Any .32 aficionados?

[Triggernosis]

I'd like some suggestions on bullets for a .32 H&R Single Six. I'd like to make two loads, one soft shooting for plinking and fun, the other for a more powerful punch.
Any suggestions?

Also, should I select a lighter bullet for the plinking rounds or just pick one bullet and load it really light for plinking?

[Walkingwolf]

I use wadcutters for both, target loads are a mild 800fps, SD loads are 1250fps.

[dubber123]

The RCBS 98 grain swc works really well in my Single Six Bisley. I doubt my loads are much over 1,200 fps., but my best 25 yard group was .6", 1" is common.

[Larry Gibson]

I use the Lee TL314-90-SWC for my medium load over 3 gr BE for 1000 fps out of my Single Six with 6" barrel. The accuracy is superb with recoil and muzzle blast light enough I quit loading anything "lighter". For magnum level loads I use the Lyman 313631 ((105 gr SWC) or the 311316 (118 gr FP), both GC'd over H110. One of these days I'll test them over Blue Dot and LilGun.

Larry Gibson

[Harry O]

I have two different Ruger's and a couple of different S&W's in that caliber. My most common load for the Ruger's is higher pressure than Factory loads. It is an 85gr Hornady XTP with 7.5gr of 2400. It is used in a Super-Single-Six and the SP-101 -- ONLY. The load in the SP-101 is dramatic, with a large fireball at dusk. Very accurate, but I won't use it in my J-frame S&W.

The second most common load I use duplicates the Factory jacketed load as close as I can make it. It is an 85gr Hornady XTP with 5.6gr of HS-6. That can be used in any revolver chambered for the .32 Magnum. Also very accurate. Worked great in my K-frame S&W, too, until I had that one rechambered in 32-20. I use the Ken Waters load in that one now.

The third most common load is a light plinking load. It is an RCBS 98gr RN-FP with 4.5gr of HS-6. It is less pressure than the Factory lead load. Nice to shoot, accurate, and it is as powerful as the hot loaded .32 S&W Longs I used for about 25 years before the .32 Magnum was created. That was powerful enough for squirrel and rabbit hunting, although I don't get to do that anymore.

[runfiverun]

if outpost75 doesn't see this send him a PM.
I bet he probably has 30-40 time tested 32 cal. loads.

[Texas by God]

I sure miss owning, loading, and shooting the .32 Single Six. I had the 4-5/8", the 6-1/2", & the 9-1/2" barrel versions. My cast bullet was also the Lee 90gr and my varmint bullet was the 85gr Hornady JHP. With my 6-1/2" version and a 2x scope I once shot a cylinder full group of 3"-at 100 yards. Prairie Dogs out to 150 yards were in trouble. A great cartridge/revolver combo! Best, Thomas.

[gundownunder]

I would think that 1 bullet with two powders would give you a better chance of shooting straight.
I don't own a 32 but when I had my Ruger Security Six .357, I found that a 125gr bullit would print about 4" - 6" to the left of my 180gr bullit at 50 mtrs. I ended up settling for the 180 and either 5 gr of Trailboss or 13 gr of 2400 depending on the grin factor required. That way windage was the same and only elevation had to be calculated. YMMV.

[Greg S]

For light plinkers I picked up an RCBS 314-90-CM and am looking at a wadcutter. For heavier full house loads I picked up MiHecs 314-640, a 115hp/120 solid rnfp gc and a Mihec Sledgehammer 314 in the same configuration at 135 and 140 grains. Still working up loads.

[leftiye]

I use NOE's 115 grain boolit which has 3 crimp grooves. Seat the boolit out to about 1/8" short of cylinder mouths. I got a Mountain Mold mold made to approximate this with the lowest crimp groove only. AA#9 is the powder of choice. it is loaded to magnum pressures. Who needs a .327?

[Triggernosis]

Wow! I'm surprised at the wide variety of different loads y'all use for the .32.
I hadn't thought about using one bullet but different powders - maybe I'll try that.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

[SteveS]

Three of my favorite loads for my Ruger Single Six 4 5/8" barrel...

Saeco #323 95gr. WC over 3.1 gr. of Red Dot

Saeco #325 95gr. SWC over either 3.7 gr. of sr7625 (or 4.0grs. of Unique)

Lyman 313631 100gr. SWC over 7.5 gr. of 2400

[w5pv]

Haven't tested any hand loads yet but 2'' groups off handed at about 20 to 25 yards with factory 98 grain loads.So far this pleases me.I will load and test some at a later date but I need the brass to start reloading.

[rintinglen]

My favorite boolit in this cartridge is the aforementioned RCBS 32-98. 3.6 grains of WW-231, 4.3 grains of Unique, 5.2 grains of Power Pistol all have worked well. I have the RCBS version and the NOE 4 cavity Clone. This boolit works well for the 32 S&W Long as well.

[Outpost75]

A flat-nosed, 100-120 grain solid lead .32 bullet launched at subsonic velocity is non-destructive for edible small game and has fully adequate energy and penetration to be effective against predators such as feral dogs or coyotes. Revolver loads approaching 1000 f.p.s. enable reasonable trajectory to enable 100 yard hits, but without destroying edible meat animals.

When fired from rifles, these loads approximate .32-20 Winchester black powder velocities, approaching 1300 f.p.s., which enables some expansion with soft alloys of 8-12 BHN, giving good game performance and acceptable field accuracy while using an economical, plain-based cast bullet.

Non- casters who reload can buy and reload Hornady the 90-gr. SWC or 94-gr. Meister .312" LFN. In my experience these bullets work best with mild loads in the H&R Magnum with 3.0 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye or 3.5 or 4 grains of Unique or Universal, which remain subsonic in a 4-5/8 inch revolver. Bullet casters who like a larger meplat on their bullets to better let the air out of bunny wabbits can use the 98-gr. Saeco #325 semi wad-cutter with these charges. The Saeco #325 performs best in subsonic revolver loads and I found it less accurate when you “hot-rod” it. I expect 2-inch groups at 25 yards hand-held off sandbags with the Ruger Single Six and the 1894CB will give the same results at 50 yards.

The 1894 Marlin cowboy rifle doesn't feed .32 S&W Longs unless you the seat bullets to provide an overall cartridge length greater than 1.3”. Two proven small game loads use the traditional flat-nosed style 122-gr. Saeco #322 cowboy bullet in .32 S&W Long cases, crimped in the lubricating groove at 1.35" OAL. A “quiet” rifle charge also suitable for the S&W Models 30 and 31 revolvers is 2 grains of Bullseye for 850 f.p.s. from the Marlin or 750 in the Single-Six. If you want a bit flatter trajectory and better reach at the expense of a more noise, you can increase the charge in the Ruger revolver or Marlin up to 2.5 to 3 grs. of Bullseye for 820 f.p.s. or 1030 f.p.s. in the Marlin rifle, for 2" five-shot at 50 yards with iron sights.

I replaced the open factory buckhorns on my Marlin with XS Systems ghost ring peep and white-line Patridge front which I can see with 68 year-old eyes! Testing indoors on a typically dark pistol range with improvised rest I can hold about an inch average over a series of 5-shot groups. If you are approaching 70 and getting an inch at 25 yards with iron sights, that, my friend, is a "good" load.

I have not fooled much with the slower powders, because I feel doing so defeats the purpose of using the same ammo in both the walking rifle and revolver. I briefly tried #2400 and 4227, as well as a compressed nominal “case full,” about 11 grains of RL-7 or 4198 in the H&R Magnum. While faster, they were louder and less accurate than my milder loads with Bullseye.

The Lyman handbook nonsense which suggests sizing cast bullets to barrel groove diameter persists in common folklore circulated for the .32 H&R Magnum. The usually-recommended .312 bullet diameter limits potential accuracy for some users. Cylinder throats of Ruger revolvers vary from .309” to as large as .314,” depending upon when the gun was made.

Cast bullets intended for revolvers should always be sized so they may be pushed through the chamber from the rear and out the front of the cylinder throat with slight resistance using only hand pressure. If bullets fall through of their own weight you may as well throw rocks. If you can’t push bullets through by hand, but rounds chamber and extract freely, you can shoot them in below-maximum loads, at some expense to accuracy,

In my experience Marlin chambers run sloppy. My 1894 .32 HRM readily chambers and extracts accepts un-sized .315 diameter bullets assembled in Starline cases. It likes best the Accurate #31-114D cast 10-12 BHN with 3.0 grs. of Bullseye in Starline .32 H&R Mag. cases at 1.45" OAL, using a light film of Lee Liquid Alox.

I rechambered my .32 S&W Long single-shot "walking rifle" to .32 H&R Magnum. It likes “fat” bullets too, because the .32 S&W Long reamer used to chamber it originally had a .315" diameter cylindrical throat. This was unintentional and larger than I wanted, so I stuck in a .32 HRM reamer, and shot it again. My reasoning was that lengthening the chamber body to enable use of HRM brass would also reduce the excess length of the cylindrical ball seat a bit and wouldn't hurt anything.

In spite of its oversized cylindrical ball seat being over ¼-inch long, the tiny 4.5 lb. rifle still shoots inch groups at 25 yards with .32 S&W Longs using either the RCBS 32-90CM or the Accurate 31-114D with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye.

The Saeco #325 SWC doesn’t do quite as well, but still groups under 2 inches at 25 yds. Most accurate .32 S&W Long rifle loads use the heavier 122-gr. Saeco #322 or 134-gr. Accurate 31-134D bullet seated out to 1.32 OAL and loaded with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye. This load shot best before in the revolver-style .32 S&W Long chamber, and grouped no better, no worse in the longer .32 H&R Magnum chamber. They average just barely 2 inches at 50 yards over a series of 5-shot groups. This is OK plinking accuracy in such a very light rifle with iron sights. My 1894 Marlin is more consistent than the fly-weight, rook rifle because it is heavier and much steadier on the bags.

Heavier .32 H&R Mag loads listed in some manuals caused ugly looking fired primers in converted shotgun actions having a large shotgun firing pin and un-bushed breech face. I find this a useful indicator of chamber pressure and in such guns would standardize no load which causes hard opening or smeared primer cups upon opening. My maximum .32 H&R load is 8 grains of #2400 in Starline HRM brass with 100-gr. Hornady XTPs. These drive nice clover-leafs at 25 yards and group less than 2 inches at 50 yards, when want something more powerful than my popgun bunny loads. This requires a change from small pistol primers to the Federal 200 to prevent them flowing into the shotgun breech face, unless you mush the firing pin, which I have since done.

Federal 200 primers have a heavier primer cup of 0.020 base metal thickness, compared to about 0.015” for standard small pistol primers. This mitigates the primer cup flow problem into the un-bushed shotgun breech face. Firing trials in an unaltered shotgun action conversion quickly reveal when a load is “too hot,” because hard-opening occurs well before primer cups flatten visibly in the Ruger revolver. Factory Federal loads in the .32 H&R Mag only rub a shiny spot around at the firing pin indent around the primer cup, but an unbushed shotgun action opens with little effort. Any hand load which opens hard in an unbushed shotgun action can safely be presumed to be over 20,000 psi.

I consider my experiment in rechambering a .32 S&W Long rook rifle to H&R Magnum successful because it gives me some greater flexibility in brass and ammo. My preference remains for light, quiet loads which the .32 S&W Long does handily in the "Bunny Gun" scenario, but if you intend to buy a reamer and built a custom rifle, the H&R Mag. cartridge makes perfect sense.

As a general purpose load for use in modern .32 S&W Long revolvers, the Marlin 1894CB and my single-shot H&R my brother I have settled on the Accurate 31-114D cast 10BHN, tumbles in Lee Liquid Alox, sized .314, loading in .32 S&W Long cases with Federal 200 primers and 2.5 grains of Alliant Bullseye, which shoots to the fixed sights and is "bunny wabbit accurate."

Using the 2.5 grain charge in .32 S&W long cases for the modern .32 revolvers velocity is 750 f.p.s. in my 3-inch S&W M31, 830 fps in the 4" M31 and Colt Police Positive, and 870 fps in the 4-5/8 inch Ruger Single Six. It gets 990 fps from the 20 inch Marlin 1894CB and 1030 f.p.s. in the 26-inch H&R. Report from the rifles is very moderate, like shooting a .22 LR. Velocity standard deviations are in single-digits. This load gives inch 5-shot groups at 25 yards with peep sights in either of the rifles and "about 2 inches" +/- at 25 yards from the modern revolvers off sandbags when you can screw your eyeballs in tight enough.

For the few occasions when I want a heavier cast bullet load I use 3.5 grs. of Bullseye in Starline .32 H&R Mag. brass which gives the 115-gr. 1030 fps from the 4-5/8" Ruger single Six, 1280 f.p.s. from the 20 inch Marlin 1894CB and 1330 from the 26 inch H&R without hard opening. This approximates standard velocity lead .32-20 factory loads in performance. I feel that no heavier load is needed, because I do not shoot varmints, but mostly meat for the table.

186090

[dbosman]

Lyman's 311116 GC or Lyman 311008 plain base would be my first thought. I use them in any .30 caliber for plinking and fun. The 311008 is still sold new.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/236603/lyman-2-cavity-bullet-mold-311008-32-20-wcf-312-diameter-115-grain-flat-nose

[Triggernosis]

Do y'all use regular or magnum primers in your .32 H&R loads?

[Outpost75]

Do y'all use regular or magnum primers in your .32 H&R loads?

I use standard Winchester WSP or CCI 500 primers in mine. I haven't found magnum primers necessary.

[dougader]

I've fired the Meister 94 grain rnfp bullet, the 90 grain Sierra JHP, and the Hornady XTP 100 grain JHP.

I have a Lee TL mold but haven't tried it out yet. I'm planning to powder coat the pointy little swc and see how she does.

The Meister I use with W231 from 2.5 grains to 4.2 grains (over book max) in my Rugers. They all shoot real well, and 3.0 - 3.5 seems to be a sweet spot.

I've tried the Sierra with Blue Dot and W296. It's accurate enough but the bullet would only be good on varmints, I expect, as it really comes apart.

The 100 grain XTP's are meant more for SD loads or larger game up to coyote. These I've run up to the Brian Pearce Handloader data max of 11.8 grains W296. I've loaded these with both CCI 500 and 550 mag primers, although I have not chronographed the difference in velocity, if any. In a custom Single Six, 3-3/4" barrel, the load averages ~1267 fps, IIRC.

I was never able to find anyone with the Speer 100 or 115 grain Gold Dots in stock, and then via email I found out the component bullets for reloaders had been discontinued by Speer. A real shame, as I thought that 115 grain GD, especially, had a lot going for it. All I have left is a couple boxes of the loaded 327 Federal ammo, which hurls that 115 GD right at 1300 fps from a 3" SP101 and over 1500 fps from my 4-5/8" Single 7.

[dondiego]

[QUOTE=Larry Gibson;3922989]I use the Lee TL314

Hello Larry Gibson! Glad to hear from you!

[Green Frog]

First you need to drop a PM to Dale53. I'm surprised he hasn't jumped into this conversation already. There is a lot of info from Glen Fryxell and from Beagle as well. The search function is our friend. I've sort of "graduated" to 327 FM, so I don't have any good 32 H&R advice to give... sorry.

Froggie

[rockshooter]

I use the NOE version of 311008, sized .311, in a Ruger SP101 and a Single Six. My standard plinking load is 3.6 gr of 231.
Loren

[Green Frog]

Back to my comments... if I WERE doing some 32 H&R loads for a modern revolver (Ruger, Colt or S&W only... others you are on your own!) I'd take a hard look at the original Ideal/Lyman
3118 -->311008 or the NOE copy (check weight on the latter though, as mine came out a good 10 grains heavier) and use Accurate powder #7 or 9 according to their recommended charges. I frequently regret selling my Ruger Blackhawk Buckeye Special 32-20/32 H&R Combo. If I had still had that, I might not have embarked on my 327 FM adventure, and I would have hated to have missed that! I still can't believe Dale53 hasn't chimed in... maybe I'd better drop him an e-mail.

Froggie

[Dale53]

triggernosis;
My desktop is in the shop, so I have been somewhat limiting my surfing of the web.

My "go to" bullet has lately become the NOE version of the RCBS 98 gr. SWC. That bullet, sized .313", ahead of 3.0 grs. of HP 38 (in .32 S&W Long brass) will shoot under an inch on demand in my TC Contender as well as my 16-4 at 25 yards. My "standard" alloy is WW's+2% tin. I haven't chronographed this load but it is trucking along quite well for general range use and edible small game. It should run between 800-900 fps depending on the platform.

That same bullet in the .32 H&R brass ahead of 3.5 grs. of HP 38 will give about 1000 fps depending on platform.
If I was going with only one bullet, this design would be it.

However, I have a Mihec 100gr. dbl. ended w/c. That bullet ahead of 2.5 grs. of HP 38 in the .32 S&W Long brass will give you about 800 fps. It is a dandy for targets and edible small game at fifty yards and closer. It is also just the item for squirrel hunting with a handgun. Like most wadcutters it becomes unstable sometime after fifty yards which will limit its range of danger when shooting in trees. I always put a tree behind the squirrel but it's nice to have a bit of added insurance should something happen.

Yeah, I, too, am somewhat obsessed with the .32's, but I am obsessed with a smile on my face.

Dale53

[rking22]

Quick, slightly offtopic, question for Dale. Would you consider those loads safe for a SW M31-1 late 60s vintage? I have both those molds, not had time to even cast any WC yet,, much less load workup. Thanks

[Dale53]

rking22;
I would have no problems with using those .32 S&W Long loads in my Model 31. Neither would I suggest increasing them.

The Smith Model 30 and 31 revolvers are strong little pieces and will work well with those two bullets.

Dale53

[joatmon]

Dale53, what about the group buy Lee 120gr (I think) I read about a few years ago? Do you still use that one? always thought that would be a nice heavy in the H&R.
Aaron

[Dale53]

joatmon;
i have used the Group Buy 100 gr. Keith swc a great deal. Mostly with .32 S&W Long brass ahead of 2.8 grs. of HP-38. I have used the 120 gr very little.

Dale53

[joatmon]

Thanks Dale53, I have thought of getting a heavy .32 mold made (have 98gr) but the cash and want haven't seemed to line up yet, and that 98gr has worked so far.
Aaron

[rking22]

Thanks for the feedback Dale53, there is much conflicting data around the web on the 32SWL "modernized". I am not interested in pushing it, but mine shoots the 98grNOE clone driven with 2.7 of BE much better than the factory level loads. Decided that might be a bit stiff for it and will try the 231 load. Just don't want to batter the little darling, it's lighter than my bearcat and just as accurate with "more" boolit!