Hard Cast Lead Boolits in the .32 ACP

[Captain O]

Let me begin by stating expansion is not the objective, penetration is!

That said, I have a friend that will be using a 3.7" barreled, single-action Zastava M70 for personal protection (as well as nightstand duty). She is 68-years-old and says that this pistol is the best for her "comfort zone". (Forget the "it isn't enough gun" argument, because she won't budge).

I am of the opinion that a hard cast, 71-73 grain slug, driven to 1000-1050 fps, is the ticket for the all-steel handgun to get the job done.

Any handloading suggestions?

[Kosh75287]

Go to my profile and check on my "activities" section. I'm CERTAIN that I commented on a post in which a gent was using 77 (?) grain LSWCs or similar in a .32 A.C.P., and using Alliant 2400 (!) to send them down range. He was getting velocities in the neighborhood of what you're aspiring to.
I commented that I would never have considered using 2400 in such a diminutive case, and that Alliant Unique or Herco were about the slowest propellants I've used in pocket-pistol calibers. Anyway, this gent made it work, so I'm loathe to argue with his efforts, but I did not commit the loading data to memory.
It's been a year ago or longer since I commented on the post(s), so start there and look further back. The data's there, somewhere.

[LIMPINGJ]

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?291374-32-ACP-quot-Balls-Up-quot-Serious-Loads-with-Accurate-31-087T

[Dan Cash]

I am not fond of "hard" cast bullets in anything save for lead armor piercing ammo. That said, I use an 80 grain flat round nose bullet in my 32s cast to 16:1. This bullet is driven to the 1000 fps level with Unique and at 20 feet, it will consistently penetrate the neck of an antelope to include the spine from side to side. The bullet feeds well in a Colt 1903 pocket hammerless and a pair of 1907 Savage. It does not lead. The #36 Ideal hand book shows 2.2 gr of Bulls Eye with a 77 gr bullet. My load is 2.4 Grains Unique. Works in my guns but your mileage may vary.

[Outpost75]

BLUF:

3 grains of Autocomp or 2 grains TiteGroup, minimum OAL 0.95". 90-grain Hornady XTP .309" diameter. Substitute 85-grain .312" diameter ONLY if groove diameter of barrel slugs .311" or larger. Alternately use cast Accurate 31-077B, 31-084H, 31-087B, 31-087T or 31-090B.

DO NOT USE THESE LOADS IN KELTEC OR BERETTA TOMCAT!!

PM me providing an email address which will accept 5MB .pdf file and I can provide the full data dump.