I met with Chuck Haggard (Legendary Lawman) at an indoor range recently to get some trigger time in. As I was taking the Garmin Xero C1 Pro along, he brought a pair of snub revolvers in 32 H&R Magnum and a pair of loads. 

At the top, the Lipsey’s/S&W M632 UC with Hamre Forge-Spegel stocks, followed by the Lipsey’s/Ruger LCR 32 H&R with discontinued Crimson Trace LaserGrips, and the Bulman/AFR Undercover pocket holster.

The loads he provided were from Federal – a 95 grain SWC (it looks more like a flat-nose bullet) and their 85 grain JHP. 

The guns included the S&W Lipsey’s Exclusive M632 UC in 32 H&R Magnum. On this gun (the original, not the Lipsey’s Exclusive with a titanium cylinder), Chuck added the AFR (Hamre Forge) stocks. It weighs in at just sixteen ounces with a 1 7/8” barrel. 

The second 32 snub was Ruger Lipsey’s Exclusive  LCR in 32 H&R Magnum. Normally fitted with the Hogue Tamer Grip (which is a favorite of mine), Chuck modified the sadly discontinued Crimson Trace Lasergrips model LG-411. No longer made, they fit the early LCR line. While they were a fit for his older LCR 38 and 22 revolvers, he did some careful file work to fit them up to his Lipsey’s 32.

The new LCR has a bronze anodized aluminum frame, a 1 7/8” barrel and a pinned ramp front sight. It weighs just under 14 ounces as originally supplied. 

The image shows the guns and the pocket holster in which the M632 UC is carried. An effort from the team at American Fighting Revolver (Darryl Bolke and Bryan Eastridge), the Undercover pocket holster is Kydex with an open slot over the cylinder. This minimizes bulk, while the holster shape masks the form of the revolver when covered in a pocket. Made by Bulman Gunleather for American Fighting Revolver to sell, it’s also available for the Ruger LCR revolver. Since it’s an AFR collaboration, the S&W holsters are made to fit the rear sight of the Lipsey’s UC models as well as existing previous models with a rear sight such as the 640 Pro Series.

Chuck knew the S&W would hit to the sights with the Federal loads, but he was trying out the Ruger on this outing. He quickly found that both loads hit under the sights at 7 yards from the LCR. 

In the Ruger, the SWC load generated an average 833 feet-per-second. The JHP, being lighter, was quicker, at 887 fps. The S&W shot the lead bullet quicker than the Ruger, at 867 fps average. The JHP was minimally slower (inconsequentially so) at 880 fps average. 

Above, Chuck working the S&W 32; below, he’s trying the Lipsey’s/Ruger LCR in 32 H&R Magnum.

Those were six-rounds fired for the average on each.

I tried the 95 grain SWC load out of the Ruger, as I’d fired an example of the 32 S&W UC revolver before. The trigger on the LCR was very smooth. Neither gun seemed to struggle with recoil – as one would expect, they’re not as spicy in 32 H&R Magnum – for the most part – as a 38 in the same weight of gun. 

If I was the type to think a 32 just won’t do for personal defense, I’d reconsider. It matters more where the bullet hits than bullet diameter and – to some degree speed. We’re talking handguns here, not centerfire rifles or shotguns. 

In a discussion Chuck had with Ed Lovette before he passed, Ed noted that he had no love for the 38 Special 158 grain round-nose load that police were saddled with for decades. 

While saying that, he also noted that the load had settled lots of fights without much drama – if the user could shoot. This was consistent with the stated opinion of Pat Rogers, retired NYPD. 

The LCR with the custom-fitted, discontinued Crimson Trace LG-411 stocks was easily managed. 

To whom should guns like this be marketed? Anyone who needs a simple-to-use defense gun that doesn’t kick a lot. I will caution that the 32 H&R Magnum has a loud bark; 32s, as a rule, seem to be that way, especially when you get to the 32-20/327 Federal Magnum class rounds. 

Think “30 Carbine in a Ruger Blackhawk” loud and you’ll know what I mean.

The 32 H&R out of the snub format isn’t that jarring. We fired some 357 Magnum out of a ported 3” revolver to settle down afterwards. 

If your licensee doesn’t deal with Lipsey’s, they should. Either of these guns will take care of the close concealment defense and backup gun role. 

At least one of them is on-duty as a law enforcement backup gun right now. 

The new 32s are a commendable effort and something new users should take a look at.

— Rich Grassi