.32 H&R / HP-38 / TiteGroup help / Missouri Bullet Co

[MStarmer]

Ok, go easy on me, first post on this board.

Recently acquired a S&W 432UC and it's fantastic. Long time loader here for 35 years but this not much in wheel guns other than .38 spcl.

Anyway I'm heavily stocked in TG, plus I have 2lbs of HP-38. I've (2) sample packs from Missouri Bullet, both Hi-Tek coated. The target 98gr WC-BB and the cowboy #6 100gr RNFP. The problem I'm having is locating a reliable source of data for these using TG or HP38. Seems stuff is all over the place or not applicable. I was going to order one of the LoadBooks for .32 H&R but not sure if there will be anything I can extrapolate into a working load.

I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or push the envelope just, looking for a safe reliable target load that hits to the sights and uses the powder / primers I have stockpiled. I'm not opposed to adding a pound of another powder if absolutely necessary but I feel like HP-38 should do the trick?

Thanks all!

[lawdog941]

I have good luck with 3.5 HP-38/231 and 3.5 Green Dot with the 100 grainer.

[MStarmer]

I have good luck with 3.5 HP-38/231 and 3.5 Green Dot with the 100 grainer.

Thanks for the quick reply! See this what I find kind of confusing, Hodgon shows 3.7 MAX of HP38 on a Speer Jacketed 100gr, so for a coated cast wouldn't this be over max?

[Wheelgun]

I’ve had good luck with TiteGroup in 32h&r mag. About 3.2gr under a 100-110gr boolit.

I’ve had zero issues using jacketed data for cast, but start low and work up.
As long as I’m .01-.02 over groove size I’ve had zero leading even with max loads in my Ruger.

[dg31872]

I too use Tightgroup in the 32 H&R Ruger revolver guns. 3.5 for RCBS 32 semi wad cutter and I reduce the 98 grain wadcutter to 2.3 grains. Accurate and fun.

[MT Gianni]

Thanks for the quick reply! See this what I find kind of confusing, Hodgon shows 3.7 MAX of HP38 on a Speer Jacketed 100gr, so for a coated cast wouldn't this be over max?

If you study alot of manuals you will see cast in two lights. First is swedged which is loaded dead soft, second is for cast bullets which often have a few grains more than jacketed as the friction is higher with jacketed. Coating it puts you somewhere in the middle, with out the slipperiness of lead but still slicker than copper.

[MStarmer]

If you study alot of manuals you will see cast in two lights. First is swedged which is loaded dead soft, second is for cast bullets which often have a few grains more than jacketed as the friction is higher with jacketed. Coating it puts you somewhere in the middle, with out the slipperiness of lead but still slicker than copper.

Yep I'm usually a plated bullet shooter, using proven, easy to replicate factory loads. Funny how many plated bullet companies aren't even out there anymore. Both the ranges I frequent are strictly no lead, even coated bullets were frowned upon. I had recently talked with both and powder coated projectiles are ok at this point. Looking for .32's brought me to Acme and MBC, so going forward I'll look at jacketed data and work up. Feel free to keep adding HP38/W231 and Titegroup loads for the MBC's! Much appreciated.

[lawdog941]

If you study alot of manuals you will see cast in two lights. First is swedged which is loaded dead soft, second is for cast bullets which often have a few grains more than jacketed as the friction is higher with jacketed. Coating it puts you somewhere in the middle, with out the slipperiness of lead but still slicker than copper.

This above. I’m shooting a Ruger SSM. I’ve never chrono’d it but my estimates are ~1000 fps. I don’t get any leading.

[curiousgeorge]

Loaded 100 rounds of 32 H&R this last weekend with a 95 grain HBWC seated just a little above flush with 2.3 grs of HP38. Took the load out of the Hornady book for their 98 gr WC (I think discontinued now). I'm shooting out of 2 of the original Ruger Single Sixes with adjustable sights. I'm only looking for about 700fps for an accurate paper punching load with that skirted bullet.

[MStarmer]

I finally found one of the the all in one load data books for .32 H&R so I can double check and verify some acceptable loads. I ended up loading a test batch of 3.0gr of HP-38 with the MBC DEWC.

I found that load on the Pistol-Forum.com, looks like right where I want to be, credit to CCT125US.

I believe this is where I will settle in.

432UC
.32 H&R Mag.
MBC 98gr DEWC
3.0gr Win. 231
1.145 OAL
Starline brass
CCI SPP

817, 808, 801, 811, 802, 822, 831, 807, 800, 805, 820

Average: 811
SD: 9.5
ES: 31

[Larry Gibson]

Loaded 100 rounds of 32 H&R this last weekend with a 95 grain HBWC seated just a little above flush with 2.3 grs of HP38. Took the load out of the Hornady book for their 98 gr WC (I think discontinued now). I'm shooting out of 2 of the original Ruger Single Sixes with adjustable sights. I'm only looking for about 700fps for an accurate paper punching load with that skirted bullet.

The Hornady HBWC was/is 90 gr. The Speer HBWC was/is 98 gr.

I load either in Starline 32 H&R cases over 2.3 gr Bullseye which give excellent accuracy and small game performance at 800 fps +/- out of my 6 1/2" original run SSingle Six. Your load should be close to the same with TG powder.

[curiousgeorge]

Larry,
I should have added more info in my original post. The bullet is from National Bullet Company (purchased here on the site with several boxes of other .32 cal bullets years ago), smooth sided hollow base wadcutter but coated, is marked as 95 grain but actually weighs around 102 - 103 grains. Not a great bullet but makes ok light loads out of the Rugers.

The 2.3 grs of HP-38 (WW-231) is only getting 700 - 750 fps with this heavy bullet, but is really all the velocity I want. I've been loading some of my least used / older powders with some of the odd bullets I've acquired over the years, saving the Bullseye in particular for the 2.7 grs 38 wadcutter loads (just loaded another 1k on my Star). For example, I've been shooting 20.0 grs of WW-630 with 420 gr 457193 molded sometime in the early 1970s in my 45-70.

I always appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I wish I had a book of all your tests and posts.
Steve

[MStarmer]

Here's my results using the 3.0gr of HP38 over the 98gr MBC wadcutter. 7/10/25yds with decent results. Only the second outing with the 432UC and it seems to be breaking in nicely. I shot all 100rnds I had loaded of the MBC loads and a a mix of the Hornady 85gr XTP's that I loaded. Not a super fan of the wadcutter as it's not as easy to load the chambers as a SWC. I may try to run this in one of our local ASI matches and need to be able to charge with speedloaders. Sights seem pretty regulated, even with my horrible vision did pretty well. I'm happy when I can hit the center at 25yds off hand.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53699285584_98de55523e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pPdSKs)IMG_4636 (https://flic.kr/p/2pPdSKs) by MStarmer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mstarmer/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53698050052_f02f846180_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2pP7xtb)IMG_4637 (https://flic.kr/p/2pP7xtb) by MStarmer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mstarmer/), on Flickr

[Thumbcocker]

More than respectable for a 2" belly gun at 25. Mrs.Thumbcocker is interested in a 632uc.