pre-warII 32 HE ammo question

[cmansguns]

I thought about posting in the ammo sub-forum, but this is really a gun question.

I have a pre-war II 32 Hand Ejector (I think....have a ship date question in for Roy on the other Forum) and anyway I now would dearly love to shoot this guy but a ammo issue has arisen at least for me.

So for ammo I have: MagTech 98 gr. LRN listed at 702 fps, Remington-Peters 98 gr. LRN listed at 705 fps, and I have 2 boxes of Fiocchi 97 gr. FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) which is listed on the box as 949 fps at muzzle of 4" test bbl.

I know everyone has already told me the Lead Round Nose are such anemic loads that there is no worry in an old gun but my ONLY local INDOOR range will not allow solid lead ammo anymore as they claim it messes up their expensive air handling system. My ONLY other OUTDOOR range is half a zillion miles away and shut down with the cold snow and ice.

702 to 949 is a bit of a increase with the FMJ bullets, but do any of you see a problem with that old, pre-war gun. It is in 98% condition and I want to shoot it, but do not want to damage anything on the gun.

Just asking out of caution........thanks for any replies.

 

[TJm15.38]

I'm no authority on .32 S&W Long weapons of that age, and my only .32 S&W Long Smith is a 1972-vintage Model 31-1 with a two-inch barrel, but I'm sure there are a lot of experts here to give you some guidance. My first thought is the gun looks in really nice condition. If that's the case, it should be able to shoot any factory ammo. I seriously doubt that Fiocchi FMJ ammo is that hot at 949 FPS. The .32 S&W Long is a low pressure round.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I don’t claim to be an expert on 32 but have a Smith model 30-1 2” and 1953 Colt Cobra 2” both in 32 S&W long. I chronographed both Remington and MagTech ammo as well as my own load and came up with low 600’s fps with both factory ammo. They were comparable to my reloads with 77gr polymer over a small charge of Bullseye.

The factory is so low pressure the spent cases just drop out of the cylinders without using the ejector. If you’ve never shot any 32 Long it’s comparable in recoil to 22LR which in my mind indicates very low pressure.


I’m currently looking for a vintage HE in 32 Long like yours to shoot alongside my other two. So, yes I’d have no hesitation shooting factory ammo out of it provided the lockup is solid, it’s in time and there are no cracks or flaws in the frame or forcing cone.

I have a 1920 HE Smith with 4” barrel chambered in 38 Special. It in 98% condition with no issues. I shoot my own mild home reloads with absolutely no issues. I be shoot both 125gr plated and 158gr plated and polymer with mild loads running around 675fps and have seen no indication of issues. I certainly wouldn’t hot rod these guns but mild factory rounds shouldn’t be an issue out of a doing gun.

 

[cgt4570]

You have a late pre-war .32 Hand Ejector with heat treated cylinder. These have been proven safe to ream to .32 H&R Mag with zero issues. Any (non crazy plus P plus P plus Buffalo whatever) off the shelf .32 S&W Long you can find will be perfectly safe.

 

[Muley Gil]

You have a late pre-war .32 Hand Ejector with heat treated cylinder. These have been proven safe to ream to .32 H&R Mag with zero issues. Any (non crazy plus P plus P plus Buffalo whatever) off the shelf .32 S&W Long you can find will be perfectly safe.

I frame .32 Long cylinders are too short to chamber factory .32 H&R Magnum ammo.