short was the basis for several other .32-caliber handgun cartridges. The .32 S&W Short can safely be fired in guns chambered for .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum.