In collaboration with Lipsey’s, Smith & Wesson joined forces with renowned revolver experts Bryan Eastridge and Darryl Bolke to craft a new line of Lipsey’s exclusive revolvers. This partnership of industry leaders is the driving force behind the creation of the Ultimate Carry series, which features two exceptional guns. The 442/642 is chambered in .38 Special, while the 432/632 is available in the .32 H&R Magnum.
The 432/632, henceforth known as the 432 UC for brevity’s sake, is the superior option. In fact, I’d venture to say it’s the best J-Frame ever to hit the market. Why? Well, it’s not easy to explain, but I can break it down into five reasons. This article partially serves as propaganda to get more people to buy .32 H&R revolvers, and increase demand and production of .32 H&R Magnum, which in turn will create lower prices.
I’m also writing this article because many people won’t give the J-frame a chance. The standard .38 Special J-frame is a tough sell with many shooters due to recoil, its tough-to-shoot nature, and its lowered capacity. By the end, I hope to sell you on the benefits of the 432 UC and the J-frame design.
The .32 H&R Magnum Chambering
I don’t like shooting snub nose .38 Specials, and I especially hate shooting snub nose .357s. Sure, they aren’t as snappy as some smaller guns, but the recoil does slow me down, and the performance of either round from a super short barrel isn’t worth the trade-off in recoil. With the .38 Special, it’s often best to go with a wadcutter for defensive purposes to get the necessary penetration.
The 432 UC chambers the .32 H&R Magnum. Don’t let magnum fool you. It’s a magnum chambering when compared to the .32 S&W Long. However, the .32 H&R Magnum provides very moderate recoil. It doesn’t beat your hands up, and it’s very easy to control. I could draw from my pocket and put six rounds into the A-Zone of an IPSC target in two seconds.
The lightweight little bullet flies fast and penetrates deeply. As it penetrates, it is capable of devastating expansion, giving you a great one-two punch from an uber-small revolver.
The .32 H&R Magnum also provides enough room to fit an extra cartridge in the cylinder. This brings you up to six shots instead of the standard five. The .32 H&R Magnum is cross-compatible with the .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W. The .32 S&W long serves as a great low-recoil training round that feels more like a rimfire than a centerfire cartridge.
The Gun Has Real Sights
I just can’t seem to figure out how to shoot a traditional revolver with a rear trench and front sight. Maybe it’s that I expect too much from this type of sight. I’m not sure. One of the most notable additions to the UC lineup, though, is that it has real freakin sights. This includes a front XS big dot sight and a rear dovetailed blacked-out sight. It’s the same style of sights you’d find on any semi-auto pistol.
They are big, easy to see, and quick to align. I love them. These sights make the gun easy to shoot accurately and make the transition from automatic pistol to revolver natural. They are night sights and highly visible in all lighting conditions. The sights are super easy to track, especially compared to the sights on an automatic.
On an automatic, the slide reciprocates, but that’s not a problem with the revolver. The sights don’t move, so they are always easier to find between shots. For many shooters, that’s a huge benefit. It might not mean a whole lot to experienced shooters, but it’s a clear benefit to the average shooter.
Light DAO Trigger
I haven’t been super impressed with modern Smith & Wesson DAO triggers. The Ruger LCR design runs circles around the standard S&W trigger. Heck, the triggers coming out of Taurus and Rossi have even been better than those of some S&W revolvers. The trigger on my Bodyguard .38 is atrocious. Luckily, the folks at Lipsey’s ensured the UC series featured excellent triggers.
They reference optimized trigger geometry and some other great marketing speak. In reality, what we get is a short and light trigger, at least as far as DAO triggers go. The trigger must be the same thing S&W slaps in their Performance Center guns. A smooth and light trigger allows for decent rapid fire and certainly aids a little in the accuracy department.
High Horn Grips
S&W and Lipsey’s turned to VZ Grips to produce the gun’s grips. They call these the High Horn grips, and I hope VZ starts making them available to other revolvers. I have an LCR and Taurus 856 that need these High Horn grips—and they need them right now! These are boot-cut grips that stop at the bottom of the frame. However, they go up the back of the gun to still provide a very high grip on the gun.
Most boot grips leave my pinky hanging off the gun, while the High Horn grips have room for my entire hand. I also can’t hate the red and black color and love how it matches the gun’s finish. G10 is a grippy material, and the grips do a great job of locking the gun in your hand. The grips are good and thick and allow you to get total control of the gun.
These high-horn grips are also relieved to accommodate speed loaders. Speed loaders and J-frames aren’t typically friends due to the compact frame and grips that often get in the way. This was well thought out and a nice feature for those who want that quick reload capability.
Outshoots Other Pocket Guns
As I type this, the gun in my pocket is the Smith & Wesson 432 UC. It’s become my main carry gun and has replaced my various pocket pistols. I’ve taken the 432 up against my 3032 Tomcat, my P32, and Ruger LCP II, and I can outshoot them all with the 432 UC. Those micro autos hold more ammo, but the increase in accuracy and control makes enough of a difference that the trade-off in ammo was worth it.
The 432 UC is bigger than all those guns, but the geometry of a revolver makes the gun easier to pocket carry. It has lots of smooth edges, which makes it easy to draw and easy to carry in a pocket. A gun like the P365 might be more size adjacent, but the 432 is a much better pocket carry gun.
The Future of Revolvers
I won’t go into the benefits of revolvers over automatics, but I’ve stopped carrying an automatic daily to carry the 432 UC. It’s a fantastic revolver that shoots straight, is super reliable, and easy to handle. I believe the .32 H&R Magnum is the best J-Frame cartridge on the market. The 432 UC brings that cartridge front and center and, hopefully, shines some new light on the underrated magnum cartridge.
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