S&W 16-4 reloading

[Steve K]

I finally picked up some Hornady Bullets, 32 Cal .312, 100gr XTP.
I am going to use them in a 16-4, 6 inch, in my Bullseye league. Does anyone have a pet load for this combination?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry but I don't reload got that cartridge. Good luck in the match.

 

[series guy]

I load 10gr. of 2400 with that same bullet. This is in an H&R Magnum case.

 

[CH4]

I have a 4” 16-4 that I reload for. For the 100 gr Hornady I use 3 to 3.6 gr of Bullseye or 4 to 4.4 gr of Unique. I use bullets weighing 60-100 grains.

 

[moosedog]

Thats a great bullet for self-defense and hunting but not so much for a Bullseye league. I take it that you're going to use 32 S&W Long cases so here's a site that has the data. Reloading The .32 Smith & Wesson Long - Reload Ammo
For Bullseye I use a cast 90gr WC or SWC bullet in my K-32's as they cut a clean scoring hole.

 

[H Richard]

I agree with several above, the 32 H&R Magnum isn't right for Bullseye shooting. I load the 32 S&W Long with a .312 HBWC at about 750 fps for target shooting. The Magnum XTP load is capable of close in Deer Hunting.
Loaded properly, it can be very accurate.

 

[Steve K]

I did not mention I use the 32 S&W Long case. We only shoot the short line, 25 yards.

 

[Yorkie Man]

I use the 115 cast bullet for the 32-20 in my Ruger Single-Six. One load consists of 3.0 of Red Dot and 11.0 of Lil Gun. Both are very accurate loads.

 

[rockquarry]

I no longer have any revolvers chambered in .32 Long, but had two S&Ws (from the '70s, I think). Best bullet was cast from an RCBS mould, a flatnose design of about 90 grs. I sized these bullets in a .314" size die, so actual sized diameter may have been slightly less. Bullseye powder was easily the winner as far as accuracy, though Titegroup wasn't far behind.

I doubt a jacketed bullet would be any more accurate, but if that's what you have on hand, they're certainly worth trying.

 

[Green Frog]

It’s hard find a bullet design between 90 & 115 grains that my S&Ws in 32 S&W Long don’t shoot well! Round nose, WC, SWC, truncated cone, they all load easily and shoot well. The powders used are numerous and charges are so tiny, reloading even high dollar powders is still cheap. If and when primers become readily available, reloading for the 32 will once again be about as cheap as shooting 22 LR! What’s not to love?

For the Bullseye shooting that SteveK plans, I’d be casting from one of my several many moulds, so I don’t have a load ready for that jacketed bullet, but I would probably look at a mild load of HP38 (aka W231) as a starting point. Also a couple of the Accurate powders and of course Bullseye and Unique would also work well. I can’t think of any modern smokeless powder that actually fills the case though.

Froggie

 

[Steve K]

Thanks for all the great comments. I did find Hornady XTP, 100 grain bullets and loading information for the S&W Long and Bullseye. I found information in the Lyman #49 manual and the recommendation is 2.3 grains of BE with this bullet and case. I've loaded rounds with 2.1 and 2.3 BE and hope to test them soon. Several members have 32 H&R brass for sale which I will get if the 32 S&W Long brass doesn't work out.
Thanks again