I'm debating on picking up these 2 little pocket pistols, ones a 38 the other is a 32. How difficult would it be to reload for these? I assume both are black powder only.
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I'm debating on picking up these 2 little pocket pistols, ones a 38 the other is a 32. How difficult would it be to reload for these? I assume both are black powder only.
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I load some FF holy black in loads for .45-70.
Rather than use a powder measure/hopper like I do smokeless,
I weighed the right charge, then made and use a volume measure to fit the powder weight like those Lee dipper things.
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I like these things, everything from Merwins to topbreaks, 32SW and 38SW. I use FFF black and soft lead bullets, no fillers.They work quite well for what they they were designed for, close range personal protection.
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I haven't decided yet but I would have to go over the border for the holy black and find dies, I assume that the 38/357 dies work for 38 s&w, but the 32 looks harder to find. I can get both pistols for 50 bucks and the gunsmith says they look good for shooting.
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38/357 dies won't load 38s&w. Their diameters are different. 38/357 dies size the case down too far.
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Dang....somebody needs to keep their tools in a humidity controlled environment!
They are easy to reload for and I predict you will find t rewarding. It is not unheard of to use very mild smokeless powder loads given appropriate loadings
32 can be loaded with 32 acp/32 SW long dies.
38 SW are there own dies...maybe get 9mm Makarov to work.
I once had a very large collection of these revolvers, & kept about half of the nicest when I held a big sell off over the last year... all of mine were shooters...
if your revolvers time out OK, they are shootable with Trailboss... my starting loads for 32 S&W only used 0.5 grains with no fillers needed, & I went up from there with 3 load levels... if your barrels are highly pitted, I either recommend not shooting them, of it you fell you must ( I always did ) I had a load that I crimped a soft 32 caliber lead round ball into the case
some of my collection even gets a couple mild self defense loads occasionally
At one time I had more than 30 of these revolvers in 32 & 38 S&W... pictured in this post are a couple I've kept... I really like the 32 & 38 Hand eject models quite rare & more positive ejecting
it's been a while since I loaded... let me look at my recipes... 0.5 grains sounds like a very tiny amount, but Trailbosse's lil donuts are bulky any the 32 S&W case pretty tiny, but it worked well as my test load... thinking my mid level load was maybe 1.5 grains, but I'll need to check to confirm... when I got into stronger guns I had a 3rd hotter load
32 & 38 S&W are very easy to load... 38 S&W I was able to load with lighter weight larger diameter cast 38 special bullets with acceptable accuracy
Do you plan to cast for these or buy boolits?
I've loaded a few 32 S&Ws ....where, with any powder, does one find room for a filler
Larry Gibson
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I don't know about the quality of antique H & R revolvers but I have 5 antique S & W top break revolvers, 32 S & W, 38 S & W and 44-40 calibers and I load them with smokeless powder at black powder pressures and shoot them without concern. I have a Merwin Hulbert double action in 38 that I use the same ammo in.
Tim
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Would black powder substitutes work is these old low pressure guns . I don't use subs or even have gun like that but am just curious
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