32 S&W Long and the 115gr Laser-Cast

[tacotime]

Anyone know of any published load data or have a good load for the 115gr Laser Cast in the .32 Long?

Since the bullet was made for the .32-20 it puts a good deal more lead inside the case than the 100gr and below boolits, so I am a little worried about the OAL, seating and pressure...

Thanks.

[Scharfschuetze]

I've used a similar cast 32/20 boolit often in a S&W Model 31 4" revolver in 32 S&W. I've found it to shoot better than the 98 grain SWC that I also use from time to time. The 115 grain boolit shoots 2" high at 50" but is spot on at about 35 to 40 yards with the fixed sites on my revolver. Given its diminutive powder chamber, it uses a full grain less powder than a 32/20 revolver to achieve the same velocities.

My best loads have been with Unique powder. The loading manuals should give you a good starting load. OAL is 1.205 or seated to crimp into the crimp groove. 12 shots groups will usually go about 2" at 50 feet in the little Model 31 (J Frame) revolver.

[Outpost75]

In the .32 H&R Magnum I use either #3118 or Accurate 31-114D with 7 grains of Alliant #2400, which is an accurate, full-charge load, giving performance exactly like the .32-20.

In .32 S&W Long brass for my S&W Model 31 I reduce the charge to 6 grains of #2400, my cartridge OAL is 1.285".

Accurate 31-114D also shoots well with lighter charges from 2.0 to 2.5 grains of Bullseye, or 2.5 to 3.0 grs. of W231 or 3.0 to 3.5 grains of PB or Unique in the .32 Long postwar steel frames.

I prefer the Accurate gang mold which turns out a bunch of them!

119825

[tejano]

I attribute the text below to Mr. Ed Harris:

"My general purpose load for use in modern .32 S&W Long revolvers and the single-shot H&R uses either the 115-gr. Ideal #3118 or 122-gr. Saeco #322. I cast these of soft scrap, 10BHN, tumble in Lee Liquid Alox, size .314, and load in .32 S&W Long cases with Federal 200 primers and 2 grains of Alliant Bullseye at 1.32" OAL. This gives not quite 850 fps in the rifle and 720 fps in various 4-inch revolvers. It is accurate in both the Ruger Single Six and S&W Model 31. An added benefit is that this load pokes out the front of the cylinder of my old I-frame S&W .32 Hand ejector, which keeps me from putting this warmer-than-factory load in the old gun.

A flat-nosed, solid lead bullet, with large meplat at subsonic velocity is fully adequate in energy and penetration against feral dogs or coyotes. My testing of the Saeco #322 at 850 f.p.s. gave 30 inches of water penetration. If you want a bit flatter trajectory to reach out to 100 yards at the expense of a bit more noise, you can increase the charge to 2.5 grs. of Bullseye in S&W Long brass or 3 grains in H&R Magnum brass. It shoots well at a little over 1000 fps in the rifle and 800-850 fps in the revolver.



With the 122-gr. Saeco #322 bullet for the .32-20, seated to 1.32” overall length in .32 S&W Long brass, crimping in the top lube groove using either 2 grains of Bullseye or 6 grs. of #2400, either load will shoot an inch and half at 50 yards with iron sights over a long series. The same loads fired in a relined English rook rifle I built later approach an inch when using an old Unertl 6X Small Game scope."

[Outpost75]

Good info, thanks for posting!

[tacotime]

Trying 1.7 to 2.0 Titegroup produced only so-so groups at 20 yards from a rest. Looking at other powders... although I have never heard of anyone saying the 115gr makes great groups in the .32 SWL.

[Scharfschuetze]

My Model 31 won't hang with a K32, but it will pop prairie dogs and picket pins (Wyoming ground squirrels) with satisfying regularity out to 50 yards using the 115 grain 32/20 boolit. In my revolver it is the best boolit for groups as well as vermin.

The load below is my hunting load and uses a maximum charge of Unique and is right at 900 fps over the chronograph.

[Mk42gunner]

Oh no.... I feel the urge for a Model 31 coming on. I know the sights would be easier to see than the thin sight-like objects on my 1903 I Frame.

Now to find one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Robert

[tacotime]

That is a fine group. I can't get the photo to enlarge... what was the charge? I often overlook Unique, though it was what I started with. Heck, for a while in the early 80's, I didn't even know there were other powders.

[Scharfschuetze]

Tacotime,

PM me. It was just under a max load from an old Lyman manual. It has proved itself to be safe and effective in my Model 31, but I hesitate to post it without some provisos in a PM.

[Scharfschuetze]

Tacotime,

Regarding the 98 grain Speer HBWC, here is my favorite load for it:

98 Grain Speer HBWC Seated flush
Remington cases with light roll crimp
Remington 1 1/2 SP
1.6 grains Bullseye
Velocity is 768 fps over the chronograph; the average for the 18 shots below
POI is almost the same as the previous 115 grain 32/20 boolit shot at a higher velocity. Pretty cool, eh?

[tacotime]

Outstanding group. That is a winning set up, and what I am looking to develop.

I'll use Bullseye to set up a reference point to judge other powders from. I have not been able to beat it in .38 SPL, except that 231 has come very close...

Just hoping to get some traction with Titegroup and 700x and maybe Trail Boss, since I recently happened across them and to conserve Bullseye!

Thanks.

[Scharfschuetze]

Yes, sometimes you just can't beat the classic powders. I too have had a love/hate affair with Tight Group, but on the whole I think that it is a useful powder and have found it mostly position insensitive and to be a good performer in big-straight-wall cases like the 45/70. I have to confess that I've not tried it in the 32 S&W as the Unique and Bullseye loads have proven to be most effective and accurate.

In the 32 S&W Long with the above load, I started with 1.2 grains and went up to 1.8 grains of Bullseye according to my loading notes. The revolver really settled down and started shooting well with the 1.6 grain load. The 1.8 grain load was too much for the hollow base of the Speer boolit and it showed signs on target of the soft lead skirt starting to blow out.

[tacotime]

Never occurred to me in .45-70. Might try it. Had good luck with Unique there, although I am still really uncomfortable with the tiny charge in the big case! Just seems wrong, but works.

[35remington]

Having extensively shot Titegroup alongside Bullseye with various 88, 90, and 98 grain bullets to include WC's and SWC's and RN's, I vote for Bullseye.

However, I'm going through my supply a little fast (not just using it in miserly 32 loads) so the plinking loads go with Titegroup, and the "serious" small game loads get Bullseye. When I have more than the 2.5 lbs. of Bullseye I have on hand now it will be Bullseye full time, save for using Red Dot a bunch as well since I have a lot (28 lbs) of it.

I only have 2 lbs. of Titegroup, but since I don't value it as highly I will shoot it up as soon as I will and feel no great loss when it is gone.

Since Red Dot meters literally dangerously through a lot of the Lee Pro Auto Disk cavities, but interestingly just fine through the .27 cavity of the Micro Disk I use it a lot of the time with a few specific bullets. Cavity diameter is why.....it is wide but relatively shallow as opposed to narrow but deeper. The 1.8 grain charge it dispenses reaches 750 fps with a cast 98 RCBS WC through my 4.25" I frame Smith. With the Lyman 313492 it goes about 700 fps.

Sorry for the slight hijack. Just love plinking and target shooting and varminating with the .32. In the backwater sloughs around the Missouri river it makes a fine gar and riverbank dwelling critter getter gun. I can carry a whole bunch of wadcutters in my pockets. Never go boating or fishing without it.

[tacotime]

No hijack 35. Same reason I was trying some other powders.

That sounds like a dang good life there.

[saleen322]

I load a lot of 32 S&W Long but almost all with WC. Best mold for me has been a 95 grain SAECO and the best "bought bullet" is the Lapua. However, these were shot with Magtech 98 grain WC but using a 0.314 expander plug. With a 0.312 plug, the groups are double this size at 25 yards. Hope this helps.

122086

[Thumbcocker]

Scharfschutzen can you please provide info on the grips on your m31?

[StrawHat]

tejano, thanks for reprinting that info.

[Scharfschuetze]

Thumbcocker,

I was given those grips by a friend who owns a LGS. There are no markings on them to indicate manufacture. They were in a box under a counter and when I offered to buy them, my friend just said, "Put 'em in your pocket."

As you've probably surmised, they make the little J Frame revovler eminently more shootable.

Nice group Saleen322! While in Germany, I saw the 32 S&W Long Walther GSP rapid fire pistols shoot groups like that. Wish I could have bought one of those treasures.

[saleen322]

....Nice group Saleen322! While in Germany, I saw the 32 S&W Long Walther GSP rapid fire pistols shoot groups like that. Wish I could have bought one of those treasures.

I believe Sir, you and I have similar tastes! :) I have a Benelli MP3S along with a model 95. I also have a FAS 603 in 32 WC that just fits your hand so well and the recoil is very low and straight back. Here is a picture of my 32s. The second one from the left is a 52 Smith; the rest are 32s. FWIW, the 32 WC load also shoots great out of my Ruger 32 mag as well as a Blackhawk I have in 327 mag.
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/CenterFirePistols-1_zpsab3c3e51.jpg

[olafhardt]

Thumbcocker, I have found that the Sile grips for the j frames work great for unconcealed j frame carry. I think Conn or somebody maybe CDNN sells them for less than $10. For hardkickers like model 60's I liike Pachmayr Decelerators.