Hi

Well I am in the process of converting over to shooting a 32 SW long in my center fire matches. I have Lapua brass and Lapua 98 grain lead wadcutter bullets. My powder cabinet has HP38, Titegroup and Universal Clays which are listed on Hodgdon's site. There is only a 0.2 grain difference between starting and maximum loads for both Titegroup and Universal Clays, however; a 0.4 grain difference for HP38.

I would like to start with HP38 and see what results I can obtain. Does anyone have any experience with this load or particular cartridge.

Thanks

Robert

For years I've used ww231 in 32 S&W Long with several bullet weights. Nowdays they say these are the same powder, so I would so go with a small batch hp38 loads and see if they perform the way you want. Which firearm are you using? I always used revolvers but lusted after the Walther!!!

Hi Ivan

Thanks for responding. I have had good luck with HP38/WW231 in several of my firearms. Firearm? My wife has taken an interest in shooting. I took her to an ISSF match and she fell in love with the format/range. She immediately claimed my SW 41 and 52 as hers which left me without anything for my Bullseye shooting.

At a recent gun show I found an exceptional SP280 Hammerli combination 22lr and 32 SW long wadcutter at a good price. Unfortunately the 22 likes Eley pistol match ammunition which is a little expensive. At least it is not Tenex! So now I need to find a good combination for the 32 set up. The Hammerli is quite large which fits my hand nicely and the counterweights will help out balancing the red dot scope which I intend to mount on the top.

For many years I've been using 1.9 grains of HP-38 under a 98-100 grain WC, both hollow base swaged and cast, in the .32 S&W Long. I've had great results in revolvers from a S&W 1896 to a 1961 Colt Police Positive Special and several in between.

Thank you HK for the information. This is the first time I am loading such a small caliber and even smaller amounts of powder. Glad to hear people have had good results with HP38.

I'm using 2.1gr of 231 under a Berry 83gr HBWC. So far my wife is happy with that load.

For my wifes 280, I load 1.65 gr WST behind a Speer 98 hbwc. It chrono's around 730fps. This load works great in her 280, but slightly hot for my Pardini HP. My Pardini would be happier around 1.5 gr of WST.

I know that many reloaders out there have used one powder for a particular caliber over the years and are perfectly satisfied, so never change. I am one of those reloaders, but did actually start experimenting with a new powder in almost all my target loads from 32 S&W to .455 and find that is especially suitable for small caliber revolvers.

Trail Boss is a high volume powder with a large min to max tolerance when loading. I stick to the manufacturers recommendations on loading, but many load this stuff like black powder and fill the case to just below the seated bullet (no compression) level and get great results. I shoot 32 Long at about 650 fps and find the standard deviation is very low from shot to shot.

Anyway, it is a tough thing to do, but I can be taught new tricks. Worst care scenario is that you wasted only $13 for a bottle of Trail Boss.

I used an older Walther GSP-C .32 SWL in bullseye competition for years.
1.9 gr. of either WW231 or HP38 with a 98 gr. HBWC was my go-to load for both functioning and accuracy.

Actually after some more research I found Unique (which I currently use in my shotshell loads) to have a fairly large load range for a 98 gr. LWC from around 2.2 to 2.7 grains which would be another consideration. I typically like to stay on the low end to reduce muzzle jump. Trail Boss does have the same attributes.

Thanks to all for the advice on reloading for the 32 Smtih and Wesson Long.

Last year I made a decision to change over to the 32 Smith and Wesson Long for the center fire part of Bullseye competition. Part of this decision was made because I also compete in ISSF where nothing larger than 38 caliber is allowed.

Looking through the available 32 models the first obvious commonality among those firearms was the grips which are quite different than what is on a typical Bullseye pistol like my SW 41 and Smith Wesson 945. I found a 3rd Series Hammerli 280s (which most people think is the best of the 280 line) with interchangeable housings for both 22 and 32 calibers. The 280 has had a lot of discussion concerning its accuracy and the fact that it incorporates high strength carbon fiber into the firearm. There are a lot of Walther GSP fans and it certainly has a lot going for it; however, the Hammerli I found came with case, spare parts, 4 magazines for each caliber, intact tool kit and very little indications of being shot a lot. Obviously since the 280 is not produced anymore parts are of a concern.

My first impression of the Hammerli was the lightness and the ergonomic feel of the firearm. While the frame is high strength carbon fiber, the actual barrel and slide are metal to metal which should provide for long life. Basic field stripping is not difficult – removing two screws one in the magazine well and another front of the barrel. Anything further stripping does become rather complicated. A t-wrench is provided for this operation and is also required to change from 22 lr to 32 SW long so do not forget to bring it with you. It took some trial and error to learn how to reassemble the barrel/slide components after basic field stripping. The slide component has to be locked into place before replacing the barrel housing. Phenomenal trigger – a two-step trigger that does require some adjustment; however, the break is light and like glass.

The grip angle is much shallower than the SW 41 and 945 which allows a more straight line alignment. I was able to find a scope mount from Larry’s Guns that fit the Hammerli and it replaces the rear sight. There is enough room to mount an Ultradot on the weaver style base (Figure 1). The scope sits over the top of your hand. There are three counter weights that can be changed around on the front of the firearm to accommodate balance. I used two counter weights in the back slots and one carbon place holder on the front slot.

The Hammerli 22lr was finicky about ammo like my SW 41 and it took trial and error. Hammerli provides a target with each gun – wish they would provide the ammo used. The gun comes with a round catcher that is really useful when shooting indoors or where fallen brass is club property. My 22 combination liked Eley pistol match and was adequate with Fiocchi pistol for practice. The reloads for the 32 were with Hirtenberg brass, Lapua 98 gr HBWC, Winchester small primers and HP38 (1.9 and 2.0 grains), Universal Clays (1.9 and 2.0 grains) and Herco (2.2, 2.3, 2.4 grains) powder because they all had at least 0.4 grain difference between min and max and were available in my powder cabinet. Testing found that the Hammerli liked 1.9 grains of HP38 producing 1.150 inch group at 50 yards from a Ramson rest (Figure 2) of which one bullet strike occupied 0.625 inches distance.

However, when trying to load this round using my turret press I found my Lee autodisk would not make consistent throws at low powder levels. I purchased a used Lyman #55 measure which worked fine. I used a Lee powder measure extender and one nylon bushing to make the measure rise above the primer holder.

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I owned one in .22, Nice gun. Larry

Robert, I just joined the forum and saw your listing about changing over to load the .32 and you had mentioned having Titegroup. I currently load .32 S & W Long lead wadcutters of 83g, 90g, 98g and 100g all using Titegroup. MY normal loads are 1.4 g or 1.6 g for each. It had been a very accurate load and I've shot possibles at the short line as well as possibles at 25yds in ISSF. 50 yd has primarily been limited due to just being a .32 with the barrel I have in my Walther. Hope this helps if you are still active here and shooting that.

Tom

I've been very happy with the 231 load and Speer HBWC in my 16-4.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

1.7 grains of WST and the wadcutter of your choice is an excellent bullseye combination. In everything from very expensive imported blow back Walthers, to vintage 1930's Smiths. The load works magic.

Double bonus for the new coated wadcutters.

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