.32 S&W short ammunition

GaryS

GaryS

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I might have asked this before and if so, please accept my apologies, but I can't find the thread and can't remember the answer.

I have a .32 New Departure with a manufacture date of 1893 which I am selling for a friend. It's in good shape and hasn't been fired a lot. It belonged to his father and my friend is not a gun person, so he wants to sell the gun.

I've had an inquiry from a fellow S&W forum member about the gun, but there is a question about ammunition and test firing the gun.

The gun was in a drawer along with 2 1/2 boxes of Remington "Kleanbore" primed cartridges. The ammunition is 88 gr round lead bullets and the cases are marked 32 S&W. The box is marked "Lead bullet index 1132".

My question is basically whether this is safe to fire in the revolver? I seem to remember a discussion here about firing modern ammunition in non hardened firearms and that 1893 was well before that process was started by S&W.

Are there any New Departure owners with experience with firing their guns that can give me some guidance?

Thanks.
 
Firing with that ammunition should be OK, it's done all the time. Smokeless loads are lightly loaded due to the great many old revolvers (from S&W and others) from the 19th century still in circulation. Pressures are those of the old black powder loads.
 
A few rounds of modern made 32 short should be perfectly safe as long as the gun is sound (not rusted, out of time etc). This a common discussion here and on the reloading forums. I have used both black powder and smokeless loads in mine and enjoy shooting the old timers.

If the gun is nickel plated don't leave Hoppes or any other cleaner that dissolves copper on the metal. There have been reports that it leaches under the nickel and dissolves the copper underplate causing the nickel to peal.
 
Modern,new ammo's of today have to meat the same data and pressures of the "Original Specs" of the ammo when it first came out, be it black powder or the newer smokless powder(usually bullseye) when these loads first came out to the public.

Just the size weight and types of bullets made today have changed but some companys still make bullets the same weight or close to them for the guns that are still in use.

The 32 S&W (Short) is still popular and at least two loads are still being made for shooters. I have a .32 made by H&H that is a top break ,peareled handled, no ser# except #7xx on the extractor star but I do not shoot it,just for looks.
 
I've got a half-dozen revolvers in .32 S&W, and after
reading the Forum remarks of people who know, all are
shooters. I don't do extended range sessions with them,
but they get their exercise. All my guns have to be shooters
first. No problems have cropped up. I get my ammo from
"Ammunition to Go". Happy shooting!
TACC1
 
I have two revolvers marked for the ".32 S&W ctg"., both H&R. One is an 1889-1895 top break and the other is a Model 04 Six Shot solid frame. They both chamber the .32 S&W Long round perfectly. Is is safe to shoot them in these revolvers?
Thanks, Bob
 
"They both chamber the .32 S&W Long round perfectly. Is is safe to shoot them in these revolvers?"

The .32 Long does have a higher chamber pressure than the .32 S&W. No idea as to whether is unsafe, as that depends on the revolver, but it would be better to use the shorter round that it was intended for.
 
I am 4th generation owner of a S&W Top Break .32 (4th edition verified with S&W) serial #127xxx. It is in near mint condition because I don't know if it has ever been fired, otherwise, the nickel is flawless and no cracks in the pearl handles. The lands and grooves are excellent. Is modern smokeless .32 Short ammo safe for this gun?
 
" Is modern smokeless .32 Short ammo safe for this gun? "

If the revolver is in good condition, the answer will be absolutely yes. Keep in mind that smokeless powder .32 S&W loads have been on the market since 1894, and many of the old top breaks have probably fired nothing but smokeless ammo. There seems to be some fear that smokeless loads are dangerous in some old guns, and indeed that may be true in a few cases. But the .32 S&W is not one of them.
 
Wether current mfg 32S&W (or any) ammo is safe in a particular gun depends on the gun of course.
The steel used in the guns construction back then, the heat teat or lack of it, the guns unkn history are all things to take into consideration when firing old firearms. Doesn't matter what propellant is used.

I have no idea what circa 1900 smokeless loaded 32S&W ammunition peaked out pressure wise. Probably the info is around somewhere.
A smokeless round from 190? does not necessarily = a smokeless round from 2016.


Current SAAMI loaded ammo max allowable pressure for most any cartridge is simple to look up.

32S&W & 32S&WLong are listed the same in CUP, but that doesn't really tell you much as to where they are on the scale.

In the SAAMI psi/transducer rating, the 32S&W is listed at (slightly) higher max avg at 17,000psi over the 32S&W Long @ 15,000psi.

No light weight,,but for comparison,
the 38sp non+P and Match loads are rated 17,000psi max/average.
The 38S&W at 14,500psi.
The 32acp entering proof rd territory of the 32S&W revolver rds at 20,500psi. (Some people shoot 32acp in their 32S&W revolvers)
The 327 Federal Mag way out there at 45,000psi.

Be aware of what you have, it's age, condition and be careful that's all.
Don't try and make a magnum out of them!
 
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