.32 H&R Mag Ruger 3 1/4" barrel LOADS

[warren5421]

I want some hot loads for my Ruger SP101 in .32 H&R Mag. My play load is 2.3-2.5 gr Red Dot behind a 96 gr RNFP. Very easy load on my hands but would like a hot load to play with. It will be used in the Ruger and a .32 H&R Mag Marlin.

[Wheelgun]

The Sp101 is chambered in 327 Mag also, so it could be push fairy hard.

The Hodgdon website list 11gr of Lil’Gun with a 100gr jhp as max for 32 H&R. I’ve ran 10.5 with a 118gr cast and it’s pretty stout.

You can also look up Skeeters old loadings, they are pretty interesting.

[dougader]

Speer 14 lists their 100 grain jhp/10.5 grains Max with W296 for 1140 fps from a 5.5" Single Six. Their loads are within SAAMI max pressure of 21,000 CUP.

Brian Pearce in Handloader mag had a max load with the Hornady 100 grain XTP bullet of 11.8 grains W296. I have loaded 11.6 - 11.8 grains for my daughter's Single Six and the gun handles the load with applomb. IIRC, this load is around 36k PSI.

I fired 6 of the Pearce load in my S&W 431PD Airweight. The gun handles the load fine, but I won't fire them again unless a self defense situation presents itself. My concern is stretching the aluminum frame. I have no such concern for the Ruger SP101 or the Single Six.

I would NEVER shoot a load like that in any lesser gun, like the H&R 32 HRM guns.

[GooseGestapo]

Hodgdon also lists 11.0gr of Lil’Gun with a 100gr XTP. Gets 1,225fps from my 6” Taurus Mod. 76.
My Single-7 .327 really likes H110, but it needs ~30,000psi to burn clean.
I plan to try #2400: Lil’Gun, Acc#9, and H110 with the Lee 113gr FNGC in .32mag.
Over 13.5gr in the S7 (.327mag... not .32mag) it’s as accurate as the 100gr XTP (unobtanium!). Last week I smelted another 5gal bucket of old wheel weights. No zinc and just 3 steel 1/2oz weighs! Plenty to cast!

[Larry Gibson]

32 H&R Magnum loads

Pressure testing done in a Contender 32 H&R barrel, 10” long with a .308 groove diameter with strain gauge attached and connected to the Oehler M43 PBL.. Ruger Single Six (original run) with 6 ½” barrel and .312 throats (pinned). Bullets cast of COWW + 2% tin, AC’d, initially sized/lubed with BAC or NRA 50/50 in .314 H%I die (313631 & 311316 GC’d with Hornady GCs) then sized .312 in Lee push through for use in Ruger. Cases all were Starline 32 H&R and primers are WSPs.

Velocity of Contender is muzzle velocity. Velocity of Ruger is center of screens at 12’.

These are what I consider to be the maximum magnum level 32 H&R loads for use in my Ruger Single Six or K-frame S&W M16 K-32s. They also are all very accurate as capable of better accuracy than I can hold. Not recommending any use them, just stating what I use.

Reference ammunition tested in the Contender test barrel.
Federal 95 gr LSWC, 1217 fps, 18,200 psi
Velocity in Ruger; 1024 fps

313361 [105 gr SWC GC’d design by Lyman for the 32 H&R cartridge]

5 gr Unique;
Contender; 1390 fps, 27,200 psi
Ruger; 1220 fps

8.5 gr Alliant 2400
Contender; 1540 fps, 27900 psi
Ruger; 1252 fps

10.5 gr Hodgdon H110
Contender; 1590 fps, 27,300 psi
Ruger; 1280 fps

6.5 gr Alliant Blue Dot;
Contender; 1445 fps, 27,900 psi
[Be careful with Blue Dot, 6.8 gr jumped to 30,000 + psi]

311316 [very old Ideal single cavity mould which gives 118 gr bullets]

10.5 gr H110
Contender; 1540 fps, 25,700 psi
Ruger; 1190 fps.

311316 with Hodgdon’s Lil’Gun; so far just tested in Contender in 32 H&R cartridge (in 32 S&WL and 30 Carbine also) [new to me 4 cavity Lyman mould, 115 gr Fully dressed cast of COWWs + 2% tin]

These loads are at 100% load density under the bullet.

311316; 10 gr, 1518 fps, 23,900 psi
Ruger 1094 fps

Hornady 85 gr XTP; 11.9 gr, 1597 fps, 20,400 psi
Ruger 1167 fps

Hornady 100 gr XTP; 10 gr, 1444 fps, 21,900 psi.
1062 fps

Testing will continue in both the Contender and Ruger SS with the 311316 (got to cast more bullets) with 2400, 4227, Blue dot and H110 powders.

[dougader]

I always appreciate your input and testing, Larry.

[ddixie884]

I always appreciate your input and testing, Larry.

What he said. You are a wealth of knowledge, Larry.......

[GooseGestapo]

Thanks Larry!!!
I have a Lyman 311316! I bought it from a shop that had a lot of new old-stock. Got a bunch of useful old mold designs. I used the .311316 in a friend’s Marlin 1894CL .32/20.. WITH 4.5gr of Unique it got 1,550 and was a tack driver. He passed on in 1998... but I’ve still got the mold.

[Bushwacker Berg]

I had the best results with 2400 and the Speer 100 gr. jhp both accuracy and velocity. I was shooting it in Ruger bisley single six and the vaquerito they did for lipseys. I have an sp101 in 327 that needs to be played with this summer. Cast bullets of 115 gr. were fired with a stout load of bullseye from the Speer #12 manual. They too shot very well.

[DHDeal]

I bought a 6.5" Ruger Single Six Bisley in 32 H&R last year and have enjoyed it. I've pretty much settled on 2 MP Molds (314-640 115 in PB and GC both with HP pins) and AA9. I played with the load some and found 8.5 grains and a Fed SP primer tends to make those bullets land very close together at 50 yards.

I only used H110 for a few cylinders full and it was another fine powder for this caliber but I'll give the edge on accuracy to AA9 for both of my 32's (327 and 32 H&R).