Reloading the .32 ACP

[Trinidad Bill]

A few years ago I became interested in the .32 ACP and as result I have quite a few .32 ACP pistols (Colt, FN, Beretta, PP, Mauser, CZ, etc.) I have left them alone for a while but I am getting the urge to work with them again with cast boolits.

My question is around reloading presses for the .32 ACP. With this caliber you can runoff quite a few rounds after you have a load developed. I thought the Dillon SDB would be ideal for this small cartridge and low powder volume. I have one for 9mm and it works great. In checking the Dillon, they do not make one for the 32 ACP.

What do you use for a reloading press, quasi high volume, with the 32 ACP?

[jdfoxinc]

Lee turret 4 hole, Lee dies, RCBS little dandy with 0 rotor. My Baileyboat adjustable rotor won't throw that small of a charge.

[ioon44]

I use the Dillon 550 with Hornady dies.

[blue32]

Dillon 550 with RCBS dies.

[georgerkahn]

I learned the hard way (for me) that for .25acp and .32acp loading, it is almost slow-motion of loading speed in larger calibers. (I bear a scar from a .380acp rim on my left hand forefinger ). For me, I use a universal decapper in a Pacific single-stage press to remove all primers -- generally a batch of 50. I use a Crocogater tool to clean each primer pocket before inserting case in a second, RCBS single stage press to full length size each case. They each go to the RCBS bench priming tool for primer insertion, and are then placed in a loading block, primer end up. After block is filled, I take each and place under my Harrell powder measure for powder, putting back in block rim up. Next step is to a 2nd RCBS press where the bullet is seated. And, finally, the seating die is replaced with a Lee factory crimp, and the bullet is crimped. Finally, complete cartridge is dropped in a L. E. Wilson case gage for quality control - and they're put in a blue MTM box for this cartridge, labeled with particulars (date,powder, primer, etc) , and placed with ready to shoot ammo.
While Dillon touts the name of their 550 was derived from cases per hour this machine could load, I believe my average is much closer to two hundred using this reloader. The system I use for the little guys, outlined here above, is four times as slow! Yes -- start to finish -- takes me between 45 minutes and an hour to do 50 rounds. This may or may not be "quasi high volume" -- but it works to make safe, reliable rounds. IMHO, 50 rounds done in the same time as (also imho) a stupid t.v. show -- with MUCH more satisfying and productive results!
Re the scar on my finger, I got "in the groove" loading and was placing a bullet on case with left hand as I was lowering press handle with the right.... oops! Need I say more? Be careful with these small cases -- compounded with big fingers, something for you to keep in the back of your mind
BEST!
geo

[Outpost75]

In all of my .32 ACP loading I used a single-station press and RCBS Little Dandy powder measure.

I also had purpose-built .32 ACP wood loading blocks made to more easily handle the smaller cases.

I feel that doing so provides much better ballistic uniformity.

I load rounds by the thousands on a single-station press, but stress quality over quantity.

[Trinidad Bill]

I learned the hard way (for me) that for .25acp and .32acp loading, it is almost slow-motion of loading speed in larger calibers. (I bear a scar from a .380acp rim on my left hand forefinger ). For me, I use a universal decapper in a Pacific single-stage press to remove all primers -- generally a batch of 50. I use a Crocogater tool to clean each primer pocket before inserting case in a second, RCBS single stage press to full length size each case. They each go to the RCBS bench priming tool for primer insertion, and are then placed in a loading block, primer end up. After block is filled, I take each and place under my Harrell powder measure for powder, putting back in block rim up. Next step is to a 2nd RCBS press where the bullet is seated. And, finally, the seating die is replaced with a Lee factory crimp, and the bullet is crimped. Finally, complete cartridge is dropped in a L. E. Wilson case gage for quality control - and they're put in a blue MTM box for this cartridge, labeled with particulars (date,powder, primer, etc) , and placed with ready to shoot ammo.
While Dillon touts the name of their 550 was derived from cases per hour this machine could load, I believe my average is much closer to two hundred using this reloader. The system I use for the little guys, outlined here above, is four times as slow! Yes -- start to finish -- takes me between 45 minutes and an hour to do 50 rounds. This may or may not be "quasi high volume" -- but it works to make safe, reliable rounds. IMHO, 50 rounds done in the same time as (also imho) a stupid t.v. show -- with MUCH more satisfying and productive results!
Re the scar on my finger, I got "in the groove" loading and was placing a bullet on case with left hand as I was lowering press handle with the right.... oops! Need I say more? Be careful with these small cases -- compounded with big fingers, something for you to keep in the back of your mind
BEST!
geo

Quite frankly this is about what I do and what I was expecting for an answer. Somehow I thought, "well I must be missing something, and surely someone can load these little guys faster than I can".

I wonder how they do .32 ACP in production volume???

[Outpost75]

I batch operations.

Fired brass gets tumbled to remove range grit, then is FL sized and decapped in an RCBS carbide sizer. All gets visually inspected and any once-fired inside mouth deburred using a 3/8" ball cutter just to break the wire edge. Then brass is mouth expanded, tumbled again and is sorted by headstamp before priming.

I clean and uniform primer pockets, then prime by hand with an RCBS Posa-Prime to ensure primers are correctly and fully seated. I destroyed all of my pot metal Lee priming tools to prevent enemy use.

When I want to load ammo I already have primed, prepped brass ready to load, stored in plastic one-pound peanut butter jars, and I just grab one and load 3-400 rounds.

I charge 50 cases at a time in the loading block with the RCBS Little Dandy and inspect cases 100% with a pen light to detect any missed or spilled charges.

Bullets are seated and rounds profile crimped in separate operations. I keep a lot-card written on a 3x5 which accompanies each batch so I know the particulars of each batch and which operation was last performed.

[Outpost75]

...I wonder how they do .32 ACP in production volume???

http://www.lachaussee.com/en_US/ammunition-munitions/

The production capacity of this ammunition line for an 8 hour shift is 25,000 cartridge cases, 25,000 projectiles, and 28,000 complete rounds of ammunition. Running at a maximum capacity of 3 shifts per day, the output is 75,000 cartridge cases, 75,000 projectiles and 84,000 complete rounds of ammunition in a full 24 hour period, flat-out.

A typical shift involves 13 workers per shift, plus a shift leader and a tool setter. The universality and flexibility of the machines allows for quick set-up without long delays in production.
The production machinery line has been used to manufacture the following calibers of components & complete ammunition:

7.65 Browning
7.65 LUGER
9mm Browning (9 x 17)
9mm Makarov (9 x 18)
9mm LUGER (9 x 19, 9mm PARA)
9 x 21

Cost A: Production Line Equipment ( Equipment only)
Equipment available under this offer includes:
Line for surface treatment
rotary 5-drum de-greasing unit (30,000 pieces per hour)
rotary drum pickling unit (30,000 pieces per hour)
polishing unit (30,000 pieces per hour)
1 annealing furnace (6,600 to 24,000 pieces per hour depending on type of cup)

Manufacture of cases
1 drawing press for 1st draw of case (3,125 pieces per hour)
1 drawing press for 2nd draw of case (3,125 pieces per hour)
1 cutting to length machine (4,000 pieces per hour)
1 crank press for blanking operation (2,500 pieces per hour)*
2 crank presses for heading (5,625 pieces per hour)* combine both items for 3,125 pieces per hour
2 crank presses for flash-hole piercing (4,500 pieces per hour)
2 crank presses for calibration (4,500 pieces per hour)
3 automatic lathes for cannelure turning (4,125 pieces per hour)
1 visual inspection automatic machine (2,750 pieces per hour)
1 dimensional inspection machine

Manufacture of bullets
1 double-action crank press for pressing cups from brass strips including strip-retractor
2 drawing presses for bullet-jacket draw (5,000 pieces per hour)
2 crank presses for lead wire extrusion (3,750 pieces per hour)
2 bullet assembly presses (3,125 to 3,375 pieces per hour)
1 unit for bullet measuring - dimensional inspection of bullets

Priming, loading & assembly of cartridges
2 priming machines (3,750 pieces per hour)
1 loading & assembly machine (3,500 pieces per hour)
1 machine for packing (7,500 pieces per hour)
1 automatic machine for visual inspection (2,500 pieces per hour)

Cost A for the above production line machinery, which includes packing in sea containers on our dock including blocking and bracing is 2,900,000.00 Euros.

[Trinidad Bill]

Well heck Outpost, I'm impressed! It will take me a bit to digest that.

[Chev. William]

Sigh, Out of my financial League; but a guy can Sure Dream.

[Trinidad Bill]

Actually $3 Million, would not be a bad investment if it were in the USA. Did they give any revenues? Getting the equipment here and setting up to run could be very costly.

Since I just sold my business...


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[RED BEAR]

I load both 32acp and 25acp on a single stage Lee classic. Really don't see them being any slower than any other cartridge.

[bstone5]

Load 32 ACP on a Lee 4 hole press. For a powder measure made a dipper out of a 22 RF case that was filed down for correct weight of powder. A piece of copper wire was attached to the 22 case as a handle. No bid problems in the reloading of the 32 ACP. Used powder coated cast bullets with a home made gas check installed, have shot several hundred thru the little auto gun.

[rintinglen]

I use a turret press and run batches. I size and de-cap, then flare the case neck, on to the next cartridge case. When I have 50 ready to, I check powder charges, then start placing boolits, seating and crimping. I will frankly state that the 32 ACP represents the smallest cartridge I can reload with comfort. I am in the midst of reloading 1300 of the little boogers.

I have done a few 25 acp's in years past but Like Ole George, I managed to nip my left index finger doing so. My hat is off to those who fiddle with those dinky little things.

[Duckdog]

I use a Lee 4 hole turret and an adjustable disc in the auto disc, with Unique as the powder. Never had a lick of a problem. They always go bang and shoot the same. In fact, I kind of like reloading them.

[evoevil]

I use the RCBS Pro2000 for all my pistol reloading, never had a problem with it

[Bmi48219]

[QUOTE=Trinidad Bill;4342958]Actually $3 Million, would not be a bad investment if it were in the USA. Did they give any revenues? Getting the equipment here and setting up to run could be very costly.

Since I just sold my business...

Speaking in generalities, this Doesn't sound like a high margin operation. With max output at 84,000 units for 3 shifts, that's 28,000 units per shift using a 15 employee crew. Or 1,866 units / per employee / shift; or 233 units per employee/ hour. If you could wholesale each completed bullet for 20 cents you're looking at total revenue of $46.60 per employee / hour BEFORE you pay for wages, taxes, benefits, insurance, brass, copper, powder, primers, lead, utilities, a building etc. AND before you pay off the 3 million + Euros (4 million USD) to buy the equipment and get it to where you can pay someone to set it up.
I don't think the wife would be too happy.

[Hardcast416taylor]

When I would change the dies for running the.32 acp it would be on my tried and true Hornady Pro-Jector press with the Hornady powder drop that I manually operate. My die set is RCBS and I still have all my fingers after quite a few years dealing with that little case.Robert

[Trinidad Bill]

I use a Lee 4 hole turret and an adjustable disc in the auto disc, with Unique as the powder. Never had a lick of a problem. They always go bang and shoot the same. In fact, I kind of like reloading them.

DuckDog, how many grains of Unique are you using?