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02-24-2018, 09:29 PM
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32 S&W Long Load Help
I am due to pick up my third revolver in 32 Smith & Wesson Long from my FFL the day after tomorrow. It seems time to start loading the caliber. I have accumulated dies and components but the data that I am finding varies greatly. I would be grateful for any input.
Here are the components on hand: - Win231/HP-38 - a substantial amount
- IMR PB - 1 pound
- 100 Grain RNFP - 500 pieces from Missouri Bullet Company (100 Grain RNFP)
- Federal & Winchester small pistol primers
- 500 pieces of brass
Right now, I'm leaning toward 1.9gr of Win231 with the 100 Grain RNFP bullets. Feedback is more than welcome.
Since pictures are fun, here are the revolvers in question:
32 Regulation Police
32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 1st Change
Model 30-1 (I'll get better pictures once I've got it in my grubby hands.)
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02-25-2018, 11:21 AM
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Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #4 shows the following:
32 S&W Long
100 grain Saeco #326 bullet (SWC)
W231 powder
standard small pistol primer
Starting load: 2.2 grains @ 635 fps
Maximum load: 2.6 grains @ 735 fps
Test gun : S&W model 31 , 4 inch barrel.
2.2 to 2.6 Not much range is there. Your load of 1.9 is below the starting load...make sure the bullet exits the barrel every time...a stuck bullet is the thing to watch for.
Lyman says to use this data only in solid frame revolvers. Not recommended for use in old top breaks....
Hope this helps,
Gary
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02-25-2018, 04:55 PM
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Unique is also a good 32 S&W Long powder. The 32-20 bullet 117 RNFP is the bullet in 32 Colt New Police (Same safe pressure, with a little more umpf!) I have the Lyman mould 3114 but with a gas check. that makes it Lyman 311746, I size it .309, .311, .312, & .314; depending on the gun and cartridge I'm using it in. A most versatile bullet. I have used it in 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long/Colt New Police, 30 Mauser, 7.62x39, 30 Carbine, 32-20 Win., 30-30 Win. &, 7.62x54R!
500 brass seems like it should last a lifetime. But I seemed to loose around 25-50 a year (I tried to keep them, but maybe others were keeping mine too!)
Hornady used to make a 90gr SWC that is very accurate, Lee makes a 90gr SWC tumble lube mould, but it doesn't shoot as well as the Hornady if you can find them (I'm down to 2400!). Lyman made 70, 80 & 90 gr RN moulds (if you can find them!) Use soft as possible lead!
Have fun finding out the joys of loading 32 S&W Long.
Ivan
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02-25-2018, 06:40 PM
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I've reloaded many .32 S&W Long cartridges with 1.9 grains HP-38 (same as W231) under lead bullets from 83 to 115 grains with no problems. The Speer and Hornady manuals show loads of 1.9 grains or even less with 90 to 100 grain lead bullets - I don't think you'll stick a bullet in the bore with this load.
My current favorite for this cartridge is the Lapua 83 grain HBWC bullet over 1.7 or 1.9 grains of VV N310 powder. I use the lighter load in my Model of 1896 and the heavier load in modern revolvers. The bullets and powder are expensive, but I've gotten great results.
Ivan - the .32 Colt New Police cartridge used a 98 grain flat point bullet, not a 117 grain bullet. The only difference from the .32 S&W loading was the flat point bullet.
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02-25-2018, 07:43 PM
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Colt ammo, must have come in a number of weights, I have shot the 115/117 gr. ammo a number of times. It seem to be very accurate due to slow velocity and lots of bearing surface.
If there is one common thing about ammo, that is that they change it all the time, and almost never tell you it happened! (Example; I thought 7.62 NATO was 147 grains,,,ALWAYS. I got some last summer that was 149gr, then saw some foreign that was 145! What is the world coming to?
Ivan
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02-25-2018, 08:05 PM
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The official bullet weight spec for the 7.62mm M80 is 144-147 grains. Who knows how loose the weight tolerance is for bulletss of foreign manufacture.
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02-25-2018, 08:23 PM
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I no longer have any .32 Long revolvers, but did have a couple of later model S&Ws about ten years ago. I used an 88 grain FN bullet cast from a RCBS mould and sized to .314". Best accuracy was with Bullseye powder, though I also tried Universal, Titegroup, and 231 / HP38.
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02-26-2018, 12:50 PM
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I thought that I had replied earlier, but it appears that I was mistaken.
I appreciate all of the input. I'll probably start with 2 grains and see where that puts me.
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