.32 Colt New Police

[Thin Man]

I have perhaps a dozen revolvers chambered for the 32 S&W Long and/or 32 Colt New Police cartridge. I also have an assortment of molds to feed these fine revolvers. I can cast RN, SWC, WC, and HP boolits, but have never until recently owned a traditional RF mold for the New Police cartridge. Not that I needed that pattern, but this was an itch that just would not fade away. At least not until recently when a Lyman tong tool hit the auction blocks. This mold was described as "32 NP" for the caliber designation without the "Colt" language included. Willing to take a risk I bid and bought that tool and it is indeed cut for the 32 Colt New Police boolit. Now I could assemble "proper" ammunition for my various Colt revolvers in this chambering. Yes, but would it group worth anything?? My past experience with a variety of RN molds has me finding that the SWC boolits group better than the RN, with the Saeco 325 leading the pack. Off I go into casting and sizing with the tong tool. Boolits dropped from this mold at 0.316" and weighed 105 grains. Hmmm, a bit chunky are we? Sized these at 0.313" and loaded ammo over 2.3 grains HP-38, then created some 32 S&W Long with the Saeco 325 over the same powder charge. My range results were an eye-opener. My control rounds with the Saeco boolit gave their usual tighter than normal groups. When it came to the 32 NP test loads, their group was half the size of the Saeco group. Yikes! Not only do these boolits look traditional but the fly straighter and tighter than my previous favorite load. All this came about because of my interest in nostalgia. I didn't need this pattern, but as others have noted before - "just WHAT does NEED have to do with it?" Isn't it a pleasure to reach out for a diamond in the rough and bring back an honest keeper. Perhaps these groups came from my Colt Detective Special as it's way of saying "thank you". My answer to the Colt is "you're welcome, let's get out and do this again."

[Outpost75]

Would love to see pics of the bullet and mold!!

[Guesser]

I also cast and load for an assortment of Colts labeled 32 N.P. & 32 Police. Have never seen a mold for the Colt bullet. Please post a pic or 2. Thanks....

[Thin Man]

Will try to get our daughter to post photos of the tong tool, cavity and final product. Being from a different generation my computer skills are still lacking. For a general description, think about the early patterns for the 38 S&W where there is a base, one lube groove, one driving band and a longer than normal nose section. That is how this boolit appears. Factory loads for the 32 S&W Long carry a RN boolit. The 32 New Police use the same boolit but with a flat forward tip, the early RF concept.

In all fairness I never expected these boolits to engage the bore all that well and thought it would scatter hits like buckshot. That didn't happen. This boolit loves to travel very well to where the front sight is located when the shot fires. Along with that I suspect it generates somewhat less pressure with only 2 bands engaging the rifling. Have posted this before and will repeat it here - the older tong tools, while only single cavity, were produced in all of the older vintage mold patterns. The trick is to locate one that has the pattern you are hoping to find and that it has not deteriorated from use or neglect. PS - this is an Ideal tool, not Lyman, my bad for posting while tired!

This tool is "faded" on the outside but the mold cavity and block facing surfaces looked (and are) excellent. The goal is to find a clean, usable mold cavity and the remaining neighborhood can be disregarded. As the "handles" are all metal they heat up quickly when I cast more than 50-60 boolits. I insulate these with automotive water hose wrapped in friction tape, even then may wear a leather glove on the hand holding the mold. Yup, gets warm in there.

[EMC45]

Anxious to see pictures Sir.

[Cheshire Dave]

I don't mean to go off topic but I have a Colt Police Positive and have tried 94gr RN and 98 gr RCBS wadcutters with different loads and all shoot about 4" left of aim. Short of adding adjustable sights is there something I can do about this. Blueing on gun isn't great but it's got a good bore and locks up tight. It would make a great kit gun with S&W J frame sight installed. I may have to put it up for sale.

[35remington]

Widen rear sight notch on opposite side.

[Guesser]

It's just me; but every revolver I own shoots left and low, that is almost a hundred revolvers over the years. I learned a long time ago to hold high and right, I don't even think about it anymore. I adjust sights when they allow for it but it's just me and the way I hold.

[Blackwater]

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!

[rintinglen]

Cheshire, you didn't mention the range, but I think a slight tweek to the barrel to the left would bring you to where you want to be... I.E. slightly tightening the barrel would likely do what you want.

[Thin Man]

We're back with PICS (we hope!). Photos will the entire Ideal tong tool, close-up of the Ideal and 32 NP rollmarks, mold cavity and products before and after sizing and lubing. Hope these come through.196197196198196199196200

[Guesser]

Thanks for posting the pics

[35remington]

Fine looking bullet. Looks much like the old factory loads I've seen. Congrats on obtaining that treasure. I have a 1919 Positive myself, in very good shape with spotless chambers and barrel.

[Outpost75]

Lovely!

[EMC45]

Great looking bullet! Looks like the RCBS 32-098

[olafhardt]

OK, since we seem to have a few 32 NP Police Positive fans gathered here, I have a tale here. Years ago when I first reloaded for my mid twenties vintage 6" pp, the Lyman manual listed the MINIMUM load for a 90 grain LSW as 3.5 grains Unique. Since this was listed as " minimum" I was sure it was safe so I loaded up 50 of the Hornady swaged LSW's and headed to the range. The first shot sounded like a 357 and kicked harder than I expected. With the naivete of a novice I went through the other 49. I was dissapointed in that I had wanted a well behaved little gun but it was a blaster. I cut the load to 3.2 grains of Unique and the gun became more fun. A guy showed up at the range with a chronograph, first I had ever seen, and I put a shot across the screen. 1135 fps! That is really hot for a 32NP. I figured I had a hot little gun. Over the next few years I put most of three 500 piece boxes of those Hornady loads through that little gun. Accuracy wise it would not group for squat. I looked down the barrel for lead and all the grooves were full. However, after what were 50 probably proof loads and 1200 or so +p loads the gun is still very tight in the action. I have to tighten up the barrel by hand occasionally but I hardly shoot any more. This has made me question the many writers I read in the past who questioned the strength of the Colt double action. This makes me think of P. O. Ackley who when wanting to know the strength of an action type, kept increasing the loads till the action failed. I am certainly not a P. O. Ackley but I have to say the heat treated Colt Police Positive in 32 NP did not blow up in the hands of this Bubba.

[35remington]

I follow Ed Harris's recommendation not to exceed 850 fps with a 98 in my Positive and Smith Regulation Police, 4 and 4 1/4" respectively. Most often shoot various 98 SWC at 720, replicating factory velocity, or a 98 WC at about the same speed. The 88 grain 313492, which is a particular favorite, goes 820. For high volume shooting I favor WST and Bullseye.

Stay AWAY from Universal in this cartridge!!

[Guesser]

I use B'eye in 32 S&W Long; tried Trail Boss, need to work up some more with TB. I shoot several 98 gr. bullets in the cartridge in several different guns, most Colt & S&W. The Colts seem to be a little more accurate than the S&W models.

[Outpost75]

Here is load data for .32 S&W Long and Colt New Police from Ed Harris, as posted in The Fouling Shot and cross-posted here by permission:

.32 S&W Long Factory Vs. Handloads In Revolvers and H&R “Bunny Rifle”

Remington cases, Federal 200 primers in all handloads:

Ammo Type_____________Colt 2”________Colt 4”_________H&R18”

PMC 98 LRN factory_________687, 13 Sd______797, 17Sd________945, 16 Sd
Highest velocity factory load__103 ft-lbs._______138 ft.lbs.________194 ft.-lbs.

Remington 98 LRN factory____645, 20 Sd______729, 12 Sd________899, 11 Sd
Western 98 LRN factory (1960s)_643, 19 Sd_____658, 22 Sd________912, 17 Sd
Privi-Partisan 98 LRN_________656, 28 Sd______675, 11 Sd_______917, 21 Sd

Accurate 31-087B, 2.5 BE_____662, 16 Sd______780, 22 Sd_______1000, 15 Sd, also OK with 31-087T
Shoots to the fixed sights______84-ft.-lbs._______117 ft.-lbs.______193 ft.-lbs.

Accurate 31-090B, 2.5 BE_____731, 26 Sd_______773, 11 Sd______1066, 16 Sd
Shoots to the fixed sights_____106 ft.-lbs.______119 ft.lbs.______227 ft.-lbs., also OK with 31-095T in later guns.

Accurate 31-114D, 2.5 BE_____746, 9 Sd________795, 15 Sd_______947, 11 Sd
Post-1960 revolvers only______141ft.-lbs._______160 ft.-lbs._______227 ft.-lbs.

196232196233196234196235196236

[Green Frog]

Like Outpost75, I prefer Bullseye loads of 2.5 grains or less under LSWCs or HBWCs in my 32 S&Ws. I can go a little hotter with my 32 H&R or hog wild with my 327 Federal Magnum rounds, but for the smaller framed, mostly pre-WW II revolvers, I feel no burning need to hot rod my reloads. If all I had were 32 S&W Ls and 32 NPs, I might go a little bit hotter, but I really don't feel "the need for speed" with my little guns... they're destined for fun shooting not shaking the ground beneath my feet. YMMV!

Froggie

[Outpost75]

As FYI, Here is the latest mold I have ordered from Accurate. Originally intended for the .30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawk and TT33 in 7.62x25, the parallel nose band above the crimp groove is .310" diameter with tolerance negative to enter the cylinder throats of the Ruger WITHOUT sizing, and the .355 nose length is correct to fit into the US Carbine magazine and the TT33 ande CZ52 mags.

It just so happens that with the driving bands at .312+ tolerance, bullets will drop as-cast so as to be suitable in most .32 S&W Long revolvers, and just coincidentally, the weight, shape and profile of the bullet happens to closely resemble the .32 Colt New Police and would be very suitable in that application, whereas the driving bands can be sized to fit the particular pistol or revolver.

For those interested, the Accurate 36-151H bullet achieves the same effect, approximating the .38 Colt New Police or .38 Colt Special when loaded in .38 S&W or .38 Special brass.

If you want a modern gang mold for a traditionally styled .32 bullet, taking advantage of modern precision computer control of dimensions and tolerances, it is hard to do better than this:

196318

[Green Frog]

Great now I've gotta buy another 32 cal mould. Thanks, Outpost75, thanks a lot! :kidding:

It is pretty though, isn't it?

The Frustrated Frog

[Outpost75]

Great now I've gotta buy another 32 cal mould. Thanks, Outpost75, thanks a lot! :kidding:

It is pretty though, isn't it?

The Frustrated Frog

Yes, and I just ordered another of same profile, but adding .090" GC heel under the base band for .645" overall and about 118 grains for .30 M1 Carbine.