BP load for .32 S&W?

[Buck]

Anyone got data for the BP .32 S&W (called the "short" now)? I'd be interested as I'm picking up a VG Model 1880, top break, Monday PM. Would like to shoot it BP.

[floodgate]

Buck:

Chuck Suydam's "U. S. Cartridges and their Handguns" lists 9 grs. BP with the 85-gr. RN bullet for the .32 S&W (I've never seen it called the "short"); Frank Barnes' "Cartridges of the World" (10th Edition) says the same, and specifies Fg - but FFg or FFFg would make more sense in that small case.

floodgate

[Buck]

Floodgate - Thanks for the info! I ran aross the "short" title when hunting for smokeless cartridges. One of the locals said " if there is a "long" there must be a "short", makes it even worse with the Magnum tossed in. Hopefully, this will be as much fun to shoot as I remember.

[NickSS]

It really does not matter how much black powder you put in as long as the bullet seats on the powder. Also varing amounts of powder compression affects accuracy and every gun is different as to what it likes as well as every powder/primer combination. Start with just enough powder so that your bullet leaves no air space when loaded. Increase the amount of powder .1 gr in such a small cartridge at a time until you get optimum accuracy. Then you have the right load for your gun/powder/bullet combo. I have loaded black powder loads for the 38 S&W cartridge for my Iver Johnson top break revolver and they work well assuming black powder lube and a little experimenting. Mine likes 13.5 gr with a 150 gr LSWC bullet.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Check this out:

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/black_powder.htm

Interesting reading as always, Mick.

[KCSO]

My 32 Sand W loading tool has a dipper that drops 6 grains of FFg Elephant. This makes a nice load for the old guns, but somewhat anemic. I wouldn't hot rod a top break as they will loosen up quick, but FFFG from 6 to 9 grains should be OK.