The cartridge retained the same dimensions, but was now loaded with smokeless powder to roughly the same chamber pressure.

This reputation led Police Commissioner Roosevelt to select it as an expedient way to increase officers' accuracy with their revolvers in New York City.

The cartridge has mostly fallen out of use because similarly sized revolvers chambered in .38 Special are more effective for self-defense.

[3] The cartridge is widely used internationally, particularly in countries like India that restrict the calibers available to civilian firearms owners.

[11] The IOF .32 Revolver manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Organization in India for civilian licence holders is chambered for this cartridge.