Hello all. I have recently acquired my granddad's 32 s/w pocket pistol. I am looking for some light 32 short loads. I see that others have loaded top break revolvers in the 1.0 to 1.2 grains range with win 231, hp-38, & bullseye powders for a starting point load. My supply of winchester western 85 lubaloy bullets is less than one box of 50. The box states that it's muzzle velocity is 680 fps & muzzle energy is 87 foot lbs. I would desire to have starting loads of 400 fps to 450 fps due to the weapons age(1900 to 1910) and it does not have a solid frame. I would of course work up(20 % less) to the less than maximum published loads. I would appreciate any guidance you members can provide. I am aware of new Magitech 32 s/w brass from Midway and new Remington and Magitech ammo(pretty pricey!) from obsolete ammo dealers.

Thanks.

Fred Clemmer
Gastonia, N.C.

The Lyman 45th Edition has these loads for .32 S&W:

77 grain cast bullet #311252

Bullseye: starting load 1.1 grains, velocity 471 fps
max load 1.5 grains, velocity 626 fps

Red Dot: starting load 1.4 grains, velocity 608 fps
max load 1.9 grains, velocity 736

Unique: starting load 1.6 grains, velocity 511 fps
max load 2.6 grains, velocity 760 fps

84 grain cast bullet #313249 (or #311227)

Bullseye: starting load 1.0 grains, velocity 442 fps
max load 1.4 grains, velocity 608 fps

Red Dot: starting load 1.3 grains, velocity 629 fps
max load 1.7 grains, velocity 698 fps

Unique: starting load 1.5 grains, velocity 476 fps
max load 2.5 grains, velocity 745 fps

Lyman suggests sticking with the starting loads in top-break revolvers; probably very good advice.

I have a few of those around that I load up once in a while with a Lee 93 grain cast bullet for use in a .32 Hand Ejector/.32 Long. They are a little out of the league of the above loads so I won't get into specifics, but even so are only doing 575 fps. That cartridge must be about the quietest centerfire revolver cartridge I know of.

I started loading .32 Long for a .32 Hand Ejector (pre 1920ish) that I inherited from a grandfather that I never knew. It is in excellent shape, but I decided that I would pick up a shooter and retire the old gun rather than risk it. The top-breaks are pretty common around here and I have sort of called myself looking for a nice one to tinker around with.

Enjoy it, good luck and welcome to the forum: this is a good bunch of folks.

I'd be very careful with that one. I think that is earlier than when S&W started heat treating their cylinders for smokeless powders and even light charges can do some serious stretching.

If no one has any more information here, check in the gunsmithing or revolver forum of that age and aske around there about using smokeless powder in it.

If it is alright I'd just stay with a starting load of Bullseye at the most. Most manuals will tell you that their loads are not intended for any top break revolver. I do shoot a newer, than yours, H&R top break using an 85 gr. LRN bullet over 1.0 grain of Bullseye, but not very often as I have other guns to shoot too.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

Thank you cjw3 and jellybean for your posts. I think that I am going to proceed rounding up 32 short brass and lead/cast bullets that are already lubed and try a few starting loads for a few rounds and see how it goes. I am not new to reloading jacketed bullets for rifles & pistols but I have not loaded any cast or lead bullets for either pistols or rifles. I will post my results after I have done 25 or so. Again I appreciate your efforts!


Fred Clemmer