Tell Me About Your .32 S&W Long Loads

[Landy88]

The coincidence of my looking for a more lead and powder frugal plinker and small game round and a chance to get one of the old all-in-one Ideal loading tools for it has me interested in this old round, that I confess to knowing little about.

I'm, especially, interested in experiences or opinions on it in rifles: Contenders, converted rook rifles or little Stevens', etc..

[Tracy]

Check out this link: http://guns.connect.fi/gow/ed.html
I'm pretty sure Ed is a member here, btw.

[Landy88]

Check out this link: http://guns.connect.fi/gow/ed.html
I'm pretty sure Ed is a member here, btw.

Thanks, that's a good read.

[EMC45]

There are multiple threads devoted solely to .32 caliber rounds. There are some .32 nuts around this place (I'm one of them)

[Wayne R. Scott]

Here is another thread:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?296491-32-S-amp-W-Long

[Thumbcocker]

Depends a lot on the age and strength of the gun.

[Landy88]

Depends a lot on the age and strength of the gun.

A Contender carbine looks like the easiest route and one that avoids smithing which quickly gets expensive.

[Chev. William]

Alternate Firearm is a Ruger Single Six in ".32 H&R Magnum"; which is a longer Version of the ".32 S&W Long"; Which itself is a Longer ".32 S&W Short". also Carefully Look at the .32 Auto semi rimmed artridge for Plinking.

Best Regards,
Chev. William

[Landy88]

Murphy struck this plan a big blow. The Ideal tool that spurred this idea turned out to be, on actual examination, for the .32 S&W not the .32S&W Long. That stubby little round is just too limited.

I was wondering if I were being a little nuts, in buying a barrel and undertaking a new special purpose cartridge, just because of a neat little loading tool. I'm sure that the practical thing is to just buy a light .35 mold for more lead frugal casting practice and shooting. I think that some of casting can only be learned by casting and shooting what you cast, but my few 200-300 grain molds have been eating through this newbie's meager lead stock pretty quickly.

[Outpost75]

Here are .32 S&W Long data comparing velocity in revolvers and a rifle:

.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”

Group 1 - Standard Pressure

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 31-087T, 2.5 BE______662, 16 Sd______780, 22 Sd_______1000, 15 Sd
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.

Group 2 +P for post 1957 revolvers, Ruger and rfle conversions

Accurate 31-114D, 2.5 BE______746, 9 Sd________795, 15 Sd_______947, 11 Sd
Post-1957 revolvers only_______141ft.-lbs._______160 ft.-lbs._______227 ft.-lbs.

Accurate 31-114D, 5.6 #2400__735, 33Sd_______811, 27 Sd________1083, 38 Sd
Needs heavier bullet or powder charge to improve ballistic uniformity. Bullseye is better!

Accurate 31-114D, 6.3 #2400__768, 22Sd_______839, 37 Sd________1205, 22 Sd
Vertical stringing, "acceptable", but still needs a heavier bullet to improve ballistic uniformity.

Accurate 31-125D, 6.3 #2400__820, 19Sd_______890 19 Sd_________1240, 29 Sd
Better, some unburned powder in revolvers, good accuracy, acceptable, no signs of high pressure.

Accurate 31-134D, 6.3 #2400__828, 19 Sd_______913, 16 Sd________1221, 16 Sd
Max. for post-1960 Colts_____204 ft.-lbs._______248 ft.-lbs._________443 ft.-lbs.!
Good rifle load, good for .32 S&W Long +P for use in H&R Magnum revolvers.

[Landy88]

Accurate 31-114D, 2.5 BE______746, 9 Sd________795, 15 Sd_______947, 11 Sd
Post-1957 revolvers only_______141ft.-lbs._______160 ft.-lbs._______227 ft.-lbs.

Great trove of data. Your top BE load here is perfect for what I wanted.

[Outpost75]

Great trove of data. Your top BE load here is perfect for what I wanted.

Good basic load for modern post WW2 revolvers.

Cut to 2.2 grains for older S&W I-frames and pre-WW2 Colts.

[Gus Youmans]

WW231/HP38 and Bullseye have been the most consistently accurate powders for me in the .32 S&W Long. My favorite bullet is the RCBS 98 grain SWC.

Gus Youmans

[rintinglen]

WW231/HP38 and Bullseye have been the most consistently accurate powders for me in the .32 S&W Long. My favorite bullet is the RCBS 98 grain SWC.

Gus Youmans

This duplicates my choice and experience. Although I have been loading 32 Auto for many years, I am a late comer to the 32 S&W Long. I normally use the RCBS Boolit, 32-98 SWC, or the NOE clone over 2.5 grains of ww-231.

[EMC45]

RCB 32-098 is one of, if not the best bullet for the .32 S&W-L.

[MT Gianni]

The only bullet I tumble lube is the lee 32x90 swc. It sees 2.5 gr Red Dot in a 1950 era I frame S&W.