Shooting .32ACP

[warren5421]

I have several different cast RNFP lead .313 bullets from 87 gr to 112 gr that I use for cowboy shooting in a Ruger .32 H&R mag. I just picked up a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless type III .32 ACP. I read the .32 ACP five page discussion so would like to know the max weight I should shoot. Also is there a different weight spring set for .380 than the .32. Wolf only lists one set used for both .32 and .380. If different where do you get the .380 springs. It's a new world shooting cast in my autos.

[Jniedbalski]

My Bretta 81 they show that the 32 and 380 is the same spring. I shoot a lee cut down 100 gr mold at 80.3 gr with 2.0 to 2.2 of bullseye and size to .311

[rintinglen]

My take is that 84 grains is about as heavy as you want to go. I did some experimentation with a 98 grain rn, a SAECO mood I bought on clearance at Midway years ago, and it shot pretty far from point of aim in my Beretta Tomcat. An RCBS 32-84 worked better, but the 32-75 RF from Ranch Dog (now offered by NOE) is my choice these days. I have loaded hundreds of them with complete satisfaction.

[Dan Cash]

I feed my 1903 Colt and 1907 Savage a steady diet of an Accurate Mold 77 grain bullet.http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-077B-D.png It feeds flawlessly in both pistols and provides as much accuracy as any ammo in those pistols.

I might add that the above bullet is propelled by 2.2-2.4 gr of Unique. Velocity is sufficient to the task.

[Outpost75]

Wolf sells one spring, but it is heavy enough. In my 1903 Colt I shoot Accurate 31-094H with 2.5 grains of AutoComp or 2 grains of Bullseye.

Saeco #325 also feeds and shoots well.

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[onelight]

My take is that 84 grains is about as heavy as you want to go. I did some experimentation with a 98 grain rn, a SAECO mood I bought on clearance at Midway years ago, and it shot pretty far from point of aim in my Beretta Tomcat. An RCBS 32-84 worked better, but the 32-75 RF from Ranch Dog (now offered by NOE) is my choice these days. I have loaded hundreds of them with complete satisfaction.
If that saeco was a roundnose I bought the same one from midway ,shoots good in my 327s but to much bullet for my for 32 auto I learned , from another excellent post on a terminal test on a tomcat by ,outpost75.

[Outpost75]

In the Beretta Tomcat the Accurate 31-077B or 31-084H are good choices. I would not go heavier in the Tomcat. 2 grains of Bullseye or TiteGroup works best in barrels shorter than 3 inches.

In the steel frame Colts, 1935 Berettas, 1922 Brownings, Walther PP, CZ27, CZ50 the heavier bullets are great.

The Beretta 81 police models now being imported are aluminum frame, but have heavy slides and beefy springs. They can handle without damage the heavier 87-95 grain bullets up to, but not appreciably exceeding about 900 fps as determined by actual velocity measurements from their longer barrel lengths. A charge of 2.5 grains of AutoComp is accurate and functions well with the 84-95 grain Accurate bullets designed for the .32 ACP.

[billyb]

Guys with the 1903 pocket pistol check out US armament firearms. Neat stuff there for the 1903. I ordered mags there for mine. Bill

[Divil]

Currently running Meister .312 RN over 2.1gr. Red Dot in my 81fs.

[Jniedbalski]

I did the load of 1.9 of bullseye with .311 74 gr fmj’s and my lead 80.3 gr lee mold cut down from 100 gr. They shot great low recoil . The next batch I loaded 2.0 and 2.2 gr of bullseye. The 2.0 and 2.2 shot great also but the 2.2 is where Iam stopping at using bullseye with the 80 gr bullet. I really don’t want to hot rod this nice pistole i am only shooting paper. The 2.2 gr seemed like factory loads from flochie. A little snappy. Will try the 2.5 of auto comp next.

[Jniedbalski]

Just wondering the 2.5 gr of auto comp looks like a good load .I wonder if HS6 would work also . There right next to each other on the burn chart. Outpost 75 what do you think? I know my most accurate lead bullet load in 40 S&W is with hs6. One thing I noticed with hs6 it shot better the hotter I got it to max load. I stoped at .3 gr below max load in lee’s reloading data. I was using lee .401 175 gr tc bullet with standard lube grove.

[Walks]

Lyman #311252 cast of 50/50 COWW/#2 = 77grs over 1.8grs Bullseye.
Works in a Walther PP, Savage 1907 and Colt 1903.
Haven't tried it with PC yet.

[Outpost75]

Just wondering the 2.5 gr of auto comp looks like a good load .I wonder if HS6 would work also . There right next to each other on the burn chart. Outpost 75 what do you think? I know my most accurate lead bullet load in 40 S&W is with hs6. One thing I noticed with hs6 it shot better the hotter I got it to max load. I stoped at .3 gr below max load in lee’s reloading data. I was using lee .401 175 gr tc bullet with standard lube grove.

I don't have any experience with HS6. Here is some chrono data for Group 1 loads with AutoComp:

.32 ACP Hand Loads OAL 0.945” “Group 1” Loads▪ which don’t exceed factory energy,

Suitable as a "steady diet" for use in Tomcat, Keltec and other light alloy frame pistols:

Ammunition ________________Beretta Tomcat 2.4”____Beretta M1935 3.4”

Acc. 31-077B LD#00 2.0 TiteGroup__790, 12 Sd_______893, 19 Sd
Acc. 31-077B LD#1 2.5 Bullseye____835, 16 Sd_______956, 18 Sd Reduce 0.3 grain for 31-084H
Acc.31-090B LD#00 2.5 AutoComp__729, 11 Sd_______833, 6 Sd also OK with 31-084H
Acc. 31-095T LD#00 2.5 AutoComp_741, 25 Sd_______840, 6 Sd also OK with 31-094H
Acc. 31-095T LD#6 5.2 #2400____750, 17 Sd_______874, 13 Sd also OK with 31-094H

[Cougar Hunter]

I use Hunters Supply 76grain lead flat nose (313) in my 1903 Pocket Hammerless. Load them with 1.8g W231. I use the same load in a 1907 Savage .32ACP

[FergusonTO35]

My Bretta 81 they show that the 32 and 380 is the same spring. I shoot a lee cut down 100 gr mold at 80.3 gr with 2.0 to 2.2 of bullseye and size to .311

Got any pics of your boolits?

[warren5421]

Learning a lot about cast bullet use. Found "Replicating Buffalo Bore's 32 ACP "+P" Ammunition" that had some interesting info in. I didn't know the .32 ACP had such a following. The gun writers sure down talk the .32ACP as not worth looking at.

[warren5421]

I have these two bullets to try to load for my 1903 Colt.
Rim Rock Bullets | Cast Lead Bullets .32 ACP 75 gr. FP sized (.313)
Hunters Supply | Cast Lead Bullets .32 ACP 76 gr. FP sized (.313)

I am going to use either Green Dot 2.5 gr or Red Dot 2.2 gr. from a post that Marshall Thompson made for a carry load after testing in my gun.

Anyone have a practice round that equals Fiocchi 73-grain FMJ round using one of the two cast bullets above? I do love how the old Colt shoots

[Outpost75]

2 grains of TiteGroup or 2.2 grains of Bullseye will give you 900 fps with 75-77-grain bullet from a 3.5" barrel.