I recently acquired a M30 snubbie and my sister actually found a near mint early 50's 32HE snubbie in our late mothers things. I picked up 200 pieces of brass at the last local show. I think I want to load the Hornady XTP bullets since her's is her bedside gun.

My question is which bullet weight will be better in the snubs? 85 or 100gr? These won't be plinking loads.

I'd go with the 100 grain.

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Old paratrooper in NC

I have loaded both the 85 and 100 grain and neither one will open up reliably at .32 S&W Long "normal" velocities. The 100 gr being heavier will hit a little harder, but the 85 gr. will run out at a higher velocity and have a greater chance to open up some.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Would a lead pill be more effective?

Probably not. The big issue is that the 32 long just doesn't have much energy. As a result any ammunition you can find for it will pretty much behave like hardball. A small bit of good news is that the smallish diameter will allow for decent penetration, so if the shots are well placed they will prove to be effective. Another plus is the recoil will be slight enough that it won't be a flinch builder so putting in a decent amount of practice will result in improved ability instead of a bigger flinch.

As for the bullet choice, I would go with the 85 grain bullet because it will provide a boost in muzzle energy over the heavier bullet.

Me too, preferably hard cast SWCs.

It might be easier to find hard cast 98 grain wadcutters.
George

Thanks for the input folks. Looks like I'll pick up 100 ea. and try them both. Can't have too many bullets, right?

I had a M-30 and sold it to a friend. In a solid frame revolve ONLY, for self defense I would go with 32 ACP in Silver Tip Hollow Point or Critical Defense. The gun will handle the pressure and that is factory ammo, which deals with questions about reloads and self defense. In a few minutes someone will come along and argue about pressure and the wrong ammo and all the other arguments. If you want a good self defense load This is the only way to get one. It is your (and your sisters) pistols. (J-frame handle 38+P and 32 H&R mag all the time) just don't try this with a break top revolver. Ivan>>> Now let the Flames begin.

Check out King Shooters Supply for some interesting options; HARD cast DEWC and RNFP options. Buffalo Bore also loads a hot full wadcutter load for .32 long (I bought some of these and like them) and a heavier RNFP load (my experience is that the heavier loads will shoot high of point of aim in many guns).

I have shot the 85 grn XTP loaded in .32 long over book safe Red Dot charges and gotten some expansion, but really it is just the nose folding back to deform to a full wadcutter profile.


Personally I don't feel comfortable with the erratic performance that most all of the .32 acp JHP loads exhibit in various tests (either no expansion after going through heavy clothing or too much expansion and very limited penetration) so I would carry a warm full wadcutter load in the gun and then some warm LSW or RNFP loads for reloads. It is surprisingly hard to tell the difference in the holes left in a variety of things by a hard cast .32 wadcutter vs. a .38 LSW or a .380 JHP.

Good advise from a LEGAL Point-of-view:
Don't use handloads in a bedside gun!!!!!
If you need it, and it works well, you might loose a court battle…since you loaded rounds to 'kill'….of course you did, but you dare not say it!

So,
Use some of the new special loads from Buffalo Bore, Remington, Hornady, or Federal…critical defense, golden saber, etc. These have all been tested and work.
I practice with the hand-loads, and they are fine…
The 85-100 gr behave similarly…I personally like hard cast 100gr Wadcutters. The small hp open in hot loads from a longer barrel.

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

This one crops up on a regular basis, but nobody has yet posted a verifiable link.

Confused too. If, heaven forbid, I have to use my "Critical Defense " ammo, just the name suggests my intentions.

It is a ridiculous concept.

If you spend enough time around reloaders you'll come to realize that most load at midrange or slightly above. Because it allows a bit of powder to be saved on each round and in my experience the peak in accuracy seems to fall between the midrange and maximum charge.

Then there is the assumption that a District Attorney will even be aware that some people load their own ammunition. In most cases it's likely that the local DA won't have a clue that people build their own ammunition. In the rare event you come across one who does know about reloading the easiest way to keep that subject out of Court proceedings is to lawyer up and keep your mouth shut during questioning. I don't know of ANY Court District in the Nation that has the facilities or funds to test whether a particular ammunition was reloaded or a commercial load and rather doubt it's even possible.

Ok. I bought the 85gr Hornady. I started 10% under max and worked up. Ended up 7% over max. I had no pressure signs whatsoever. I guess I'm looking for a .32 SWL +P. From what I have gleaned from this site and most manuals is that solid framed S&Ws can handle +P loads. How much are +Ps over max? From my manuals +P appears to be +/- 10% over max.

I'm not looking for range or practice fodder.