I recently, in collaboration with Outpost75 who supplied most of the factory loads, completed a rather extensive testing of twelve 32 ACP factory loads and selected reloads. Testing was delayed until the temperatures here in the desert got down to 65 t0 80 degrees. The test barrel was a Contender 10” barrel chambered in 32 H&R. The 32 ACPs fired fine in that chamber. The pressures were measured via a strain gauge located at the SAAMI specified location over the chamber. The Oehler M43 PBL was used. All except one test recorded 10 measurements as per SAAMI standards of testing.
Given the longer 32 H&R chamber the recorded pressures measured we could assume the recorded pressures would be somewhat less than actual pressures. However, given the consistency of the internal data measurements and the measured pressures the longer chamber didn’t appear to give much less pressure readings. The SAAMI MAP for the 32 ACP is 20,500 psi with one of the tested factory loads exceeding that. The European [Nine of the tested loads were of European manufacture] CIP MAP is 1600 Bar (23,206 psi) with none of the tested lads exceeding that. Thus, the testing of the twelve factory loads was to establish a base line pressure range to use as “reference” when developing maximum loads.
This data of the twelve factory 32 ACP/7.65 Browning cartridges is presented for reference only. I list the factory load, weight of the factory powder charge, the pressure of that load and the velocity out of the 10” barrel.
Federal 71 gr FMJ………2.7 gr………12,600 spi……..748 fps
Winchester 71 gr FMJ…..1.8 gr…...12,800 psi…….595 fps
Western 71 gr Lubaloy…..2.0 gr…...14,200 psi…….795 fps
PL M76/FN 71 gr FMJ…..1.8 gr…...14,200 psi……827 fps
Fiocchi 73 gr FMJ…..1.8 gr………..14,300 psi…….892 fps
Norma 77 gr FMJ……1.6 gr……..15,100 psi……..776 fps
Sellier & Bellot 73.5 gr FMJ…….2.5 gr…..15,300 psi……938 fps
GECO 71 gr FMJ……2.0 gr……15,800 psi…….841 fps
RWS 73.5 gr FMJ…….3.3 gr…….16,100 psi………973 fps
RWS 77 gr FMJ……..1.6 gr……..17,200 psi…….989 fps
Sellier & Bellot NP 3983 71 gr FMJ ……2.3 gr……18,500 psi……891 fps
Hertenberg 71 gr FMJ……3.0 gr …….21,600 psi…….989 fps
Note the two current US factory loads [Federal and Winchester] were much lower in performance than any of the European factory loads. The older Western Lubaloy load was at the bottom end of European performance.
Again, data is presented for information and reference only.
Many thanks to Outpost75.