Looking for load data for 32 acp. Data I’ve found is for 71gr but most distributors carry 76 and 100gr. I’d prefer to use coated lead

I have reloaded for a Walther PPK with cast lead for years .
Have plenty of data . Need to know :
Cast or Coated Bullet weight -
Powder - that you wish to use (have on hand or can get)
Gary

__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I reload for (2) 32ACP pistols, a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless and a 1907 Savage. My load is very light and reasonably accurate. I use Hunters Supply 76grain hard cast lead round nose sized .313". I get them from Midway USA. These seem to work very well in both pistols. My powder charge is 1.8 grains of W231.

I reload for my Baretta M 81, very carefully. I have used jacketed 71 gr Sierra and some Acme coated 78 gr, with W 231. Data found on Hodgdon site and Lyman 49th...
32

I've had great luck with a 90gr SWC in both 32SWL and 32ACP.
I was surprised at how well a SWC functioned in semi-auto.
I've had good luck with Bulleye and Red Dot.

Probably go with the 76 grain coated. I have bullseye, titegroup, red dot, #2 off top of my head for fast burners and I would think that is what you would want to use.

I have a Beretta Tomcat and Two Davis derringers. I use a Lyman 88 gr. RN in both. In the derringers I use 32 S&W load data (since there is no slide to cycle) and get great accuracy: 4" @ 25yards. My powder of choice is WW231.

Ivan

I have used mostly Berry's 71 grain for .32 automatic. I have had very good luck with them though finding them now is virtually impossible.

60 grain XTP's with Int'l Clays ... Hornady data.

The .32 ACP pistols I have measured have .308-.309 bores. I don't load .32 ACP much these days, but Hornady used to sell a .309 conical lead bullet (I don't remember the weight, maybe 90 grains) which worked well. I suppose you could use a larger diameter bullet so long as it didn't bulge the case enough to cause difficult chambering. Regarding loads, I don't remember what recipe I used. I also remember that I once loaded some 93 grain FMJ bullets intended for the .30 Luger (or maybe .30 Mauser) which worked OK. Also some 100 grain Plinker half-jacketed bullets. Experimenting is fun.

Be very careful in selecting the correct bullet diameter to match your particular gun or guns. There are some diameters out there that will cause a drastic spike in pressure if you try to force them down the barrel even with a light powder load. Some of the barrels in these little pistols are not very strong.

Geno44 is sorta correct.

You n3d to understand the differences between US loaded .32 ACP and European loaded 7.65 Browning. They are the same cartridge but there are differences.

7.65 Browning in Europe usually uses a .308 to .309 diameter bullet in a fairly thick walled case.

.32 ACP loaded in the US usually uses a .310 to .311 bullet in a thinner walled case.

If you hand load you can easily end up putting a US sourced .311 or .312 cast bullet in a thicker walled European made case. If you try to chamber it in something like a PP, which generally have tight chambers, you may find they won’t as the diameter at the mouth is excessive. If you chamber it in something like an FEG APK7S, which have comparatively generous chambers, it’ll drop right in.

The danger zone is in the middle where an over sized round just barely chambers but doesn’t have sufficient room to expand and released the bullet at normal pressures.

Personally, I load .32 ACP 2000 rounds at a time like pretty much all my other hand gun calibers. I also don’t sort cases. Instead I set up a post sizing die in last station on the press to ensure that any over sized rounds are sized back down to the required dimensions. The case is sized and the case in turn sizes the bullet in the case. You can use either a resizing die (properly adjusted for the job) with the decapping pin removed, or you can use one of the lee factory crimp dies with the sizing collar in the bottom. Both work.

The bore diameter isn’t a factor, especially with cast bullets. They will size down to bore diameter just fine. The old standard is that cast bullets should be sized .001” over bore diameter. However most cast bullet shooters, those who know what they are doing, will tell you the bullet should be sized to the chamber and throat ensuring there is enough clearance to cleanly release the bullet, but be as large as needed to fit the throat. If a cast bullet is undersized in the throat, there will be blow by and gas cutting before the bullet obturates in the bore. That gas cutting causes leading' and severe leading kills accuracy and will quickly start increasing pressure as the leading increases.

*Caution* some of this info is not from published data.

Here's some data, and also some good reading from others who have successfully worked up data for heavy 32ACP projectiles. I've been loading for 4 32 auto pistols and safely developed loads using 7 different bullets from 60 to 90 grain. As always, reduce and work up as required.

What mould for .32acp?

Attached Images

32auto.jpg (90.4 KB, 19 views)

An old favorite of mine :
32 auto
cast lead RN - 77 or 76 grain
sized .312" dia.
Bullseye powder :

start load -1.5 grs Bullseye @ 596 fps
maximum load - 2.0 grs. Bullseye @ 784 fps

Taken from the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual 1st edition

I started with the 1.5 gr. load and worked up slowly to the 2.0 max. load in my all steel Walther PPK (WWII era ). 100% functioning and good accuracy .
Gary

__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member