What is your best, most accurate .32 ACP load?

[Rapidrob]

I'm looking for real world,as proven at the range, are the most accurate .32 ACP ( 7.65 Browning) loads you have worked up or have tried and found to be the best. Cast or FMJ does not matter. Perhaps the new Extreme Cavitation solid copper bullets? A bullet much heavier than an original loading?
What really works for you?

[Outpost75]

It depends what pistol you are shooting it in, what chamber it has in it, whether CIP or SAAMI, and the twist rate of rifling. Not all .32 ACPs are the same. My most accurate .32 ACP is a Beretta 70 with 20cm barrel twisted 250mm with CIP chamber, shown scoped below. The Pardini pistols are similarly configured. The Beretta 1935 pistol below has a replacement barrel machined from a chunk of .308 cal. Hart 1:14" twist chambered with the front end of a .30 carbine reamer and set up to headspace on the case mouth. Most accurate out-of-the-box pistol I have is a Type III Colt made in 1920.

251574251575251576251577251578251579

Accurate has a number of .32 ACP designs which work well. If your pistol will feed flat-nosed bullets reliably I would opt for either 31-084H or 31-090B. If you pistol is finicky with anything other than hardball, then 31-087B, 31-087T or 31-094H are good bets.

[Outpost75]

It depends what pistol you are shooting it in, what chamber it has in it, whether CIP or SAAMI, and the twist rate of rifling. Not all .32 ACPs are the same.

251574251575251576251577251578251579

Accurate has a number of .32 ACP designs which work well. If your pistol will feed flat-nosed bullets reliably I would opt for either 31-084H or 31-090B. If you pistol is finicky with anything other than hardball, then 31-087B, 31-087T or 31-094H are good bets. A Colt M1903 or Beretta 1935 will feed Saeco #325 or Accurate 31-095T. In alloy frame guns start at 1.7-1.8 grains of Bullseye and increase up to 2 grains as needed to get reliable function. In steel frame guns in which you have swapped out the factory recoil spring for a .380 recoil spring of the same model, you can go up to 2 grains of TiteGroup, 2.2 grains of Bullseye, 2.5 grains of Unique, 3 grains of AutoComp or 5.5 grains of #2400.

DO NOT shoot these latter loads in Beretta Tomcats or Keltecs, because they are "frame crackers."

251580251581251582[251585251583251584

[charlie b]

I had a Colt 1903 that was crazy accurate. Surprising since the barrel wasn't really fixed to the frame.

Never shot cast in it. Jacketed and WW231. Don't remember the load but it was about half way between start and max load. Cycled gun reliably and would shoot like the pic above.

I don't shoot pistols much so I sold it off. If you want a pistol that isn't a pure target rig then 1903 is a great candidate. Good size and had no sharp corners. Add some better sights and it is a joy to shoot.

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the photo's and load data. The scoped pistol is pretty cool. I like the Beretta 34 with the .308 barrel.
I will try the heavier bullets as well as most of my pistols are steel frames.
I have been playing with the .32 Autos for only a couple of years now for no other reason than "Why not?"
On hand now I have in .32 ACP:
CZ27
CZ50
CZ70
Franz Stock ( nice 4" barrel )
Beretta 81 ( non-BB)
I have a few revolvers in .32 S&W as well. Just as much fun to shoot. I wonder how they would shoot with a heavy bullet at lower speeds? I think they are 1:14 twist. I'd have to check.

[Rapidrob]

I will have to ask around to see if anyone has a few of the bullets you list to try to see if they will feed before I blow a lot of money on new molds.
Your Walther shoots very well indeed.

[Outpost75]

CZ50 is reasonable for what it is, but I found my CZ27 more accurate.

My Beretta 81 I am shooting only with Euro hardball because its minimum CIP chamber is very snug and cast loads optimized for it don't give me the accuracy I desire in the other guns. I also have a Remington 580 bolt action converted to center-fire and rechambered for .32 ACP.

251586251587251588251589251590251591

[Rapidrob]

I have always liked odd-ball firearms. I have built or owned several. As for pistols, I have built a Makarov in .32 NAA which is an amazing little cartridge.
Your modified 580 sounds like fun. What kind of velocities can you achieve? Since there are no SAMI specs for .32ACP, how far have you pushed the load with pressures?

[BC17A]

So far my best has been a 73 grain SWC from a modified Lee 314-90 mold and 2 grains of TG. 1" groups at 10 yards from my Beretta 81 @892fps. They size to .3105" from my Lee sizer so I plan on opening it up a thou which should tighten up the groups.

251623

[Rapidrob]

That is a nice looking "Keith" type bullet. Did you mill off the mold to reduce the cavity size?

[Outpost75]

I have always liked odd-ball firearms. I have built or owned several. As for pistols, I have built a Makarov in .32 NAA which is an amazing little cartridge.
Your modified 580 sounds like fun. What kind of velocities can you achieve? Since there are no SAMI specs for .32ACP, how far have you pushed the load with pressures?

I don't load the .32 ACP rifle hotter than I can use in a sturdy, steel-framed pistol, as doing so defeats the purpose of a walking gun using the same ammo as my pocket gun. While I don't use a can, I mostly keep velocities subsonic for lower noise. Here is velocity data from pistol and rifle comparing typical loads. The 1.7 Bullseye load with 77-90 grain cast bullets is the minimum load which cycles most WW2 era pistols reliably, and is nicely subsonic in the rifle. A max. load for steel-framed pistols only is to load 3 grains of AutoComp, which is a close approximation for Buffalo Bore and hot Euro loads. Good ammo from the rifle shoots about 1-1/2" five-shot groups at 50 yards with 4X hunting scope.

_____________________Beretta 3.4"_________Remington 20"
RWS 73-grain FMJ_______968, 11 Sd__________1214, 19 Sd

Buffalo Bore 75 FN_______997 fps, 7 Sd_________1163, 14 SD

Hornady 71 FMJ
2.4 Bullseye____________969, 17 Sd__________1090, 27 Sd

31-077TB
1.7 Bullseye____________790, 9 Sd___________1035, 19 Sd
3.0 AutoComp__________957. 16 Sd__________1244, 17 bSd

31-090B
1.7 Bullseye____________729, 9 Sd___________1013, 4 Sd
3.0 AutoComp __________962, 14 Sd__________1235, 17 Sd

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the data. it is interesting to see that the same charge can be used for a 20 grain difference in weight of the bullets.
I was asking really,if you had found the upper limits of .32 ACP in your rifle?

[Outpost75]

Thank you for the data. it is interesting to see that the same charge can be used for a 20 grain difference in weight of the bullets. I was asking really,if you had found the upper limits of .32 ACP in your rifle?

I did not pursue the upper limits of .32 ACP in the rifle. I did thoroughly investigate and confirm the upper limits of sturdy, steel-frame, holster-size .32 ACPs, replacing the standard recoil springs with .380 ACP springs for a similar model, endurance testing a Beretta 3032 Tomcat INOX to the point of destruction and continuing firing those loads in the Beretta 1935, Walther PP, CZ27, Colt M1903, etc.

In brief firing of the heavy 3 grain AutoComp loads with 90-grain Hornady .309" XTP hollowpoint in a Keltec, we "disassembled" the pistol in less than a box of ammo! Beretta Tomcat kept going but did eventually fail. Beretta 1935, CZ 27 and Colt M1903 with heavy-up springs are still shooting them. Steel-frame Walther PP digested several hundred with no issues, but since gun was not mine and I was not prepared to replace it if damaged, I returned it to its LE user who carries it as a deep cover backup with those loads.

The smallest rotor for the RCBS Little Dandy measure #00 meters 1.7 grains of Bullseye, which is a pleasant and reliable practice load in .32 ACP with 87 through 95-grain cast bullets, approximating .32 S&W Long ballistics from a revolver of the same barrel length. This assembles a standard pressure Group 1 load which can be used continuously and without worry in your Keltec or Beretta Tomcat.

The Little Dandy #00 rotor also meters 2 grains of TiteGroup, which is a full-charge “Group 1” load with 77 or 78 grain bullets for safe use in the micro guns. The #00 rotor also meters 2.5 grains of AutoComp, a “Group 1,” standard-pressure load with 87 to 95-grain bullets giving about 850 fps from a 3.4” pocket pistol. With bullets heavier than 80 grains 2.0 grains of TiteGroup metered by rotor #00 is a +P Group 2 load for steel frames only!

The RCBS Little Dandy Rotor #0 drops 2.2 grains of Bullseye, a commonly recommended book load in the .32 ACP with a 71-grain FMJ bullet. It also meters 3 grains of Auto Comp, recommended by Olin for 958 fps with a 71-grain FMJ bullet in .32 ACP from the SAAMI test barrel, at only 14,800 psi.

The SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure for .32 ACP is 20,500 psi. The MAP is the sample average plus 3 standard deviations. The Euro-CIP Pmax for the 7.65 Browning is 1600 Bar (23,200 psi), about the same as for the .45 ACP. I reasoned that if a load was VERY uniform, there was “wiggle room” for trying a heavier bullet with 3-grains of AutoComp, for use in standard-sized, sturdy, steel-framed pistols.

I cautiously loaded samples of the 31-087T and 31-090B bullets with 3 grains of Auto Comp to check velocity, inspect ejected cases, and compare combustion and ballistic uniformity to my well-established Bullseye and #2400 loads. Ejected cases appeared normal. My Beretta 3032 INOX Tomcat, had previously digested about 1000 rounds of RWS, S-B and Fiocchi (Euro-CIP) 73-grain hardball with no issues before the start of testing.

I used the Tomcat and Beretta 1935 as test platforms for load development and functional testing. The Beretta Tomcat frame cracked in two places after about 1000 rounds of hot, heavy-bullet handloads. Frame battering is also quite noticable in the photo. The steel-frame Beretta and Colt have soldiered on for several thousand rounds since, after putting .380 recoil springs in them, with no issues.

So, here are the "hot" loads for steel frames only! Your mileage may vary.

“Group 2” .32 ACP Loads which exceed “average factory energy.”

Ammunition __________________Beretta M1935 3.4”
Accurate 31-077B 5.6 #2400_____957 fps, 15 Sd
Acc. 31-077B LD#4 3.0 Unique___1067 fps, 19 Sd
Acc. 31-077B LD#00 2.0TiteGroup__893, 19 Sd
Acc. 31-087T LD#0 3.0AutoComp_943, fps 18 Sd
Acc. 31-087T LD#7, 5.6 #2400___926, 14 Sd
Acc. 31-090B LD#0, 2.2 Bullseye__851, 14 Sd
Acc. 31-090B 2.3 grains HP38____839, 16 Sd
Acc. 31-090B 2.5 grains Unique___901, 33 Sd
Acc. 31-090B LD#00 2.0Titegroup__902, 16 Sd
Acc. 31-090B 3.0 AutoComp______999, 14 Sd
Acc. 31-090B 5.2 #2400_________878, 20 Sd

Hdy 85XTP.312” 3.0 AutoComp__976, 8 Sd
Hdy 90XTP.309” 3.0 AutoComp__968, 17 Sd
Nor 93FMJ .307” 3.0 AutoComp__933, 11 Sd

251637251638251639

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the photo's and info,again.
I wounder if a buffer would have helped to stop the peening? Or perhaps s a variable force recoil spring?
I need to contact Wolff springs to see if they have .380 rated springs for a couple of my pistols.

[Rapidrob]

I just checked Wolff springs web site and they do not have recoil springs for my three pistols in a 'kit" for extra power, or even replacement springs for the original poundage springs.
I may have to measure some of my .380 pistols/7.62x25 and 9mm pistol's to see if any of the recoil springs may be used or modified to work.

[Outpost75]

I got my replacement Colt springs from Wolffe. My PP .380 springs substituted in the .32 came direct from Walther in Germany. I substituted CZ24 factory original springs also bought in Europe for original 7,65mm springs in the CZ27 and new military Beretta M1934 9mm Corto springs from my retired carabinieri buddy in Italy to sub for the 7,65mm M1935 springs. Otherwise check spring rates with a gage and find something about 15% heavier than what's in the gun. A buffer reduces slide travel and may affect functioning.

[BC17A]

That is a nice looking "Keith" type bullet. Did you mill off the mold to reduce the cavity size?

Yes, I cut the mold .090", and milled out the lube grooves.

[dbosman]

There is an article in this month's Fouling Shot That deals with Italian ex-police pistols in 7,65 from some experienced shooters.

[Rapidrob]

I'm not a member of CBA, which is my loss as I have been casting bullets since 1964. I would like to read the article.

[onelight]

I don't know anywhere else a guy could find testing and posts on the little 32 acp like this , simply amazing.
Thanks a lot Outpost75.
What type of failure did the Beretta tomcat have ?

[Outpost75]

I don't know anywhere else a guy could find testing and posts on the little 32 acp like this , simply amazing.
Thanks a lot Outpost75.
What type of failure did the Beretta tomcat have ?

Frame cracked in two places, and significant frame battering:

251675251676

[onelight]

Frame cracked in two places, and significant frame battering:

251675251676

Thanks a lot .

[BC17A]

Here's the other boolit I use from a modified Lee 311-100. Haven't done any accuracy testing from the 81, other than the first time firing it with 1.9gn of Bullseye, and it worked real well. Target was 10yd off-hand.

251686251687251688

[rking22]

What does that bullet weigh as a solid? One band milled off the bottom?

[BC17A]

What does that bullet weigh as a solid? One band milled off the bottom?

With range scrap they drop right at 80gn.

[Jniedbalski]

I am using the cut down lee mold also. I think my mold started out as the lee .311 93 1R . My mold cast at 80.4 gr . Got the mold already milled down from a member here. Iam also using 1.9 of bullseye and my loads shoot great. They seem mild but shoot great with my lead 80 gr bullet or the 73 gr fmj. Don’t know the brand of the fmj’s but they measure out at .312 at 73 gr BC 17A what is the leingth of your cast bullet? Mine are right at .472 long thanks. I just looked up my cut down mold. it is actually a cut down .311 100 2R mold cut down .

[Rapidrob]

I ordered a 92 grain bullet mold to try out. If it does not shoot well out of my pistols I can always use in in my .30 rifles as a "gallery" load.

[BC17A]

I am using the cut down lee mold also. I think my mold started out as the lee .311 93 1R . My mold cast at 80.4 gr . Got the mold already milled down from a member here. Iam also using 1.9 of bullseye and my loads shoot great. They seem mild but shoot great with my lead 80 gr bullet or the 73 gr fmj. Don’t know the brand of the fmj’s but they measure out at .312 at 73 gr BC 17A what is the leingth of your cast bullet? Mine are right at .472 long thanks. I just looked up my cut down mold. it is actually a cut down .311 100 2R mold cut down .

Same mold as yours and they are right at .470"

[rintinglen]

251861
I have found nothing better than 2.2 grains WW-231 and the Ranch Dog 314-75 TC. My Colt 1903 also likes it as does my Tomcat.

[Jniedbalski]

I ordered a 92 grain bullet mold to try out. If it does not shoot well out of my pistols I can always use in in my .30 rifles as a "gallery" load.
My 100 gr lee shoots great out of my 308 savage axis. I size it to 311.. Got the load from Larry Gibson. Its I thank 2.7 to 3.2 of bullseye. Just like a 22 lr very very fun and accurate