I grew up on Bond and the lines of the ppk crank my gears. With some of the FEG AP's being available for under 2 bills. I won't pull the trigger on one without being able to reload for it. Are there any issues or tricks for loading this diminutive cartridge?
32 acp
- Thread starter jaowens76
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I do not find reloading 32 ACP any more difficult than other cartridges except it takes a bit more attention to detail.
The small size makes handling cases and bullets a bit more difficult. You need a powder measure that you are confident in for throwing consistent, small powder charges. Also, I use a powder that meters well.
I seat the bullet and crimp on a progressive press but have not come to grips with what I need to do to charge the cases on the press. I do not load alot of 32 ACP so batch charging the cases in a loading tray is adequate for my needs.
380 ACP and 32 ACP cases are about the same length. I charge 380 ACP cases on a progressive press so I see no reason 32 ACP could not be done as well with the appropriate drop tubes in the case activated powder drop system. It is just not high on my "To Do" list.
FYI, I resize and clean at a separate time and prime the cases off the press anyway.
Hope this helps.
The small size makes handling cases and bullets a bit more difficult. You need a powder measure that you are confident in for throwing consistent, small powder charges. Also, I use a powder that meters well.
I seat the bullet and crimp on a progressive press but have not come to grips with what I need to do to charge the cases on the press. I do not load alot of 32 ACP so batch charging the cases in a loading tray is adequate for my needs.
380 ACP and 32 ACP cases are about the same length. I charge 380 ACP cases on a progressive press so I see no reason 32 ACP could not be done as well with the appropriate drop tubes in the case activated powder drop system. It is just not high on my "To Do" list.
FYI, I resize and clean at a separate time and prime the cases off the press anyway.
Hope this helps.
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I reload .32 ACP on my LNL. Cases and bullets are tiny and a little harder to fool with. You'll want a powder that meters above average. AA #2 is an excellent choice, but their are others as well.
.32 ACP brass is all over the place on thickness and length. That presents a bigger challenge to the die set, but a set of RCBS dies cured my troubles though. I don't sort .32 brass, but that would probably help.
.32 ACP guns eject brass into another dimension about 1/3 of the time. I loose more of it than any other auto brass. It goes bang and then poof, it just disappears.
I like the caliber and enjoy shooting it.
.32 ACP brass is all over the place on thickness and length. That presents a bigger challenge to the die set, but a set of RCBS dies cured my troubles though. I don't sort .32 brass, but that would probably help.
.32 ACP guns eject brass into another dimension about 1/3 of the time. I loose more of it than any other auto brass. It goes bang and then poof, it just disappears.
I like the caliber and enjoy shooting it.
Two difficulties as with 380.
The brass is thin so crushing them when resizing is easy to do
Main problem is finding your brass at the range to pick it up and reload it!!
It goes into a black hole somewhere!
As mentioned above nothing really different just small.
The brass is thin so crushing them when resizing is easy to do
Main problem is finding your brass at the range to pick it up and reload it!!
It goes into a black hole somewhere!
As mentioned above nothing really different just small.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Just to echo the two posts above. The components are small so it's a little more difficult to handle. Use a powder that meters well in your powder measure. Finding all your brass will not happen. Like Walkalong said, bang then poof! lol
I figure the brass gets lost in the Bermuda Triangle. There is always a portal stationed over my range.
I'm happy if I lose less than 10%.
berettaprofessor
Member
So happy to hear Walkalong and others say this. I thought was just me. And, Chuck, only 10% would be glorious.
For the OP, I found the biggest issue was the limited data on loads with the powders that were available when things were scarce.
I consider this good advise. I happily shoot mixed cases in several calibers and do not believe it matters for my shooting/skill level, but .32 ACP brass is about the worst for being all over the place on weight, thickness, length etc. 9MM ain't good, but .32 is horrid. Or is ir just the small size that makes it seem worse?
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm not sure Walkalong but it sure does seem worse. If it weren't for wanting to shoot my CZ27 I would not load for the .32 ACP.
If you're going to shoot 2k in a year the cost savings is there. Retail 32auto is spendy.
I used an RCBS charge master to throw the charges which I regularly checked on a balance beam. Small charges make for huge percentage changes, and these were loaded for a beretta known for cracking frames. I used unique.
Diligence and patience are needed with tiny cases, binoculars help finding the cases in the grass.
It took loading 50 to break even on the dies and components vs store bought.
I used an RCBS charge master to throw the charges which I regularly checked on a balance beam. Small charges make for huge percentage changes, and these were loaded for a beretta known for cracking frames. I used unique.
Diligence and patience are needed with tiny cases, binoculars help finding the cases in the grass.
It took loading 50 to break even on the dies and components vs store bought.
My goal would be to get two of these mouse guns and shoot them with my wife as well as potentially being a primary CC for her and a BUG for me. So if it \takes any where near 50-100 to recoup my expenses then I can probably justify that to the wife pretty easily lol. Now to find mags semi cheap.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
You are braver than I loading Unique in such a small case. I have good results using ball powders, W231 in particular. AA#2 does well too if you prefer Accurate Powders.
GooseGestapo
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I've had good results with Bullseye and #231.
Only issue other than the disappearing brass is that there is considerable variation in the depth and thickness of the extractor grooves. I had to use a dremmel tool on the shell plate of my Lee Pro1000 to get all to go into the plate. Mostly some Remington that caused problems.
I've had great results with both a Lyman.311252 (78gr RN) and more recently, the Lee 90gr TLSWC. I size to .311".
Only issue other than the disappearing brass is that there is considerable variation in the depth and thickness of the extractor grooves. I had to use a dremmel tool on the shell plate of my Lee Pro1000 to get all to go into the plate. Mostly some Remington that caused problems.
I've had great results with both a Lyman.311252 (78gr RN) and more recently, the Lee 90gr TLSWC. I size to .311".
larryh1108
Member
I also load for the .32ACP. I have XL hands but have no issues with the small components. I do use a single stage and weigh each charge, which I also do with every caliber I load. I load enough to keep me busy but not enough to support shooting thousands a year. I use Bullseye and find it works fine though the difference between min and max is small hence weighing each charge.
RecoilRob
Member
When I got the P-32 KT and started looking around for something to feed it....I ended up with a case of Federal FMJ's and am still working through it as the gun gets carried a lot and shot only a little.
Even if you plan to burn through a LOT of 32 ACP once I added up new brass + bullets+primers + powder it ended up the first time around there was little to nothing to be gained by loading them myself. If you find bulk FMJ ammo it could be a little over $300/1000, and the new Starline cases are about half of that to start with, then add $.12 or so per FMJ projectile and you end up doing a lot of work for little to no gain.
Now...if you can manage to find the brass after the first firing...then by all means load up the next go round and save about 50%. I agree with others that finding the darn brass is the most difficult thing and this caliber worse than just about any others. But once you've found enough from the first firing...then it does make sense to load them back up.
Even if you plan to burn through a LOT of 32 ACP once I added up new brass + bullets+primers + powder it ended up the first time around there was little to nothing to be gained by loading them myself. If you find bulk FMJ ammo it could be a little over $300/1000, and the new Starline cases are about half of that to start with, then add $.12 or so per FMJ projectile and you end up doing a lot of work for little to no gain.
Now...if you can manage to find the brass after the first firing...then by all means load up the next go round and save about 50%. I agree with others that finding the darn brass is the most difficult thing and this caliber worse than just about any others. But once you've found enough from the first firing...then it does make sense to load them back up.
GooseGestapo
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Cast your own bullets, buy primers in bulk, on sale, and it costs less than .22lr.
I also shoot them through a Ruger Single-7. Think .22 shorts.
I also shoot them through a Ruger Single-7. Think .22 shorts.
Hondo 60
Member
My issue is that it takes such a small charge of powder that it can be difficult to find a powder measure that'll drop such a low charge.
I reload .32 S&W Long & it took a bit to get a consistently low charge.
Finally found that I can use an RCBS Uniflow.
Drops very consistent 2.2 gr of Titegroup
Here's hoping you have great luck!
I reload .32 S&W Long & it took a bit to get a consistently low charge.
Finally found that I can use an RCBS Uniflow.
Drops very consistent 2.2 gr of Titegroup
Here's hoping you have great luck!
JT-AR-MG42
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No issues other than the previously mentioned ones concerning size of
components and case weight variation.
I load both the 71 gr. FMJ and the 93gr. .309 Mauser/Tokarev FMJ with Herco.
JT
components and case weight variation.
I load both the 71 gr. FMJ and the 93gr. .309 Mauser/Tokarev FMJ with Herco.
JT
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
Once you get a load dialed in that works for you I recommend getting an RCBS Little Dandy powder measure. It has fixed powder measures for a specific load. You won't want it for 30 different loads or calibers but for one or two pet loads it is fantastic.
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