32 ACP Reloads

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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PLEASE read my post before you post.
I'm not new to reloading, I have more load manuals that I can count and I know all about the online sites. I'm not asking for charge weights, only for powder selection.

I have a CZ-27 my uncle gave me I would like to shoot and I bought an adapter from Sportaman's Guide which allows me to shoot 32 ACP ammo in a 30-06 rifle. Never in my life would I have thought 32 Auto Ball ammo would cost over $20/box but it does. If I want to shoot the 2 above I'm going to have to reload 32's unless I want to empty my pockets.

I ordered a set of dies, I have SPP and about 100 pieces of brass. I was lucky to find some Sierra 71gr FMJ bullets for a very good price, 100/$12.95 so I bought 3 boxes. What I need to know is what powder works well in the 32 Auto? I'm thinking or using W231/HP-38 and I have been told Unique also works well. I don't have any Unique but I do have Universal so that will be loaded too. I have about a dozen pistol powders so I'm sure I can find a good combination. Please do not tell me every gun is different, I know that too.

The main questions, which powder has given you the best results in the 32 ACP? Also, is there anything about loading the 32 Auto I should know? It looks straight forward but it doesn't hurt to ask...

Again, I'm not looking for charge weights, only powder selection from reloaders who have had good success, no guessing please. ;)
 
I was going to load for it but changed my mind. I was going to use unique or 231. I've got 230+ pieces of brass if you want to buy them on the cheap too.
 
Titegroup works well. Consider seating and crimping separately for best results. Automatic powder dispensing with such small charges is tricky. Quite a few people here reload .32 ACP, so you should be able to get a helpful dialogue started when you get to particulars.
 
W-231 works well. I use it or AA #2. W-231 is about as slow as I would go. I have tried some slower powders, but it seems to like the faster ones, and, IMO, the slower ones are going to be hard on the guns and waste powder for little gain. N310 works well, but is a waste of expensive powder. AA #2 and W-231 shoot very well for me.
 
Going to agree with leefan on the seating/crimping separately. I tryed it just with the seating crimping die and got eratic groups. Went to seating only them a light crimp with the Lee crimp die and results improved. I am a fan of Unique with this caliber, have tryed others but always come back to Unique.
 
I worked up a usable load with RedDot and one with 231 so I would have it if needed with both FMJ and LRN. My brother does not shoot it anymore so things sit there. I had no problems seating and crimping at the same time. It is no different than loading for the 380 IMO. You do have to pay attention to the final crimped size of the round so it is accurate but same as other autopistol rounds. Plunk tests and not too small, should be OK. Make a few dummy rounds and check cycling with different lengths.;) That was my only hangup.

Using in a rifle I would use high end of the data myself.
 
I use Unique, so IMO, Universal might be the likely choice here, especially out of a rifle length barrel. A couple different loads over a chronograph might shed some light.


NCsmitty
 
I bought a little Keltec P32 about 3 years ago and decided I would reload for it. I bought some Hunter's Supply 76 gr lead flat point bullets and loaded them over 2.4 gr Universal. They were as accurate as you could expect from that gun and it cycled well. I don't load 32 acp that much any more. The 2 grain spread between minimum and maximum kinda' spooked me a little.
 
I found bullseye with cast bullets and HP38/Win231 best with jacketed bullets.

Let us know how the '06 adapter works.... I might want to get one too.
 
I use Unique but then again I use Unique for everything from .32 ACP to .357 magnum.

The only glitch I have encountered with reloading .32 ACP is that some brass having thicker walls will tend to bulge when loaded with a bullet of the correct size. Also, there seems to be a large variation in chamber sizes in various .32 pistols and some degree of variation in groove diameter as well.

I only load for my Colt 1903's but have shot (tried to shoot) my reloads in a Kel Tec P-32 which rim locked instantly on the shorter OAL rounds I load. I use flat nose bullets and the Kel Tec is notorious for issues with shorter rounds unless it has a mag modification.

But I digress...there is nothing difficult about a .32 ACP for an experienced reloader. I treat it like small 9mm with just enough taper crimp to take the bell out and really like my .32 ACP.

VooDoo
 
Walkalong said:
I keep meaning to get a .308 adapter, but never have.
Click to expand...
I bought the 30-06, .308 and 303 British adapters.

I also bought the adapter to shoot 7.62X25 Tokarev ammo in the Mosin Nagant!
I have shot that one and I can tell you it's GREAT. Very low report and the bullets hit surprisingly hard @100 yards. I got an outstanding price before the shortage hit when I split a 880 round case with my shooting buddy. The surplus case came with 2 sealed cans of 440 rounds. He bought the same adapters I did.
 
For you folks that use Unique for .32acp, how do you get your powder measure to accurately dispense the teeny tiny charges that .32 uses? Do you trickle every charge? I can barely get unique to meter for my light .380 loads.

I'm using a Lee autodisk with a micrometer charge bar.
 
I use a Lyman 55 it has no problems meetering down to a few tenths of a grain. I also cast my own bullets and have no problems seating and roll crimping at the same time usin RCBS dies.
 
I have not been able to get a 2.5 - 3.0 gr. Charge of Unique to meter close consistently - I weigh each charge by dribbling. I use Unique for everything and weigh all charges for .32, .38, 9mm, .357.

Not so bad when I got used to it and WOW are my charges consistent and the ammunition is accurate to the point of being stunning. :)

VooDoo
 
Green Dot and Hdy 60 xtp. Xtp more for the increased interference fit and accuracy, not necessarily expansion. Redding 3BR match powder measure for those small charges.
 
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