Whats your favorite .32 s&w long mold?

[psweigle]

I'm buying a s&w 1903 hand ejector. 32 s&w long and want to see what molds everyone else is using. Thanks.

[Outpost75]

Accurate 31-105T. Load 2.0-2.5 grains of Bullseye in .32 S&W Long and 3.0-3.5 grains in the .32-20

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[MT Gianni]

My "heavy" load is RCBS 98 swc. Lighter loads are a Lyman 95 gr wc and Lee 90 swc. I frame Smith Preregulation Police made about 1953.

[gpidaho]

psweigle: My favorite moulds in this order. Noe 313-89-WC Rg2 with or without HP pins. The Saeco #326 SWC and the Lee 311-93-1R. These work well for me in both 32 S&W and 32-20. My Lee mould will drop large enough with some alloys but I powder coat my pistol rounds and it for sure is large enough powder coated. I'm enjoying my 32s, almost no recoil and very thrifty on both powder and lead. Gp

[psweigle]

Cool. outpost, those look very close to the colt np version.
Mt gianni, the rcbs im familiar with, i will have to look the other one up.
Gpidaho, the noe ive looked at, and the lee of course. The seaco i will have to look up. Thank you all.

[Green Frog]

My favorite 32 cal pistol mould is the one that has most recently yielded a bunch of bullets so I can load up some ammo and go out to play!

Lyman/ Ideal numbers 3118, 314316, 313445 and 313492 come to mind as do a couple of NOE moulds, then there is that sweet little HBWC from Mihec... yep, whichever one has yielded a bunch of bullets most recently so I can load up some ammo to go empty it out again! :mrgreen:

Froggie

[psweigle]

Green frog, have you had a chance to compare the ideal molds with the one on an old ideal #4 tool? I would like to try and find one like that.

[GhostHawk]

#1 for me is the little lee .314 90 gr tl truncated cone.

#2 is a 00 buckshot run through a .314 sizer die. Those are a little tougher to get straight though.

2 grains of Red Dot.

[Outpost75]

Cool. outpost, those look very close to the colt np version...
Thank you all.

Exactly! That was the design intent. Only real real difference was adding the bevel-base to ease loading and to bump the weight up a little, and the double-crimp grooves so you can seat bullets out long in .32 S&W Long brass to reduce "jump" or seat and crimp deeper to maintain factory cartridge length in the .32-20 for magazine feeding.

Here are some 50-yard, iron-sight, .32-20 rifle groups.

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[RED BEAR]

i like the lee 100 grain rn. use it for 32sw long and 32 hr. but on fixed budget so lee gets the first shot.

[Guesser]

I use Ideal 313226 for a 95 gr. RN and 313445 for a 98 gr. SWC. Used in old S&W and equally one Colts, all solid frame hand ejectors in barrel lengths from 2" to 6" with 3 1/4" and 4" in the middle.

[psweigle]

There sure doesnt seem to be a shortage of molds out there. I was a bit worried the selection wasnt going to be what it is.

[Guesser]

The Lee 93 gr. RN is good too.

[Green Frog]

Green frog, have you had a chance to compare the ideal molds with the one on an old ideal #4 tool? I would like to try and find one like that.

I have not. I actually have avoided using any of the old Ideal combination tools as I like wood handles to hold onto. Which #4 tool are you thinking of, 32 S&W or 32-20?

Froggie

[Green Frog]

There sure doesnt seem to be a shortage of molds out there. I was a bit worried the selection wasnt going to be what it is.

More like a shortage of time to try them all! :guntootsmiley:

[EMC45]

RCBS 32-098 followed by a brass (loose) copy of Lyman's 3118. The Lyman copy does really well in my Hand Ejectors - they prefer a heavier bullet to the 98gr. RCBS. I also like the aforementioned Lee TL SWC.

[Walks]

Like Guesser, I'm another one for the LEE 93gr RN in .32 Long.
Being on a fixed income I have to make do. I also use the 93RN for the few H & R cases I load.
I also use the LYMAN #311252 RN in .32ACP & .32Short & Wimpy.
Between the 2 bullets, I'm pretty much covered. But I sure would love to have a mold for a 100gr SWC with a flat base. That would be great in .32 H & R loads.

[psweigle]

Yeah, my budget looks like my first one will be a lee as well, but im saving to get a different one later . Or 2 or 3......

[Tracy]

Another vote for the Lee 90 grain TLTC.

[psweigle]

I have not. I actually have avoided using any of the old Ideal combination tools as I like wood handles to hold onto. Which #4 tool are you thinking of, 32 S&W or 32-20?

Froggie
The 32 s&w long. Ive seen tbem for sale from time to time.

[Green Frog]

The 32 s&w long. Ive seen tbem for sale from time to time.

The only original old style round nose 32 bullet moulds I own are old S&W made moulds from the turn of the last century. I’ve cast and loaded a few rounds from the “peanut handle” mould, but just to try it, not for any real test. I tend to gravitate toward WC and SWC moulds otherwise.

Froggie

PS Here’s a picture of the “peanut handle mould” along with the earlier style from S&W and some sample bullets and ball. The early mould casts one bullet while the later has both bullet and ball. Both mould are also used for priming as well.

[Outpost75]

Accurate 31-105T was aimed towards a faithful copy of original .32 Colt New Police and .32-20 factory bullets, having a flat nose for small game and tube magazine use. It has proven versatile and accurate.

[psweigle]

Accurate 31-105T was aimed towards a faithful copy of original .32 Colt New Police and .32-20 factory bullets, having a flat nose for small game and tube magazine use. It has proven versatile and accurate.

Im curious as to what the weight is? I know different alloys affect it, but just a ballpark.Thanks

[psweigle]

The only original old style round nose 32 bullet moulds I own are old S&W made moulds from the turn of the last century. I’ve cast and loaded a few rounds from the “peanut handle” mould, but just to try it, not for any real test. I tend to gravitate toward WC and SWC moulds otherwise.

Froggie

I guess im a little odd, I still like to use a lee loader to do up a batch of 38 special from time to time. The idea of a single tool to cast, size, and load up a boolit kind of sounds like it would be fun. As far as boolit profiles and styles go, swc, full wc, and flat point rn, are pretty much what i like. Thanks

[Green Frog]

I guess im a little odd, I still like to use a lee loader to do up a batch of 38 special from time to time. The idea of a single tool to cast, size, and load up a boolit kind of sounds like it would be fun. As far as boolit profiles and styles go, swc, full wc, and flat point rn, are pretty much what i like. Thanks

You want to see odd, how about these ca 1890-1900 sets of 32 S&W loading tools from... Smith & Wesson! :mrgreen:

Froggie

[Outpost75]

Im curious as to what the weight is? I know different alloys affect it, but just a ballpark.Thanks

105 grains in wheelweights.

[Tracy]

I have an Ideal No. 4 in .32 S&WL. I've only cast with it a couple of times, but I've loaded with it several times.

[psweigle]

I have an Ideal No. 4 in .32 S&WL. I've only cast with it a couple of times, but I've loaded with it several times.

Lucky you! It has to be a hoot. Bet it gets a little warm on the hand though.

[psweigle]

You want to see odd, how about these ca 1890-1900 sets of 32 S&W loading tools from... Smith & Wesson! :mrgreen:

Froggie

I can say for sure that ive never seen one of those before. That set looks very well taken care of.

[psweigle]

105 grains in wheelweights.

Awesome. Thank you for the information.

[Wheelgun]

I’ve had great luck with the Lee 311-93 and the NOE 315-118 SWC. I’ve been powder coating and sizing to .314 and the Lee gets crimped in the top lube groove. They both do very well out of my Ruger Single-Six. Great for plinking, small game or varmint/pests.

Both also do very well for my in the same revolver in 32h&r mag brass and in an old S&W in 32/20.

[psweigle]

Boy, that lee mold sure does come up alot. Im pretty sure thats going to be my first one, followed by the rcbs. When I come into some extra cash i really want to get that accurate 31-105 for sure.

[Wayne Smith]

When we did the Lee group buy Keith series I got the 32 Keith mold. I'm glad I did.

[Green Frog]

I can say for sure that ive never seen one of those before. That set looks very well taken care of.

The "boxed set" actually was acquired on fleaBay recently while the display set, regretfully, is not mine. :( I finished gathering up the stuff I need to actually load with my "set" and have actually used it to put together a dozen or so rounds. I even wrote an article for the Antique Reloading Tool Collectors' Association (ARTCA) with it. I gathered up the stuff I needed to actually use the set, but for whatever reason, I can't get the picture Dale53 took of it to post, so here is a snapshot I took of the whole setup with my iPad. Note the early and late type bullet moulds as well as the Lee decapping rod and the crab mallet from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Froggie

[psweigle]

I love the old hand tools. It makes me appreciated the modern presses and dies so much more. The people of that era didnt shoot anywhere near as much as we do today. Its got to be neat to sit there and think that some old cowboy or sheriff might have used those out in the field.

[RangerDan]

I have had good results with the Lee 90 grain TLSWC cast from COWW and lubed with Lee Liquid Alox loaded unsized. I shoot them in a S&W hand ejector with 4 inch barrel.

[psweigle]

I have had good results with the Lee 90 grain TLSWC cast from COWW and lubed with Lee Liquid Alox loaded unsized. I shoot them in a S&W hand ejector with 4 inch barrel.

There seems to be a following of this lee mold. Thanks for the input.

[Green Frog]

There seems to be a following of this lee mold. Thanks for the input.

Dale53 and I got a wild hair (perhaps inspired by an article from Ed Harris?) to use unsized TL bullets in the 32 and let the taper crimp in the final step “size” the bullets by squeezing them within the brass. IIRC, we were using the full WC available at the time and got some rather strange looking cartridges. Dale’s mould at least threw a big enough bullet to bulge the top part of the case noticeably, even after crimping. As I recall, initial results were not sufficiently good to inspire further testing. Something was different between the bullets Mr Harris got and the ones Dale got, perhaps the mould was cut with a smaller cherry or something, but we never came up to his promising results, and life is too short to drink cheap bourbon or reload inaccurate bullets!

Froggie

[psweigle]

Dale53 and I got a wild hair (perhaps inspired by an article from Ed Harris?) to use unsized TL bullets in the 32 and let the taper crimp in the final step “size” the bullets by squeezing them within the brass. IIRC, we were using the full WC available at the time and got some rather strange looking cartridges. Dale’s mould at least threw a big enough bullet to bulge the top part of the case noticeably, even after crimping. As I recall, initial results were not sufficiently good to inspire further testing. Something was different between the bullets Mr Harris got and the ones Dale got, perhaps the mould was cut with a smaller cherry or something, but we never came up to his promising results, and life is too short to drink cheap bourbon or reload inaccurate bullets!

Froggie

I have had pretty good luck so far with the lee molds dropping what they are supposed to. I bought a sizer .001 over what a jacketed bullet should be and most often it fits snog but not tight.
I know, i know, a boolit should be fitted to the gun, but i cast for a multitude of guns in each caliber. I found that for cheap informal shooting, my powder coated boolits get the same accuracy as plated or cheap fmj.

[Forrest r]

https://i.imgur.com/jds1vxO.jpg?2

The lee 93-2r can be used as cast or turned into a hbwc with simple swaging setups like this.
https://i.imgur.com/bG7YKsc.jpg

[NoZombies]

I'm a fan of the winchester version of the .32 NP bullet. finding that mold is getting harder and harder, but I'm sure accurate could make a clone.

I also like the modern bond SWC design, but again, finding the mold is dicey.

for full WC's I really like the H&G #66.

[Outpost75]

I'm a fan of the winchester version of the .32 NP bullet. finding that mold is getting harder and harder, but I'm sure accurate could make a clone.

I also like the modern bond SWC design, but again, finding the mold is dicey.

for full WC's I really like the H&G #66.

Accurate does make a .32 NP clone, which is a double-crimp-groove design suited for the .32 S&W Long, .32-20, or .32 H&R Magnum.

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[psweigle]

https://i.imgur.com/jds1vxO.jpg?2

The lee 93-2r can be used as cast or turned into a hbwc with simple swaging setups like this.
https://i.imgur.com/bG7YKsc.jpg

thats a sweet swage setup. did you make it, or was it bought?