Probably a dumb question about .32 wadcuuter...

[keithfan]

Has anyone past or present make a conversion kit for .32 S&W long WC for the 1911? Is it even workable? I would think the magazine would be the most difficult/expensive part? Just seems to me, if it`s feasible and not crazy expensive, that it would be the ideal indoor Bullseye league centerfire pistol. A couple guys in my League have old Pardini`s, but can`t find any more mags for them. Couple other guys have newer 'high dollar'' Walther's.
I`ve given up on cast bullets for my 1911 9mm for Bullseye shooting. My .45 just seems to be "overkill" for 50` indoor shooting. This winter, I`m shooting my S&W 14 w/my cast WC`s. Am "cheating" by using 2 hands, but irons indoors is a challenge for my old-fart eyes.

[dverna]

Curious why you have given up on the 9mm?

[Nobade]

I've seen 38 special versions but never 32s. I'd think one of the European pistols would be a lot easier and cheaper way to get there.

[shooting on a shoestring]

Dumb question?
No!
It sounds like a fun idea!
It’s certainly not a commercially viable thing to set up a 1911 for 32 wadcutters, but any way to launch 32 wadcutters is a good idea!
Any reason to focus just on the 1911? There’s a few other “platforms” out there that are already ready to launch 32 wadcutters. S&W Model 16, Ruger SSM in 32 H&R, S&W M&P in 32-20, Ruger GP100 or Sp101 in 327, S&W Hand Ejectors in 32 SWL would all be ready off the shelf to shoot 32 wadcutters. Might be a cheaper option than smithing a 1911 to do it.

And if you have deep pockets there’s the 1911 Nighthawk in 30 Super Carry…..
Hey! Maybe the mags for it would work with 1911 shooting 32 SWL???

[shooting on a shoestring]

What do you think about this?

321942

30 Super Carry shooting Accurate 31-117E.
I’ve seen used ones, Shield EZ, for about $400.
Might even turn out to be a collectors item and highly sought after soon as they go out of production!

[Mk42gunner]

I think by the time you pay someone to modify a 1911 to work reliably with the .32 S&W Long cartridge, you could buy a rather large box of S&W K-32's. And they are not cheap anymore, if you can find one.

Does sound like a neat idea though.

Robert

[20:1]

You may be able to modify a Colt Ace slide for 32 WC, but it would be costly to do, and magazines would likely need to be completely fabricated somehow.

[Texas by God]

Sleeve an Astra 1921/400 barrel for the .32 S&W Long. It’s already blowback and there’s room in the magazine.
Of course an Astra 400 isn’t cheap anymore either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M-Tecs]

Someone got a great deal. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1028956245

[Nobade]

Some got a great deal. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1028956245

No kidding!

[Green Frog]

A gunsmith friend of mine, now deceased, worked on a 1911 based 32 auto pistol, but he chose the longer 32 H&R case. I can’t remember for sure, but I believe he used the little Lyman hybrid wadcutter with the short SWC nose (313445) so it would feed better. He modified a 9mm mag and got the whole thing to shoot (I don’t know how reliably) but then moved on to other projects.
Froggie

[keithfan]

Yeah, a problem I`ve had for years-Gold-collar ideas on a blue-collar income. ha I`ve always lusted after a S&W .32 target revolver, but didn`t realize how rare they are. Always wondered if the little Browning .380 (mini 1911) could be converted... I gave up on the 9mm cast bullets for Bullseye because my original thought was a cheap, low velocity load. Didn`t work out as some bullets would tumble, and many weren`t accurate. A few store bought ones were OK. Again, my main reason for trying this was trying to be cheap. If I cranked up the velocity, then recoil seemed "sharper" than the .45. I bought 1000 124 gr FMJ FP to try eventually. Would be nice to find a cheap load like my .45; 185 or 200 gr SWC (I cast), 3.4 gr Bullseye, cheap LP primers (I`ve had several thousand primers for 20 years).

[country gent]

A gunsmith friend had some parts for converting a 1911 to 32 s&w long. Like the 38s it was a wad cutter only gun.I believe a 45 barrel could be reamed out and sleeved but the mags will be the problem. My 38 lock up wad cutter 1911 uses a 7 lb recoil spring the 32 might need even lighter and possibly some lightening cuts inside the slide.

The parts are still available for the 38 spl conversion If you can fit them and do the work yourself its not a bad conversion. The 38 amu would be even easier as its a cut down and reamed 223 case uses 9mm mags I think. the rimed cases mags are a pretty involved follower.

My 38 spl 1911 is a real shooter. Has a 6" barrel in a 5" slide. ultra dot sight on a frame mounted mount. Cylinder and slide shop trigger sear and hammer fitted to a 3 lb pull. I use 148 HBWCs but it could be loaded and set up to function with the 100 grn lee wad cutters lowering recoil even more and saving lead.

The other way might be a 38 super with wad cutters and a light spring. Again the 100 grn 38 lee wad cutter might really shine here

[Mk42gunner]

Yeah, a problem I`ve had for years-Gold-collar ideas on a blue-collar income. ha I`ve always lusted after a S&W .32 target revolver, but didn`t realize how rare they are. Always wondered if the little Browning .380 (mini 1911) could be converted...
Sometime late last night I thought about using one of the mini almost 1911's, either the Sig 238/938 or the Kimber Micro whatever 9mm as a donor gun. Then this morning I remembered the Browning .380. It may be the best choice for this conversion.

Colt started with the .32 ACP Model 1903 and basically changed the magazine and barrel for the .380 version. Maybe???

Not sure how difficult the trigger would be on the tiny versions, but they have to be better than the spongy triggers on the currently popular striker fired guns.

Robert