.32 S&W Unique?

[Me239]

Hey, everyone! I want to reload for the .32 S&W "short" and I was wondering what the best powder is. I've seen a few sources saying 1.0-1.3 of bullseye is good for about an 88 grain bullet. I've also thought about this fact though. Bullseye is a fast powder and has a steep pressure curve, so wouldn't a slow powder like unique be closer to a BP curve? Thanks!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I haven't loaded "short" in 20 years. That being said the 45th edition of Lyman's manual had a Unique load that did real well, also WW has a 231 load that was a exact factory duplication load. I do not have the records to do that load anymore, but I know it exists. (I think the 32 S&W round was the only factory round to be loaded with "Canister" powder.) Ivan

 

[rburg]

Long ago we used 1.0gr of Bullseye and a 0 buck as a bullet. Back then primers were under $10 a thousand. Bags of buckshot were only a couple of bucks for 25#. They shot well. Because we were shooting at 25' at the longest, accuracy was OK by our standards. Shoot any longer and the round balls tend to knuckleball. For a cartridge like the .32 short (and wimpy?) I see no real advantage of buying factory bullets. Except it would be less trouble. I'd guess you could find a multi-cavity mold to make life easier, but it would cost so much as to be impractical. Hence our use of 0 buck.

Bullseye is good because if you use 1.0 gr load gives you 7000 shots to a pound. Plenty of fun.

 

[scha]

My Lyman 46th manual shows a few loads for 32 Smith & Wesson as well as for 32 Smith & Wesson Long. For regular 32 S&W they show the following:

77 grain lead bullet starting load of 1.1 grains Bullseye for 478 fps and a max load of 1.5 Bullseye for 578 fps

77 grain lead bullet starting load of 1.6 grains Unique for 493 fps and a max load of 2.5 grains Unique for 743 fps

Max cartridge length of .930 inches

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[Me239]

Thanks for the responses! Quick question about using #0 buck shot for the pistol. 32 S&W is .312", and #0 buck is .32". How well does that work out? Also, how do you seat it? Is there a crimp? Is it flush with the case? Thanks!

 

[McShooty]

If you use a round ball or 77-grain cast, 1.4-1.5 gr of Trail Boss will work well.