I am making my own powder and decided to use my S&W 1 1/2 for testing.
I was looking around for data on what was normal for this cartridge so I would know how my powder compares to historical norms. Well, I did not find much trustworthy data.
One reference said it was loaded with 9 gr. of black powder and another said 4 grains. The source that said 4 grains said the velocity should be 550 fps.
The Lyman handbooks list a factory duplication load at 528 fps.
Other sources have factory ammo at more like 700 fps.
My testing with 6 grains of GOEX 3f black powder produced 455 fps and my homemade powder produced 395 fps. 6 grains of 3f black powder are all that I can squeeze into the case.
Not satisfied with that jumble of data I decided to dig into my stash of factory ammo and test some. One round of modern R-P head stamped ammo clocked 638 fps.
I tried three rounds of antique ammo that I expected was loaded with black powder, but they were all duds. I broke them down, weighed the powder and bullets, replaced the primers and reloaded them with the original powder.
First was a WRA round, the powder was compacted and hard to remove, I got 5 gr. of powder out of the case and the bullet weighed 84 gr. Reloaded it clocked 428 fps.
Second was a Peters round, the powder was compacted too and hard to remove, I got 5 gr. of powder out of the case and the bullet weighed 84 gr. Reloaded it clocked 508 fps.
Third was a Rem UMC round, the powder was only half compacted near the head the rest just fell out, I got 6 gr. of powder out of the case and the bullet weighed 88 gr. Reloaded it clocked 590 fps.
Does anyone else reload 32 S&W with black powder or have any other data to share.
Tim