Ruger LCR .32 H&R Magnum – A Gun & Caliber Whose Time Has Come

In 2021, I reviewed the Ruger LCR in .38 Special for this publication. I found it a very capable revolver and was impressed with many of its qualities. However, it did not win me over, when compared to the Smith 642, that I had been carrying for years. However, a new model of the LCR may just do that very thing, the LCR in .32 H&R Magnum.

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So, how is there a connection between Ruger and these two companies? In early 2024, Lispey’s collaborated with Smith & Wesson to produce a new, and improved, series of their popular J frame. The Ultimate Carry series consisted of a much improved 442 and 642 Centennial, in .38 Special. However, and to everyone’s surprise, Lipsey’s also launched the 432 and 632 UC, chambered in .32 H&R Magnum.

As I described, in my GunsAmerica article on the 632 UC, the .32 H&R Magnum was first introduced in 1984. The intent was to improve the performance of the .32 S&W cartridge, similarly, as the .38 Special improved the .38 S&W. Several manufacturers offered small revolvers in the new caliber but it never really took off. That is, until the new Smith J frames. It is fair to say that the 632/432 Ultimate Carry revolvers resurrected the .32 H&R Magnum and brought it back to the forefront of revolver shooters. 

The LCR, which stands for Lightweight Concealable Revolver, was first introduced in 2009. Ruger departed from a traditionally designed, one piece frame. Instead, the LCR consists of an upper alloy or steel frame, that houses the barrel and cylinder, and a lower polymer housing that contains the fire control components. The LCR features an internal hammer, making it almost snag proof. The design allows the LCR to weigh between 13.5 and 17 ounces, depending on the caliber. 

With the success of the Ultimate Carry models, it was only natural that Jason Cloessner, Lipsey’s Senior Vice President for Product Development, would reach out to their longtime partner, Ruger. The result is the new LCR in .32 H&R Magnum. It is important to note that the new LCR .32 H&R while being a Lipsey’s exclusive, will be a standard catalog item. 

The new LCR .32 is immediately distinguishable, from other LCR models, by its bronze colored frame. This was a fluke that worked out! When Ruger built the prototype, they sent it to Cloessner for initial review with a bronze frame, with no intention to have this become the actual production color. However, the two-tone little gun looked good and they decided to go with that color!

The new model has all the same LCR features of the .38 Special Model. These include a steel cylinder that features uniquely shaped flutes that are attractive and help further reduce the LCR’s weight. The cylinder release, while small, is easily manipulated. Ruger’s patented friction-reducing cam system gives the LCR an exceptionally nice trigger, that, is arguably better than my beloved J-frames. A radiused and polished trigger housed in an oversized oval trigger guard enhances the whole thing. I appreciate that the LCR is also void of any offending sharp edges. The barrel, on our .32 LCR, measured 1 7/8”. The front sight features a white ramp insert and the blade is pinned for easy replacement. 

As with other LCRs, the new gun shipped with Hogue Tamer stocks. I have found that these fit my hand well and completely fill the space behind the trigger guard. As is expected, the LCR action, on our test gun, was smooth, consistent, and free from any grit. Using my Lyman electronic trigger gauge, I found the double action, on our pistol, averaged 8 lbs. 12 oz. 

For those who are unfamiliar with the .32 H&R Magnum cartridge, it offers ballistics approaching .38 Special, but with significantly less recoil. Interestingly, the reduced cross section of the projectile allows for significant penetration at very reasonable velocities. As a bonus, the .32 chambering allows for a six-shot cylinder. This allowed me to use the HKS 32-J speed loaders in the LCR.

I would like to thank Federal, Hornady, High Desert Cartridge, Lost River Ammunition, and Georgia Arms and Ammo for providing the ammunition for this review. At least at the time of this article, .32 H&R Magnum ammunition, at my local shops, was in limited supply. Projects like this would be extremely difficult without this support. 

My initial testing involved shooting a 5 round group, off-hand, from 10 yards. The groups averaged around 2 ½”. With several loads, I was able to put 3 of the 5 rounds into a 1” group or better.  

The chart below represents the chronograph testing results. 

For personal defense, for short barrel revolvers, there is a growing consensus that wadcutters offer a viable option. They are accurate, and provide good penetration, at moderate velocities. In addition, the sharp shoulder tends to cut tissue. The High Desert and the Lost River wadcutter loads are powder coated, to reduce lead fowling. The average penetration, in bare gel, of both these loads averaged 22” or so. Through four layers of denim, the loads penetrated 15.5” and 12.5” respectively. For those who prefer an expanding projectile, I would recommend looking at Hornady’s Critical Defense 80 gr. FTX, Federal’s Personal Defense 85 gr. JHP, or High Desert’s 100 gr. XTP JHP.

After chronograph testing, I shot the HiTs Super Snubby test. This consists of three strings, fired from the 3, 5, and 10-yard line. At the 3-yard line, five shots are fired in 3 seconds, strong hand only. From the 5 yard line, 5 shots are fired in 5 seconds. At the 10 yard line, 5 shots are fired in 8 seconds. The drill is fired on a B8 bullseye and scoring is done based on the scoring rings.

I fire the drill cold and I only count my first run. My run was not my best. I dropped a total of 16 points which equates to an 89% score. Not my best, but acceptable. I also shot a five-round string at 25 yards, offhand, and had a score of 44/50! This is pretty impressive for a two-inch, double-action-only revolver. The LCR is certainly capable and the accuracy of the .32 H&R Magnum round, combined with the reduced recoil, certainly contributed to my performance. 

After over 150 rounds through the LCR, I found myself wanting to carry it more and more. There are several great carry options.  One is the Ankle Glove ankle holster from Galco. I’ve worn an ankle rig continuously for over 25 years and find it to be comfortable, durable, secure, and accessible. I placed an order for one but I have not received it as this is written. 

For pocket carry, I contacted Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged Holsters. Rob is a dedicated user of the revolver and understands daily carry. I ordered Rob’s DB Force Options pocket rig. This holster is a collaboration with Darryl Bolke. It is a square-shaped rig that is designed to offer excellent stability in the pocket. It is unique in that there is a slit pocket on each side of the holster.

The DB designed it for the user to carry identification, a speed strip, or “bait money”. I spiced mine up by ordering it in ostrich. I found that it works well in large pockets like those found on Duluth Trading Company’s Flex Fire Hose pants. However, where it shines, for me, is when carried in the outer pocket of a winter jacket.

A second pocket carry option is the AFR Undercover holster. This is a skeletonized pocket holster made from Kydex. The front face, of the holster, is covered with a poly suede material and features a cylinder window that reduces the overall thickness. The AFR Undercover features both front and rear hooks that engage the pocket during the presentation. It is a very sophisticated and detailed design. The AFR holster, manufactured by Bulman, is sold by American Fighting Revolver, a training and consulting firm formed by Darryl Bolke and Bryan Eastridge. 

The more I shot the little .32, the better I liked it. I did make two changes to the factory configuration. First, I replaced the Hogue grips with a set of Hamre Forge boot grips. The material is synthetic and manufactured from a powder. They offer a slight size reduction and have a sharper contoured backstrap than the Hogue Tamers. I found I like the shape and the material. 

The second modification was to replace the front sight blade with an XS orange dot. I found the dot to be much easier to acquire than the factory white front ramp. Replacement is easily accomplished and can be completed in 10 minutes or so. All that is needed is a roll pin punch and a nylon hammer.

Read More: The Best Snub Nose Revolvers

The LCR .32 H&R Magnum represents the ideal combination of design, weight, and caliber. When this is combined with a modern design, that has an exceptional trigger, the package is almost unbeatable. The new LCR is certainly finding its way into my everyday life. Look for the new LCR at your closest Lipsey’s dealer.

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