32 S&W Long ammo

[CajunBass]

I picked up a little I-frame, Third Model Hand Ejector in 32 S&W Long not long ago. I've fired box of Fiocchi 100 grain wadcutters and it was fun to shoot, in spite of the sights.

Anyway my question has to do with a second box of ammo I picked up, also Fiocchi, but this time it's their "Heritage" line. A 97 grain FMJ bullet at a listed (on the box) velocity of 950 fps? That seems pretty quick for a 32 Long.

Now, I know ammo manufacturers can be somewhat "optimistic" shall we say about their velocity figures, and that they do from time to time use a 12" test barrel or some such thing, to get those figures. I don't have a chronograph, so I can't really test them, but I was just wondering if anyone else has any experience with that particular load?

 

[raljr1]

Seems pretty hot to me. I use AmmoGuide.com and the hottest load listed there is 881 fps. Buffalo Bore shows a 115 gr at 800 fps and a 100 gr at 900. So, yes that seems fast.

I just checked online and the Heritage line online says 265 meters per second, or about 870 FPS.

 

[walnutred]

That velocity could also be from a semi auto, so no cylinder gap. Frankly the FMJ bullet would concern me more than the posted velocity. Are the FMJ RN bullets?

 

[Electraclyde]

Using a Garmin chrono, firing Federal S&W long lead round nose from a Taurus 327 fed mag, 2" barrel revolver, average speed from 6 shots was 600.2 fps, ke was 78.4 ft lbs.
NEVER believe was the box says.

 

[glowe]

Forgive me, but is there any such thing as a 32 Long semi-auto pistol?

 

[M29since14]

Sure there is, but they’re meant to fire wadcutters.

 

[M29since14]

The .32 SWL has been listed in published load data at close to 1000 FPS with a 100 gr. LSWC, but it was old data and I can’t say where I saw it. I’ve used it in Model 31s for years without any signs of trouble, and chronographed it (4-inch barrel) at just slightly under 1000 FPS.

The S&W Model 30s and 31s always seem to have pretty large chambers, so higher pressure loads do tend to work the brass pretty hard. I imagine use of the load I’m thinking of probably would be discouraged, based on more recent data.

The 950 FPS figure could be realistic, but I wouldn’t use the ammo in anything except a modern, solid frame revolver.

 

[Green Frog]

CajunBass, since you’re my buddy I tell you what I’ll do. Send that box of ammo to me and I’ll shoot it through one of my 327 Fed Mag revolvers then send it back to you as once fired brass for you to reload at safer levels. No, no…don’t thank me, that’s what friends are for!

All kidding aside, they would be fine in a modern J- or K frame, but at nearly a century old, I’m not sure that old I frame should be subjected to loads that so “brisk”.

Froggie

 

[CajunBass]

Sorry. I forgot all about asking about this. Let me see.

That velocity could also be from a semi auto, so no cylinder gap. Frankly the FMJ bullet would concern me more than the posted velocity. Are the FMJ RN bullets?

Yes, they're FMJ, RN bullets.

Using a Garmin chrono, firing Federal S&W long lead round nose from a Taurus 327 fed mag, 2" barrel revolver, average speed from 6 shots was 600.2 fps, ke was 78.4 ft lbs.
NEVER believe was the box says.

That's always been what I believed, hence I thought I'd ask people who know more than I do. I almost never fire any factory ammo, but this is the first 32 I've ever owned.

CajunBass, since you’re my buddy I tell you what I’ll do. Send that box of ammo to me and I’ll shoot it through one of my 327 Fed Mag revolvers then send it back to you as once fired brass for you to reload at safer levels. No, no…don’t thank me, that’s what friends are for!

All kidding aside, they would be fine in a modern J- or K frame, but at nearly a century old, I’m not sure that old I frame should be subjected to loads that so “brisk”.

Froggie

Wow! Really? That's the best offer I've had since a fishing buddy of mine offered to take a bunch of plastic worms I'd bought off my hands and "test" them to see if the fish would bite them. Of course, I figured he was right. If HE could catch a fish on them, I could stay home, run water in the livewell, toss in a couple of worms, and go out later and cull my catch.

I think these will stay on the shelf for now. I guess now I have a good reason to buy one of those new 32 J-frames they're bringing out. "Come on Honey. I got ammo for it already."

 

[Beecherkid]

Forgive me, but is there any such thing as a 32 Long semi-auto pistol?

Yes there is.

 

[CajunBass]

Just an addendum to this. Out of curiosity I dropped an email to Fiocchi yesterday asking about that ammo/gun combo. Got back a very nice email, almost immediately, with a very polite, "We can't answer that question without inspecting your revolver, but if you have any doubts, don't use it" answer. Really about what I expected of course. So I asked a follow up. "Can you tell me what kind of pressure they operate at?" Again, almost immediately an answer came back. "I'll get with the right people Monday and get that information for you." (It was late in the day.)

I'm pretty impressed by the customer service response. I wouldn't have been surprised to have just been ignored.

 

[Green Frog]

Forgive me, but is there any such thing as a 32 Long semi-auto pistol?

The 32 S&W Long is very popular among European target shooters. For instance, Pardini made a dandy semi auto that made a S&W Mod 52 look crude by comparison, and there are (or were) several others. The late Austin Behlert experimented with converting a Model 41 from 22 LR to 32 S&W L, but I don’t think he ever made more than one or two.
The fact that Fiocchi 32 wad cutters occasionally show up on the US market is probably a spill over from Europe… a very few American target shooters use the Pardini et al, but I dare say about as many get shot here in small frame US made revolvers. I bought a box or two last time I saw them, more as a curiosity than anything else, but my little I frames seem to like them. That reminds me; I need to try them in my Faux Model 16-3.
Froggie

ETA: I went back through my sketchy records, and although I have shot 32 WCs through my I frames, they were my handloads. I’ve still got those Fiocchi WCs. Guess they’ll go to my custom built K frame. They have to be a little hot to cycle a semi auto slide, but 1000 fps does seem a bit “enthusiastic”!

 

[Model19man]

The 32 S&W Long is very popular among European target shooters. For instance, Pardini made a dandy semi auto that made a S&W Mod 52 look crude by comparison, and there are (or were) several others. The late Austin Behlert experimented with converting a Model 41 from 22 LR to 32 S&W L, but I don’t think he ever made more than one or two.
The fact that Fiocchi 32 wad cutters occasionally show up on the US market is probably a spill over from Europe… a very few American target shooters use the Pardini et al, but I dare say about as many get shot here in small frame US made revolvers. I bought a box or two last time I saw them, more as a curiosity than anything else, but my little I frames seem to like them. That reminds me; I need to try them in my Faux Model 16-3.
Froggie

ETA: I went back through my sketchy records, and although I have shot 32 WCs through my I frames, they were my handloads. I’ve still got those Fiocchi WCs. Guess they’ll go to my custom built K frame. They have to be a little hot to cycle a semi auto slide, but 1000 fps does seem a bit “enthusiastic”!

There are many other popular European brands including Walther and Erma. 32 Long Wadcutter is a thing over there!

 

[CajunBass]

Ok. No more problem. I've got a Taurus 327, 327 magnum on layaway.

 

[CajunBass]

I did get an email response from Fiocchi today as promised Friday. I was told those particular rounds operate in the 14-14.5K PSI range. SAAMI max pressure is listed as 15K.

That's cutting a little too close for me. They'll get saved for the Taurus.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

That velocity could also be from a semi auto, so no cylinder gap. Frankly the FMJ bullet would concern me more than the posted velocity. Are the FMJ RN bullets?

He said S&W long not ACP.

 

[gjgalligan]

Ok. No more problem. I've got a Taurus 327, 327 magnum on layaway.

Please post a range report after use.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Yes there is.

It's a big deal for target shooters in Europe. They love the 32 Long.

 

[Model19man]

I bought this revolver last year. I went to the local gun store and they had Mag Tech 32 S&W Long wadcutters on the shelf. It shot a few inches low in my revolver.