A thread over on the 1896-1961 Forum was discussing K-32s and began to drift into reloading, so I suggested we bring that portion of it over here.

I have several pre-War and one post-War I-frame in 32 S&W Long that I like to keep fed with mild loads of 2.0 grains or less of Bullseye behind WC or SWC bullets somewhere in the 95 grain range.

I haven't loaded much for the 32 H&R semi-Magnum wannabe, so I'm not going to comment on it.

What I have begun to load for my 327 Fed Mag in a full sized gun, to wit my custom Model 616 I had built and my R*G*R Blackhawk stainless 8 shooter was what I really wanted to bring out. I've tried only heavy bullets... 125 gr NOE cast about medium hard in front of the starting loads for Accurate #7 or #9. Even these starting loads are stout enough to be noticeable. Not unpleasant or painful, but noticeably stout.

OK, that starts it. What do the rest of you have to add?

Froggie

Froggie,
I load 3.3 grains of 231 for my K32 and 2.2 grains of 231 for the Target Model HE (around 1919/1920) using the Lee 90 grain SWC. They are both joys to shoot. I have a friend with one of the .327's in a Ruger. It is a handful to shoot.
Planojack

2.5 gr Red Dot and a Lee 90 gr Tl SWC in an I frame pre Reg police.
4.0 gr Unique and a 98 gr RCBS swc in a Ruger SS 32 H&R.
Played with AA9 and both the RCBS 98 and Ly 3118 copy [NOE]. I think heavy loads will need a gc, My CA Target Patriot only does OK with loads for the 32 Lomg & H&R. It would be nice to have them behave better in it.

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Front sight and squeeze

Here's a couple spread sheets for loads I worked up for these. All were shot in my 16-4. The WC 32L load doesn't break 800 fps in the 3 1/4" barrel of a Pre 30. The 32 H&R Mag loads are outstandingly accurate, and with 100 gr bullet over 1200 fps and super accurate what's not to like.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Been using 3 gr of 231 for the 98 gr lead bullets and 2 gr of 231 for the HBWC. Both shoot great. I may reduce the powder to 2.5 gr for the 98 lead bullets for more of a powder puff load.
Would like to see Hammerdown give the formula for the buckshot loads. Could be fun in the basement.
Nice spread sheets H Richard, I may use some of the loads listed. Don't have the 32mag anymore but I'll save the brass just in case.
Froggie, how good does the Ruger shoot? Neat concept in with the 8 shots. Larry

Out of the 20 some odd calibers I load for, or have loaded for, I have never loaded the .32 Long. I know it won't be any great trick to do so, but it's always nice seeing what others are loading and what their results are, or have been.

Good thread to get going Green Frog.

I'm currently loading .32 SWL with 98 gr. wadcutters only and I'm using W231, Bullseye, Unique and Vhitavuori N320. I've chrono'd everything so if anyone wants data on 2" 3.25" and 4.25" barrels, I've got some. I load for both pre heat treated and heat treated cylinders.
Stu

Cool! My little EDC post-War 32 HE Snub would love some data for a 98 gr wadcutter, as I've got that mould. A PM would be OK if you don't want to post data publicly (I understand and am hesitant to do so myself unless it is extremely mild and from established sources.

Froggie

Here are my chrono data sheets for the 4 powders. I'll open a second post to explain.
Stu

The first sheet is the N320 loads. Starting very mild as one gun is 1912 and not heat treated. That is the 4.25" (later called 4). The 3.25 is a 1924 model. These are .314 sized LWC at 98gr. These were my first attempt at using a chronograph so bear with me. Where it shows RN these are S&B 100gr. and WC is MagTech 98 gr. on that first sheet. I wanted to check commercial ammo. The S&B was too hot for the early gun.

All of the following are a different bullet, being .313 with Alox/Wax/Spirits for lube, still a 98 gr. hardcast WC.

Next is W231 and the model 30 is the 2" barrel. The pre is my 1953 Pre Model 30 with 3.25" barrel. The 12 is my 1903 5th change from 1912 with 4.25" barrel.

Next is Unique and these loads were too hot for the 12.

Last is Bullseye.

All loads are in Starline brass with Winchester primers.

I have about 12 more assorted powder loads to chrono next week. I now have 4 .32's and will chrono in all of them.
Since running these loads I have also obtained pin gauges and have gauged my cylinders. I have both .313 and .314 98 gr. WC
and will be using the applicable bullet for the cylinder throats.

Stu

My Ruger does not like you talking bad about not being a magnum and all.....

4.0 of Unique and a 100 grain Missouri Cast bullet,1000fps has been my go to since I got my Ruger. It shoots well, hits with authority and does everything I need it to do.

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Plastic has no soul

Ethang,

I don't speak bad about the R*g*r BH, even on this board. I wish I still had my Buckeye Special, but I am sure by now it would be sporting a 327 Fed Mag chambering, much to the horror of collectors everywhere... likewise my late, lamented 16-4 would be so altered as well. Having shot both the H&R semi-Magnum wannabe and the truly magnum-ificent 327 Fed Magnum, I can say there is about an order of magnitude (or is it "magnum-tude?") difference in performance potential.

All that aside, I want to get a good data base assembled for the best possible loads at all levels from mild, well behaved 32 S&W short for pre-20th Century break-tops to fire breathing, ground shaking 327 Fed Mags for blowing meth headed Zombies off of their mutant racing ostriches with a single shot. (OK, maybe not that last, but you get the idea. ) That's the purpose of this thread, to get as much about reloading the whole 32 family condensed onto one page as we can. So let's keep at it!

Froggie

I'm interested in some mild 32 S&W (short) loads. I do occasionally like to shoot a couple of 80 - 130 year old # 1 1/2's and New Departures. I haven't reloaded this case yet, as it is so teeny my old arthritic fingers have trouble handling it. So if anyone has some loads let me know.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have always (60+yrs) stayed away from the .32's because they were cheesy and I didn't like the guns. When I was a kid, I was a cowboy and I liked cowboy guns. Still do. The dislike for the .32's has cost me dearly.
When I saw the introduction of the .327 I thought......blah, another cheesy .32 wannabe round. I was in a LGS and a saleslady was trying to sell my wife a SP-101 in .327 and I barely overheard the conversation, but I went to the other counter and asked to see some .327 ammo. I don't know what happened, magic maybe, but when I held that 'trinket' in my hand it put a spell on me. I couldn't get home fast enough to research it. It changed my whole shooting world upside down, is now my favorite caliber, and has cost me a fortune.
Now, after being overwhelmed and happy with the H&R's and the .327mag's for several years, my slothness has rendered a slap in the face. So many nice guns chambered for the H&Rmags are long out of production. Missed out. At least I got in on some excellent ones chambered for .327 before production went south on them. Whew !!!!

For the data base :

.32 H&Rmagnum
Starline brass
Any SPP
3.1gr W231
Berry's plated 83gr HBWC
[NOT seated flush with the case mouth, but 1.20" COL]
Light crimp from Lee factory crimp die

I have been loading since the late 60's, not any expert, but I began for the sole reason of making accurate loads for a given gun......because they all shoot differently...RIGHT ?
This load [posted above] has been an incredible performer, the absolute best accuracy, of all the .32 rounds I have concocted........in 2", 3", 4", and 5.5" barrels. S&W 632, SP-101, Taurus 327, Blackhawk .327, GP-100.........I have never seen one round do this before. It shoots almost identical from each gun. I would have surely bet you it was not possible.

"Been using 3 gr of 231 for the 98 gr lead bullets and 2 gr of 231 for the HBWC. Both shoot great. I may reduce the powder to 2.5 gr for the 98 lead bullets for more of a powder puff load."---Jebus

Which is this for, .32 H&R or .327Federal ?

For .327 federal :
Hodgdon and MDS says use 2.3-2.7gr W231 for 90gr wadcutter.....

This seems like such a small amount of powder. I would like to try some light loads for .327 but don't wanna stick any lead in the barrel......What throws me off is they turn around and give 5.4-6.1gr of W231 for a 90gr JHP
There is not that much difference in seating depth.....it seems like a huge distance between the charges.....unless my 71yr old mind has taken a dump.
I guess I will load some that light and shoot them, check if they lodge in the pipe....I just really hate to pull bullets [kinetic].

I feel your pain, ozo!

Froggie

Here is what I'm thinkin'.....
Gonna load some .327 Starline brass
Use Berry's 83gr HBWC-plated
Win WSP primers
Make two identical sets of test rounds...me and wife,
two cylinders for each of us, for each test charge of powder
Using W231 powder.....
Seating the wadcutter only to COL of 1.333" [not flush]
1) 2.8gr
2)3.2gr
3)3.5gr
4)3.9gr

All thoughts/input/criticism welcomed
I have some [same] loaded with 4.6gr W231
and they shoot all over the paper !
Didn't see 'tumbling' but she[great shot] nor I
could get them to hit worth squat.
Green Frog, I feel blessed that you started this thread.
I want/wish tons of input here for my own selfish reasons.
I hope some will come along with oodles of data.....
if not, you and I can banter amongst ourselves.
Especially for the BH .327

One reason for such a gap between loads is to avoid sticking a bullet in the bore. With very light loads and jacketed bullets, it becomes a real possibility.

BTW- I could be wrong, but I think Jebus was referring to the .32 S&W with the load you asked about in the beginning of your post quoted here.

When we post, it is our responsisbility to be as clear as we can, whether it it is saying a prayer for a member, a serial number reference to a gun, how much cayenne to add to a food recipe, or maybe , more so, a powder charge for an intended application. If anyone is not in agreement, you should simply not post.

My entire concern about the light load-charge-stuck in barrel-etc was just that........per Hodgdon, 2.3gr W231 90grWC seems like a candidate for pipe obstruction........
I am gonn try it, but at 2.8gr W231 to start..........although H says 2.7 is max.
Something seems way unbalanced [between data] and that's exactly why I am begging for some feedback on this.
Make any sense to you ?

There you go again.....

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Plastic has no soul

When I consider that 2.7-3.4 grains of 231 will drive a 148 WC, or 158 SWC from my .38's with plenty of oomph, I have to believe a 2.3 gr charge (which is almost as heavy as the .38 charge max of 2.7 gr) under a much lighter bullet, but in a much smaller bore, so more pressure obviously, will be more than enough. I went and checked through most all of my manuals (which span about 50 years of time) and that charge seems to be pretty much in line with what most of them show.

Thank you Gun4Fun....for the reply.
I will take these and test, prolly in the AM

I shall report with the outcome.

The loads I listed that I use are for the 32 long. My load manual actually uses a little more 231 then 3.0 gr. I'm on the lower end of the scale. I use the same 3.0 gr for my 38 spec loads, saves changing the powder measure. The 2 gr of 231 for the HBWC a friend uses in his Hamerli, deadly accurate in his gun. He switches from 22 to 32 depending on the match he's shooting. He also had a custom bbl made with a 1 in 10 rate of twist. Larry

YUP!!

Skeeter built some fire breathing loads in the first Federal brass in 32 H&R. The pressure they developed is said to have caused some engineers @ HP White Labs to need a change of underwear (not really, that was just for effect) and Shooting Times had to print warnings and disclaimers (that did happen.). They probably would have been fine in a K-frame or Blackhawk, but in Single Sixes and Model 631s the were just too hot. 327 FM is designed to operate hot in suitably strong guns... that's just the way it is. Sooooo, I figure if I have a gun that will handle all of them, I'm pretty much good to go with any of them. I can shoot whatever strength I want in the appropriate cartridge. I still like the old 32-20, but it won't do anything I can't do with one or the other of the straight cylindrical 32s. I may sound like I'm preaching, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

I've seen some posts in the past that the 32 long was loaded pretty hot. Hammerdown used buckshot for low end plinking, not sure of the powder charge. Larry

I just went back to the old original Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for their recommendations. They show a starting load of 1.1 gr of Bullseye behind a 77 gr bullet and 1.0 gr for the 84 gr bullet. They show starting loads or 1.6 and 1.5 gr respectively for Unique and those bullets. I'm not going to put their whole page out here, but will be happy to send you a photocopy if you PM me a snail mail address. They show charge data for 7 different powders, but all are for loads that max out around 2.5 gr or less, and those two bullets only.

Froggie

PS If there was ever a case that screamed to be reloaded with a 310 tool, this is it... JMHO!

Which manual shows 3.0 gr. of W231 in the 32 S&W Long? I'd like to take a look at that. Thanks,
Stu

All those years I had it stuck in my head that the .32's were cheesy,
and 60yrs ago, they were......
But when I actually started messin'/loading/shooting them, it was an entirely different story, despite all the criticism still flying around the www, but I have come to understand it's simply because the ones that ridicule the .32's just haven't shot them. This surely holds true for the .327 federal.
We're off here shortly to go test these new ones.

I've been trying to get a GP100 in 327 for one full year now. The holster and custom grips came last december... The brass and lead came in around February. But no gun. Sigh. Calling Ruger got me the same result twice:

"We just shipped three to distributor X."

Call to distributor X:

"If Ruger shipped them, they sure didn't tell us about it."

I miss Skeeter...

I would love a 327, not that I would shoot many full bore loads, but I would like to be able to. The 32 Maggie at 1000fps does everything I need here in MI. I think the Blackhawk/K Frame size is overkill in the 327. Your 616 is an exception, mostly because this is the SW forum....a 16-4 is on my bucket list.

How ever, I just really love a 32 Thread...

Ethan

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Plastic has no soul

Stu, I'm on the low side of the 38 powder charge and the book says 2.7 gr of 231 with a "do not reduce" for the 32 long. Did buy some 98 gr cast bullets this weekend at the gun show. Figured 50.00 for a thousand is OK today but will buy a bunch if the prices go down a bit. Larry

I have used 1.0 grain loads of Bullseye in the short case with a piece of O buckshot for a bullet. It was seated flush with the case mouth and then a sliver of bullet lube applied by scraping the case mouth against the side of a stick of bullet lube. Very little is needed. These have been fired in guns far less respectable than S&W top breaks with no problems. Ken

All did well, but the 3.2gr and the 3.5gr were clear winners.
She shot thru a S&W M632-1 and I a GP-100 4"

I'm impressed with a lot of these loads.
That 16-4 is sweet.

My Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook shows a .32 S&W Long load with a HP version of the .32-20 bullet moving at over 1100 FPS from a 4" model 30-1.
Not a pipsqueak, if you ask me.

Then again, neither are a lot of the loads posted in this thread.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I assume you refer to the 4.3 gr/Unique that Lyman has listed for something over 50 years? 1100 FPS is a bit optimistic. I have shot thousands of 4.0/Unique with the 3118 and they chronograph about 950 from my Model 16. Pressure signs with the 4.3 gr. were, well, let's just say that you should never see "pressure signs" in any standard revolver cartridge.

For whoever called the .32 H&R a "Wannabe Magnum" let me tell you about that. I have worked up loads for my 4" Ruger SP-101 with Lyman #3118 @ 112 gr. that will honestly chronograph within a very few FPS of 1400 FPS. No pressure signs and the gun shoots like a rifle. The 3118 has the same sectional density as a 158 gr .38 bullet! I defy you to get 1400 FPS from a 4" .357 Magnum revolver with a 158 cast bullet! No, the .32 H&R is no "Wannabee", it is the "Real Deal" in guns capable of using loads to it's full potential. And, NO, I will not shoot those in my 631, but I have gotten it safely to about 1200 FPS with the same bullet. And, likewise, NO, I will not post what the load(s) is/are.

And note: 1400 FPS, plain base cast bullet, Saeco Green lube, and no significant leading! Anyone who says you can't push a cast bullet over 1000FPS without terrible leading simply doesn't know what they are talking about and/or have no real experience shooting cast bullets. Bullet fit and lube are everything, alloy hardness and gas checking have virtually nothing to do with whether you get leading or not.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

"And note: 1400 FPS, plain base cast bullet, Saeco Green lube, and no significant leading! Anyone who says you can't push a cast bullet over 1000FPS without terrible leading simply doesn't know what they are talking about and/or have no real experience shooting cast bullets. Bullet fit and lube are everything, alloy hardness and gas checking have virtually nothing to do with whether you get leading or not."---Alk8944

Speaking of leading.......I have an 8" barrel that only gets fed 158gr TCBB Penn in .3585dia and it just came back from having repair. The gunsmith was very gracious and cleaned it to look like new, even the face of the cylinder looked new. It is a satin stainless, and it gets dirty fast.
Well, to shoot/test it I did........and I shoot the same load from it all the time....but, the first five rounds shot awful [low-left] until I had a bit of lead back in that spit-shine barrel that the gunsmith so meticulously cleaned.
People that shoot lead, understand lead....and it's great benefits.
People that complain about it are usually ones that don't shoot much of it, don't understand it, and regurgitate what they have read about it....from others that don't understand it.

Good stuff so far, guys! Keep those comments and recipes coming. To Alk8944 I would say, yes you can make the 32 H&R design into a real magnum, but like the 327, a hot 32 H&R then really doesn't belong in a small or weak design like the H&R offerings or the smallest Smiths or Rugers. Yes, the latter two will hold up to them for a while, but will probably be beat up badly in relatively short order by these hot loads. For that matter, I can probably make a 32 S&W Long have a strong enough charge to wreck any of those, but the brass might not be too happy either. Anyway, I figure "a little is good, more is better, and too much is just right," so the 327 fits any and all needs in the 32 family and I want a gun heavy enough to handle it, so a minimum of a K-frame Smith, a 101 or mid frame SA Ruger, or perhaps an old Colt in the mid-size or larger frame. Then if I want to shoot light, I can pick one of the "Longs," for medium, the H&R offering, and if I want to toss thunderbolts, I can do it from the same gun with the 327 FM. This is all my personal opinion and experience and you are welcome to take or leave it as you wish.

Froggie

I gotta agree Froggie.....
Why beat up a nice gun ? It's the same with these light guns, poly's, airweight, aluminum, etc......they are designed for a particular purpose, to be light for carry and comfort, and not designed as a range gun with hard use, but for a few rounds if need be.
I do not feel comfortable shooting heavy .327fed loads in the S&W 632-1 Pro Series as a steady diet. The GP-100 or Blackhawk, even the SP-101 maybe.......no problem.

Lets get this back on top, speaking of top is there any loads that give the 32 long a little better performance? Larry

If you look at my load data (above) for W231, Unique and N320, that's the information working into the factory realm of speed/energy. I plan to do more testing and see how far I can get them up in the energy department. It seems to me that 220 ft. lbs. should be possible at around 1,000 fps used in the PROPER revolvers.

Stu

The other end is why? IMO, the I frame @ 750-800 fps and a 100 gr bullet is the perfect trap line pistol. It will easily kill anything up to 50-60 lbs and is light enough to carry everywhere. In that context, 25 yards is a long shot and it doubles on small game. Like a Model T from a previous century it is built to be used and admired not to try to put a 360 engine in. It has limits and left to act inside them is an excellent cartridge.

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Front sight and squeeze

Why? Because he wants to - maybe he wants to carry it and is looking for penetration; maybe he just wants to play. I have a couple of non-break-top .32 Longs for which I like to load decently warm, and they have never shown any ill effects from it. The Model T comparison strikes me as inapt . . . my improved I-frame is from the late '50s, and if you look at Sharpe's book (the source of some of my warmer loads - tho I don't quite get up where he does), you'll see that folks were warm-loading these solid-frame .32s back in the '30s.

Larry, Sharpe's book is available online; I've linked it here before on .32 S&W Long threads. I easily found the download just now with a Google search. Start researching there . . .

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Now go make God proud...

I suppose you could say "because it is there". 720-740 fps for pre-heat treated guns and 820-840 fps for later guns is approx the factory loads from an approx 4" barrel. I've always liked the idea of a tad bit of hot rodding which is one of the reasons I reload. Many have traveled this path with the .32 S&W Long, I'm no pioneer here. There is a lot of info available and some have taken this little cartridge to astounding levels. I don't go for astounding, but I have a few of them, enjoy shooting them and once again, because it is there.

Stu

I have the K frame custom 32 made by Andy Horvath, see the post in the gunsmith section. I also just bought a 16-3 recently and would like to hot rod also. When I find an I frame at a good price, I'll load accordingly for it and enjoy the low pressures that were used in it way back when. This is a post to find and maybe discuss load data for the various 32's. Froggie started it and it would be cool to see the full spectrum of what we can do with the caliber. Larry

I have to agree, Larry.......
It's all Froggie's fault !

Froggie

I prefer powders like W231 and Titegroup in the .327federal.
They meter well in the Dillon measure. And they don't break the bank.
I am just starting to play with AA#9 in the 5.5" Blackhawk, but it consumes so much more powder [less rounds per pound]. I generally save my #9 for my .357mag carbines and 8" barrel revolvers. Or longer barrels on my T/C Contender.
So far, I see no benefit in the Blackhawk using #9 [over 231 or titegroup]. I don't push very hard on the 632's even though they are Pro Series, and especially the Taurus M327's........but the SP-101, GP-100, and the Blackhawk eat the hot stuff all day. Hot not really max, but around......100gr XTP Hornady w/10gr+ AA#9 or 5gr W231............
and 115gr lead (Penn) 4.5gr Titegroup and 5.0gr W231
My new target loads for the .327fed are Berry's 83gr plated HBWC, seating at COL 1.333" [not flush] and 3.4gr W231

P.S. I don't know what the beautiful little 632's will handle, and when we have fired full blown .327fed's....they kicked butt. I just don't wish to screw them up, they are so nice, and our 'daily carrys', and have no doubt, for our protection, they live loaded with hot rounds, maybe too hot for PD, but can absolutely handle it if need be.......I'm talking about 100's of hot rounds per week for shooting paper. Make any sense?

Good stuff, Ozo. Thanks for a good report. Who's next?

Froggie