32 cal target pistol ?

[deadin]

I think the main reason most shooters don't have a dedicated CF gun is economic. Revolvers really can't compete at high level with a semi-auto,
but the cost of a true target 32 semi is prohibitive.

 

[Jebus35745]

I was getting crazy to have a .32 semi auto to shoot for fun. Have a few .32 revolvers, and the .32 Hammerli 280 was looking good. There is a following for some sort of .32 auto at the gun club. Had the 280 in .22 for bullseye and liked it a lot. A model 52 came up at a great price so I bought it. Now I don't have to change the powder measure for light.32 loads. Shoots like the other one I owned yrs ago. Actually happy with another S&W. Larry

 

[Tony C.]

Here is my current .32 S&W long target semi auto, it's a FAS model 603, made in Italy, brought from a shooter from the left coast several years ago sight unseen. Its a top loader, mag insert from top, mounting a red dot sight like the Ultra dot will be a problem, therefore a Burris Fastfire 3 is being use for the time being.

Like many other Italian pistol this one has excellent roll trigger and take down is a breeze, undo one lever, and the pistol break down in seconds, weight in at 47 oz. empty, much heavier than the .22 model 602.

As other has mentioned .32 are fun to shoot and quite accurate as well, and if you cast your own bullet and reload, it cost not much more then shooting .22, my go to load for the .32 S&W long is either 1.8 gr of Titegroup or 1.7 gr. W231 for 98 gr. wadcutter bullet, a pound of powder can last a long time.

I also has been on the look out for a K 32, but the few I've seen are priced at collector item range, while all I need is a shooter grade gun, and speaking of revolver, if one decided to use one in bullseye match, a model 14 can work out just fine, myself prefer a semi auto, don't think thumb cocking at the rapid fire stage will work out too good for me.

I've suggest the OP look for a Walther GSP, reason being they are fairly common in the bullseye circle, parts are still obtainable and don't forget the frame of a GSP can accept either a .22LR or .32 S&W long top unit, flip one lever, take out the barrel unit, replace with the other calibre, insert the proper mag and you're ready. $1200-$1300 would a bargain for a frame with both .22 and .32 top unit and 2 mag for each calibre. $1500 and up should get a pistol with factory accessories like sight adjustment tool; case...etc. look for them in the bullseye shooting site buy and sale section.

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Good luck.

 

[tjpopkin]

I am a Pardini fan......I loved my Model 41s, but every one of them was a bit fussy and I had alibis in too many matches.....The Pardini has a distinct preference, but in terms of accuracy ONLY. ....meaning never a jam or stovepipe...and accuracy above bar....I have shot numerous perfect 100 stages with the Pardini...I admit, a lot of credit goes to the Morini stocks and PERFECT fit to my hand.
IF you want to see the guns, Photobucket has denied me access unless I pay them $500 and I will not be held hostage...so Email me directly: [email protected]....
Loving the .22 so much, I bought an IDENTICAL 32 S&W Long Wadcutter gun, and my scores soared. My NRA matches were stellar....high 280s and low 290s (not now, I am 20 years older), Yes, I have had these guns nearly 20 years. Here is a great point. If you buy the .32, you can purchase a .22 upper which changes in about 4 min. with the turn of one allen screw, lifting off the upper, and screwing on the other one....viola, a .22....but not in reverse....you must start with the .32 (crazy).
The ONLY downside...price...These guns are $2300 new and then the other upper (later). You will only need to do it once.
the .32 wadcutter loads shoot fantastically in my Model 16s and Regulation Police Targets...
Currently shooting the Lapua 98 Gr. HB PB wadcutter over 1.4gr VV N310 with Federal sm. pistol primers. The German H&N 100 GR. bullet is better, but unavailable from any source. The Lapua is available from Graf & Sons (If you have a C&R or are an NRA Instructor, you get a discount) or from Midway. The bullets are .13 each. If you do not hand-load, Fiocchi makes a great .32 S&WL wadcutter round.

 

[Green Frog]

tjpopkin, thanks for all of this good info. Looks like I'll be using my revolvers for 32 target loads and sticking to the Model 52 in 38 SPL for my semi-auto target shooting.

I wanted to ask about your loads for the 32 WC... is the Lapua bullet you mention a swaged lead or cast alloy HBWC? What kind of nose (flat or button) does it have? I see you think the German one is even better, but how much so at casual levels of marksmanship vs Master Class? Will I notice a difference in my revolvers between these two or even if I just go to a Hornady swaged HBWC?

Finally, can you recommend vendors for the Fiocchi ammo, the Lapua bullets and the Vitavhouri powder? These are all pretty thin on the ground here in Central VA.

Regards and thanks,
Your friend, the Frog

 

[Ignatz]

From what I was told years back at Camp Perry, the 32's would come out when the wind died down and the 50 yard scores could get high. I could never bench rest my Pardini and get over 97 on a 50 yard target. The model 52 would shoot a 100, but needed the complete 10 ring. The Giles 45 grouped tight inside the 10 ring, and was the best.
Understand my one home range is notoriously windy, and one day I had my Pardini 32 and benched it at 50 yards. It shot a 100 on a calm day, but then I realized the 32 WC round gets blown around on a windy day. When I was winding down my International shooting, a competitor was using a Hammerli 280 converted to 32acp. He said it was a big advantage over the wad cutter.
I think the faster you can push a 32 wad cutter, might make a better 50 yard group.The Lapau factory ammo was a lot hotter than most people reloaded. Maybe Lapau was trying to buck the wind!

 

[toms silver 60]

Ruger has made SA and DA revolvers in .32 H & R and .327 Federal Magnum; don't know about current production or how they would stack up against a Smith for target shooting.

,
First posting on this forum!
I inherited a hammerlei sp20 32 , albeit very pricey, which shoots way beyond my ability. My best handloads are with Meister 0.312 DEWC as compared to hollow base, never could figure that out. Pistol is aluminum and will not handle hot loads, so I use 1.4 gr vihtavuori 210 with lapua brass. I have since acquired a Ruger SP101 327 Fed Mag with 4-1/4 inch barrel topped with a Vortex Venom 3moa red dot. The small frame grips do not work well for my large hands, so a full size GP100 grip has been added. Best loads with 32 H&R magnum brass are 2.4 gr of Win 231 and the above DEWC bullets. I cannot get this pistol to shoot nearly as well as my full frame Ruger and S&W 38/357 pistols. I am sure a full frame 6" S&W will shoot better....

 

[boatbum101]

If you wish to become a proficent 2700 shooter focus on the 2 guns you HAVE to shoot ie 22 & 45 . Shooting the 45 in CF gives more trigger time on THE gun you have to master . Once one can shoot consistent Master level scores , then you can go off on tangents & down the rabbit hole . I & many other 2700 shooters can tell you that mouse caliber guns in CF will hurt you're scores far more than help . I'm also a fan of 22 conversions . Setup your conversion lower just like your wadgun , 3 1/2lb trigger & all . Your 22 scores will suffer initially , but your 45 scores will improve . It's easier to learn one trigger than three .
IMHO if one has to go there , a 1911 in 38 Super makes a much better choice . Like a 45 , $ 600 worth of parts & a stock gun can be made competitive enough to take one to Master .

 

[Racer X]

The .32 Long was used by some bullseye target shooters in the past, with the rules specifying three stages with .22, centerfire and .45. Some would use the .32 for the centerfire stage but most figured out a .38 (or .45) gave them a larger margin of error for cutting a scoring ring.

The classic S & W .32 target gun is the K-32 Masterpiece; brand C also made revolvers in .32 Long. Walther also made a target semi-auto among others. As noted above, your most findable candidate would be a later model 16-4, in 4, 6 and 8 3/8".

my bullseye coach uses .45 acp for both centerfire.

 

[lrrifleman]

When I was working the NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury this past summer, I was pulled on the high power down days to RO the pistol matches. For the blocks that I covered, I didn't see anyone using other than 1911s in 45. I took note, because I tend to use either my K38 or a 1911, depending on which bullets I have enough of cast and ready for loading.

Please excuse the tangent, but this thread sounds like an F class discussion among shooters that never shot across the course with either a match rifle or a service rifle! Sometimes, it is worth it to take your time and smell the roses while learning some skills than buy your way into the highest classifications!

 

[moosedog]

I'm just wondering why a 32 caliber?
There are tons of K-38s out there at bargain prices these days. The recoil between the two with target loads is not much different.

 

[murphydog]

The OP was last online about 5 months ago but only posted about a .32 on this almost 5 1/2 year old thread, so thread closed.