Bullet diameter for .32 S&W and .32 H&R .312 or .313?

J

Jersey Doug

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Been using Missouri coated .313 diameter wadcutters in my Model 16. Looking to buy jacketed bullets for .32 H&R and Hornady's are .312 diameter. Are both these sizes correct to use where it's a either-or situation? Thanks.
 
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Sounds right to me.
I've seen numerous recommendations to look for bare lead bullets that .001" bigger than a jacketed bullet of the same caliber.
 
I agree with BC38. I like my lead bullets about a thou over nominal, and jacketed bullets just about right on nominal groove diameter.

Froggie
 
I have a 32 long with .313" throats, a 32 H&R with .312 throats and a 32 H&R with 3.14 throats. Both of the 32 H&R's get shot with .315" bullets and do fine.
 
I think these diameters may vary a bit. I'd use the largest diameter that will go through the chamber throats with just slight resistance. When I loaded for two S&W .32 Long revolvers of recent manufacture (1970s, I think), I used a .314" size die for the bullets. I think the bullets may have been slightly under .314" after sizing, but I have none on hand to measure. Some may need a .312" or .313" bullet. I'd try more than one diameter if that's practical for you.
 
Jacketed: doesn't matter. Either will work just fine.
Plated: Like lead, be sure they are at least 0.001" larger than ACTUAL groove diameter.
 
mtgianni said:
I have a 32 long with .313" throats, a 32 H&R with .312 throats and a 32 H&R with 3.14 throats. Both of the 32 H&R's get shot with .315" bullets and do fine.
Click to expand...

Wow! Does the gun with those 3"+ throats require some sort of carriage to carry it around? :eek: What kind of bullet weight are you using? :confused::confused:

I know your fingers got ahead of your typing, but I couldn't resist old buddy... glad to see I'm not the only one! :cool:

Back to serious, it would appear that consistency in throat size, and that being a tad over groove diameter, gives the best accuracy when using lead bullets. Over on the Cast Boolits Forum there is one vendor whose whole business seems to have been built on honing chamber mouths to match.

Froggie
 
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