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Old 08-21-2018, 02:18 PM
Skeet 028 Skeet 028 is offline
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Default 32 H&R loads

I have a beautiful little 16-4 S&W. It is a 4 inch gun. Bbl length really not germane to my question. The 32 H&R is loaded kinda anemically. Can the cartridge be loaded a bit hotter? Maybe halfway tween it's specs to the 327 Federal? I have a Ruger in the 327 Fed so don't need to load for the 16-4 to those levels. Would like to go a bit hotter. Probably with cast bullets for the most part. Just wondering as I don't want to break the Smith. Any info would be a big help. Even my wife likes the 16-4. No real recoil with 32 S&W Long or 32 H&R. Oh what size on the bullets? I have some from .311 to .314
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Old 08-21-2018, 11:27 PM
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All my experience is with the Single Six Magnum. Searching around shows several articles with non H&R guns and stronger loads. My gun really likes the RCBS 98 swc mold. I have shot from 118 gr to 85 in it and it just purrs at the 100 gr weight.
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Old 08-22-2018, 12:16 AM
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32 H&R is one of those loads that folks have experimented with quite a bit and taken far beyond the prescribed limits.

32 Magnum Load Data
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Old 08-22-2018, 11:02 PM
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Thanks for the link. Going to look for more data. The 327 is a really neat cartridge but the 32 H&R has been a bit of a downer. I haven't gotten any good accuracy out of it yet. But it may be the bullets I have been using. Most have been older Remington Swaged bullets. Shoot fine but all over the place as far as the accuracy. Going to try some 85 gr Sierras and another jacketed bullet I have out there. Not sure what they are right this minute. CRS is kicking in.
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Old 08-23-2018, 12:55 AM
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I've run cast 0.314" bullets with great success out of my 16-4. Very accurate to 100 yards.
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Old 08-23-2018, 10:57 AM
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What weights? I am looking for a good mold in a SWC version.
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Old 08-24-2018, 11:39 AM
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The 32 H&R is a great load but not a...........

327 Magnum.

You can hot rod it like people do with the 38 vs the 357 magmum but the higher pressures will damage the weapon in time.

I shot the 32 back in the 70's and it was very accurate and also had minimal recoil for the little revolver.
You might push the load a little if needed but don't get carried away.
I saw no need to mess with the factory ammo fps, since it was a tac driver.
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Old 08-24-2018, 01:44 PM
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Both of the 32 cal revolvers shoot the 32 S&W Long great. The 16-4 is more accurate than I can hold. But my 32 H&R loads absolutely suck. I don't want to get to 327 levels. Just a bit more than the anemic level of factory loads. The factory 32 H&R shoot ok...but not as well as the 32L or the 327(out of the Ruger SP 101). Heck I have some Win ST 32 Auto that shoot better out of the Ruger than the H&Rs
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Old 08-24-2018, 02:11 PM
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I loaded up some .327 Fed Mag with 3.6 Bullseye and 100 gr Magnus lswc. Not hot about 1000 FPS by my reckoning. Going to try my 3” Sp101 out with these.
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Old 08-24-2018, 02:58 PM
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My 16-4 six inch loves 100 grain cast SWC bullets with 3 grains Titegroup and CCI 500 small pistol primer. Not a "magnum" load but sure is accurate. So much fun to shoot I see no need to try to make it anything else. Good luck.

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Old 08-28-2018, 12:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeet 028 View Post
What weights? I am looking for a good mold in a SWC version.
Both the 100 or 115gr SWCs have been very good. My moulds are 115gr. An ancient Ideal single cavity mould that's part of a .32-20 multi function reloading scissors tool and a four cavity Saeco .32-20 mould.

Having discovered the 100gr SWC Badman Bullets that are available in 0.314" diameter, however, I haven't cast many since!

Running IMR4227 somewhat compressed for powder. Very accurate loads that needed only a little tweaking for optimization at ranges over 50 yards. First time I've ever preferred 4227 over all others, FWIW.

Last edited by jaymoore; 08-28-2018 at 02:29 AM. Reason: corrected mould i.d. and edited for clarity
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Old 08-28-2018, 07:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeet 028 View Post
What weights? I am looking for a good mold in a SWC version.
The RCBS design mentioned by Mtgianni has always worked very well for me in every gun I’ve used it in - sized to 0.314”. You can easily make it to 1100 FPS with the slow burning powders (AA9, 2400, H110). Lyman has data for cast bullets of approximately that weight (103 grs, in wheel weights) and since their data uses a bullet that seats deeper than the RCBS design the Lyman data should be safe with it. Of the slow powders, I’ve had best accuracy with 2400.

Interestingly, their data also shows Universal as a good performer, velocity-wise. It is, but I have also found it to be very accurate in my guns. You might try it as well.
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Old 08-28-2018, 05:22 PM
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Looking through my stash of bullets...wow I have a LOT. Have found some cast 120 gr SWC that measure .313 and some 100 gr Hornady JHPs. Bunch of them. A couple boxes of the aforementioned Sierras and a bag of loose 90 gr JHPS that were in the back of a drawer. A friend loaned me the mold Mtgianni mentioned and an older Lyman 311316 mold he said casts about .313 110-115 gr SWCs. Going to cast a few and see what it makes. It is a GC mold though. I have maybe a 100 GCs to fit them. I think I am good to go on powder. Have most of them...even a pound of Tightgroup. Never used it i anything though.
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Old 08-28-2018, 05:48 PM
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One problem with switching back and forth with cast/lead and jacketed bullets: All lead MUST be removed from a barrel before jacketed bullets will be accurate! The other way doesn't matter near as much. This holds true in every 32 cartridge I've experimented with! (even 32-20)

Ivan
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Old 08-28-2018, 07:45 PM
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I have played around a fair amount with my 6" 16-4. I concentrated on the Hornady 100 Gr XTP. Created this load which I also carry in my 432PD and does just over 1000 fps from the 1 7/8" barel.


A small dose of 231 and the 98 gr Speer HBWC makes a great and inexpensive load to practice with.
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Old 08-30-2018, 11:01 AM
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I studiously refer to it as 32 H&R (avoiding calling it “almost magnum” or “magnum wannabe”) but the late Skeeter Skelton showed that with proper handloading some real ground stomping loads could be concocted if the gun was big enough to take them (read “K-frame “Smith’s” and “Rugers”)

Froggie
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Old 08-30-2018, 11:47 AM
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You're swaged bullets will work well for target loads with normal S&W long velocities. Going faster and maintaining any accuracy and avoiding leading will require different bullets.

Like Ivan mentioned above - make sure to clean your barrel before shooting any of those jacket bullets.
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Old 08-30-2018, 11:15 PM
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If you're not casting you own, try some of the coated lead bullets. They're barely above uncoated lead in price, and have left no residue in my barrels up to ~1000fps (with 100g bullets.)

As for the top end for 32H&R - the 100g JHP +P load from Buffalo Bore averaged 1,234 fps out of my 3" 31-1, which I had reamed to take the H&R round. (This, BTW, is substantially more muzzle energy than Remington's 158g 38 Special +P round, which supposedly duplicates the "FBI Load" of legend, out of my 4" Model 10.) The owner of BB advised that that round is safe for unlimited use in my reamed 32 S&W Long guns, and is stated on its packaging to be safe in any 32 H&R guns except Harrington & Richardson brand revolvers.

I have so far been unable to reach that velocity with any of the loads I've made up (I've actually never been able to duplicate a Buffalo Bore round), but I'm still working on it. My goal is to make affordable practice rounds that match the Buffalo Bores - at ~$1.25/round they're almost too expensive even to carry - but even for practice I would shoot very few of 'em, because they are absolutely NO FUN to shoot in a J frame.
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Old 08-31-2018, 12:21 AM
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Gotta find some 100 gr coated bullets. I've never really shot any coated bullets...yet. I did some powder coating with 358 156 bullets. Just haven't shot any yet. Purty though. A lot of time making them though. Think I will have to buy the 32s. Don't know what I have done but somehow I misplaced my shell holder for the 32s. CRS popped up again. With cool weather coming I am going to crank up the lead pots
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Old 08-31-2018, 07:16 AM
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There is a pretty large article in this months Handloader magazine on the .32H&R Mag with several pages of loads.

Stu
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Old 08-31-2018, 02:01 PM
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I used to subscribe but let the subscription lapse Think they have a deal on three mags online for a good price Still haven't found the #23 shellholder. My wife took it I'll bet. She hides stuff from me all the time. Going to get that Handloader mag today
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Old 11-16-2021, 06:50 PM
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Default early j frame 32 hr mag.

I have a first issue 314 in 32 h&r mag. The barrel and cylinder are titanium with an alum barrel shroud it came in a s&w marked leather case in a plain card board box with a smith label.What is different is the barrel shroud is square with rounded edges the flats have caliber on one side and the other has the smith and Wesson markings. I have not found another j frame with this shape any comments?
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Old 11-18-2021, 12:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeet 028 View Post
What weights? I am looking for a good mold in a SWC version.
For the price, you cant beat the LEE 90gr TL design. I shoot them as cast and have been very accurate for me.
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Old 11-18-2021, 03:18 AM
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Have gotten a few other 32s since this was posted. Right now am looking for a good 100 gr SWC cast bullet mold. I do like the 32 H&R but it does need bumping up a fair amount. Not crazy...just respectably. Still working on a 115 gr(or so) 311 316. But it is a GC design and shoots much better with the GCs...and they aren't cheap or easy to find. Did find a box of almost 1000 at a yard sale along with mold and an old Lyman 45 sizer/luber. more than half are gone. Shot through a couple of old(1907 and 1925) S&W K frames in 32-20. Both good shooters. Finally found my own set of 32-20 dies to load with too. Many reloading items are almost unobtainium right now as y'all know. Just recently bought a Ruger Blackhawk Combo in 32 H&R mag/ 32-20
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Old 11-18-2021, 12:19 PM
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Skeet 028, are you the same person I’ve been corresponding with on the Cast Boolit Forum? I wonder whether you’ve found the bullet mould(s) you were looking for(?). Drop me a PM if you want to do some swapping.

You might want to drop a PM to my buddy Dale53. He will probably overwhelm you with 32 H&R data… he looooves the caliber. We have debated 32 H&R vs 327 FM about endlessly and he is still trying to convince me that 32 revolver efficiency maxes out at the end of a H&R case mouth! In truth, he has done about as much research on the caliber as about anyone I know. You might also contact beagle and Outpost75 on that forum as they have done a lot of work with the cartridge.

The only contribution to loading the 32 H&R I can contribute is a load I got from beagle. It uses a 105 gr solid or 100 gr hollow point (otherwise the same bullet) over a stout load of HP-38. This is the only “hot” load I’ve used with this powder, so I won’t publish it here, but you can find it on the Hodgdon website.

Froggie
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