Rimfire · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.32 Rimfire Short
Short .32 caliber rimfire cartridge, one of the early metallic cartridge designs.
- Caliber
- 0.316″ · 8.026 mm
- Introduced
- 1860
- Case
- Rimfire
- Primary use
- Target/Competition
- Status
- Discontinued
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1860
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Various / American commercial
- Manufacturer
- Various
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 7.3 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:18
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 18,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 1450 yd
- Recoil
- 0.21–0.29 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .32 Rimfire Short — an obsolete/collector cartridge.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.03 | 0.316 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.08 | 0.318 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 8.08 | 0.318 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 9.58 | 0.377 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.48 | 0.058 | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 14.61 | 0.575 | ~ |
| Overall length | 24.08 | 0.948 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .32 Rimfire Short is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Lineage
History
The original short .32 rimfire cartridge, used in the smallest pocket revolvers of the 1860s. One of the first successful metallic rimfire designs for handguns. Fires a very small lead bullet at very low velocity; superseded by .32 S&W and .32 ACP for practical use.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .32 Rimfire Short use?
- .32 Rimfire Short typically uses a 1:18 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .32 Rimfire Short?
- .32 Rimfire Short uses a 0.316″ (8.026 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .32 Rimfire Short still in production?
- .32 Rimfire Short is discontinued; typical availability is collector.
- What is .32 Rimfire Short used for?
- .32 Rimfire Short is primarily used for target/competition.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 18 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
