Reloading .32 S&W Long

[Ron3]

Man, not much data out there!

I have 700x, cfe pistol, and 90 gr lead bullets.

Gun is a Ruger LCR .327 magnum 1.8 inch barrel.

Which powder is more appropriate?

If I was going for a light load I'd start with 2.0 grs of 700x. (No data for this, just my guess as a place to start)

But I actually want something hotter to simulate a mild .32 magnum load. (I have alot of .32 Long cases)

Would the slower CFE Pistol be better for that? Or would 700x be better due to the short barrel?

[Bimmer]

No idea...

1. Generally, yes, use slower powders for hotter "magnum" loads.

2. Start with a conservative (light) load, chronograph it, and then work up from there...

3. You might ask over at CastBoolits...

[Ron3]

No idea...

1. Generally, yes, use slower powders for hotter "magnum" loads.

2. Start with a conservative (light) load, chronograph it, and then work up from there...

3. You might ask over at CastBoolits...

Thanks.

I dug around but apparently the powders I have arent too popular with it.

I'm going to load about 20 with 2.0 gr of 700x. It may be on the light end but not so light I get a stuck bullet.

It sure isnt going to hurt this .327 Federal chambered gun.

Crimp will be medium-heavy.

Once I get a baseline I'll increase in steps but it kinda sucks not having an "official" guide to what is "too much". I'll be on the look out for excessive velocity, recoil, and sticky extraction.

I'm going for 750-825 fps from this snubbie with .32 S&W Long. Accuracy and easy extraction will decide.

[gunnerblue]

I think you're on the right track with 700X for a start. Lots of flake-type shotgun powders produce great low pressure target loads handgun cartridges.

CFE may give you a higher pressure round, though I'm not sure younsee much velocity gain in such a short barrel.

[Ron3]

I think you're on the right track with 700X for a start. Lots of flake-type shotgun powders produce great low pressure target loads handgun cartridges.

CFE may give you a higher pressure round, though I'm not sure younsee much velocity gain in such a short barrel.

I'm gonna find out and report back. I think every light-weight snubbie SD gun should be a 6-shot .32 mag or .327 instead of a 5-shot .38 special. 😁

[Bimmer]

I think every light-weight snubbie SD gun should be a 6-shot .32 mag or .327 instead of a 5-shot .38 special. ��

I won't argue, but Ruger only makes the 3" LCRx in .38Spl.

(Or .22, which was a non-starter for me, or .357Mag, which seemed dumb.)

[Ron3]

I won't argue, but Ruger only makes the 3" LCRx in .38Spl.

(Or .22, which was a non-starter for me, or .357Mag, which seemed dumb.)

True, the .327 is only available as the 1 7/8 in.

The Sp101 is available in .327 with a 3 & 4 inch IIRC. But as heavy as it is, it's pretty pleasant to fire mild .38 from and .38 +P isn't heavy recoiling, either from what I recall. (I've had a couple of them but it's been awhile)

[JimmyB62]

Hornady shows 1.4 to 1.9 gr 700x under a lead 90 gr wc/swc for 550-750 FPS from a 3” barrel

[Ron3]

Well, 2.0 grs wasn't enough.

Accuracy was decent, not great. I had one reading of 457 fps. Not sure if that was a misread or not. Probably?

Otherwise the other 5 shots were:

H. 598
L. 582
Avg. 592
ES. 16

I'm going to load a batch with 2.3 grs and another with 2.5 grs.

The same day (80 degrees) I ran some PPU 98 gr from the same gun and got:
H. 678
L. 627
Avg. 649
ES. 51

[gunnerblue]

What chronograph are you using.

[Bimmer]

Well, 2.0 grs wasn't enough.

Accuracy was decent, not great. I had one reading of 457 fps. Not sure if that was a misread or not. Probably?

Otherwise the other 5 shots were:

H. 598
L. 582
Avg. 592
ES. 16


Actually, that load looks just about perfect...

If you can eliminate that one oddball 457fps as an error or whatever, then your velocities are safe (you won't stick a bullet in the barrel) and consistent.

I would load another 10 or 20 and chrono them — a bigger sampling is better, and then you'll see if you have more oddballs.

[Ron3]

What chronograph are you using.

A common Pro Chrono.

[Ron3]

Actually, that load looks just about perfect...

If you can eliminate that one oddball 457fps as an error or whatever, then your velocities are safe (you won't stick a bullet in the barrel) and consistent.

I would load another 10 or 20 and chrono them — a bigger sampling is better, and then you'll see if you have more oddballs.

Thanks. I'd like a little more velocity. Then another, hotter load that is closer to simulating (but not as hot) the .32 magnum carry load.

[Ron3]

I'm liking the 2.5 gr. Of 700x.

Nice bang, good accuracy and POI, less carbon on outside of casings, average of 740 fps from LCR snub and 8 rounds (all I tested of this batch) had an SD of about 12 fps IIRC. 👍

[gunnerblue]

An acceptable combination of accuracy and low SD are a good indicator that load development is done. Good work.

[Ron3]

An acceptable combination of accuracy and low SD are a good indicator that load development is done. Good work.

Thanks!

Now I've got to work a little more on the .25 acp challenge!

[Wildcat]

I'm liking the 2.5 gr. Of 700x.

Nice bang, good accuracy and POI, less carbon on outside of casings, average of 740 fps from LCR snub and 8 rounds (all I tested of this batch) had an SD of about 12 fps IIRC. ��

Hornady has loading data on the 32 S&W long. In their recommended loadings for 700X and an 85gr jacketed bullet, 2.0 grains is listed as max. (but that is for shooting in a gun chambered for the 32 Long)

They show HP-38 / W231, Red Dot, 700X, Bullseye, Green Dot, Unique and AA No 5 as workable powders and have recipes for 85gr JHPs and 90gr lead.

The SPEER manual has data for 100gr JHPs
Approved recipes include H110, AA#9, WAP, Hod. Universal, HS-6, W231, 296, WSF, AA#5, 2400, 3N37
For 98gr lead: Bullseye, Herco, PB, Red Dot, AA#5, Unique, HP-38/W231, and 700X

Ken Waters adds SR-4756 and SR-7625, HS-5 as yielding functional loads.

VihtaVuori shows loads
Hodgdon has loads

Be careful out there.

[GarrettJ]

I see the Lyman book lists 2.5 to 2.8 gr. 700X for an 85 gr. LRN bullet. You should have no issue using that same load range with a 90 gr. lead bullet.

As noted, if loading for a gun chambered in .32 H&R or .327 Fed, you should be able to safely increase pressures to those of the longer cartridges. It's difficult to judge where you are with pressure without specific equipment, so I generally don't go very far over the listed loads. But proceed with caution and don't go excessive, and you should be fine. YMMV.