In my first pass at loading 32 H&R Magnum I found that my Lee case-activated powder drop did not have the ability to do loads much below 5 grains on many common powders. I went to mounting a Hornady powder measure on my Lee turret and did okay, but it has since occurred to me that I might simply try a lower density powder, Trailboss in particular. There is even load data for it.

I have loaded some now with 3.5 gr AA#5, noting that Hornady does not make a powder through expander for smaller than 9mm. I had to use the small pistol funnel that comes with the powder measure. That leaks a little with the very fine AA#5, and the measure did bind up at one point...my bad for not tearing it down for a complete cleaning/degreasing before using it.

I am skeptical about how well Trailboss will measure through a small aperture and in low volume but will give it a try with the Lee powder measure, starting first with 32 S&W Long, since I already have a setup that is working for the 32 H&R.

don't see why you'd have aperture issues ... look at some of the 17 cal rifle cartridges that use extruded powders.
it don't get any more frustrating than that

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it just needs more voltage

Incidentally, at least one of the guns in question is an S&W, a 30-1 32 S&W Long, 3". The others are more Ruger's forte and more affordable shooters rather than pricey collectibles.

If any help to you, I have always had very good results with 700X and W231 in the .32 SWL. AA5 is very fine and is sometimes noted for giving fits in powder measures - can be a bit of a nuisance. WST is another fine-grained powder that should work well in .32s, particularly in .32 SWL wadcutter loads, but I have not looked around for data yet. May be hard to come by... ?

I find that the finer the grain, the better I like the metering. You do have to use a measure with good close tolerances, though.

Lyman's through-the-expander-die powder drop is available in .313 that works fine for my 327 FM, so it should do well with your 32 H&R. I use mine with a discontinued Accu-Measure, which is a fixed cavity rotor style along the lines of the RCBS Little Dandy, and with AA #7 and #9 it works great.

Froggie

Ordered some of Penn Bullets 95 Gr SWCBB, hoping they will fit the Single Seven cylinder length for 327 Federal Magnum.

I got the coating compound and instructions from Bayou Bullets very promptly and have gotten my quart of acetone catalyst. It looked complicated and needed a dedicated oven, so I set it aside until I felt like concentrating and like buying a new toaster oven with a fan. For now, it is a lot just to salvage 500 bullets with no lube, so I may just go with the Lee Alox that I have and know how to use.

What the Frog said!

I load .32 ACP and 7.62x38R (1895 Nagant), so I more or less bracket the small charge and long narrow case issues of the .32 H&R.

I've found the Dillon extra small powder charge bars work great with small charges in the 2-3 grain range.

I've also found the Hornady pistol rotor works fine in their Lock and Load measure for small charges.

I use the Lee powder thru expander dies with no issues.

My one observation on the Lock and Load measure is that it needs serious degreasing - well beyond the norm. You'll want to scrub it thoroughly inside to degrease any surfaces that come in contact with the powder with mineral spirits, then you'll want to wax the parts that are finished in the white with neutral shoe polish to keep them from rusting.

I am degreasing with naphtha (lighter fluid) and wouldn't feel comfortable using mineral spirits. I certainly found out the importance of a complete wipe down before use.

Good tip on the rust prevention. Both spare Hornady units I had stored had developed some rust spots on the outer surface of the rotors.

Edging toward having a separate turret for 32 S&W Long, I ordered a Dillon powder measure and the X-Small powder bar. Other wise I was going to have to use less dense powders to be within the range of what the Lee measure would drop. I had the H&R Magnum load down to 4.8 gr of AA#5 but needed 3.5 gr and went to my spare Hornady measure, which is a lot of weight for a turret but works okay. The Dillon was cheaper and more compact than another Hornady measure. I hope it is compatible, not finding indications otherwise or any adapters I needed to include.

Other brands might work too, but it was the little powder bar I was really after.

My RCBS seat/crimp die arrived yesterday. It will be on a dedicated turret for 32SWL. In doing the initial setup for 32SWL, I found that some bullets would slide into the case before processing with the seater die. There seemed to be two answers for that...1) any pulled bullets were now smaller and 2) some virgin bullets were smaller...if it slides in, just try another one and voila! The bullet in question is the coated 78 gr LRN from Missouri. I started a bowl of rejects to deal with later.

These bullets had a much shorter ogive than those on my boxed Remington 98 gr LRN. That would be the weight difference, I guess, but this small scale is new to me. I had to refer to my books to be sure these would work in 32SWL and found data for the shorter resulting COL and attained confidence that the base of the bullet would insert to a good operating depth once crimped right behind the band.

Still waiting for the Dillon measure with its X-Small powder bar, I went ahead and setup the Trailboss load and settled on .46cc aperture and 1.9 gr net. I don't really know of any other powder that will work within Lee's minimum aperture of .30cc. It was measuring consistently.

I have 12 rounds to test, probably on Saturday.

Welcome to the wonderful world of .32's. I am a fan also. Attached are a couple of my loading data sheets of loads that have been successful for me. Use at your discretion, but I recommend starting lower and working up in your particular gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

It seems like some of the bullets mentioned here and elsewhere for 32 SWL are pretty heavy, really intended for larger cartridges. I also don't see this 32SWL caliber achieving the velocity needed to expand an ordinary jacketed hollow point, especially an XTP, which Hornady likes to amp up by using lightweight bullets. My interest would be in just good old lead, unless loading H&R Magnum or 327 Federal Magnum, which I do because H&R is what I often carry and 327 is one I like to shoot, especially in the Ruger Single Seven. I use 100 gr lead in both the larger cartridges and have a supply of XTP if I ever need it for either. Of course, the 327 Federal Magnum supply base also includes a stash of 115 gr gas check Rimrocks.

Nice shooting, HRichard!

Loading the various .32s is a lot of fun but the frustration about pushing jacketed bullets fast enough in .32 SWL to be worthwhile is valid, IMO. In modern guns you might push them up to 1000 FPS, but even recent M30/M31 S&Ws invariably have very larger chambers, which means working your brass pretty hard.

I have always shot only lead in my .32 SWLs and only now and then resorted to jacketed in .32 HRM. HRichard's load with W231 and Speer's HBWC is similar to my own using 700X. That has always been a favorite combination for indoor paper-punching - very accurate in the 16-4. Beyond that, I usually rely on RCBS' Keith-style SWC that is just over 100-grs in my metal. I use W231 and have always had exceptional luck with it. The load is right at 1000 FPS in a 4-inch Model 31. I really don't have any desire for jacketed bullets in the .32 SWL and .32 HRM.

I only developed one load in jacketed for the 32 SWL, as I don't think it had enough velocity to open up. I primarily shoot the WC load for targets, and the SWC lead for carry if I occasionally use it. 231 is hard to beat in these size cases.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244