32 Mould Joint Project

[Green Frog]

I just had an all-too-brief visit from Dale53 (and the lovely Mrs53) here in VA. As we discussed sticks and strings and lubricating wax we discovered that we have both decided to increase our already rather extensive selection of moulds for the 32 caliber family of revolvers. He's ordering another SWC and a neat DEWC while I've got an order in on a HBWC group buy that just completed. :happy dance:

Between us now we will have over a dozen different styles and weights represented for this one family of cartridges, running from a minimum of about 90 grains up to a maximum of 125. Since we load for 32 S&W up to 327 FM as well as the 32-20, we should be able to find uses for many different bullets and perhaps identify some trends running through the cartridges as well. Even if we don't learn much new, think of all the shooting we'll get to do! :2_high5:

It isn't OCD if two or more share in the same endeavor, it's the beginning of a movement! :bigsmyl2:

Froggie

[ndnchf]

There must be something in the water here in Virginia. I've got about a half dozen vintage 32 molds. Although mine are mostly for 32-20 rifle use. I also make heel bullets from some for use in my 32 short and long colt, 32 long and extra long rimfire rifles. Oh yeah, I do have a vintage 32 S&W revolver too. The little 32s are sweet!

[Green Frog]

Well, I started out with the 3118, and the loan of a 311316, then added a 313445, 313492 (all Lyman/Ideal numbers and upgraded along the way to DCs) then branched out to an NOE 314008 five cavity in a group buy and a Mihec brass 313640 HP 2 cavity. I'm waiting on a just completed NOE 315-90-WC (HB) group buy. I still don't have the 311316 DC nailed down for myself yet, but I'm really not into gas checks anyway, so I'm not looking too hard.

Why do I need these? Well, a couple of 32 RPs from the twenties, plus a 32 RP target, a post-War 32 snub I-frame and a custom S&W K-327 (the infamous Project 616) and even a Ruger Blackhawk 8 shooter in 327 FM. That takes a lot of feeding. Oh, did I mention the S&W 32-20 M&P and the Navy/Uberti 32-20 SAA? Yep, takes a lot of feeding. :lovebooli

Froggie

[Mk42gunner]

To add to the madness, many of the .32 handgun molds do well in most of the .30-.31 caliber rifles. Very useful for .22 replacement plinkers and garden protectors for those varmints that are just too large or too far away to comfortably handle with a .22.

Robert

[MT Gianni]

32 molds include 90 gr Lee swc, 95 gr Ly WC, RCBS 98 swc, 3118 NOE 1 cav HP, 311640 NOE. I have also used the 113 fp both checked and plain based. Handguns are an I frame 32 long S&W 4", 5 1/2" SS 32 H&R and a Charter Arms Target Patriot 327 F 4". I just replaced the grips on the ss with Jay Scotts and cut my group size 30%. I am happy with them though I really don't get the CA 327 out much. The other two do so much of what I want a small bore handgun to do.

[rintinglen]

Yeah, the darned things do multiply. I have a 32-acp 71 grain MP mold, a RD 314-75, an RCBS 32-84, a 311-419 WFN GC 84 grain mold, a 311-245 92 grain RN, a SAECO 94 grain RN, an NEI 313-100 SWC, an RCBS 32-98 WC, an RCBS 32-98 SWC, an MP 314-640 100, a 3118 and a 311-316. I have about 10 32's of various sorts that need feeding and there is something for everybody some where in the bunch.
Were I to pick just one, I think it would be the RCBS SWC. But there are several that deserve an honorable mention.

[rbuck351]

Here's what I've been doing for the 31/32cal guns. I have 2 7.62 x 25 pistols a 32 S&W long and a 32/20 rifle all of which used a little different size and shape. I bought and old Swag-O-Matic and made a .315 die for it so now I can cast any boolit in the 30/32 cal range lube it and crunch it to whatever nose shape I can cut into a top punch. Also I can drop in a GC and make whatever chunk of lead I put in into a GC bullet. Then the next thing. I found that 50BMG primers are about .315 OD so I remove the anvil, anneal them and use them for half jackets for a variety of 31/32 cal bullets using cast 22 or 25 cal boolits as cores. And lastly My 32 S&W long has throats measuring .321. How or why I don't know but accuracy is dismal even with 315 boolits which is about as big as I can get in the case and still chamber them. So I made a two piece die with a .312 bottom and a .321 top which turns out very nice jacketed heeled bullets that shoot fairly well or lube a cast boolit and mash it into a heeled boolit. The 7.62 x25 spit out boolits fast enough that GCs are a good idea and the barrels are about .313/.314 yet a .3105 is as big as you can load and still get the rounds to chamber because of small throats. Perfect formula for leading. I resize the .315 half jacketed bullets to .3105 which loads and shoots well with very little leading. A 50 primer cup and a 75gr cast 257 makes a really neat 85gr SWC half jacket that works well for a bullet to form into these other sizes/shapes

[Outpost75]

I have gone the opposite way in my .32 affliction and have traded off or given away all of my older single- and double-cavity molds, and have standardized on Accurate designs of the same basic shape, but in a range of weights which work splendidly for the full range of guns from .32 S&W and .32 ACP through the 7.62x25 Tokarev, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Mag., and for rifle loads in single-shot rifles chambered in .32 S&W Long (Rifle), .30-30, .303 British, .30-'06, etc.

Here is the entire lineup of the bullets which I am now using with great success and satisfaction. For each of these I have 5-cavity blocks, with two cavities hollow-pointed by www.hollowpointmold.com. Diameters of 114D and 134D are optimized for .32 revolvers, and .303 British and drop .314-.315." Diameters of 087T, 125D and 155D were ordered smaller at .311-.312" so as to require less sizing in the .32 ACP, 7.62x25, .30 cal. rifles and the .32 S&W Long when chambered in rook rifles using barrels of nominal ".30 caliber" dimensions.

154076 154077 154078154079

31-087T load 1.5 Grains Bullseye in .32 S&W (NOT Long), 2.0 grs. Bullseye in .32 ACP, 5.5 grains Alliant #2400 in sturdy steel frame .32 ACP guns only, Colt M1908, CZ27, Walther PP, Beretta M1935. In the 7.62x25 CZ52 pistol 5.5 grains Bullseye gives 1420 fps. without leading if COWW are water dropped.

Bullets for all other applications are 50-50 COWW-Plumber's lead, ~8 BHN.

31-114D load 2.0 grains Bullseye in the .32 S&W Long S&W Hand Ejector, not to exceed 2.5 grains.

31-125D load 3.0 grains of Bullseye in .32 H&R Magnum or .32-20, 5 grains in most .30 cal. rifles as "small game and gallery load."

31-134D load 6.2 grains Alliant #2400 in .32 S&W Long for use in post 1960 steel Colt D-frames, S&W Models 30 and 31 and Rugers. 6 grains of Bullseye in .303 British or 7.62x54R as a "small game and gallery load."

31-155D load 6.2 grains Alliant #2400 in .32 S&W Long (Rook Rifle) with barrel twist of 14" per turn or faster. Also excellent in .30-30 with 10 grains of #2400, or .30-'06 with 8 grains of Bullseye.
154080

[Dale53]

I currently have a Smith 16-4 (6" barrrel with Red Dot sight), a Model 631 with 4" barrel, and a Ruger Sp101 with 4" barrel and a Red Dot sight. I have also taken my TC Contender with Custom JD Jones 32 H&R Magnum out of retirement and added to the test group.

My current molds are a Lee six cavity 90 gr. SWC TL, a custom Lee Group Buy 100 gr. Keith, and a Lee six cavity 90 gr. TL full wadcutter that is entirely too large as cast.

The Lee 90 gr. SWC TL shows much promise (this came to me through the good efforts of Froggie). The Custom Group Buy Lee shoots well, also.

However, I have currently, on order, a five cavity mold from NOE for a clone of the RCBS 98 gr. SWC (my favorite bullet style for the .32's) AND a 100 gr. dbl ended wadcutter from Mihec. I was expecting to hear from both of them this week but nada... Hopefully, I'll get a PM from each of them next week asking for my money preparatory to them shipping the molds.

I ran twenty pounds of .38 wadcutters today, getting ready for a full bore casting session (or sessions) for the new molds, when they get here. I plan to first try Ben's LL on both designs. If they shoot well, then that is probably where I'll stop. If not, then, I'll run the bullets through the Star and size/lube them with Carnauba Red. I have great expectations for Ben's LL, however, so we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm lookin' for groups well under 1" at 25 yards off a rest, then I'll start practicing for the first World's Championship of .32's with Froggie (invitation only:mrgreen:).

Froggie can use whichever of his .32's he prefers - I plan to use my 16-4 and .32 H&R cases. I have high hopes for these new bullets.

Froggie has a number of FINE .32 revolvers and he can use any one he pleases.

I'm REALLY lookin' forward to the upcoming tests!

We'll keep you posted with results (good, bad, or indifferent:bigsmyl2:).

Dale53

[Dale53]

I got that notice from NOE that I have been waiting for. The mold is ready to ship AND there is a 20% year end discount! This is for the NOE .315" 103 gr SWC in a five cavity aluminum mold. However, he has them in several different combinations including brass molds and hollow points. There are extras if you order NOW! The 20% discount is only good until December 7, 2015. It should be delivered in three to five days!

I have a dbl. ended wadcutter (100 gr.) six cavity aluminum mold ordered from Mihec and I am expecting to get that notification from him any day now. When I add that one, my .32 collection will be complete!

The Frog and I will keep you all informed of our progress.

Dale3

[Idaho Mule]

Is this one of those 12 step programs?? I "might" need help too. JW

[Green Frog]

Me at meeting, "Hello, my name is the Green Frog and I am a 32-aholic."

Response from others, "Hello, Froggie. We feel your pain!"

Me, beginning to rationalize, "I can quit any time I want, but I need another mould for my 32 S&W L (or H&R or 327) so I thought I would just buy this one more."

Response, "We've been there Froggie. Try to be strong!"

Me, "Oh well, the order is in. Besides, who wants to be labeled a quitter!"

Froggie

[Outpost75]

Froggie,

Did you know there is a "gentlemen's club" named after you on US Rt.11 between Inwood and Martinsburg, WV? Although I do not frequent such places, if you like I could stop by there in broad daylight when it is safe to do so, and take a picture of the sign, which you might enjoy.

[Green Frog]

Froggie,

Did you know there is a "gentlemen's club" named after you on US Rt.11 between Inwood and Martinsburg, WV? Although I do not frequent such places, if you like I could stop by there in broad daylight when it is safe to do so, and take a picture of the sign, which you might enjoy.

That would be great. Could you e-mail it to me in a plain brown envelope, please? :bigsmyl2:

I hear and see all kinds of frog related stuff and enjoy all of it... I've even got a ceramic soap dish somebody once gave me made up to show a frog in a bikini! Of course my bathroom also has a frog toothbrush holder, soap dish (not that one!) and a frog tissue dispenser. Things will get messy around here when I croak!

Regards,
Froggie

[Dale53]

Froggie;
You are so-o-o BAD!

Dale53

[TXGunNut]

There's a Green Frog restaurant an hour or two west of here that I've been told has an excellent chicken fried steak and Clan McGregor is their house Scotch. I'm not much on blended Scotch these days but I love a good chicken fried steak. Had an aunt that collected all kinds of frogs for most of her life. We carefully wrapped each one and took them to the funeral home the day of her memorial service. We concluded the services with a "frog adoption" for all the poor little orphan frogs.:bigsmyl2:
Back on topic I really love the NOE 314008 (think it was my first group buy!) and the Lee 98 gr TL bullet. I'm up to four 32-20's now :shock: and they can't seem to agree on one boolit.