I’m a big fan of the .32 H&R Magnum cartridge for small revolvers. It offers a great bang for your buck, with less recoil, while not compromising your ability to stop a threat. It’s a J-frame cartridge if there ever was one, and in a revolver like the 432 PD, I think it makes what I’d call the perfect backup gun.
The 432 series has received some attention recently due to the 432 UC becoming such a popular little revolver. The 432, 332, and other .32-caliber models have been in and out of production since the 1980s, with the 432PD being the last production model until the UC variants launched.
The PD moniker is still around. It stands for “Personal Defense” and is often used for Airweight revolvers designed to be fairly plain and simple. They are often fitted with plain black grips, have a basic finish, and have ramp-style sights.
As you can see, this 432 PD is a little different. I’m the second owner, but the first owner clearly enjoyed the J-frame. He replaced the grips with standard wood grips and the black ramp front sight with an XS front sight.
Why It’s the Perfect Backup Gun
I’d argue the 432PD is the perfect backup gun, especially for law enforcement. While it’s rare for the average civilian to carry a backup, the 432PD is well-suited as either a primary concealed carry option or a secondary weapon if someone chooses to carry two.
The first thing that makes the 432PD ideal as a backup is its weight. These guns have aluminum frames and weigh 13.5 ounces. That’s not quite titanium light, but it’s 2.5 ounces lighter than the UC models, and you’d be surprised how much 2.5 ounces matters.
If you’re carrying a backup gun, the last thing you want is a boat anchor. The ultralightweight design of the 432 PD makes it comfortable to carry, especially if you pocket carry or ankle carry.
Its minimalistic design also makes it very easy to conceal and carry. While small grips aren’t great for shooting, they’re better for concealment. A backup gun is typically concealed, so they’re helpful.
The swap to .32 H&R Magnum makes a ton of sense, too. A backup gun is more likely to be fired one-handed, especially in a defensive situation where your primary hand is occupied. You can’t just throw your main firearm on the ground, especially as a police officer.
Retaining the gun with one hand is the likely solution until you can reholster it, and that’s where we see the benefits that .32 H&R Magnum offers. Combining limited recoil but potent power, one-handed shooting is much easier with a .32 H&R Magnum than a .38 Special, even with the small grips.
It’s the perfect backup gun because it’s lightweight, very compact, packs a potent caliber, and can be quickly fired with one hand.
Shooting the Little 432 PD
How soft is the recoil? It’s smooth enough to put six rounds into an A-zone-sized target in less than two seconds from the low ready. I can shoot a Bill Drill in 2.2 seconds with a staged pocket draw. The covered hammer makes it a snag-free draw.
That was my best time, and 2.3 and 2.4-ish times were a little more common. Either way, that’s a lot of rounds into a small target area, fast, at typical self-defense distances. The 432 PD, even with its micro-sized grips, shoots very nicely.
One-handed shooting wasn’t an issue at all. I was able to land accurate shots to the head of an FBI Q target at seven yards quickly and easily. It surprised me how easy the gun is to shoot with just my dominant hand. I shot a few one-handed Mozambique drills at five yards, and it was a total blast.
The big XS sight is easy to see, and I can see why the old owner swapped the sights. It’s a big sight, so it lacks some precision, but it’s on a snub-nose revolver—not a gun known for precision anyway. If you put the sight on the target, it lands somewhere within that dot.
Without a real rear sight, it’s challenging for me to hit small targets beyond 15 yards. Sure, I can always hit that big FBI Q target at 15 yards, but headshots are lucky shots. Within 10 yards, though, the gun really shines, and it’s fast at that range.
Blasting Away
I’ve been spoiled by the trigger on the 432 UC. The 432 PD’s trigger isn’t as nice. It’s acceptable, but you wouldn’t run around proclaiming it to be fantastic. It’s heavy and stacks with some grit near the pull’s end.
The 432 PD proved to be very reliable. It never had a problem with any .32 H&R Magnum rounds. The .32 S&W Long ammo from MagTech was another story. The primers on those rounds are harder than woodpecker lips, and they fail in most guns.
The .32 S&W Long from Aguila was much more reliable, had no problems with the gun, and made for solid practice ammo.
The Backup Option
J-frame revolvers have been the go-to backup guns for a long time. It just makes sense. The 432 PD makes even more sense thanks to its lightweight design paired with a low-recoil cartridge. It’s an accurate, easy-to-shoot gun that can stop a threat. It just fills that role so well.
