32 Auto , any reloaders on here by chance?

[Funflyer]

Picked up a Guardian last week just for the novelty and hope to start reloading for it this week. Got some 71gn Berry's and found plenty of data for the powders I have on hand, (Clays, Bullseye, Unique, HP38, AA#5), and also have a box of 85gn XTPs but no data. Plenty of loads available for 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Magnum using the 85 XTP, so I suppose the 85 is too heavy for the ACP to be very popular. I found loads for 78gn and 93gn in 32 ACP which I can work with for a starting point unless someone knows of other data available.


Here's the new Guardian with my BG for size comparison. Never realized till now just how big the BG actually is.

 

[DWalt]

At one time long ago, I loaded the 100 grain Speer Plinkers (half-jacket) in .32 ACP, but I don't remember what my loads were. I am sure it used Bullseye. The Plinkers worked fine.

The Lyman cast bullet handbook gives some loads for the 84 grain cast bullet. For the faster propellants (Bullseye, 700X, and Red Dot), starting loads are in the neighborhood of 1.5 grains, with top loads of 1.7 to 2.0 grains. I'd say you might try loads in the 1.5-2.0 grain range to find the minimum load which provides functional reliability.

 

[Kiwi cop]

As a matter of fact there are still 50 rounds of .32 Auto on my bench from a 280 reloading batch I started last week.

My .32 Astra Constable just will not be reliable with anything other than Federal primers and Federal .32 ACP ammo is not available here so I have to reload.

Unfortunately I stick to the "standard 71 gn bullet and can't help with load data for the heavier projectiles.

My "go to" load for the 71 gn bullets is 2.1 gn of either W321, Tightgroup or Mulwex AP 50N.

Some issues with loading the .32 Auto.

Cases are small, take your time with them.

Case mouths are easily damaged.

Charge weights are tiny.

Heavy crimp is not required and can raise pressures.

I use my original Lee 3 hole turret press not a progressive to load this caliber.

I have an adaptor for my Perfect powder measure, which is the only one I have capable of reliably dropping such small charges, so that it fits into the top of my Lee charge die. (.2 gn difference in larger cases may not be significant but in the .32 ACP it definately is).

I go slowly (about half the speed I usually load pistol ammo on this press) and visually check every case for powder level (usually on my turret press I check every 5th round. On my progressives I check the first case out of every drop tube (20-25 depending on caliber. But I visually check the activation of the powder drop every round).

Oh, and I ensure no distractions, not even the radio playing with the .32.

 

[iouri]

I've only used Berry's for my 32 acp. Loaded on my 550 with extra small powder bar. I don't think 85 gr would be too heavy for it (Lyman cast has recipes for 85gr round nose profile) but profile might be an issue for semis.
Oh and that powder charge is almost 2 times more (!) than for 25 acp (which I also load)

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The XTP's are a very long for weight bullet! I use them for derringer only loads. I load 71 and 82/84 grain cast bullets and have since 1980. 32 APC is a great round to reload, as long as you can get consistent powder charges. I currently use WW231 but started with Unique. The Lyman 55 powder measure has a "Hammer" on the front that you flip like a door knocker to vibrate the last flakes of powder out and gives very consistent loads!

For SD and CCW ammo I like Winchester Silver Tip Hollow Points (STHP), for FMJ, The hotter the better, RWS's GECO ammo is about as hot as it gets (and is very accurate) and in my derringers, Tomcat, Keltic, and Dad's Colt's. They have the same point of impact as the STHP's (which in all those guns was to the sights!)

Nobody said anything yet but, you need the correct shell holder and just about any 32 reloading die set, just make sure it can be adjusted to seat and crimp ammo this short.

Ivan

 

[Funflyer]

Thanks guys,

That gets me going in the right direction on 32 and especially the XTPs.

I forgot I bought a pound of Titegroup until Kiwi-cop mentioned it, so just for grins I filled the Hornady powder drop with it to see what it could do with such small charges. I adjusted it for 2gn and got great results from 25 dumps. Highest charge I saw was 2.02(twice) and the lowest was 1.96(twice). The other 21 were either 1.98 or 2 on the nose. Never used TG yet since I started reloading and only bought it because it was on clearance. Looks like it'll be a good powder for the 32.

...UPS just knocked on the door as I'm typing, and left my order from Midway. Now I just need to get to the range and fire a few hundred factory rounds so I have some brass to reload.

 

[Rogeronimo]

I've built some with Int'l Clays/AS50. Works great!

 

[warren5421]

You might want to look at Replicating Buffalo Bore's 32 ACP "+P" Ammunition by Marshall Thompson

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You might want to look at Replicating Buffalo Bore's 32 ACP "+P" Ammunition by Marshall Thompson

Pretty interesting! But these loadings don't entice me away from STHP's!

Ivan

 

[Funflyer]

Here's a question for the more experienced. What's wrong with these cases? This is a first for me. Never seen this before.

Hit the range with the Guardian the other day and had several light primer strikes with Aguila ammo, only Aguila, however they all fired on the second pull of the trigger. Figuring it was probably hard primers, I wasn't too concerned.

I also heard a "thud" hit the target several times while shooting this ammo, and oddly enough the thud was a split second after the shot. I thought I was hearing things and my hearing isn't that great. Couldn't have been the bullet unless they were sub-100fps.

So today I deprimed all the brass. Comparing the primers from the Aguila with some Magtech, I noticed that most of the anvils were missing from the Aguila primers. Never saw this before either. I've had several fall out of the primers during deprime before but never this, more than half completely gone!

After the brass was tumbled and dry I whipped out my primer pocket cleaner and went to town. What the....., where the heck are the flash holes? The pocket cleaner went clear through the pocket and into the case!

I finally put two and two, and three for that matter, together. Here's the cause of the light strikes, and also what I was hearing hit the target. It was the primer anvils! I knew I couldn't be crazy hearing things.

Turns out that only seven cases out of the fifty had flash holes. The rest were, in the words of CW McCall, clean clear to Flag town.

So have you guys seen this before? The primer pockets measured the same as most others and there didn't appear to be anything different with the primers. I always thought the anvil had to be seated in order for it to fire.

 

[OLDSTER]

I shoot far more .32acp ( easily 1000 rounds annually )than the average guy; just because I love little .32 pistols ( Seecamp, Ortgies, Keltek, NA., and an 2 old Colts ). I considered loading a while back, but found I can buy PMC Bronze ammo ( very reliable ) at around $17.00 per 50 round box, so decided against it. At my age I always figure how long the reloading payback is and it usually doesn't compute. I don't buy ripe bananas either !!

 

[BB57]

I laos like .32 ACP and load a lot of it, usually with plated bullets or 75 gr hard cast bullets.

I use a Dillon 550B and the extra small charge bar.

You'll find .32 ACP brass varies. European .32 ACP/7.65 Browning is based on a .308 or .309 bullet with a thicker case mouth . American made .32 ACP usually has a .310 or .311 bullet (and .312 in some cast loads) and a case with a thinner case mouth.

That can create issues if you are loading .311-.312 bullets into a European case ans shooting it in a pistol with a tight chamber (I've noted my Walther PP pistols are tighter chambered than my FEG pistols). Consequently, I just post size the ammo in the 4th station on the press to ensure they all feed in some of my tighter chambered .32 ACP pistols.

.32 ACP suffers much greater velocity loss in short barrels than the .380 ACP, which in turn takes a bigger hit than 9mm Luger. Consequently, I'm a fan of the 3.9" barrel Walther PP and the similar FEG AP7S if I plan on carrying .32 ACP for self defense. A 75 gr bullet at 1050 fps is easily achievable at standard pressures.

 

[max503]

I shoot far more .32acp ( easily 1000 rounds annually )than the average guy; just because I love little .32 pistols ( Seecamp, Ortgies, Keltek, NA., and an 2 old Colts ). I considered loading a while back, but found I can buy PMC Bronze ammo ( very reliable ) at around $17.00 per 50 round box, so decided against it. At my age I always figure how long the reloading payback is and it usually doesn't compute. I don't buy ripe bananas either !!

Can I please have your brass?

My friend loads 25. I've been doing a lot of 380 lately. Little autos are a blast.

 

[alwslate]

I shoot far more .32acp ( easily 1000 rounds annually )than the average guy; just because I love little .32 pistols ( Seecamp, Ortgies, Keltek, NA., and an 2 old Colts ). I considered loading a while back, but found I can buy PMC Bronze ammo ( very reliable ) at around $17.00 per 50 round box, so decided against it. At my age I always figure how long the reloading payback is and it usually doesn't compute. I don't buy ripe bananas either !!

You can buy .32 acp ammo on line for a lot less than $17 a box.
sgammo.com

 

[DumpStick]

You can buy .32 acp ammo on line for a lot less than $17 a box.
sgammo.com

Yep. Every time I order from SGAmmo, I stick a couple boxes of 32acp in on the end of it - sorta round out the order.

It's usually $11-12 per box.

I save the empties. Who knows, I may reload them one day.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In the mid 70's a local discount chain treated ammo as a seasonal item and closed out all the ammo and camping, hunting, & fishing gear every fall just before Thanksgiving! I used to buy Remington FMJ 32 Auto for $6.99 a box, minus between 25 to 75%. For 3 or 4 years I would but all the 22 and 32 ammo I could every payday! I still have a few thousand 22's and 200-300 32's. Just because it was really cheap didn't stop me from reloading, back in that time frame you could reload for 1 cent per primer 1/2 cent for powder, cast your own in a $10 bullet mold (Lee, $20 for Lyman). I ended up trading most of the 32 ammo, Usually got an inexpensive top break for a box or two! (and sell that gun for $25-30)

I always check the range I go to for "Pick-up Brass", when I reach 500 it is time to load a batch. I'll be doing 800 380's this winter and probably 400 32 ACP's too!

Ivan

 

[BB57]

Rimrock 75 and 78 gr bullets sell for $27-$30 per box of 500. Add three cents for a primer and .7 cents for powder and your cost is 9.1 to 9.7 cents per round in your once fired brass. That's $4.55 to $4.85 per box of 50, less expensive to shoot than decent .22 LR ammo (and a whole lot more fun).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought some 71gr Barry's plated bullets and I use W231 under them. They shoot well in my pistol but like said above, the powder charges are very small. I use a Lee Micro-Disk I bought when they were still for sale. I charge only 2.3gr W231 under those 71gr plated bullets with a Winchester SPP.

I'm about to try some cast bullets next and see if I can bring the cost down even further. I'm not sure I want to use a 78gr bullet but they are the lightest I can find so far.

 

[Funflyer]

I bought some 71gr Barry's plated bullets and I use W231 under them. They shoot well in my pistol but like said above, the powder charges are very small. I use a Lee Micro-Disk I bought when they were still for sale. I charge only 2.3gr W231 under those 71gr plated bullets with a Winchester SPP.

I'm about to try some cast bullets next and see if I can bring the cost down even further. I'm not sure I want to use a 78gr bullet but they are the lightest I can find so far.

I tested several 32 reloads yesterday. Most accurate was a 71gn Berry's and 2.3 of HP-38. 3.2gn of AA#5 with the same bullet came in a very close second. Both averaged between 680-690fps from my Guardian. Also, the 71gn Berry's at a COL of .975 turned out to be the only ammo that was 100% reliable. Every factory round I tested had FTF (jams) issues, both JHP and FMJ RN.

The 85gn XTPs also had FTF problems as they had to be a minimum of .955" to fit the chamber.

Looks like my Guardian doesn't like shorter OALs. I read how reliable this gun is with any ammo so it'll definitely be going back to Provo.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought some 71gr Barry's plated bullets and I use W231 under them. They shoot well in my pistol but like said above, the powder charges are very small. I use a Lee Micro-Disk I bought when they were still for sale. I charge only 2.3gr W231 under those 71gr plated bullets with a Winchester SPP.

I'm about to try some cast bullets next and see if I can bring the cost down even further. I'm not sure I want to use a 78gr bullet but they are the lightest I can find so far.

I picked up a Lyman mould #313249 on clearance at a LGS for $10 this year. It is listed as LRN at 86 grains. But using wheel weights it is raw casting at 77 to 78 grains. If I went to one of the printing type alloys, it would be even closer to 72 grains. While you are wondering around gun shows, you might stumble into a reasonably prices mould!

Ivan