32ACP Cast Bullet

Funflyer · #1 09-01-2019, 04:13 PM

Spent yesterday in the shop learning to cast so today I thought I'd modify a mold to see if I could cast a better 32 Auto than what's available out there. Turns out the Lee 311-100 was exactly what I was looking for. I milled the mold down to a bullet length of .470" and it drops at 80 grains

. Going to make a bunch to break-in the Beretta 81. Hoping they shoot good.

Old_Cop · #2 09-01-2019, 05:13 PM

Bullets look very good, size, lube, load and shoot!

6string · #3 09-01-2019, 05:49 PM

Hi,
Nice work. What's the "as cast" diameter and alloy?
That looks like it might be a nice choice for the 30 Luger.

It might be more info than you want, but if get especially interested in the 32 ACP, you may want to search for the results and methods of people shooting the Pardini 32 ACP target pistol.
Here's a link to Pardini's video:

YouTube

This is quite different than the older 32 S&W Long wadcutter pistol they make.
The 32 ACP, it turns out, makes an extremely accurate target cartridge at least out to 50 yds in the right gun. (Actually, some of those pre-war Walther PP pistols shoot amazingly well too.)

Anyhow, if you get the itch, visit the Bullseye-L forum or the targettalk forum. Some guys have put in a lot of work that might be of interest.

Funflyer · #4 09-01-2019, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

Hi,
Nice work. What's the "as cast" diameter and alloy?
That looks like it might be a nice choice for the 30 Luger.

These drop at .3115" (range scrap). I've got several calibers (18 bullets of each) in the oven curing the powder-coat as I type this. I've seen the Pardini 32s but don't think I'll be doing any bullseye any time soon.

Funflyer · #5 09-01-2019, 10:31 PM

Tic-Tacs ready for loading and testing.

Funflyer · #6 09-02-2019, 08:41 PM

Cast and loaded 100 more for testing tomorrow. I've got loads worked up using Bullseye, HP38, and Titegroup.

BB57 · #7 09-02-2019, 09:15 PM

I've used 75 grain bullets in .312 diameter for .32 ACP. Bullet diameter can pose some issues.

European 7.65 Browning ammo uses a .308 0r .309 bullet in a case with slightly thicker walls at the case mouth compared to US made .32 ACP ammunition which uses a .311 bullet in brass with slightly thinner case walls.

When you mix a European case with a .311 bullet and combine the resulting cartridge with a pistol with a tight chamber you can encounter issues with failure to feed.

I have a number of Walther and FEG pistols in 7.65 Browning/.32 ACP. I've noted Walther pistols have tight chambers where this mix of cases and bullet diameters can be a problem. In contrast, I've never had an issue with any of the FEG pistols, which have slightly larger chamber dimensions.

Since I load 2000 rounds at a time on a Dillon 550B, don't bother sorting brass, and want functionality in all my 7.65 Browning/.32 ACP pistols, I started post sizing the completed rounds using a factory crimp die with a carbide sizing ring in the base.

Prior to that I used a separate .32 ACP sizing die with the decapping assembly removed. They key with that approach is to back the die off and only size the cartridge enough to allow it to drop into the barrel.

Warren Sear · #8 09-02-2019, 10:24 PM

I wish I knew how you folks are getting such a smooth, fine coating on the bullets. Mine are terrible. Non-uniform, splotchy coating every time.

Funflyer · #9 09-02-2019, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB57

I've used 75 grain bullets in .312 diameter for .32 ACP. Bullet diameter can pose some issues.

European 7.65 Browning ammo uses a .308 0r .309 bullet in a case with slightly thicker walls at the case mouth compared to US made .32 ACP ammunition which uses a .311 bullet in brass with slightly thinner case walls.

When you mix a European case with a .311 bullet and combine the resulting cartridge with a pistol with a tight chamber you can encounter issues with failure to feed.

I have a number of Walther and FEG pistols in 7.65 Browning/.32 ACP. I've noted Walther pistols have tight chambers where this mix of cases and bullet diameters can be a problem. In contrast, I've never had an issue with any of the FEG pistols, which have slightly larger chamber dimensions.

Since I load 2000 rounds at a time on a Dillon 550B, don't bother sorting brass, and want functionality in all my 7.65 Browning/.32 ACP pistols, I started post sizing the completed rounds using a factory crimp die with a carbide sizing ring in the base.

Prior to that I used a separate .32 ACP sizing die with the decapping assembly removed. They key with that approach is to back the die off and only size the cartridge enough to allow it to drop into the barrel.

I noticed some of the cartridges were being resized by my Lee crimp die and some weren't, so I checked the brass and those that were are .013" thick (Fiocchi, PPU, Geco). I stopped using that brass and the few that I loaded did chamber fine in my Guardian but were snug in the Beretta 81. The rest of the brass, Remington, Magtech, Winchester, Aguila and Federal were all around .010"-.011".

Funflyer · #10 09-02-2019, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren Sear

I wish I knew how you folks are getting such a smooth, fine coating on the bullets. Mine are terrible. Non-uniform, splotchy coating every time.

I don't use the shake and bake method like most do. I've been powder-coating bike parts for years and use an electrostatic gun. What I do is use a piece of hardboard with aluminum tacks that protrude out the bottom just enough to make contact with a piece of foil. Connect the lead to the foil and let the static do the rest. Nothing gets a more even coat of powder. It's slow but the results are much better.

BB57 · #11 09-03-2019, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funflyer

I noticed some of the cartridges were being resized by my Lee crimp die and some weren't, so I checked the brass and those that were are .013" thick (Fiocchi, PPU, Geco). I stopped using that brass and the few that I loaded did chamber fine in my Guardian but were snug in the Beretta 81. The rest of the brass, Remington, Magtech, Winchester, Aguila and Federal were all around .010"-.011".

One of the oddities of loading .32 ACP is that the difference in brass is significant.

-----

I also load .22 Hornet, and I'm forced to sort brass as the differences in volume are very significant.

Hornady brass is by far the thickest with significantly less capacity (and undersized flash holes that won't accept some decapping pins). Remington brass is at the other extreme, with much greater capacity, while Winchester and PPU are in the middle of the range. It's enough difference between the middle and the two extremes to require three separate loads to get the same velocity. With slower powders, you also need to use a drop tube or spin the powder into the Hornady cases with a funnel to get a full charge in the case.

Funflyer · #12 09-03-2019, 11:08 PM

Range time went better than expected. Had a chance to run a few hundred rounds through the Beretta 81 and test my hand-loads at the same time. Both performed fantastic. All hand-loads shot tighter groups than any factory ammo tested (10 yards) with no flyers to speak of. I managed to dig a few out of the dirt/rock backstop and was surprised to see how well the powder-coat held up. Looks like these are a keeper.