new to reloading Loading for .32 S&W (short)

[Racer X]

any particular idiosyncrasies to this cartridge? Its for use in my grandmothers top break, that I believe is a 5 shot S&W. I need to relocate it. I swear it is still in the same cut-out book she placed it in, pre mid-70s, before she died. Need to find the book.

My grandfather, a sheriff, took it off someone, and gave it to his wife in case someone went after the sherrif's family. She chose to rely on the family original 1858 Remington .44 instead. She was one heck of a shot with it, so I'm told.

I just want some soft loads, either cast or coated, in 80 or 88 grain RN. I have some brass, and more on the way. These take a S&W .32 short only die set, correct? The .32 S&W Long also does H&R magnum, but is too long to work on the short is what I understand.

And particular powders for this?

 

[6string]

Lyman #38 Data

Here's some "period correct" data by Phil Sharpe. I've attached info for the various short and long Colt and S&W cartridges.

It's an easy-to-load cartridge. I believe that the .32 S&W Lee Loader can be used for shorts and longs. That's tool that comes in a small box, and is used with a mallet rather than a press.

If dies pose a problem, it is easy to trim a the steel seating/crimp die, as well as the expander plug, on a lathe.

.32 Long is still quite popular, especially for target shooting. I see Lee sells a distinct S&W Short die set. Some companies used to market .32 dies for both .32 S&W Long and .32 ACP(!). I'd guess those could also be used for .32 Short.
Quite often the label is just marketing.
The Lee .455 Webley resizing die is identical to their .45 Colt die, for example. Only the rollmark is different.

PS: I added two pages of load data from "Pistol & Revolver Shooting" by Abraham Himmelwright, pub. in 1923. .32 S&W Short is referred to as simply .32 S&W. He designed a few molds for Ideal and Belling & Mull, so he references bullets according to their mold numbers. The first page shows just the loads. The last image is spread over two pages, but includes a little more info on the bullets, and velocity. Nice to see the inclusion of black powder loads!

Both Sharpe and Himmelwright seem to be in agreement that for your chosen bullet weight range, 1.4 to 1.5 gr of Bullseye would be a max. standard pressure load.

Jim

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

The dies I had for loading 32 S&W were Lee and the deprime/resize die was stamped 32 ACP. They worked fine.
I loaded my own cast bullets with either 1.5 gr Bullseye of a noncompressed charge of Trailboss.

John

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I picked up a new/old stock 1990's Lyman set of dies and 86 grain bullet mold for $10 each about 3 years ago at a LGS. They will load 32 Long, short, ACP and H&R Mag. You will need two shell holders, one for the rimmed and one for the auto. Some brands get both to work on one shell holder.

I have a Davis Derringer that is chambered for 32 ACP. I wanted to shoot 32 S&W (aka 32 short) in it. I took 32 ACP brass and using Lyman's loading manual loaded the short data in ACP brass! They work like a dream! Since ACP has what is called a "Simi-Rim" These reloads will work in many hinge action and Hand ejector revolvers. (and the "Short" load I used still functions the low power rounds in my ACP semi autos too!) I loaded 200 of these in about 1995 and still have almost a full box/50 left.

Ivan

 

[old tanker]

I already load black powder cartridges for other guns. Loading black powder ammunition for old top breaks that were designed when no gunpowder was smokeless is no big deal.

9.0 grains of 3F will get an 85 grain bullet going about 700 fps, which is marginally better than most current smokeless ammo.

 

[Racer X]

I will be loading for 45 ACP in a 3" 1911a2, so Bullseye looks like a winner. This is more about honoring family history than anything else. The cost of the dies and a batch of .32 bullets will be recouped after I load maybe 150 rounds, over buying commercial .32 S&W.

After my grandmother died, and we found an unusually heavy book that was hollowed out, I have to shoot this thing. I have half a box of some heavily oxidized LRN 80 grain rounds, probably well over 50 years old, but I'll just hang on to them for posterity.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I got the Iver Johnson Hammerless Top Break that was Granddad's from my dad about 10 years ago. I traded him 3 boxes of Remington FMJ 32 ACP for it. Then he says, you get the ammo too. And he handed me a yellow and red box of Peters 38 S&W! the box was tied closed with dental floss. On it was written is the flowing script of granddad, $2.58 4/27/1928 at XXX hardware store (in Waterville, Ohio). There is a family legend that about 1938 the family was down to one piece of bread and a matchbox of shelled Black Walnut a day. Then one February day a bunny was under the Walnut tree in the back yard. The tale goes that Gramps got it in one shot!

I unloaded the IJ to go home and slid the dental floss off the end of the ammo box and started to place the 5 cartridges in the box. It was difficult as there was almost no room. After I got them in the box I took inventory, 49 shells! ONE shell missing! I guess there is more to the story than dad's memory as a hungry 5-year-old!

Any person blessed to have their grandpa's handgun owns a family treasure! The accompanying ammo also qualifies as Crown Jewels!

Ivan

 

[GBertolet]

Be very careful on the smokess powder loads. Starting loads only. Those revolvers were made for black powder. The steel used in those guns is not that great. The recoil shield can bend rearward, and the latch can fly open, if the smokeless loads get too heavy. Don't ask me how I know this. Black powder loads tend to be more accurate for me. I guess it depends on the case, but in the newer 32 S&W ones, 6.5 gr of 3F, is all I can get in mine. I think the old balloon head cases had a little more internal volume.

 

[TXBryan]

Dies for .32 Long work fine. Now and then I shoot .32 S&W out of a couple of revolvers chambered for .32 S&W Long and they're fun, quiet, and accurate.

The only somewhat tricky part is getting a powder dispenser to meter such small charges. Take your time setting up the dispenser and check it frequently against a decent scale and things should go smoothly.

Have fun!

Bryan

 

[glowe]

Spend the money and get a 32 S&W set of dies! 32 Long will not crimp the bullet in place and shooting them may result in the bullet working its way out. There is absolutely nothing wrong with shooting standard factory loaded smokeless powder in these guns since pressures are very low and they are loaded for use in top-break revolvers.

I load my own using 76 grain RN lead bullets and 1.2g TrailBoss. This load gives 654 fps. This is about the lowest pressure load that will yield velocities over 600 fps. You will need a very accurate scale in order to give consistent loads. Do not use scoop or powder dispenser for these extremely small powder charges. Crimp you bullets in the case.

 

[max503]

Needing ammo for an obsolete firearm is a jolly good reason to get into reloading. That's what got me doing it. I needed ammo for a 22 Hornet back in the 70's when the Speer Reloading Manual said the cartridge was "entering the twilight years of obsolescence".
Wish I had one of those 32's.

 

[BSA1]

I have a Davis Derringer that is chambered for 32 ACP. I wanted to shoot 32 S&W (aka 32 short) in it. I took 32 ACP brass and using Lyman's loading manual loaded the short data in ACP brass!

Ivan

I have one of those Davis Derringers in 32 ACP also. I modified mine by slightly cutting the chamber where the case rim sits deeper. The 32 S&W fits in the chamber except the case rim is slightly thicker than the 32 ACP. It was easy modification. Even though the 32 ACP cartridge now fits slightly lower in the chambers the firing pin is long enough to hit the primers.

 

[Model19man]

Data here: Reloading The .32 Smith & Wesson (short) - Reload Ammo

The Lyman #55 powder measure works well on tiny charges like this. While Lyman no longer makes it there are lots of them available on eBay.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Welcome to reloading. Keeping antique and vintage firearms functioning is a very good reason to get into reloading, and a very interesting and satisfying activity in its own right.

Plenty of data available from many sources, although most will be somewhat dated and some of the published loads will require powders that have long been discontinued. Probably several members of this forum will have experience with exactly what you are doing, and the nice folks on the cast boolits forum will probably be willing to contribute more knowledge and experience.

Personally, I enjoy the ancient and obscure much more than all the new stuff so I spend a lot of my time playing with the old timers.

Enjoy.

 

[RMFnLA]

The dies I had for loading 32 S&W were Lee and the deprime/resize die was stamped 32 ACP. They worked fine.
I loaded my own cast bullets with either 1.5 gr Bullseye of a noncompressed charge of Trailboss.

John

I’ve been trying to find Trail Boss powder for over a year.

 

[glowe]

I’ve been trying to find Trail Boss powder for over a year.

It is now available all over the Internet. Best buy is the 2 pound option for under $70, of course check HAZMAT and shipping deals with some suppliers.