Reloading the .32 S&W long

[Swissman]

I made some handload-test with/for the youngest addtion in my collection, the model 31-2 with a 3 inch tube. My stock of .32 bullets is not to small and i found some from 72 grain 'til 115 grain. All versions of surfaces are availble. Lead, copperplated, jacketed, hard lead/waxed. I found out that almost any combination is pretty accurate @ 16 yards. But the circle of the POI opens very fast at 21 and 27 yards. I must confess, that the tiny fixed sight of the gun is very difficult to use at the longer distances, but I think, that this gun got another job than printing small clusters @ 27 yards.

POA was always a bit under the black part of the target to provide a better sight-picture. I've made 5 handload-combinations, shot with every load 15 rounds. First 27 yards, then 21 yards, and at the end 16 yards. For comparing, I made the same row with the Luger factory-ammo.

Shooting position: Sitting on a chair, the underarms rest on the table.

Here some better and not so good results. I choosed them from 18 pictures i've made.











And at 16 yards







Right now I must say that the factory MAGTECH 98 grain round nose-ammo is still the best.
Made by my buddy Dani


ALL Data MUST be checked against a RELIABLE commercial Reloading Manual, your own experience, and COMMON SENSE.

Swissman

[Swissman]

I made some handload-test with/for the youngest addtion in my collection, the model 31-2 with a 3 inch tube. My stock of .32 bullets is not to small and i found some from 72 grain 'til 115 grain. All versions of surfaces are availble. Lead, copperplated, jacketed, hard lead/waxed. I found out that almost any combination is pretty accurate @ 16 yards. But the circle of the POI opens very fast at 21 and 27 yards. I must confess, that the tiny fixed sight of the gun is very difficult to use at the longer distances, but I think, that this gun got another job than printing small clusters @ 27 yards.

POA was always a bit under the black part of the target to provide a better sight-picture. I've made 5 handload-combinations, shot with every load 15 rounds. First 27 yards, then 21 yards, and at the end 16 yards. For comparing, I made the same row with the Luger factory-ammo.

Shooting position: Sitting on a chair, the underarms rest on the table.

Here some better and not so good results. I choosed them from 18 pictures i've made.











And at 16 yards







Right now I must say that the factory MAGTECH 98 grain round nose-ammo is still the best.
Made by my buddy Dani


ALL Data MUST be checked against a RELIABLE commercial Reloading Manual, your own experience, and COMMON SENSE.

Swissman

[Landric]

I'm about to start handloading for the .32S&W Long/.32 H&R Magnum/ .327 Federal Magnum. The .32 Long is by far going to be with the lowest weights of powder I will have ever used. Do you use a powder measure for those 2.0 grain range loads, or some other method? If a powder measure, what kind?

Enjoy your new toy, looks like a lot of fun!

[walnutred]

Originally posted by Landric:
Do you use a powder measure for those 2.0 grain range loads, or some other method? If a powder measure, what kind?

Enjoy your new toy, looks like a lot of fun!

I know you didn't ask me but I'll answer anyway. As I typically only load 100 at a time I usually use an old Lyman 55 when loading 32 Long. My progressive press is an old Dillon 450. While I like it fine it's just not worth the time it takes to switch dies for a small run like that. So for small batches and working up loads I use a Lyman turret and the old 55 measure.

On the plus side those measures have been around so long you can usually find used ones cheap. When you find them in the $20 range it's worth having a few extra pre set to favorite powders.

[Landric]

Thanks!

I expect to be loading .32 Long in small lots, probably 200 or less at a time. I expect I'll be doing them on the single stage Rock Chucker. I have 3 Uniflow Powder Measures, but I've never tried to set them below about 4.5 grains and I was wondering if they would reliably throw charges that small.

[walnutred]

I have a Uniflow as well but only use it for loading rifle ctgs. In the past I know I used the small drum for 45 Colt, but I don't remember ever loading 32's with it. Either I tried it and didn't like the results or saw no reason to fix something that wasn't broke.

With the small charges powder type can make a difference in how consistent the charges are. Different powder drops seem to like certain powder types.

[Swissman]

My loads are all made with the RCBS Uniflow. I can't see a reason why this should'nt work.
I crosscheck the accuracy of the powderweight with weighting first one load and then five loads. I got never more than 0.1 grain difference. And I'm pretty sure that this difference is far away from a accuracy-problem.

More critical is the kind of powder, or better, the shape of the kernels of the powder that you will use. The flakes of the Solo 1000 or the small-ball powder AA#2 are pretty easy powders for small loads.

Swissman

[M29since14]

Swissman - Win 231 works exceedingly well in my two .32 Long J-frames. 700X is very good for wadcutter target loads. Neither gun is particularly critical of bullets in general, but both do show a slight preference for swaged, full-wadcutters (here in the U.S., either Speer or Hornady).

This is another one of those cartridges that I rely on Remington 1-1/2 primers to load. It is also one of the few revolver cartridges that I prefer to use a light taper crimp, rather than the typical roll crimp. Since S&W .32s tend to have pretty generously sized chambers, there is no impediment to using .314" diameter bullets, if they can be obtained.

The two revolvers I have will maintain their accuracy out to any reasonable distance, when the shooter does his part.