32 Long Colt

[BC38]

I picked up a partial box (28 rounds) of Winchester Super-X 32 Long Colt ammo along with a bunch of other stuff the other day. I was thinking it was the same thing as 32 S&W Long.

Of course, it isn't. Fits into the chambers of my 32 HE revolver, but its kinda sloppy. I'm sure it would fire, but probably would split a lot (maybe all) of the cases, and the bullet would probably rattle down the bore like a pinball.

So I did a little searching on GunBroker and this stuff is selling for $1.50-$3.00 a round depending on age. Heck the brass is selling for over a buck a piece!

So does anybody around here have any guns chambered for this ammo?

 

[Green Frog]

You might also expand your search for somebody with a Ballard single shot 32 w/reversible firing pin, a Marlin1892 with CF firing pin, etc. those 32 Colts are quite desirable.

Froggie

 

[BC38]

Not quite sure what you are suggesting by "expand my search"?
Are you suggesting there is somewhere else I should be posting?
Another sub-forum here - or on some other board?

 

[BC38]

Nobody has a gun chambered in 32 Long Colt?

 

[Green Frog]

Sorry, I got the idea you were looking for someone with a 32 revolver. The rifles are generally just labeled 32 without the “Colt” designation. FWIW though, there is a Single Shot forum over on the Cast Boolits website where some folks with these interests like to hang out. Also, the American Single Shot Rifle Association (ASSRA.com) has folks that ask for or about this ammo. Just trying to be helpful here.

Green Frog

 

[nbedford]

Hatcher's Notebook of Pistols and Revolvers is always my first reference on early cartridges: "Thus the case of the .32 Long Colt is only .313 in diameter, while that of the .32 S&W is .336 in outside diameter. This explains why the two cartridges, which look much alike, will not interchange".

 

[BC38]

Sorry, I got the idea you were looking for someone with a 32 revolver. The rifles are generally just labeled 32 without the “Colt” designation. FWIW though, there is a Single Shot forum over on the Cast Boolits website where some folks with these interests like to hang out. Also, the American Single Shot Rifle Association (ASSRA.com) has folks that ask for or about this ammo. Just trying to be helpful here.

Green Frog

I'm looking for anyone who can use this ammo in a revolver or long gun. I appreciate your suggestions on places to look, I just didn't quite understand what you were suggesting in your first reply. Thanks for making the suggestions and even more so for coming back to clarify. I very much appreciate it.

 

[BC38]

Hatcher's Notebook of Pistols and Revolvers is always my first reference on early cartridges: "Thus the case of the .32 Long Colt is only .313 in diameter, while that of the .32 S&W is .336 in outside diameter. This explains why the two cartridges, which look much alike, will not interchange".

Yeah, 20 thousandths sounds about right for the amount of "slop" these feel like they have in the cylinder of my 32 HE.

That sounds like a good reference. I usually look individual cartridges up in Wikipedia.

.32 Long Colt - Wikipedia

In this case I didn't look it up prior to purchasing it, because it came as part of a "lot" of stuff that contained other items I wanted.

I hadn't got around to looking up the specs afterwards either since it was obvious that it wasn't the right cartridge for my 32 HE - I knew it wouldn't work and that was the main thing.

Thanks for posting the specs though - it is interesting info.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I have a Colt New Pocket that is chambered for .32 Long Colt. The mighty mite is shown here with a Colt New Service Model 1909. The .32 Long Colt cartridge is also seen here with the .45 Colt and .22 Long Rifle for comparison.


Bought the Colt New Pocket at a Dallas Market Hall gun show years ago just for fun, mistakenly expecting to be able to use .32 S&W Long in it. They won't chamber though.

So, hunted about for some proper ammunition for the little revolver. The revolver uses .32 Short Colt and .32 Long Colt interchangeably.




Some chronograph tests of .32 Long Colt and .32 Short Colt ammunition.

Remington .32 Long Colt 82 grain lead round nose
783 fps MV
112 ft./lbs. ME
72 ES
24 SD

Winchester .32 Short Colt 80 grain lead round nose
763 fps MV
103 ft./lbs. ME
54 ES
19 SD

Some Aguilla .32 S&W ammunition chronograph tested on the same day.

Aguila 98 grain lead round nose fired in the Colt Police Positive.
728 fps
115 ft./lbs ME
37 ES
16 SD

Aguila 98 grain lead round nose fired in the Smith & Wesson Model 1903
631 fps MV
87 ft./lbs ME
50 ES
20 SD

A .32 S&W Long cartridge flanked by .32 Short Colt and .32 Long Colt cartridges.


The .32 Long Colt as well as the .32 Short Colt may be fired in a .32 S&W Long revolver with perfect satisfaction. I've tried it in a Smith & Wesson Model 1903 on hand here. Cartridge cases do not split or even display undue distortion and may be subsequently sized and reloaded with ease (I handload for the .32 Long Colt). Pressures generated in all these .32 revolver cartridges are quite low. Accuracy of the .32 Colt cartridges in a .32 S&W revolver is quite good out to 15 yards.

While the .32 S&W Long cartridge will not chamber in the .32 Colt chamber, the actual dimensional differences between .32 S&W Long and .32 Long Colt are minimal.

.32 S&W Long
Bullet diameter: .312
Neck diameter: .335
Base diameter: .335
Rim diameter: 375
Case length: .93
Cartridge length: 1.27

.32 Long Colt
Bullet diameter: .313
Neck diameter: .313
Base diameter: .318
Rim diameter: 374
Case length: .92
Cartridge length: 1.26

As may be seen, it's the neck diameter differences between the .32 Long Colt and .32 S&W Long which precludes the ability to load .32 S&W Long cartridges in a .32 Long Colt.

The .32 Short Colt seen in the photograph above uses a heeled type bullet. The .32 Long Colt in the photograph uses a hollow base bullet. Both styles of bullets fill the bore of the .32 Smith & Wesson revolver which gives pretty good usable accuracy.

 

[BC38]

Nice little write up bmcgilvray. I just tried sending you a PM, but it says your PM box is full.

 

[nbedford]

Yeah, 20 thousandths sounds about right for the amount of "slop" these feel like they have in the cylinder of my 32 HE.

That sounds like a good reference. I usually look individual cartridges up in Wikipedia.

.32 Long Colt - Wikipedia

In this case I didn't look it up prior to purchasing it, because it came as part of a "lot" of stuff that contained other items I wanted.

I hadn't got around to looking up the specs afterwards either since it was obvious that it wasn't the right cartridge for my 32 HE - I knew it wouldn't work and that was the main thing.

Thanks for posting the specs though - it is interesting info.

I have a copy of it in paperback and also on my Kindle. I really like his specs. for factory ammo back in the 30's. I have used it when loading 32 S&W Long for my fixed sight S&W HE's. From his specs I have been able to get them to shoot to point of aim.

 

[Green Frog]

When you consider that S&W keeps discontinuing their 32 cal revolvers, due to “lack of demand” it’s amazing how much interest is generated on this forum every time the caliber is mentioned.

Froggie

 

[nbedford]

With the right loads it is a very accurate pistol cartridge.

 

[SRG]

I have an 1891 Marlin that belonged to my Father. It shoots .32 Long Colt or Short Colt. Been in the family over 65 years.

 

[dickydalton]

I shoot them in my 92 Marlin.

 

[murphydog]

It has a "heeled" bullet similar to a .22 rimfire with a diameter of .299", so the case is smaller in diameter than the .32 S & W Long. Guns are out there but probably not shot much due to the cost/scarcity of ammo.

 

[duman444]

Incredible timing

This thread is of a lot of interest to me. I took out my 1903 S&W Hand Ejector and my 1928 Colt Police Positive in .32 Long. Had a baggie of factory bullets that I had got somewhere. Decided to shoot those first in the Colt.

First few cylinders fired normal. 4th and 5th cylinders would not extract. Had to push the extractor rod against the bench to get cases out. Looked over cases and several were split. Looked at headstamp and all were 32 Long Colt. Looked at the ones I had already shot and had 9 split cases in those.

Put that ammo aside and shot factory Rem .32 Long with 98 grain bullets through the guns the rest of the time.

So for my Police Positive, contrary to bmcgilvray results some 32 long colts split. Did not try them in my 1903, as it has much more sentimental value to me than the Police Positive and did not want to hurt the gun.

Both the .32 long and .32 long colt had the same recoil/muzzle blast and hit in the same area through the police positive.

Now have 22 newer (or better condition) unfired Western 32 LC also have 8 fired cases. Have 21 older (or worse condition) UMC 32 LC. I think the older, dirtier UMC case were the ones that split.

I already have plenty of 32 long cases and I reload for that caliber. Would be happy to donate the 32 LC's to anyone who wants. Full disclosure one of the UMC's did not fire, even with 2 hits on primer and all of the lead bullets on the UMC's are dirty white that lead turns over time. Maybe can be broken down or shot in a stronger frame gun. The Western bullets appear to have a brass wash over the lead bullets. I will pay postage, shoot me a PM if you want.