32 S & W BP loads?

[hightime]

I now have three good 32 cal. top break pistols from the late 1800's. One Smith and Wesson, one Iver Johnson and one, Hopkins and Allen. All three are quite tight, with good bore. I know I should only shoot them with BP loads. I'm just not sure how much and what type. Fill the case and a slight compression, fffg?65298

Owen

[Nobade]

You got it. Lyman still makes the mould, it is a 83gr. (or so) roundnose design with a pretty big lube groove. IIRC the 32 S&W is supposed to hold 8 gr. of FFFg powder, but modern cases may not hold that much. Just fill 'er up until you can compress the powder with the boolit and not distort it or buldge the case.

BTW, I was looking at a really cool H&A top break the other day in the gun shop. 5 shot, tiny little thing. They had a 6 shot one also and the 5 shot was about half the size. Neat little revolvers!

-Nobade

[hightime]

Here's my Hopkins and Allen.65388

[w30wcf]

I checked some old pre 1900 catalogs that I have.
Winchester shows 9 grs of b.p. / 85 gr bullet.
U.M.C. shows 10 grs of b.p. / 88 gr bullet
U.M.C. also shows a 32 S&W Gallery cartridge - 4 grs. of b.p. / 45 gr round ball

I found that the .32 SHBP (Solid Head Button Pocket - Balloon head) case holds approx 1 gr. more of powder than modern brass in the testing I did between the two.

Neat guns!

w30wcf