I have a 1903 5th change and was wondering about ammo. I know I need to keep to loads that are below ~800 FPS due to the metallurgy of the day.

SG Ammo has Aguila 98 gr lead round nose ammo at a decent price. Does anyone have experience with this particular round? Do you think it's too stout for the old HE's?

I will eventually be reloading my own, but have to build up an ample supply of cases first.

The general consensus of opinion is that any standard load produced today is safe for the early, non-heat treated .32 Long Smiths. It's reported that heat treating began at serial #321000 on the .32s.

.32 Auto is used in 32 revolvers by some as a defense load because it has a semi rim. But I would not use that in your gun, it's higher pressure. And although the gun won't "bow up" it's a cumulative effect type issue of frame stretch, extra wear, etc.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That ammo should be O.K. Fiocchi makes full WC loads that are very mild and accurate. Midway used to carry them if in stock.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

What about Buffalo Bore .32 Longs?
The website states that their 2 loads for that round are within SAAMI specs of 15,000 psi.
S&W 1st model Hand Ejector is one of the revolvers Tim Sundles tested it in.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

If I had one that age (and I do have one nearly that old) I would stick with current round nose or wadcutter factory stuff or my own reloads of WC or SWCs (about 95 grains or so) over about 1.8-2.0 grains of Bullseye. I hate to post any powder charge data on the Internet, but this is a safe load for the early guns if you keep to the minimal charges listed. Do not hot rod this or any other early Smith... they deserve better. Give them the respectful treatment they deserve.

Froggie

Personally, I would not put Buffalo Bore ammo through my 1903. Even if it does handle it okay in the short term, it will put more stress than usual on the gun. At 2 years shy of 100 years old, my .32 won't be seeing any stout loads if I can help it.

Now a post-1920 gun on the other hand might well eat it up with no long term issues.

The Buffalo Bore loads are loaded to SAAMI specs.
They're not hot. Not for a hand ejector, anyway.
I wouldn't shoot them in a top-break, but I wouldn't shoot any smokeless loads in a top-break.
Of course, it's a moot point. I don't have one that old.
Mine is a 1969 31-1.
I do like the way Federal and Fiocchi wadcutters shoot.
Hell, the majority of the ammo I've been able to pick up for mine is RNL.
I did manage to get one old box of Winchester (or was it Western?) Lub-A-Loy ammo for it.
Box was held together with clear tape, and 5 rounds are missing.
Thinking about shooting it.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

A few months ago, Midway had some Magtech SJHP 95 grain(?) that shot really well in my pre-heat treated 1903 3rd model. I'm with Froggie on the mild loads. I'm using 85 grn LRNs and the same dose of Bullseye with good results in my gun - YMMV.

Rick

I recently bought a few boxes of Magtech 98 gr. LRN. Ballistics table on the box says MV is 705 FPS.

Magtech also sells a 98 gr. SJHP with a MV of 778 FPS.

I got them at Ammo To Go. Both of those rounds are out of stock, but they have a 98 gr. LWC listed as "in stock" for $21.95 for a box of 50 (+shipping).

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Lorin