Kinda' cute...

StrawHat · #51 02-08-2020, 07:21 AM

Use the shortest crimping die. Adjust it to fit the longer two. I am too lazy for that adjusting so I get separate dies for each cartridge I reload.

Kevin

glowe · #52 02-08-2020, 10:24 AM

I have been loading 32 S&W and 32 Long for years with my Lee 3 die set, 90696. These are long thread dies and produce perfect crimps for both calibers.

As for stocks, the ones I mentioned on post #32 are very well done. You will not tell the difference between original and reproductions unless they catch on fire!

BC38 · #53 02-08-2020, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Yeah, I don't know how one crimp die could crimp all 3 different length cases unless modified. Which is easy enough to do.

Wouldn't that be a function of how far you screw it in and then how you adjust the crimp ring?
I know I've used the crimp die from a 45ACP set to crimp 45colt.

BC38 · #54 02-08-2020, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowe

I have been loading 32 S&W and 32 Long for years with my Lee 3 die set, 90696. These are long thread dies and produce perfect crimps for both calibers.

As for stocks, the ones I mentioned on post #32 are very well done. You will not tell the difference between original and reproductions unless they catch on fire!

The 90696 is the set I would have guessed to be the one that works with all 3 cartridges - because it is for the 32 S&W, which is a little longer than the 32acp and a little shorter than the 32 S&W long. So being the set that is "in the middle" it makes sense that it might be the best one to work with all 3.

Hondo44 · #55 02-08-2020, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

The 90696 is the set I would have guessed to be the one that works with all 3 cartridges - because it is for the 32 S&W, which is a little longer than the 32acp and a little shorter than the 32 S&W long. So being the set that is "in the middle" it makes sense that it might be the best one to work with all 3.

Yeah.

And since the 32 ACP will be shot in a revolver, it doesn't need a taper crimp, the roll crimp of the 32 S&W seating die will work fine.

tjpopkin · #56 02-08-2020, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Yeah, I don't know how one crimp die could crimp all 3 different length cases unless modified. Which is easy enough to do.

The crimp die can be adjusted from .32 S&W-.32 Long - .32 H&R - .327 Federal. Just adjust it up or down....

Hondo44 · #57 02-08-2020, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjpopkin

The crimp die can be adjusted from .32 S&W-.32 Long - .32 H&R - .327 Federal. Just adjust it up or down....

Depending on which cartridge the crimp die is designed for, the longer cartridge dies cannot usually be adjusted short enough for the shorter cartridges to crimp.

reccpd101 · #58 02-08-2020, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren Sear

It is alarming to me to see advice being given to shoot .32 ACP in a .32 S&W Long chamber. Not only is the headspace wrong, the tiny rim on the .32 ACP will not eject properly.

This is bad advice. Use the proper ammo.

I certainly would not feed 32 ACP to a 32 Long or longer chamber regularly but it is helpful to know it works if needed even if you have to use a dowel ejector.

Warren Sear · #59 02-10-2020, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

Any chance you can post the number for that 3 die set?
I'm finding different dies for all 3 of those cartridges and on their website Lee doesn't list any one set as being good for all 3.

I don't know the Lee model number, because I no longer have the original Lee box or instructions. It is just the Lee carbide die set for the .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. The set comes with the shell holder for the .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. If you want to load .32 ACP you will need to buy the shell holder for that.

The sizing die on my set is stamped "32AS&WL", and it sizes all three cases properly. The bullet expander die will work for the .32 S&W; the .32 ACP and .32 S&W Long are both longer than the .32 S&W, so it is a simple matter to adjust the die for the longer cartridges. Same for the crimping die. No modifications needed, in contrast to what an earlier posted suggested.

The roll crimp die works fine for the .32 ACP, since it has a rim (although very small) and it headspaces on that rim, even though it is an auto-loading cartridge. You can easily back off the crimp a bit if you want to make a pseudo taper crimp for it, but a full roll crimp works without any problem in an auto loading pistol.

Warren Sear · #60 02-10-2020, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Yeah, I don't know how one crimp die could crimp all 3 different length cases unless modified. Which is easy enough to do.

I can assure you that it works well, and no modifications are necessary. If it will work on the shortest (and it does), it will also work on the longest, and anything in between.

It is the same principal as loading .357 Magnum ammo on .38 Special dies, or .44 Magnum on .44 Special dies. Simply adjust the dies as needed.

Warren Sear · #61 02-10-2020, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Yeah.

And since the 32 ACP will be shot in a revolver, it doesn't need a taper crimp, the roll crimp of the 32 S&W seating die will work fine.

I wouldn't use .32 ACP in a revolver. If you want a smaller cartridge, just use .32 S&W ("short") brass.

Warren Sear · #62 02-10-2020, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

The 90696 is the set I would have guessed to be the one that works with all 3 cartridges - because it is for the 32 S&W, which is a little longer than the 32acp and a little shorter than the 32 S&W long. So being the set that is "in the middle" it makes sense that it might be the best one to work with all 3.

The .32 S&W is the shortest, then the .32 ACP, then the .32 S&W Long, which is the longest.

BC38 · #63 02-11-2020, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren Sear

I don't know the Lee model number, because I no longer have the original Lee box or instructions. It is just the Lee carbide die set for the .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. The set comes with the shell holder for the .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. If you want to load .32 ACP you will need to buy the shell holder for that.

The sizing die on my set is stamped "32AS&WL", and it sizes all three cases properly. The bullet expander die will work for the .32 S&W; the .32 ACP and .32 S&W Long are both longer than the .32 S&W, so it is a simple matter to adjust the die for the longer cartridges. Same for the crimping die. No modifications needed, in contrast to what an earlier posted suggested.

The roll crimp die works fine for the .32 ACP, since it has a rim (although very small) and it headspaces on that rim, even though it is an auto-loading cartridge. You can easily back off the crimp a bit if you want to make a pseudo taper crimp for it, but a full roll crimp works without any problem in an auto loading pistol.

That was me that made the mistake of assuming the 32 S&W length was in between the 32 acp and 32 S&W Long. If the 32 S&W is the shortest that makes the most sense that using the 32 S&W die set would allow you to adjust (back the dies out) to use it for flaring, seating, and crimping the longer cases.
I am kind of surprised that the 32 S&W sizing die can size a case as long as the 32 S&W Long.
But I'll trust your experience when ordering my dies. Thanks for the info.

Warren Sear · #64 02-11-2020, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

That was me that made the mistake of assuming the 32 S&W
length was in between the 32 acp and 32 S&W Long. If the 32 S&W is the shortest that makes the most sense that using the 32 S&W die set would allow you to adjust (back the dies out) to use it for flaring, seating, and crimping the longer cases.
I am kind of surprised that the 32 S&W sizing die can size a case as long as the 32 S&W Long.
But I'll trust your experience when ordering my dies. Thanks for the info.

I have even loaded .32 H&R Magnum ammo with that die set.

BC38 · #65 02-15-2020, 05:58 PM

Brought it home today.
Anybody ever tried to close up a big gap in one of these hard rubber / gutta percha grips?

Looking for a way to soften up the material without melting the surface. Can they be softened up by submerging them in hot water? Maybe take the screw escutcheon out and put the grip in the microwave? Anybody got any other ideas or suggestions?

I'm going to polish it up with some McGuires and see hoe who looks. Or would bronze wool and oil work better?

Hondo44 · #66 02-15-2020, 06:44 PM

There's folks on this forum that are skilled at gutta percha grip repair.

Chances are you won't be able to close the gap, but maybe. I would warm up with a hair dryer. Scrape the back of the grip to make some powder to mix with clear epoxy or get black epoxy. You'll have to come up with a jig to squeeze and clamp the crack closed and let the epoxy dry. May want to enlarge the crack on the backside slightly to retain more epoxy. Clean up the checkering at the crack with a checkering file. Dull the repair to match the surrounding grip sheen with 0000 steel wool.

Mother's Mag Wheel polish tends to make the polishing go faster while still creating a proper shine or it can be followed up with McGuire's or Semichrome.

BC38 · #67 02-15-2020, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

There's folks on this forum that are skilled at gutta percha grip repair.

I figured there would be - seems like there are folks around here who are skilled at about anything you can think of! Which subforum would you suggest posting my question in? Gunsmithing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Chances are you won't be able to close the gap, but maybe. I would warm up with a hair dryer. Scrape the back of the grip to make some powder to mix with clear epoxy or get black epoxy. You'll have to come up with a jig to squeeze and clamp the crack closed and let the epoxy dry. May want to enlarge the crack on the backside slightly to retain more epoxy. Clean up the checkering at the crack with a checkering file. Dull the repair to match the surrounding grip sheen with 0000 steel wool.

The problem is that the crack is big enough at the top that the split section of the panel overhangs the grip frame at the top of the backstrap. Even if I filled in the crack, the grip would still overhang the back of the frame almost a full 1/8" - right next to the S&W grip emblem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Mother's Mag Wheel polish tends to make the polishing go faster while still creating a proper shine or it can be followed up with McGuire's or Semichrome.

I already have some McGuire's scratch removal liquid buffing compound, so I'm going to give that a try. If it doesn't work I may end up buying some mag polish.

BC38 · #68 03-01-2020, 01:55 AM

Well, I cleaned 'er up and even polished the heck out of it with a felt wheel on my Dremel and some Mother's mag polish.

Fit a pair of Herrett square-to-round grips I had in the stash and they look pretty good on it. I still want to find an original replacement for the cracked left grip though.

I'm not real impressed with how it turned out. Don't get me wrong, it looks a LOT better, but the mag polish didn't blend the bare metal spots into the remaining nickel as well as I had hoped.

I'm thinking of getting one of these kits to see if I can use it to replate the worn nickel spots.
Plug N' Plate(R) Nickel Kit - Caswell Inc

I figure what the hell, the original finish is damaged to the point that I really can't hurt it much, right?

Some before & after shots...

BC38 · #69 05-24-2020, 12:01 AM

Just a follow up on this one. I bought it back in February for $150 OTD. I cleaned it up and installed some endshake shims to tighten it up.

I picked up some S&W 32 Long ammo at Cabelas. Unfortunately the outdoor ranges have all been shut down since the weather broke, so today was the first chance I've had to shoot it.

I'm pleased to report that this old girl shoots great. Lockup and timing are good. Very pleasant to shoot, mild recoil and report. Seems to shoot just fine accuracy-wise.

Fun old gun to plink with.