Just got a nice little mod 30 snubbie. I have some ammo and brass but would like to get set up for reloading some target loads using cast bullets. I've got clays, unique, W231, Bullseye and Red dot. Suggestions welcome.

__________________
Dave

I just started casting some Lee 90 grain tumble lube SWC and load them over 2 grs of Bullseye

I like a 90-95 gr SWC or RNFP with 1.9 of Bullseye. My I-frame snub seems to like it too!

Froggie

Perfect, I'll start with a similar load of bullseye under a 95gr RN cast.
Thanks much!

__________________
Dave

I use W231-- my little 4" gun loves Hornady WC--

I load .32s with both cast LSWCs (RCBS mold) and swaged full-wadcutters. The RCBS bullet is about 102-103 grains and it gets W231. I won't list the charge - it may be a little beyond published data, I can't recall. The load produces about 1000 FPS in my 4-inch gun. The wadcutters get a minimum charge of 700X and they are used for shooting indoors where there is no wind and the range is only 50-75 feet. Hornady's swaged wadcutters and 700X have always been the .32 accuracy champion in my guns.

Yea ive loaded for it, found its really boring to shoot, .22 power at centerfire cost. No thanks.

Yes, if there is one problem with loading for the 32 S&W Long, it's the tiny charges. You really don't have a whole lot of room for error when a 1/2 grain variance might be a 25% increase or decrease in your charge. I haven't used W231 or 700X in mine yet, but will explore their possibilities now that you bring them up.

Of course with the current market, you get CF cost to shoot "cheap" rimfire ammo... I'm seeing bulk boxes (550 rounds) of 22 rf on gunshow tables at prices approaching $100.

Some of us just enjoy the pleasure of reloading, and the little 32s are about the cheapest thing to reload, especially with bullets you cast yourself from scrap.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

One of the reasons I love the 32 is I can cast and load for it with 2.5 gr Red Dot and a 90-100 gr bullet for less than I can buy 22 shells @ 2011 prices. That is buying lead @ 1$ per lb instead of scrounging it, powder @ an 8 lb keg and primers in a 5K sleeve. 22 lr is $38 per 1000 32 Long is $36.50 per K. 22 lr is 40 gr @ 800 fps from a 4" revolver, 32 is 750 fps with 100 gr, .313 diameter bullet. You can do the energy calculations if you like.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

I use 100gr. Wadcutters with 1.8gr. 231....

better yet is VV N310 1.5gr.

incredible in my K32 or my Pardini Auto....





Terry

A pre-Model 16K-32 and a Pardini? Now you're just braggin'. Nice hardware and thanks for the load data.

Froggie

I guess it ain't braggin' if'n you can back it up.
Looks like tj has it covered!
TACC1

A revolver? At least you won't be chasing cases around the range.
I reload for the .32 a lot--for Hammerli and an Italian model I can't remember the manufacturer's name. Hammerli comes with case catcher. The Italian model throws them all over the place.
I use an RCBS ChargeMaster for all loads--charge weight is just too small to play the +/- 0.1gn powder measure game.
For any larger cartridge, a powder measure is as good as weighing, but not for 1.7gn charges.
However, guess what? After about 15 years I still can't get the accuracy of factory wadcutter loads. Very frustrating.
You should have a lot of fun with a revolver.

I use WW231 in several 32 long loads. A 32-20 bullet in the 110-117 gr. range makes a good 32 Colt New Police load (use 32 S&W Long cases). I had a model 30 snub and had good luck with the Hornady SWC and a couple of flat nose Cowboy bullets ranging from 95 gr. up to the 117"s. 30 years ago I used Unique and had O.K. to good results in top break revolvers, but once I got into WW231 I've had much better results. On all the really small cases I've reloaded for, the Lyman 55 powder measure has been best with the "hammer" to vibrate the loads into consistency. I never owned a "Little Dandy" but hear they do well also. As an aside, my best friend had a Flobert in 32RF that he converted to center fire, and with Unique and ww231 reloads and a 117gr cast bullets, it was a great gun at barnyard distances on rats and ground hogs. Ivan

Since we have the plethora of 32 pistol-class cases that is now available, I have sort of gravitated toward matching bullet weight to case, to wit, I like 90-100 grain bullets in the S&W Long, 100-115 grain in the 32-20 and H&R semi-Mag, and 115-125 grain in the 327 Fed Mag. I figure since the longer chambers are designed for more pressure too, why not "put everything in its place" and insure appropriate bullet weights for smaller, lighter guns? This is practice, not prescribed procedure, and of course leaves out the ACP and Short, neither of which I currently reload. This is just me, and I'm sure there are a variety of other opinions out there, so I forward it to the group just to further the discussion.

Froggie

Just an observation....
After speaking to Dillon, they gave me a solution for accuracy in a progressive press....with the .32.
I was advised to remove the powder measure sliding bar and file the arrow shaped sides to allow the bar to close down more. In doing that, I am able to consistently throw 1.4gr- 1.8gr loads....NOW I can match the factory Fiocchi loads....in fact the VV N310 loads are better....virtually one hole at 25yds from a rest.
Terry

Cool! That's exactly the kind of information I was hoping this thread would expose to light. Terry, thanks for giving both the tip from Dillon and the VV N310 recipe. Since that is one of the less well known powders, maybe I'll stumble on it while everyone else is looking for the more well known stuff! Let's keep this useful line of discussion going.

Froggie

PS I've got one of the old type Dillon powder measures left over from an upgrade, and I've upgraded it with the micro-adjust somebody made for it. Maybe I can do the conversion you mention on it to make it even more useful.

That is why I love Trail Boss for these vintage cartridges. 32 Long with 90gn RN or SWC and 2 grains of Trail Boss works just fine and consistently runs at 700 fps. Trail Boss is a high volume powder that makes double charging impossible.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

My loads with VV310 are MORE accurate than factory WC. Use the Dillon with the Powder measure, but I have the RCBS Auto Powder dispenser.. These are not very good at 50 yds., but at 25yd.NRA target, from a bench, they group nicely into 1.5" in the 10 ring. Wind is a factor. Chronograph shows 580-600 fps.

__________________
Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

Gary,
Trail Boss is a great powder and works well for the "plinker" and getting rounds downrange...maybe for a gong. However, my experience is that in the .32 Long, loads are very inaccurate from the point of view of a Bullseye shooter. I use my wadcutter loads in all the guns, but in the Pardini, I focus on accuracy

__________________
Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA