.32 caliber Flat Nose Plated Lead

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I looked all over for plated bullets for my up and coming Glock 42 in .380 (so I wouldn't have to shoot lead in my Glock) but couldn't find any. Then some kind souls here at THR pointed me right at 'em.

So, I'm asking if anyone knows where I might find plated flat nose lead bullets for my .32 hand loads? Usually .311 or .312 and I like 75 gr. but I'll shoot any bullet weight .32 plated flat nose I can find. I'd even shoot a jacketed flat nose if someone can point me at it. I think Berry's used to actually offer a .312 plated flat nose but stopped back when all the components disappeared.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer!

VooDoo

 

[Walkalong]

Some .32s will take the Berrys 83 Gr WC. My Model 1922 will feed and chamber them. It won't chamber in my Beretta. It will in my CZ, but won't feed. I don't remmeber seeing any plated flat points in .32 ACP.

 

[leefan]

I reload .32 acp also. Only makers I can find in plated are Berry's and Magtech, both RN, neither available. May I ask why you want FN? I have a lot of factory ammo and have never seen any FN, maybe because these pea shooters are so finicky.

 

[sexybeast]

I was just thinking the same thing this morning. I've never reloaded much 32 so I've not really looked much.
We have a little competition during the week and lots of shooters bring their pocket guns and challenge others with theirs. its fun and keeps you current on a little gun that gets carried a lot but shot very little.
I have the dies and ran a few on a single stage years ago but would like to make up a batch. Plated bullets or even hard lead bullets would be fine! 32acp is a low pressure round so there is no need for FMJ. I know they use to make bullets for this cartridge but can't seem to find them anywhere? Any comments on where to find 70-75gr RN would be appreciated.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Winchester produced FN FMJ and I shot some recently. I shoot/load Rim Rock flat nose bullets for .32 SD rounds...75 grain lead and they are the same bullets Buffalo Bore uses in their .32 ACP SD offering. Mine are running 1050 fps+ and getting me 200 fpe and 17"+ penetration.

I shoot flat noses in all calibers I have that won't shoot wadcutters and don't have sufficient velocity to get 17"+ of penetration and expansion...which would be all of them except .357 magnum and up. Some hot 9mm will pull it off but they are way too hot to handle for me at that point. I shoot flat nose plated in 9mm as well.

I use flat nose in the .32 ACP for the same reason Buffalo Bore does....gives a better account of itself in smaller/less powerful calibers and leaves a bigger wound track than RN FMJ.

I did shoot some wad cutters in my Colt's and they ate them fine but many guns in .32 ACP won't feed them. If I absolutely can't find any plated FN in .312 I'll go back to working on wad cutter loads or live with lead FN and the smoke.

VooDoo

 

[leefan]

I was just thinking the same thing this morning. I've never reloaded much 32 so I've not really looked much.
We have a little competition during the week and lots of shooters bring their pocket guns and challenge others with theirs. its fun and keeps you current on a little gun that gets carried a lot but shot very little.
I have the dies and ran a few on a single stage years ago but would like to make up a batch. Plated bullets or even hard lead bullets would be fine! 32acp is a low pressure round so there is no need for FMJ. I know they use to make bullets for this cartridge but can't seem to find them anywhere? Any comments on where to find 70-75gr RN would be appreciated.

I have alerts in with Natchez and Midway for Berry's and Magtech. I think Midway allowed backorder on the Magtech. Berry's direct doesn't have any.

 

[leefan]

Winchester produced FN FMJ and I shot some recently. I shoot/load Rim Rock flat nose bullets for .32 SD rounds...75 grain lead and they are the same bullets Buffalo Bore uses in their .32 ACP SD offering. Mine are running 1050 fps+ and getting me 200 fpe and 17"+ penetration.

I shoot flat noses in all calibers I have that won't shoot wadcutters and don't have sufficient velocity to get 17"+ of penetration and expansion...which would be all of them except .357 magnum and up. Some hot 9mm will pull it off but they are way too hot to handle for me at that point. I shoot flat nose plated in 9mm as well.

I use flat nose in the .32 ACP for the same reason Buffalo Bore does....gives a better account of itself in smaller/less powerful calibers and leaves a bigger wound track than RN FMJ.

I did shoot some wad cutters in my Colt's and they ate them fine but many guns in .32 ACP won't feed them. If I absolutely can't find any plated FN in .312 I'll go back to working on wad cutter loads or live with lead FN and the smoke.

VooDoo

Thanks, Voo Doo, it had escaped my attention that FN causes more damage than RN. I have had feed problems with tapered FN 380's so I only use round shoulder FNs.

 

[sexybeast]

I shoot/load Rim Rock flat nose bullets for .32 SD rounds...75 grain lead and they are the same bullets Buffalo Bore uses in their .32 ACP SD offering. Mine are running 1050 fps+ and getting me 200 fpe and 17"+ penetration.

What is your load for this?

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm running 75 gr. hard cast lead flat noses (Rim rock Bullets) over 3.1 gr of Unique, CCI primers. I have used my Colt 1903 model M's for testing and they have a 3.75" barrel slugged at .311.

This is a maximum load and I caution you to slug your barrel and size your bullets accordingly as well as start at 2.6 gr. and work your way up watching for signs of pressure. There seems to be some variance in groove diameter in .32 pistols as well as chamber differences and the flat noses require seating a bit deeper in the case to keep them out of the rifling. This raises the pressure at firing!!

I use a digital scale and measure all my charges to .02 gr. and measure them 2X when pushing hard like this - .1 gr. of Unique variance in this load can cause 100fps loss of gain of velocity. I also weigh my bullets and make sure they are all very close to the same weight.

If you do this be very, very careful. Start well down (I started at 2.3 gr.) and work up slowly.

VooDoo