Favorite 32 S&W Long loads

[Pondoro]

I just got a 32 Hand Ejector, what are your favorite loads - powder, bullets, cases, etc?

It will be a fun plinking gun, not a defense gun. But I want to shoot it a lot.

[cjw3]

I like 2.0 grains of Bullseye and the Hornady 90 grain HBWC, seated flush with just enough roll crimp to iron out the expanded case. Easy to load and cheap to shoot.

These run around 650 fps from my postwar 4" HE. The knife edge sights and skimpy grip are not conducive to tight groups (3" at 50' is typical for me off the bench), but these guns were never intended to be high-precision items. The accuracy they do have is more than adequate for defensive use.

I edited the Bullseye charge after looking back through my notes. I get cleaner burning with 2.0 grains.

[OK Hog Shooter]

Pondoro... thanks for starting this post. I just acquired two revolvers in .32 S&W long and was gonna start basically the same thread. I seem to remember an earlier thread where the OP was using 00 buck for plinking loads. You might do a little thread searching and see if you can find it. I plan on acquiring at least enough factory loads to end up with 500 rounds of brass. Of course, then I get to shoot them up to get the brass! Good luck with your reloading question.

Blessings,
Hog

[civil1977]

I'm doing the same thing. I've picked up these factory .32 S&W Longs at guns shows this year. The wadcutters are fun to shoot and the Lungos are something different. The Georgia Arms ammo uses Starline brass, which should be good for reloading.

[Alk8944]

Pondoro,

If you are going to buy factory to get your brass, simplify things and buy all the same brand. Winchester, Fiocchi and Star Line are all good. I would recommend avoiding Remington as you will have an inordinate rate of case failures once you get past 2-3 loads.

Primers, Federal or Winchester, standard.

Just about any powder from Unique and faster will be excellent.

Bullets. I shoot almost exclusively the Lyman 3118 (311008 now) 115 FP. Anything from 98-115 grs work well. The RCBS 32-098 SWC is excellent also. If you are buying bullets try to get them sized anywhere from .312 to .314. I have about 20 various .32 cal. revolvers and pistols, and .314 works fine in any of them.

[Pondoro]

I bought 200 Starline cases and I have probably 100 Winchester cases already. I've got a large supply of Winchester small pistol primers.

[walnutred]

My current favorite load is 2.7 gns of Bullseye under a 90gn Hornady SWC. This load is within the range given in my Lyman 45 and my Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and works well in my J Frames. However I would NEVER use it in a top break revolver. Also remember that bullet seating depth becomes very important with small case capacity ctgs like 32 Long.

[Hondo44]

It's very hard not to get good results when loading the .32 S&W Long, it's so inherently accurate. I shoot it a lot and have excellent accuracy and consistency with a 95 gr SWC and 3.5 grains of Unique which closely simulates the factory loadings. All my post war I frames love that load and my 30-1 with added factory sights, TH & TT is so easy to sight/shoot well, it's a tack driver with it as well.

[bobbyd]

Years ago I used a Walther GSP-C in .32 SWL in bullseye competition with a load of 1.9 gr WW-231 under a 98 gr HBWC. Functioning was flawless and accuracy was not to be believed!
The very same load worked very well in a variety of .32 revolvers.

[zeke]

Solid frame only load
Meister 94 grain rnfp @ 1.254 col, Starline 32 long case, Fed 100 primer, 2.6 grains red dot.

Good for about 860 fps from 3 in m31. A substancial portion of the Meister bullet is forward of the case mouth.

[guesser]

I cast the Lee 93 gr. RN from soft lead with a little tin thrown in to promote fill. It drops at 95 gr. and I size it .313 and load over 2.5 gr. of Bullseye for several Colt and S&W solid frame revolvers. Works for me!!!!!

[Mule88]

Ive used 3 gn of universal clays with either a 85 gn jacketed hollow point or 85 gn cast with very good results.

[Beaver]

I have been very pleased with some 95gr. SWC from Penn bullets. These little beauties are the only bullet I've used. Skeeter Skelton wrote about some pretty warm loads using Unique. I found in Lyman #42 a load with Unique up to 4.3 gr. with 95gr cast plain base.

In my Mdl 31 I started with 3.5gr Unique and settled on 3.9gr. This is a snappy load, but very acccurate. Hodgdon #26 has a reference for 3.8gr. of Unique with a 98gr. bullet. This is a maximum load in the book.

I'm probably at a maximum for me using 3.9gr. Unique with the 95gr. Penn SWC. Next reload I'm using less.

[mtgianni]

98 gr RCBS SWC over 2.5 gr Red Dot. I also go up to 3.6 gr Unique.

[C.S.63]

pondoro,

I have used Trailboss with the Hornady 90gr SWC.