.32 Long Colt

The .32 Long Colt (commonly called the .32 LC or simply .32 Colt) is an American centerfire revolver cartridge.

.32 Long Colt
.32 Long Colt (left) and .32 S&W Long (right)
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1873
Produced	1873–present
Specifications
Parent case	.320 Revolver
Case type	Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter	.312 in (7.9 mm)
Neck diameter	.313 in (8.0 mm)
Base diameter	.318 in (8.1 mm)
Rim diameter	.374 in (9.5 mm)
Case length	0.92 in (23 mm)
Overall length	1.26 in (32 mm)
Rifling twist	1:16 in (410 mm)
Primer type	small pistol
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 82 gr (5.3 g) (factory load) 790 ft/s (240 m/s) 114 ft⋅lbf (155 J) 80 gr (5.2 g) lead 840 ft/s (260 m/s) 126 ft⋅lbf (171 J) 95 gr (6.2 g) 700 ft/s (210 m/s) 104 ft⋅lbf (141 J)
Source(s): Barnes & Amber 1972

Description

Introduced by Colt's with the New Line revolver in 1873, the .32 Colt was inspired by the .320 Revolver, also called the ".32 Webley".^[1] It originally used a .313 in (7.95 mm)-diameter 90 gr (5.8 g) outside-lubricated heeled bullet, which was later changed to inside lubrication. This change led to the diameter shrinking to .299 in (7.59 mm), a slight reduction in bullet weight, and a shortening of overall length.^[2] The .32 Long Colt was so popular and introduced so soon after the .320 that enthusiasts and manufacturers began colloquially referring to the .320 as the ".32 Short Colt". Even though this terminology isn't technically correct, it is still being used today.^[3]

With a case lengthened by .31 in (7.87 mm) over the .320 Revolver^[2] (which means that the .320 will chamber and fire in any weapon designed for the .32 Long Colt), the .32 LC is in the same class in power as the .32 Smith & Wesson Long,^[4] albeit without comparable accuracy.^[2] Although the .32 Long Colt and .32 S&W Long appear to be similar, the two are not interchangeable due to the case and neck diameter being much narrower on the .32 Long Colt.

More popular in Europe than North America, Colt was the most prominent American manufacturer which chambered any weapons in .32 Long Colt,^[2] most notably the Police Positive. The FAMAE revolver produced in Chile is currently offered in .32 Long Colt.^[5][6]

See also

• .32 Rimfire
• 8mm caliber
• List of cartridges by caliber

References

1. Barnes, p.155, ".320 Revolver".
2. Barnes, p.155, ".32 Long Colt—.32 Short Colt".
3. "Cartridge Board". handloadermagazine.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
4. Barnes, p.155, ".32 Long Colt;—.32 Short Colt".
5. "Famae 0.38 Special revolver (Chile), Pistols". Jane's Infantry Weapons. Jane's Information Group. Jan 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
6. Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.

Notes

• Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".32 Long Colt—.32 Short Colt" & ".320 Revolver", in Cartridges of the World, pp. 155 & 177. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.