32 S&W Long Reloading Data

[Allen]

Have any of you found a modern powder charge for the 32 S&W long cartridge? I use the Speer reloading manual and other on-line data. The problem is the 32 dates back to the turn of the century and for the sake of liability the listed charges include the old top break and Spanish POS models that aren't very strong. I have found that for newer guns the listed charges are WAY too conservative. The only different info I have found on line is that "modern solid frame guns can take a much greater charge". I have loaded the 32L using 5.0 grains of Herco which is more than double the max listing, but, I worked up to that load and could go much higher. This is about the same load recommended for the old 38 S&W (short) but I am pushing a lighter bullet in the 32 and only using a 2" barrel (S&W model 30). These loads of 5 grains produce no signs of pressure. In fact I can re-load the same cartridges over and over w/o resizing. The purpose of this thread is to ask if any of you have found other powders and/or charges that work for you. I do not recommend my loads, for other guns or those with longer barrels, again, I carefully worked it up and have shot many of them so no lectures on going over the limits please.

[Parashooter]

The odd thing is that there were few, if any, top-break revolvers made for the .32 S&W Long. The cartridge came in with the solid frame .32 Hand Ejector in 1896 as a black powder load and pressure limits were never readjusted with the advent of smokeless, remaining at just 12000 CUP per current SAAMI MAP specs.

Hodgdon's online data for non-jacketed bullets in the .32 H&R Magnum is a reasonable guide for heavy .32 S&W Long loads in quality solid-frame revolvers. I don't fire stiff charges like the maximums here in Colt PP's made on the diminutive .32 frame - but loads in this class do fine in my S&W Model 31.

.32 H&R Magnum cartridge loads
Bullet - 90 GR. HDY LSWC
Starting Loads - Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR 800-X .314" 1.350" 3.2 830 9,800 CUP 4.0 987 13,400 CUP
Winchester 231 .314" 1.350" 2.8 828 9,600 CUP 3.2 919 12,500 CUP
IMR PB .314" 1.350" 2.5 800 10,400 CUP 3.0 947 15,200 CUP
IMR 700-X .314" 1.350" 2.6 901 11,300 CUP 3.0 973 15,500 CUP

Compare these to the rather stiff loads listed for .32 Long in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (3d ed.)

[Allen]

Parashooter, thanks for the info and support. The charge I used was listed in the old Speer manuals as a near 357 load. I think I will try about 80-90% of the max 32 H&R recommendations and go from there.

[slamfire]

I had a hard time finding decent cast lead bullet information on the 32S&W Long.

I looked through my reloading manuals and did not find any significant information on the 98 grain bullet and the 32 S&W Long. If there was data, it was with Bullseye.

The bullets I used were commercial cast, and were two grain heavier than 98 grains, the difference is inconsequential for me. The bullet is a round nose with a flattened tip.

I chronographed factory ammunition as a guide.

I found factory equivalent ammunition (2.25 grs Bullseye) to be so mild that after shooting 1000 rounds of it, I shot 1000 rounds of 2.5 grains Bullseye. Nothing evil happened to my pistol, that is still a very mild load, and my next 1000 rounds that I loaded are 2.7 grains Bullseye. I have not chronographed that load, I expect it will come out around 800 fps.

Three grains of Bullseye produced a sharp recoil in my revolver. While cases fell out, I just did not want to deal with the recoil.

Unique had potential, but I found that Bullseye worked good enough.

S&W No. 3 Hand Ejector  3.25" barrel

98 LRN  Aguila Factory					
19-Mar-06 T = 51 °F
							
Ave Vel =	665.9						
Std Dev =	17.52				 		
ES =	69.38				 		
High =	697				 		
Low =	627.6				 		
N =	32	
Horrible leading. 			 		

100 gr LBBFP .313"   2.25 grs Bullseye SS Brass WSP		
19-Mar-06 T = 51 °F	
						
Ave Vel =	693.3					
Std Dev =	20.71			 		
ES =	103.9				 		
High =	721.8				 		
Low =	617.9				 		
N =	32				 		
Elevation good, Windage left,  Mild recoil							
							
100 gr LBBFP .313"   2.5 grs Bullseye SS Brass WSP		
19-Mar-06 T = 51 °F
							
Ave Vel =	768.2					
Std Dev =	16.97			 		
ES =	62.06				 		
High =	807.3			 		
Low =	745.3				 		
N =	17				 		
Elevation good, Windage good, Mild recoil, prefer this to 2.25 grain load							
							
100gr   LBBFP.313" 3.0 grs Bullseye WSP R-P brass	
4-Feb-06 T = 44 °F
						
Ave Vel =	861					
Std Dev =	14.83				 	
ES =	57.83			 	
High =	889.6			 	
Low =	832.1				 	
N =	31				 	
no leading, easy extraction, rounded primers,  sharp recoil							
							
							
100 gr LBBFP .313"   2.9 grs Unique SS Brass WSP		
19-Mar-06 T = 51 °F	
						
Ave Vel =	717.4					
Std Dev =	42.33			 		
ES =	144				 		
High =	789.3				 		
Low =	645.3				 		
N =	18	
Elevation good, Windage good,  Mild recoil accurate