I need some help from those that know . . .
I am looking at possibly getting set up to reload 32 ACP and am on the look-out for a small pocket gun – primarily for plinking and having fun and occasional pocket carry – so far, I have the brass and will slowly add what is needed when I run across it –
AND
I also picked up a conversion cylinder in 32 S & W (Short) for a Uberti 1849 pocket model – so I would like to be able to load some 32 S & W (Short) for that at some point.
My question is on dies . . . .
I’m looking at my 3rd edition of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and for the 32 ACP – which of course headspaces on the case mouth – it shows a case body dimension of .3375, a case mouth dimension of .3365 and a case length of .680 on the drawing of the cartridge.
For the 32 S & W (Short), which headspaces on rim, it shows a case diameter of .339 and a case length of .605.
So, I started to look to see what I needed in dies and I ran across a set of Lyman dies that the factory label indicates will load “32 S & W – Long/ACP/H & R”. So, looking at the dimensions of the 32 S & W Long, the manual shows a cartridge body diameter of .337 (.002 smaller than the 32 S & W “Short”) but only .0005 smaller than the 32 ACP casing. I am guessing that the expanding and seating stems of the Lyman dies are dimensioned so that they would work with the shorter 32 ACP casing as far as their length and adjustment. But, that set of dies is obviously labeled and will load both a 32 S & W Long and a 32 ACP (the label says nothing about 32 S & W (Short) however.)
So . . . I’m a bit confused as to what dies I would need to load the 32 ACP and the 32 S & W (short). Right now, I’m looking at Lee dies. If I purchase a set of Lee dies for loading the 32 ACP, would the same set of dies work for loading the 32 S &W (short)? Or, if I bought a set of Lee dies for loading the 32 S & W (short), would those also work for loading the 32 ACP – and if so, would I need to also get a 32 ACP taper crimp die?
OR
Am I going to need to buy both sets of Lee dies – one for the 32 ACP and one for the 32 S & W (short)?
As an example, I have often used Lee dies from one caliber or another to reload such cartridges as 38 Colt Short and Long – using a 9mm taper crimp to crimp with – a different seating die that works O.K. to seat the boolit – size them in a 38/357 FL die, etc. I’m just not familiar with the 32s to know what will work and what won’t.