32 H&R Magnum: Range Report

[Bastogne71]

I’ve recently acquired a 4” model 16-4 chambered for the 32 Magnum and am looking for a load that will give me a good combination of accuracy and velocity. Perhaps not the most accurate or the highest velocity but the best combination of both.
So what is your pet load in this cartridge? Bullet weight? Powder? Any loading hints or advice will be most welcome. There isn’t a great deal of load data available for this cartridge so I’m appealing to the collective knowledge of the 32 Mag fan base here.

 

[mtgianni]

I only shoot cast in the three I own so take that with a grain of salt. If the RCBS 98 SWC and 4 grains of Unique doesn't group well in your gun, I'd be shocked. Other decent powders include AA 2, Red Dot, AA 7 and AA5. I think this cartridge is served best for my needs between 900 and 1100 fps.

For more loading information check the Lyman manuals between 48 -50. Shooting Times articles on it are also good.

 

[AJ]

I had good power with Lil Gun 10.3 grains with a 100 grain r n cast and the accuracy was good too.

 

[22hipower]

I only shoot cast bullets in mine too.

100 grain Cast SWC bullet
3 grains Titegroup
CCI 500 small pistol primer

And an even lighter, but fun and accurate load:

90 Grain Hornady SWC
2.8 Grains Titegroup

Great guns, lots of fun. Almost as inexpensive to shoot these reloads as 22LR. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[mtgianni]

If you want 32 long data use those cases in you 16-4 with 2.5 gr of Red Dot and a 90 gr cast. Bump it up a 1/10th grain in a 32 H&R Mag case.

 

[Nevada Ed]

A friend had one of those and found out that it did quite well with the

standard "non-Magnum" ammo in the accuracy department, also.

Enjoy that revolver.

 

[Erich]

It's worth scaring up the February 2011 (#270), August 2016 (#303) and (especially) October 2018 (#316) issues of Handloader to see a variety of loadings for these in solidly built guns such as your lovely K-frame. Use it in good health!

 

[Chubbs103]

I regret not finding the .32 HR earlier in my life. I've only been shooting it for a year now, but find a lot of enjoyable versatility.

My standard load is a 100 gr. LSWC with the max charge of Unique from the RCBS cast bullet manual.

My light weight plinking load is a 100 gr. DEWC over a near min charge of W231. Very accurate out of my 4 5/8" Single Six.

I have two promising jacketed loads for my Marlin 1894 using the 90gr. Sierra JHC. A mid-range load of Sihouette (per Sierra) and a near max charge of H110/W296 (per the Lyman 49th) both shoot under an inch at 50 yds.

 

[zeke]

A favorite mid level load is Hdy 85 xtp over 9.0 gns V V N110 with Fed 100 primer. From a 6 1/2 in ss = 1225 fps and ex accuracy. Also works with the Sierra 90 gn jhp, but not quite as accurate.

A full power load using 11.7 gns lil gun and Speer 100 jhp got 1131 fps and excellent accuracy from 4 in Ruger sp101. Tried some Lil-gun in the Ruger ss, but got the start of frame cutting within 12 rds, and stopped.

Favorite lead load is Meister lrnfp (long nose fp) over 3.5 gns hp-38 for 969 fps and ex accuracy from Ruger 6 1/2 in ss. 3.8 gns 7625 got 1010 fps and ex group, while 4.0 gns 800x very similar.

Not hard to tell these tests were done some time ago, with 7625 and 800x apparently discontinued.

 

[Ethang]

I have Rugers, not a 16, but a Missouri Cast 100 grain with 4.0 of Unique does an even 1000 fps. Accurate, quiet and does everything I need it to.

 

[H Richard]

I did some development a few years ago with my 16-4, Of the combinations I tried, I stopped at this one, and have been satisfied.

The 1224 fps was very accurate, and no pressure signs. I believe the Hornady on-line loading manual has more data now. And, probably several other manuals.

 

[Inland7-45]

The Missouri Bullet 100 gr lead RNFP is a good bullet that I have been using in my .32 S&W Long I frames. They also offer a 98 gr cast wadcutter. I started off with a pound of W 231 and it has gone a long way. My Lyman, Speer and Hornady manuals all have good data for both .32 S&W L a NR .32 Mag.

I now wish that I had bought a 16-4 when there’s were more of them around.

Good Luck

 

[jcelect]

The gun S&W should have produced!

A 16-4 rechambered to 327 Mag! I have only shot factory 327 mags so far because a received a couple hundred with the gun! It shot a 1" group at 50 yds from a rest the first outing. I am working up some loads of 32 H&R mags to test next spring along with the 327 brass I now have! I have not shot anything over a chronograph.
jcelect

 

[Bastogne71]

Thanks for everyone that responded to my request. The weather was good so I made it to the range with my S&W 16-4.
First the common features for every load. All rounds were loaded in Federal cases, CCI-500 primers, 100gr Hornady XTP bullets, and 1.34” OAL. 12 rounds of each load was fired at 25 yards from a rest. It was 53 degrees and no wind.

zeke sugested Vihtavuori N-110 powder. I used 9.6 grains. Mean velocity 1058fps, standard deviation (SD) 41 and group 6.06”
Next was from Handloader #270 from Erich. 9.0 gr of AA9. Velocity 1177, SD 19, & group of 3.94”.
A favorite load in another 32 Mag pistol I have is 11gr of LilGun. Velocity 1183, SD 42, and group of 5.54”.
Last was H Richard’s load of 6.3gr of AA5. Velocity of 1232, SD 36, and grouped 4.41”

AA5 is clearly the winner both in accuracy and speed. AA9 is worth further trials with powder weight. The next test will be repeating the two loads with AA5 & 9. After that I want to try try loads with Hornady’s 90 grain SWC but that may have to wait for spring.

 

[Green Frog]

If it’s not too late for your consideration, and if you’re willing to shoot lead bullets, cast SWCs of 100-105 gr over the manufacturer’s suggested load of HP38/231, I believe you will be pleased.
I was interested in your AA9 loads... I used it for my 327 Fed Mag hot loads, and since I have a bunch from another project, it might well find its way into some H&R loads as well.
Froggie

 

[zeke]

While everyone's preferences/purposes differ, never found a very accurate load using the Hdy 100 gn xtp in the Rugers loaded for. The old Speer 100 gn jhp was very to extremely accurate. The load with an 85 gn xtp over the specified charge of V V -N110 is very accurate in the Rugers owned.

Sometime may try loads with the newer bullets developed for the 327 mag, but haven't yet.

 

[Erich]

Thanks for everyone that responded to my request. The weather was good so I made it to the range with my S&W 16-4.
First the common features for every load. All rounds were loaded in Federal cases, CCI-500 primers, 100gr Hornady XTP bullets, and 1.34” OAL. 12 rounds of each load was fired at 25 yards from a rest. It was 53 degrees and no wind.

zeke sugested Vihtavuori N-110 powder. I used 9.6 grains. Mean velocity 1058fps, standard deviation (SD) 41 and group 6.06”
Next was from Handloader #270 from Erich. 9.0 gr of AA9. Velocity 1177, SD 19, & group of 3.94”.
A favorite load in another 32 Mag pistol I have is 11gr of LilGun. Velocity 1183, SD 42, and group of 5.54”.
Last was H Richard’s load of 6.3gr of AA5. Velocity of 1232, SD 36, and grouped 4.41”

AA5 is clearly the winner both in accuracy and speed. AA9 is worth further trials with powder weight. The next test will be repeating the two loads with AA5 & 9. After that I want to try try loads with Hornady’s 90 grain SWC but that may have to wait for spring.

Thank you so much for replying with results, amigo - what fun! Now I want to pull out the press . . .

 

[raljr1]

I did some development a few years ago with my 16-4, Of the combinations I tried, I stopped at this one, and have been satisfied.



The 1224 fps was very accurate, and no pressure signs. I believe the Hornady on-line loading manual has more data now. And, probably several other manuals.

I purchased some of these reloads from H Richard. They work very well.

Robert