Pistol · SAAMI
.32 Short Colt
Colt's entry-level pocket revolver cartridge of the 1870s–1880s.
- Caliber
- 0.3169″ · 8.05 mm
- Introduced
- 1875
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .32 Rimfire Short
- Primary use
- Self-Defense
- Status
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1875
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Colt's Manufacturing Company
- Manufacturer
- Various (historical)
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Collector Only
- Case capacity
- 7.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:18.75
- Primer
- Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 17,500 psi
- Eff. range
- 25 yd
- Max range
- 50 yd
- Recoil
- 3–5 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .32 Short Colt — an obsolete/collector cartridge. Parent case: .32 Rimfire Short.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.05 | 0.317 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.13 | 0.320 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 8.18 | 0.322 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 8.89 | 0.350 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 15.75 | 0.620 | · |
| Overall length | 22.86 | 0.900 | ~ |
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 Short Colt is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
centerfire version of the .32 Rimfire Short
Connected reference
History
Introduced alongside the .38 Short Colt in 1875 for the smallest frame Colt double-action revolvers. The .32 Short Colt was positioned as a pocket and ladies' defense cartridge — light recoil, compact revolvers, minimal noise. Its energy levels were barely above those of the .22 rimfire family it notionally replaced. The .32 Long Colt offered meaningfully better performance and rendered the Short obsolete within a decade. No current commercial production; original Colt Rainmaker and similar pocket revolvers are collected as curios.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .32 Short Colt use?
- .32 Short Colt typically uses a 1:18.75 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .32 Short Colt?
- .32 Short Colt uses a 0.3169″ (8.05 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .32 Short Colt still in production?
- .32 Short Colt is obsolete; typical availability is collector only.
- What is .32 Short Colt used for?
- .32 Short Colt is primarily used for self-defense.
- What is .32 Short Colt based on?
- .32 Short Colt is derived from the .32 Rimfire Short case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 6 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →