.38 or .32 mag out of a 2"snub

[livnhel]

Would the .32 mags power be close to a .38 spl shot out of a 2" snub? Thanks.

["DoubleAction"]

livnhel; You can probably edge out the .38 special in velosity because of a lighter, smaller diameter bullet, but given the fact that your talking about a 2" snub revolver, I would assume your intentions are for defensive carry. For my own preferences, between the two, I would go with the .38 Special + P, but that is me.

[livnhel]

Hi DA , I have both guns.The .32 mag holds 6 the .38 spl holds 5 , and I wondered if the extra bullet in the .32 mag might give an edge if needed.Also looked at the S&W 327 a 21 oz 8 shot 2" .38 - .357 as a carry.I understand that that the .357 in a lightweight gun would unpleasent to shoot.

[5ontarget]

As DA said, The muzzle velocity of a .32mag will be a faster than than a .38 +p, but a .38 +p will be more powerful in that is has more energy (ft-lbs). I too prefer the .38 +p over the .32mag for a defensive round...for a couple reasons: the guns and ammo are easier to find, and the proven capabilities of the .38. But since you have both, it doesn't matter.

["DoubleAction"]

Livnhel; The only smaller S&W Revolver I have fired, in the .357 magnum, is the J-Frame 640 Centennial. It is a handfull with the smaller boot grips, but quite controllable with something to wrap my hand around.
The attraction of the 5 round revolvers are their lower profile, this was a choice years ago between the S&W Chiefs special, and Colt's Detective Special of 6 rounds. Alloy frames verses the steel frames have also given way to opinions of choice, in terms of higher velosity ammunition and strength.
Charter Arms came in with a snub nose, which had a multi piece frame, consisting of alloy, with steel providing support in the stress areas. I stumbled upon one of these C.A. revolvers when a fellow brought it for me to clean; It had belonged to his father.
As we enter a new age of gun metals, like Titanium, I'm sure we will see things change in the smaller revolvers. I reckon the choice between 5 rds, or 6 rds, will continue to be a matter of personnal choice, as for me, it depends on the level of concealment I require for a particular occassion, because I've carried both.

[Arclightstrike]

Well, bro, here's my 2 cents worth on that topic: with only 2" of barrel, it's kind of a moot point what would be more powerful...unfortunately, a 2" barrel doesn't allow anything centerfire to develop its full potential. Neither gun will be "pleasant" to shoot, and neither gun will be good for more than across-the-street range, even if you're good.

I'm not a small guy, but I have found something that works for me in .357 (a little stainless Ruger SP-101 snubby). I can put anything from an old-fashioned .38 to a full-power .357 through it and hit plate-size targets at 25-30 feet, but it gets harder with the .357 loads...plus you get a basketball-sized fireball out the business end and people think you let a bomb go off in your hands. I only fired one .32 Mag. snubby (a friend's) and it was pretty fierce in its own right. I'd go with whatever you can shoot most accurately at realistic distances (7-9 yards).