32 acp

[arclight]

Hi guys,

I just scored a box of Hornady swaged 32 CAL, 90gr bullets. They are a SWC bullet measuring .314dia.

Is this safe to load as-is for 32ACP? Should this be more like .311-.312?

Thanks,

Arclight

[Bret4207]

Should be fine, you'll probably have to single load them. Your seating may size them down a bit.

FWIW- that's a fine boolit (?) for 30 cal applications and any of the 32 cal pistol rounds.

[StarMetal]

My Walther PP won't chamber the cartridge if the bullet is over .310 depending on the brand of brass. You may want to make up a dummy test round to find out if your pistol has as tight as chamber as mine.

Nothing more disconcerning then loading up a bunch and finding out they don't fit.

Joe

[JW6108]

I have used a lot of them in .32 Long, but there are some things you might want to consider.

As you have noticed, they are lubricated with a dry lube. This works well with the dimpled surface of the bullet's wide driving band. With much sizing, these will become so shallow that I would not expect them to hold enough of any sort of lube to prevent leading. It may or not be a substantial amount, but I would expect you to see it. YMMV

Your chamber's dimensions may or may not permit the use of anything much larger than the standard suggested diameter for the .32 ACP, which is usually given as .311. Due to their weight and corresponding length, they will have to be seated deeply to get them into a magazine. Just to check something, I tried to insert one by hand into a .32 ACP case; it did not want to go in very far and when I removed it I noticed that the case itself was fitting tightly enough to do a little bit of sizing on its own. These bullets are swaged, and of necessity must be quite soft.

Also, I haven't seen any data for .32 ACP using a bullet this heavy from any of the powder manufacturers. There is cast bullet data for bullets of 77 grains in the Lyman Handbook, so that much is certainly feasible. If somebody else on the board has a Lee manual, they might check to see if they have data for their 93 grain bullet (I would be interested in that data myself, since I cast the 93 grain bullet for .32 Long and would like to try it in .32 ACP, if possible). However, the Lee is a round nose bullet with two grease grooves, so does not have near the bearing surface of the Hornady. That, alongside with the necessary deep seating may not be a combination that you would feel comfortable with.

Just my .02 worth.

[StarMetal]

My Lyman cast book has both 77 and 84 grain, but one can work up a load with a heavier bullet.

My groove diameter on my Walther is .309, so .311 is little too fat for my chamber.

Joe

[arclight]

Got it. I was thinking about 1.5-2.0gr of W231 for this number. I've done 75gr cast loads using a cut-down Lee 30cal LRN boolit with good results.

Also, does anyone know why the cases seem to come out of the resizer with a weird "hourglass" profile to them? I've never had this happen with 9mm. Will post pics if that helps.

Arclight

[StarMetal]

My 32 acp sizer die leaves the portion where the bullet seats sized down more then the rest of the case. That's even after the expander sizes it back out some. Doesn't matter as long as the case inside diameter isn't a lot smaller then the bullet diameter and 32 acp really head spaces off it's rim.

Joe

[JW6108]

My Lyman cast book has both 77 and 84 grain, but one can work up a load with a heavier bullet.

My groove diameter on my Walther is .309, so .311 is little too fat for my chamber.

Joe

Joe, what does your Lyman have for the 84 grain bullet? Thanks.john

[StarMetal]

Joe, what does your Lyman have for the 84 grain bullet? Thanks.john

Sir I'll give you the load for some of the more popular powder and if you query me about another I'll find it for you.

Unique: 1.8 gr give 650 fps to 2.5 grs max gives 860. Bullseye: 1.5 gives 650 fps to 1.9 grs max give 795. Green Dot: 1.6 grs gives 680 fps to 2.3 grs max gives 845 fps. Red Dot: 1.5 grs gives 665 fps to 2.1 grs max gives 895 fps.

Joe

[JW6108]

Sir I'll give you the load for some of the more popular powder and if you query me about another I'll find it for you.

Unique: 1.8 gr give 650 fps to 2.5 grs max gives 860. Bullseye: 1.5 gives 650 fps to 1.9 grs max give 795. Green Dot: 1.6 grs gives 680 fps to 2.3 grs max gives 845 fps. Red Dot: 1.5 grs gives 665 fps to 2.1 grs max gives 895 fps.

Joe

I really appreciate that.

Do they show any data for WW231 or WST? If not, I think I can build on what you have looked up already with a burning rate chart.

Thanks again. john

[StarMetal]

I really appreciate that.

Do they show any data for WW231 or WST? If not, I think I can build on what you have looked up already with a burning rate chart.

Thanks again. john

No, it's the older version. The newer one, which I don't have, may.

Joe

[imashooter2]

Here's the data I have for the Hornady 90 grain swaged SWC in .32ACP:
1.7 grains of Bullseye for ~800 fps
2.0 grains of W231 for ~850 fps
2.0 grains of Unique for ~800 fps
2.4 grains of Herco for ~800 fps

I particularly like the Herco loads and have shot thousands of them with complete satisfaction from an old Walther PP.

[JW6108]

Thanks, IS2.

I used Herco many years ago in .357 and it tended to leave a lot of residue. How has it been for you in .32 ACP?

[imashooter2]

I haven't noticed any unburned flakes or any of that. No buildups that impact function over several hundred round range sessions.

[willchris]

Star Metal,

Thanks for the Lyman data. Have that for the 75 and 78 Grain bullets? I just picked up 4 pounds of Green Dot for my .38 & thought I'd give it a try with the .32.

Have the same problem with a CZ 70, if the bullets is over .310, it's won't chamber with certain brass (like S & B, which is more common now). I have used the Lee Factory crimp die to resize in the case, but am considering running these through a lube-sizer to .309.

This what you are doing?

[willchris]

Re-read a few of the posts today, and decided to slug my CZ 70 today. The condition of the weapon is excellent.

Came up with a bore diameter of .308" with the first egg sinker. Same for the other two. It's definitely .308" !

I had been resizing "in the case" with a Lee Factory Custom Crimp Die, but now think I'll spend the $15.00 and go with the Lube and Sizer die at .309"

[dsmjon]

Great info Starmetal & IS2, thank you for posting. I hate to bump a 6mo old thread but would either of you, or anyone else, have specific data for Power Pistol and/or Blue Dot powders? I'm using an 85gr LRN slug, but if you can list data as used for above specs I will work off of that.

TIA!

[imashooter2]

That was the sum total of my heavy bullet .32 ACP data. I've never used Power Pistol. From my experiences with Blue Dot, it likes more pressure to burn than you can get in .32 ACP.

[primersp]

in my ppk the lyman 313249 sized at 310 is ok but in 313 don't chamber
i have also try a rcbs32- 98 swc sized at 310 but no better than the lyman

[dsmjon]

Thanks fellas. I have liked those 2 powders b/c they *seem* to produce a larger flame front out of the muzzle. While packing such a small hole poker, I want as much noise and fire to go with it (obviously without KILLING 10yd accuracy). If by some miracle I were to miss someone, they'd be so damn scared I won't need to clear the mag.