COL for .32 S&W Long with 115gr Laser

[tacotime]

Can't find a spec for the COL to be used for the 115 grain Laser-Cast bullet. The company has no .32 S&W load data. I see a few loads here and there but no COL spec.

If seated at the crimp cannelure, this guy sits a good bit farther into the case than the .95gr I had been using. Anyone have a good spec?

I think I saw one mention of 1.32 in, which is actually beyod the max COL if I read right elsewhere...

Gun is a S&W 30-1.

Thanks.

[Mk42gunner]

Lyman's 3rd ed. Cast Bullet Handbook has data for the 115 grain #3118 with COL at 1.180". They used a S&W Model 31 to develop the data, so it should work for your Model 30.

I haven't loaded anything that heavy for my Model 1903, I stick with 95-100 grain boolits with it; but as long as you stay shorter than the cylinder, it should work.

Robert

[Outpost75]

With my #3118 Ideal in .32 S&W Long brass I load 2.5 grains of Bullseye and crimp in the top lube groove, which gives an OAL of 1.30-1.32" which is fine for my S&W Model 31. I also use this in my Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .32 H&R Mag. Shorter than 1.30" in the Marlin lets two rounds onto the lifter at once and jams the gun.

In general, seating out longer is safer, as long as it chambers and extracts freely, because it lowers loading density, and hence, pressure and velocity. In a revolver, as long as it doesn't poke out the front of the cylinder, you are OK. The SAAMI 1.28" max. is based on the old I-frame. 32 Hand Ejectors. The postwar J-frames have a longer cylinder.

[tacotime]

Good info, thanks. If I seat that 115gr at the normal "cannelure", which will put some more "base in the case" as you know, do you see any issue with Bullseye 2.0gr?

Sounds like it would be similar to your load, but then again, these things can defy predictions as we all know...

[Outpost75]

I don't have good feelings about seating a long-shanked bullet deeper. I would crimp in the top lube groove if possible. But if you did want to crimp in the normal crimp groove, I would absolutely reduce the charge to 2 grains of Bullseye and not exceed that.

[Mk42gunner]

Good info, thanks. If I seat that 115gr at the normal "cannelure", which will put some more "base in the case" as you know, do you see any issue with Bullseye 2.0gr?

Sounds like it would be similar to your load, but then again, these things can defy predictions as we all know...

Not sure how the Laser-Cast 115 gr compares to the Lyman 3118, but with the o.a.l. I quoted above, they list 1.4 grains of Bullseye as a starting load with 2.0 grains Bullseye as max, with 683 fps.


My I-frame is a plinker and occasional small game getter. If I need more than a 95-100 gr boolit on top of 2.5 grains of Red Dot, I get a bigger gun.

Robert

[tacotime]

Good advice, I'll crank the first set off at 1.7 then.

I see a recent Lyman shows a 100gr jacketed at 2.0 to 2.3, which isn't the same bullet of course, but gives an indication anyway.

The seating is at the normal crimp groove. Comparing the 115 to the 95 next to it, it is longer in the case but not by a "great" deal...

[NoZombies]

I seat the 3118 (115 grain rnfp) at 1.32 over the top of 1.9 grains of bullseye for about 640 FPS. I have fired a fair number of them through a 30-1 without issue or pressure signs. It's not my favorite load for the .32 long, but it is accurate and shoots essentially to the sights in my 4" gun.