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 | .32 Short Colt | |||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||
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| 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.[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, leading to a diameter change to .299 in (7.59 mm), a slight reduction in bullet weight, and a shortening of overall length.[2]
With a case lengthened by .31 in (7.87 mm) over the .32 Short Colt[2] (which means the .32 SC will chamber and fire in any weapon designed for the LC), the .32LC is in the same class in power as the .32 Smith & Wesson Long,[3] without comparable accuracy.[2] The .32 Long Colt and .32 S&W Long are not interchangeable due to differences in case and bullet diameter.
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.[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ Barnes, p.155, ".320 Revolver".
- ^ a b c d Barnes, p.155, ".32 Long Colt—.32 Short Colt".
- ^ Barnes, p.155, ".32 Long Colt;—.32 Short Colt".
- ^ "Famae 0.38 Special revolver (Chile), Pistols". Jane's Infantry Weapons. Jane's Information Group. Jan 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ 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.