Need a Cat Sneeze 32 Load

[Wise_A]

AA#2 is in the Bullseye class, but bulkier. AA#5 is about the greatest bulk density propellant there is, and it's the best for very hot .38 Super loads.

Going by my notes now, I used a .30cc disk to dispense 2.7 gr of AA#2. For comparison, I use the same .30cc disk to drop 2.8 gr of Bullseye for .38 Spl.

In this instance--

--AA#2 was way bulkier than the VMD charts indicated (.30cc of AA#2 should have been 3.6 gr @.0838 VMD, instead I got 2.7 @ .1111, while Bullseye is listed at .1064).

--AA#2 also took a heavier charge than Bullseye. 2.8 gr of Bullseye would have been .1 gr below book max, a little over 900 fps, while 2.7 of AA#2 came in around 850.

 

[Sevens]

While I understand your unwillingness to want to spend money on ANOTHER powder when you already have a bevy of (crappy, old tech, poorly metering flake shotgun) powders consider the penny wise and pound foolish axiom.

A one pounder of Titegroup at full retail with high tax shouldn't exceed $30 and I believe that price would be horrendous... but that one pound of Titegroup metered out 1.7 grains at a time would load over FOUR THOUSAND ROUNDS of .32 S&W Long Wadcutter ammo.

If you were local, I'd give you 300 grains of it to see for yourself.

As to my "not well veiled" insult to old tech powders that are sure to upset someone , I'll clarify... the oldies are still goodies if you have used them to good effect in the past. If you are an old salt that loves his Unique and have successfully been chugging along since the 60's then I absolutely agree that it is indeed the right choice for you. The point I am making is that if you have a task at hand NOW, in 2018, and you want a direct path to success, there are many options with better formulations. Green Dot, Red Dot, and Unique have been improved in every way with many different choices. It's not that I think NOBODY should use these powders (I use a lot of Bullseye, a LOT!) it is simply that in my opinion, if you have a new task and you want the best and easiest path to success, with the mind-numbing array of choices we have now... picking Red Dot or Unique is a lousy idea.

 

[Andy Lowry]

While I understand your unwillingness to want to spend money on ANOTHER powder when you already have a bevy of (crappy, old tech, poorly metering flake shotgun) powders consider the penny wise and pound foolish axiom.

A one pounder of Titegroup at full retail with high tax shouldn't exceed $30 and I believe that price would be horrendous... but that one pound of Titegroup metered out 1.7 grains at a time would load over FOUR THOUSAND ROUNDS of .32 S&W Long Wadcutter ammo.

If you were local, I'd give you 300 grains of it to see for yourself.

As to my "not well veiled" insult to old tech powders that are sure to upset someone , I'll clarify... the oldies are still goodies if you have used them to good effect in the past. If you are an old salt that loves his Unique and have successfully been chugging along since the 60's then I absolutely agree that it is indeed the right choice for you. The point I am making is that if you have a task at hand NOW, in 2018, and you want a direct path to success, there are many options with better formulations. Green Dot, Red Dot, and Unique have been improved in every way with many different choices. It's not that I think NOBODY should use these powders (I use a lot of Bullseye, a LOT!) it is simply that in my opinion, if you have a new task and you want the best and easiest path to success, with the mind-numbing array of choices we have now... picking Red Dot or Unique is a lousy idea.

But... but... Unique is cool. Unique is what all the cool people use. Don't you want to be cool?

If my hand isn't covered with soot when I'm done shooting, I don't feel like I've accomplished anything.

 

[rwsmith]

231

Finally dropped down to 2.0 grains of 231 with HBWC and 90 gr lead. Soft fun loads, good luck. Larry

Good recommendation! 231 = HP38. Depends on which one is on the shelf at your LGS.

 

[dr. mordo]

So, this is not exactly what you asked for but I can add a bit more data just in case you decide to use LSWC.

Today I tested some above-modern-max .32 S&W Long loads based on older reloading data. I had 100gr coated LSWC, and loaded 2.7, 3.0, and 3.3 gr of both Universal and Herco. Those are pretty far above modern max, but older manuals were up to a full grain more powder, so I figured I'd be ok.

Sure enough, even the 3.3gr loads showed no high pressure signs at all. The primers looked perfect and the shells fell out of the cylinder. Recoil for the 3.3gr was very mild even though I was shooting a tiny transitional M30.

My point is that many folks say modern .32 long loads are very anemic to protect older I frames and break apart guns, and my tests to day supported that notion. So in that K frame I wouldn't be afraid to ramp it up a bit if you think it might improve accuracy.

 

[Green Frog]

While I understand your unwillingness to want to spend money on ANOTHER powder when you already have a bevy of (crappy, old tech, poorly metering flake shotgun) powders consider the penny wise and pound foolish axiom.

A one pounder of Titegroup at full retail with high tax shouldn't exceed $30 and I believe that price would be horrendous... but that one pound of Titegroup metered out 1.7 grains at a time would load over FOUR THOUSAND ROUNDS of .32 S&W Long Wadcutter ammo.

If you were local, I'd give you 300 grains of it to see for yourself.

As to my "not well veiled" insult to old tech powders that are sure to upset someone , I'll clarify... the oldies are still goodies if you have used them to good effect in the past. If you are an old salt that loves his Unique and have successfully been chugging along since the 60's then I absolutely agree that it is indeed the right choice for you. The point I am making is that if you have a task at hand NOW, in 2018, and you want a direct path to success, there are many options with better formulations. Green Dot, Red Dot, and Unique have been improved in every way with many different choices. It's not that I think NOBODY should use these powders (I use a lot of Bullseye, a LOT!) it is simply that in my opinion, if you have a new task and you want the best and easiest path to success, with the mind-numbing array of choices we have now... picking Red Dot or Unique is a lousy idea.

Thanks or the offer, Sevens,but i'm still wondering how to get past the possibility of mis-measuring those tiny little volumes where being off by just a few tenths is extremely significant. Everything I've heard about Titegroup performance is good, but the critical factor of volumetric measurement remains.

Froggie