32 and 35 autos

[Jodykid]

Hi, Guys. Anybody load for and shoot the 32 and 35 autos? I just picked up one of each along with a 24-3 and an original Remington 51. The 35 is the oddball and I have cases, dies and loaded ammo on the way. Anyone have a good load for it?

Joe

 

[DWalt]

Load it the same as .32 ACP. It is essentially the same round. The bullet is the same as the .32, but the .35 case is sightly fatter. I'm surprised anyone sells .35 reloading dies or .35 brass. I have understood that shooting .32 ACP in the .35 is feasible. Both .32 and .35 S&W autopistols are very desirable. So is the Rem 51 (.32 and .380) - in my opinion the very finest pocket pistol ever made. I have all 4 versions. The current reincarnation by Remington is rapidly gaining a poor reputation.

re the .35, see: http://www.shootingtimes.com/handguns/handgun_reviews_smith_wessons_35_automatic_010310/

 

[robertrwalsh]

I load .32 fairly often. I have never even shot one of the .35 S&W autos. I do own a Remington 51 in .380 and think it is a fine weapon, though stripping it is a four-star bitch.

 

[Retired W4]

I load .32 fairly often. I have never even shot one of the .35 S&W autos. I do own a Remington 51 in .380 and think it is a fine weapon, though stripping it is a four-star bitch.

I've had Remington M-51's for quite a while and while I think they are great carry pistols (for a .380) you are so correct about disassembly and assembly. I think the only one more frustrating is the Enfield/Webley revolvers. AARRGG!!!

 

[DWalt]

"though stripping it is a four-star bitch"

There are many worse. Try an Astra 400 or a Lahti if you want to have some fun. Actually, the Model 51 is not too bad to tear down after you have done it a few times (it helps if you have written instructions in front of you the first time). It just has a learning curve.

 

[opoefc]

I have shot .32 acp in Model 35s for many years with nary a problem, but I never bothered to reload, or save the brass. Ed.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Actually I think the 51 is WORSE than the Astra, but reasonable people can disagree on arcane subjects that few people in the universe care much about. It also could just be that I took down the Astra several times over the years and the 51 only twice.

 

[DWalt]

It's just one of those unexplainable things why S&W didn't chamber their pocket pistol in .32 ACP first. Possibly because that caliber has a "Colt" association. Another story is that some people at S&W were paranoid about the use of FMJ bullets because of supposed increased bore wear. So they came up with a different proprietary cartridge loaded with a metal capped bullet, leaving the bearing surface lead. The later .32 version of the pistol is much more scarce and valuable than the .35 version.

 

[Jodykid]

OK ,so where do I find disassembly instructions for the 32, 35 and 51? Does the NRA book cover them?

By the way the 35 cases from Buffalo Arms were made from 25-20 brass trimmed and with the rim lathe turned the correct size and an extractor groove cut. They look very well done.

Joe

 

[DWalt]

I'll highly recommend W. H. B. Smith's "Book of Pistols and Revolvers." It covers history and details for most of the earlier handguns and provides disassembly instructions for many semiautomatics, including all three you mentioned. It's come in handy for me many times. Mine is the 1968 printing, but there are probably later printings. Stackpole is the publisher.

.25-20 and .32-20 cases are the normal starting points for making .35 cases. I make up many oddball and obsolete cases from various available brass. It can be time-consuming and frustrating, and it helps greatly if you have a lathe, which I do. Otherwise trimming and thinning rims and cutting extractor grooves (common required operations) is nearly impossible, at least in a practical sense. There are several books on the topic, but my favorite is Donnelly's "Manual of Cartridge Conversions." It is very complete.

Here is one W. H. B. Smith book now listed on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-W-H-B-S...623?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item35bc8250a7

 

[Jodykid]

Hi, Guys. For what it's worth I slugged the barrel on the 35 last night and it slugged at .321. Looks like 32 ACP ammo might not be too accurate so I'll stick to my Buffalo arms ammo which uses .314 bullets and then get a mould made for a bullet that fits a little better.

Joe

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I'll highly recommend W. H. B. Smith's "Book of Pistols and Revolvers." It covers history and details for most of the earlier handguns and provides disassembly instructions for many semiautomatics, including all three you mentioned. It's come in handy for me many times. Mine is the 1968 printing, but there are probably later printings. Stackpole is the publisher.

My buddy Milt, threads are coming! Knew W. H. B. Smith. Milt was Ordnance and Mr. Smith was an Army Civilian, mostly at Charlotteville, I think.

 

[italiansport]

Actually I think the 51 is WORSE than the Astra, but reasonable people can disagree on arcane subjects that few people in the universe care much about. It also could just be that I took down the Astra several times over the years and the 51 only twice.

I've taken down both and my vote goes for he 51 as well. Besides whose going to carry this "Pimp machine" anyway!
Jim