32 s&w long loads

[raljr1]

Recently bought some 100 grain 32 cal bullets from Missouri Bullet Co. The box says round nose, but these are more SWC style to me...problem is none of my manuals have data for a 100 gr....I have Unique and W231 available. Load manual max for 90 grain is 2.5 of 231 or Unique. Any one have guidance on how far to back down from those for the heavier bullet...Alliant catalog lists a load of 1.8 gr Bullseye for a 98 gr swc....1.8 of Bullseye. Seems to be about 2.2 of 231 according to my Hornady book...

I was thinking 2.2 gr of either Unique or 231 as max...

Thanks


Robert

 

[Bastogne71]

Robert,

The Speer #14 manual lists 98 grain SWC lead data for the 32 long:

W-231 starting load 2.4gr, maximum 2.7gr
Unique starting load is 2.5gr, maximum of 2.8gr

My only problem with loading the 32 long is getting the powder measure to throw such light loads consistently.

 

[nbedford]

I always have a loaded powder trickler standing by. I agree, 2.4 grains of 231 seemed to be the most accurate in my 4" S&W 631, running about 680 fps with a 98 grain cast swc.

 

[Green Frog]

Robert, remember those loading manuals were written with the old, weak 32s in mind. If you have a fairly modern (1950s or later) J frame you can be a little “bold” when dealing with their advice. Remember, members of this board are rechambering Model 30-1 and 31-1 J frames to 32 H&R with good results.

WARNING: This is NOT to suggest you try to make a 327 out of it or load the little 32 S&W L to those kinds of pressures! Exercise a little caution and restraint.

Froggie

 

[Sistema1927]

You can get ~900 fps with that bullet in a modern .32 hand ejector or Regulation Police without running into any difficulties. I won't give you what works for me, since it exceeds anything in any published manual, but I show no pressure signs and get great accuracy.

 

[raljr1]

Robert, remember those loading manuals were written with the old, weak 32s in mind. If you have a fairly modern (1950s or later) J frame you can be a little “bold” when dealing with their advice. Remember, members of this board are rechambering Model 30-1 and 31-1 J frames to 32 H&R with good results.

WARNING: This is NOT to suggest you try to make a 327 out of it or load the little 32 S&W L to those kinds of pressures! Exercise a little caution and restraint.

Froggie

I am fairly new to reloading and never load near max for anything....mostly i am killing paper and tin cans....i have several 32s, a few are early HEs, a couple RPs and two K32s...

I truly appreciate the input.

Robert

 

[Green Frog]

Robert,

A friend of mine, an experienced reloader who I respect greatly, gave me by mistake a load for 32 S&W L that I later found out was actually for 32 H&R and WAAY over max recommended max for the S&W. As I loaded up 100 or so of them, I shot them in my K frame Smiths with no ill effects... but I wouldn't suggest anyone else follow our lead. I shot a very few through my 1950 vintage I frame snub, which was a very exciting experience. No blowup, but I won't do it again now that I've learned better.

The point of this is that those of us shooting the 32 S&W Long in modern S&W revolvers in good condition probably have more of a margin of safety than other reloader, but that this is not a license to do stupid things. I value my guns (not to mention hands, eyes, and other body parts) much to greatly to do things like that.

Froggie

 

[Erich]

Phil Sharpe's data from the Thirties in his Modern Reloading book (I've linked it here before) does right by me in these solid frame guns - here's my pre-30 with a 98-gr max Unique load from Sharpe. Old data is pretty interesting with these.

 

[Sistema1927]

Oh my, those Sharpe loads are a bit "brisk". I downloaded the book, and put the .32 S&W Long page into its own file. I think that I will stay with my 900 fps loads for now, but if I feel a bit "adventurous" I might try a little warmer.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Only thing I can add, Try and keep all of you brass to one brand. I have a few hundred mixed brass and pretty much had poor results in my mixture of Top Break and Solid Frame revolvers. I ordered 500 Starline brass, and used the Unique Load. Every gun showed remarkable improvement!

I have since gone to WW231 and had improvement to to the powder measurer's ability to throw more consistent charges.

Moral of the story: CONSISTENTANCT IS KING!

Ivan

 

[Jebus35745]

I load all my .32 long with 2.0 grains of 231 no matter what weight bullet. Right now I am trying to load all the 88 gr RN I have to eliminate the box and it’s over 2.0 gr of 231. I used to load 3.0 of 231 in the .32 the same weight of powder I use in .38 148 gr HBWC? It had too much recoil for such a fun to shoot round so I went with the load most used in a .32 long semi auto which was 1.8-2.0 gr. Larry

 

[gwpercle]

RCBS Cast Bullet Manual Number 1
32 S&W Long
98 grain cast lead SWC (data can be used for the 100 grain bullet)

Unique powder
start : 3.1 grs. @ 771 fps

max : 3.5 grs. @ 876 fps

Unique gives good results in this round even though the charges are light . I use a powder scoop to "throw" these small charges... scoops are simple and nearly fool proof .

Gary

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

RIGHT FROM THE VV LOAD DATA WEB SITE.
98GR WAD CUTTER BULLET
I'VE USED THIS LOAD DATA FOR YEARS WITH THE SWC AND RN BULLET. JP
VV N310 POWDER 1.4GR 764 FPS, 1.9GR 843 FPS

 

[applefish]

If you're very adventurous you can load 32 SW long with black powder, they were originally designed for 13 grains of black powder on a 98 grain bullet.

 

[Green Frog]

Over the years, I’ve probably loaded more rounds of 32 S&W L with 95 grain swaged LSWCs than anything else and am just now really starting to experiment more with cast bullets that are a little heavier. My “Pet Load” with the swaged bullets was 2.5 grains of Bullseye, but I wouldn’t use it in any break top or lesser solid frame than a Smith or Colt etc, the old imports probably wouldn’t let go with this load, but would probably shoot lose fairly quickly.

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

Continuing with my thoughts from the previous posting; on the suggestion of a friend some of you may know as “beagle” and upon ordering a nice mould from Mihec in Slovenia, I have moved toward loading some slightly heavier bullets (105-106 grains or so) and have also started experimenting with HP38/W231 powder. I got off to a bumpy start when I loaded some cases with charges recommended for 32 H&R into the little S&W L cases. Without giving specific charges publicly, I’ll just say the results were impressive. Although I was able to fire them even in my I frame snub with no apparent ill effects, they were entirely too hot for my liking... there was no reason to abuse the guns like that.

I’m thinking now that if I drop back to more sensible charges of 231 behind the MP 106 grain bullet I should get an accurate load with reasonable terminal punch for small game, yet have a round that is still pleasant to shoot. This fulfills the reason we like the little 32, doesn’t it?

I’m now in the final stages of getting parts for my “I-32 Kit Gun” project, so I will really need a load like this to feed it when it’s done. Friend Hondo44 has posted pictures several times of one of the limited number of these that were actually factory built, and from all I can tell, it should be a 32 lover’s fondest dream.

Stay tuned!
Froggie

 

[rockquarry]

Consider a Lyman Cast Bullet book #4 and Ken Waters' PET LOADS. Your exact bullet may not be listed, but data is close enough to be usable with minor charge adjustments. I used to have a couple of S&W .32 Long revolvers. I was less than impressed with the cartridge, but had good accuracy results with an 88 grain roundnose bullet cast from an RCBS mould, sized to .314" and loaded with Bullseye powder.

In addition to data, PET LOADS provides a lot of very useful information on the cartridge for the owners of guns in this chambering.

 

[mtgianni]

I would not load Unique that slow but look for a faster powder Bullseye, Red Dot or 231. I really like the loads listed above in the RCBS manual for Unique but would not go below 3 grains and in strong guns.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm using up a few lbs of IMR 7625 I found in the back of my reloading cabinet. It works very well in that little case. If I were replacing that I would be buying some W 231.

 

[RussellD]

If you want to have fun, try loading .32 wadcutters ahead of 1.7 grains of WST. Mild and very accurate.