Using buckshot to create round ball loads in .32 SWL

I use .310" round balls (#1.5 Buck) in .30-30 and .30-06 'Cellar Loads', and I use .360" (OOO Buck) in .38S&W, .357 Mag, and .35 Remington loads...A a couple-three grains of fast pistol powder and I have lots of fun on rodents in the gardens...

If I were to load for .32 S&W or SWL, I would try the .320" first, and if that didn't work, I would try the .310" and 'bump' them a little (with a hammer) to fatten them up just a tad...

Or you could see if you can have a .315" push through sizer made for sizing the .320" down to where you want/need them...A couple thousandths over groove seems to work best for me...

ADDING:

I load my round balls in unresized cases...I decap and reprime without sizing...The balls are seated (sprue up) flush with the case mouth with just thumb pressure...After seating I slather on some LLA to seal and lube...

I bet that would work with the .320" balls for you, but I'd still try the .310" first...

http://i40.tinypic.com/2us97gp.jpg

I'd run the .320 through a sizing die.

If the barrel is .310” then a ball .310” will provide very little contact length to both seal the bore preventing blow-by and to grip the lands. Load just a bit too hot and the ball will strip and any accuracy disappears. IME a slightly larger diameter works better, giving a bit more latitude in load level. A .320” may work best as long as the cases chamber.

But buckshot I’ve seen is far from precision sized, nor was it perfectly round. Note the disclaimer on the linked site. I guess it depends on the accuracy the OP wants.


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I have also played with 000 Buckshot in the 38 S&W and it works very well. I see no reason why it won't work with your 32 S&W but be sure not to use super hard round balls so that they can swage down correctly.

I never thought of LLA as a lube for this application, I have used Bee's Wax.

I run slightly oversized round balls through a lee sizer, lube with liquid alox and shove them into an unsized case. Works for me

WVGunman said:

Is the resizing strictly necessary? I'm looking to avoid hassle by using the buckshot, not add a step.

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It depends, if you want good results i would size them. Shot is not exact, when you size and over diameter ball you get a slightly oblonged projectile which gives you more bearing surface and a better seal. You can skip it but your load will not be ideal

Hornady makes 0.315" balls available at Grafs.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6821

fxvr5 said:

Hornady makes 0.315" balls available at Grafs.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6821

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I used these in an 1895 Nagant. It ended up being a lot easier to use 32ACP bullets.

The few I played with needed sizing to give neck tension. I loaded them just like a regular bullet, but I did really like the way that it worked out. The belled and pressed in ball made a nice tight fit in the case, and when I crimped I didn’t really crimp the ball but more resized the mouth of the case to a smaller diameter essentially giving the ball a little groove to sit in. It was very secure and shot well. I will do the same for 38sw when I get my revolver back in working order at some point this year.