primer set back

[Luke Duke]

Loading .32 H&R with 10 and 10.5 grains of 296 powder, 100gr Hornady bullets and magnum CCI primers. Zero signs of pressure, brass falls out of chambers. But the primers are sticking out of the brass. No flattening, they look normal. Just sticking out. Too Hot or not Hot enough?? Don't have this problem with any other reloads. What do you guys think?

 

[bigedp51]

Reduced loads and low pressure cartridges like the 30-30 always have a protruding primer. It simply means the chamber pressure was not great enough to push the case back against the bolt face or breechface.

The amount the primer can back out would be your head clerance or the air space between the rear of the case and the bolt face or breechface. On a revolver the head clearance can vary with rim thickness and actual headspace.

Below reduced loads on a worn .303 British Enfield rifle with excess headspace and the primer protruding.

With a high pressure load the chamber pressure is great enough to cause the case to stretch to meet the bolt face. And this stretching causes case head separations.

NOTE, the 30-30 at 38,000 cup or 43,000 psi always has the primers protruding. And the .303 British case below is loaded to 46,000 psi and the case is stretching and thinning.

 

[Luke Duke]

primer

Im not getting any of these signs with Bulls Eye, Unique or WW 572 loads. My gun is a Like New Ruger Bisley. Ive seen loads that go as low as 9.5 gr of 296, but Im thinking 10.5 is to low. By the way; great graphics that's cool.

 

[muddocktor]

I just looked the Hodgdon loading data dnd also in my Hornady 9th edition and my Sierra book and didn't see any loading data for either H110 or Win 296 in any of those sources. I am thinking that 296 is too slow a powder for that cartridge and you are seeing low pressures because of that and making the primers protrude because the cartridge doesn't set back hard enough to reseat the primers. I think you are better off using a faster powder like the others you listed in post #3. My books and the Hodgdon loading data show mostly faster powders also. BTW, all that about the bad headspacing and all really doesn't carry over on a straight wall pistol cartridge like the 32 H&R, since it headspaces on the rim. And since you are shooting it in a new like Ruger Bisley, I kind of doubt that it has too much headspace between the cylinder (and cartridge rim) and the recoil shield.

 

[505Gibbs]

I just looked the Hodgdon loading data dnd also in my Hornady 9th edition and my Sierra book and didn't see any loading data for either H110 or Win 296 in any of those sources. I am thinking that 296 is too slow a powder for that cartridge and you are seeing low pressures because of that and making the primers protrude because the cartridge doesn't set back hard enough to reseat the primers. I think you are better off using a faster powder like the others you listed in post #3. My books and the Hodgdon loading data show mostly faster powders also. BTW, all that about the bad headspacing and all really doesn't carry over on a straight wall pistol cartridge like the 32 H&R, since it headspaces on the rim. And since you are shooting it in a new like Ruger Bisley, I kind of doubt that it has too much headspace between the cylinder (and cartridge rim) and the recoil shield.

I agree with this comment!
Not enough 'pop' in the load with the slow powder and the subsequent set back.
I ran in to this being 'careful' with 22 Hornet reloads.

 

[gwpercle]

In the 4 different reloading manuals that contained data for 32 H&R
not one listed any loads with 296 .... Usually when that happens the powder may not be a great fit .

Try increasing the charge slightly...if that doesn't work...I'm out of ideas .
Gary

 

[H Richard]

Try HS6, and Accurate #5 and #7. I haven't had any problem with setback, get velocities up near and over 1200 fps with the 100 gr. Hornady.

 

[Green Frog]

Try HS6, and Accurate #5 and #7. I haven't had any problem with setback, get velocities up near and over 1200 fps with the 100 gr. Hornady.

Agreed. I like AA #s 7 & 9 for hotter 32 revolver rounds, although I must admit I actually load more 327s than 32 H&Rs. You might drop my buddy Dale53 a PM, he loooves the H&R and loading (and talking about) it!

Froggie

 

[jag22]

Don't overlook the obvious, which would be brass with primer pockets that are a little too large and primers that are a tad too small. It doesn't take much. So, is all the brass the same make and possibly the same batch? The other, have you tried a different brand of primers? Has this been an ongoing problem for some time? If the components are not a factor I would guess underpowered, not sure why but gut feeling says start there.

 

[glenwolde]

They show 100gr loads for Lil Gun and IMR 4227 which burn-rate wise are on either side of W296. There must be some reason they don't list W296 loads ... like it didn't work that well and they found better choices that give better performance.

My experience with W296 in other cartridges is that it's best at closer to maximum loads with a really solid crimp, like a Redding Profile crimp die. It just seems to take a lot to get it going, but once you get it to go reliably ... whoo boy ...

 

[mtgianni]

I have loaded my 32 H&R Ruger with both 296 and H110, loads listed in a manual, or gun magazine. I do not recall which one. I use only cast bullets and IIRC 10.5 is a max load. I would carefully mark each case so fired and de-prime and re-prime taking special note of how easily they seat. The pocket may be stretched. Early Federal cases had a problem with this shortly after their introduction though I have not heard of a problem in decades. If it seems too easy you have a max load for your gun and components. I would suggest once fired brass with near max loads.
Pressure signs in a revolver do not always include hard ejection, that is more often a sign of a dirty cylinder. You can stretch primer pockets and have the cases nearly falling out.
It is easy to reach a good velocity for this cartridge with the Unique, Herco and AA5 speeds.

 

[Luke Duke]

32

Speer NO. 12, yep that's old. Has H110 Max 10.5 and 9.9 gr 296 Max. My brass is brand new Starline. Reloading pages of M.D Smith has some info on using H110/296. Ive got an 8lb keg of 296 just thought Id give it a try. Ive been leaning towards that 10.5 isn't enough with this powder.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I agree with Muddocktor's opinion.

 

[OKFC05]

Been loading since 1970. Been using 296 since 1983.
My experience is that 296 is a tricky load to experiment with and some results defy logic. As glenwolde said, the good 296 loads tend to be near max, and the manufacturer warns against experimenting with reduced loads. I have seen blown up guns as a result of "seems reasonable" loads with 296.
IMHO, "I bought a bunch of this powder and thought I'd try unlisted loads with it and see what happens" ranks right up there with "hold my beer and watch this." Good luck!
cf: post #4

 

[Luke Duke]

Been loading since 1970. Been using 296 since 1983.
My experience is that 296 is a tricky load to experiment with and some results defy logic. As glenwolde said, the good 296 loads tend to be near max, and the manufacturer warns against experimenting with reduced loads. I have seen blown up guns as a result of "seems reasonable" loads with 296.
IMHO, "I bought a bunch of this powder and thought I'd try unlisted loads with it and see what happens" ranks right up there with "hold my beer and watch this." Good luck!
cf: post #4

I load it in .357, .41 and .44 Magnums works great. Im going by published loads, not willy nilly powder dropping in a .32 Magnum

 

[kraynky]

This is all great information, as I'm just now gathering bullets & brass for a 631. I have a jug of AA#9 that I was considering, but I think I'm either really low or out of #5. Which I'll fix tomorrow. I might try 4227 too, since I have so much.

Really good info that will save me from going with the 296 data. There's really not much info on it in my manuals, but they are mostly from the early to late 90's. Time to pick up some more I suppose.

 

[Luke Duke]

This is all great information, as I'm just now gathering bullets & brass for a 631. I have a jug of AA#9 that I was considering, but I think I'm either really low or out of #5. Which I'll fix tomorrow. I might try 4227 too, since I have so much.

Really good info that will save me from going with the 296 data. There's really not much info on it in my manuals, but they are mostly from the early to late 90's. Time to pick up some more I suppose.

.32 H&R is a great round. Other than the 296 loads; which Im avoiding now. All my other loads have been quite accurate . So far 3.6 gr of Bulls Eye has been the best in my Ruger Bisley. with 4.2 gr of WW 572 close behind. Amazing how far you can reach out and hit. Im popping small rocks at a honest 100+ yards easy.