.32 S&W Long - Load data, powder, and pressure questions

[rking453]

Good afternoon everyone,

I just recently purchased a Smith & Wesson Model 30-1 chambered in .32 S&W Long. I'm planning to use the pistol for a small-game sidearm. I ordered some 95-grain cast flat nose bullets for it.

I have some load data, both from my Hornady book, and a Lyman book. Neither book has a 95-grain load data specifically, they do however have 85-grain cast and 100 gr JHP data. The 85 grain data, for reference, notes velocity at 2.6 gr. I'm wondering if this data is for top-break pressures, or for pressures my S&W solid frame can handle?

My next question is about powder. The only powder I have on hand that is listed in the book is Titegroup. I do have other pistol powders that seem similar. HS-6, CFE Pistol, LongShot.

Should I give Titegroup a try with the 95 grain cast bullets? Try another powder I have? Or start searching for something else?

Any advice or experience pertaining to .32 S&W Long would be greatly appreciated. It seems data for this cartridge is fairly limited, and much of it is with powders that I have never used. (Unique , Bullseye)

I'm really curious about the safe pressures for my gun in particular. I'm not looking to hot-rod, but if these are top-break loads listed in the book, I would feel comfortable working up a little above book data, or maybe trying a powder not listed.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Hodgdons has data for the .32 S&WL

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

For the 95gr Lead bullet, just use 98 or 100gr lead bullet data.
Titegroup will give good results in the .32S&WL

I’ve got several and I really enjoy shooting them.
The S&W Mod 31 will handle the upper level listed loads easily.
I keep my .32S&WL loads within published data even though I mostly shoot them through a Taurus M76 .32H&RMag and Ruger Single 7 .327mag.
Reason being I have two old S&W Hand Ejector revolvers.

With TiteGroup, with 100gr bullet, I’ve used 2.0gr. It’s GOOD! About 100fps faster than factory.
1.8gr duplicates factory loads.
My favorite powder is Bullseye, with HP38 a close second.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook - 3rd Edition - 1980 - Reduce.pdf (marvinstuart.com)
Page 258

 

[wcwhitey]

I completely concur with @GooseGestapo. 100 Grain data is fine. The data in the manuals are cautious and your J frame is plenty strong. However, you don’t have to push the envelope to improve on factory loadings. Most 100 Grain factory loads are barely pushing high 6 to 700 fps. Enjoy your new revolver and the caliber, it is a lot of fun and super accurate.

 

[rking453]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook - 3rd Edition - 1980 - Reduce.pdf (marvinstuart.com)
Page 258

Great thank you! Definitely some hotter data here, but specifically states for solid frame use only. That answers my pressure question it seems.

Interesting the difference between the Win 231 and HP38 loads for the 93 grain bullet. 3.7 vs 3.3 grain max, yet less than 30 FPS spread. I was under the impression these are the same powder, just rebranded.

 

[wcwhitey]

Good data and insight here:

http://www.lasc.us/fryxellthe32s-wlong.htm

https://reloadammo.com/32-s-w-long-reloading-data/

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The Lyman cast #3 and 4. Have data the other Lyman books don't have. I have the 3rd and 4th. As well as 49th 50th and 51st.

 

[Walkalong]

98 Gr coated WC. 1.7 Grs N-310. A little over 800 FPS from a 4 1/4" auto. Expect a bit slower from your revolver. Very accurate.


My Regulation Police

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm planning to use the pistol for a small-game sidearm.

@GooseGestapo nailed it: 1.8-2.0 is your best range. I don’t know how used to TiteGroup you are but I learned to do a real quick clean and let the gun cool between loads. TiteGroup heats up a gun quickly. Good luck.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I had issues with T.G causing leading too with 9mm and smaller with coated cast. I save the T.G for plated and FMJ now.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I've used 2.5 gr Titegroup and 90 gr lead.

It might be a little over pressure. DON'T use that in an old gun. I was using it in a .327 Fed magnum LCR.

It makes a nice, crisp "bang!" and l like this load. Ejection was fine. I recorded velocity but it's not in front of me.

 

[rking453]

@GooseGestapo nailed it: 1.8-2.0 is your best range. I don’t know how used to TiteGroup you are but I learned to do a real quick clean and let the gun cool between loads. TiteGroup heats up a gun quickly. Good luck.

I've used enough TiteGroup to know I'm not a big fan. I would like to use something cleaner and cooler if possible. Seems like the other pistol powders I have on hand may be too slow for the .32. What are everyone's thoughts on Win 231? I know I can get my hands on some.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have some 32 H&R loaded with 231. I still need to shoot them, And see how it performs. I like bullseye in 32 long.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Winchester 231 and HP38 are the same powder.
However.....
It does vary from lot# to lot#.

Anybody who’s been reloading as long as I have will tell you that powders “change”.
Either the density is slightly different and it “throws” different in fixed volume powder measures, OR, because of differences in composition it burns differently.

I once had three different Lot#’s of Accurate #5. All three had different manufacturers. One was an round flake, another square flakes, the third was a special powder like it is now (I think!)..
HP38=Win231, Win760=H414, H110=Win296. There are others...

Bullet construction and composition make a difference too, as too, does bullet diameter. Lyman sizes to bore diameter. Current wisdom is to size to chamber throats on revolvers.


I’ve also gotten “bitten” by some of Lyman’s data. My Lymans #48 lists IMR-7828 with a 100gr bullet having a start load of 70.0gr and a maximum of 73.0
71.5gr pierced the primer and gave 3,8XXfps!
Hodgdons lists Maximum as 69.0gr! I concur!

Guess who I now believe!!!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I've used enough TiteGroup to know I'm not a big fan. I would like to use something cleaner and cooler if possible. Seems like the other pistol powders I have on hand may be too slow for the .32. What are everyone's thoughts on Win 231? I know I can get my hands on some.

If you’re open to getting a new powder just for this kind of load, definitely check out W231/HP38, Red Dot, Bullseye and 700X. They’re probably the better options. I’m not a fan of TG either but it does have some interesting applications.

 

[cfullgraf]

Interesting the difference between the Win 231 and HP38 loads for the 93 grain bullet. 3.7 vs 3.3 grain max, yet less than 30 FPS spread. I was under the impression these are the same powder, just rebranded.

W231 and HP38 are the same powder these days. Hodgdon publicized that 15 years or so ago.

But, you need to be aware of when the load data was published. Data for W231 and HP38 from 20 plus years ago was always different. Both were made at the same facility but may have been packaged from different batches. Who knows.

But now that Hodgdon has the rights for Winchester branded, the powders are the same.

My Model 30 and Model 31 revolvers shoot small groups with 98 grain wadcutters.

 

[rking453]

If you’re open to getting a new powder just for this kind of load, definitely check out W231/HP38, Red Dot, Bullseye and 700X. They’re probably the better options. I’m not a fan of TG either but it does have some interesting applications.

It sure does. I have used it in my .358 Win rifle to make pistol bullet plinking loads. 8.0 gr. TG, 125 gr. JHP, 1350 FPS, 2" groups at 100 yards. Lots of fun in this application. It seems to handle low fill volume very well. SD was 15 on this load.

 

[Walkalong]

If you’re open to getting a new powder just for this kind of load, definitely check out .

N-310, WST, or AA #2.

 

[funnelcake]

This is relevant to a current back-of-the-desk project of mine. Basically trying to get >900fps using the Hornady 85-gr. JHP (4.2” SP-101 in .327). Current plan is to work up to ~3.1-gr. HP-38 but likely better powders.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Most of the smaller caliber center-fire handgun rounds prefer a faster powder, as stated by others. Something in the Bullseye, Red Dot, 231, A#2 range seems to do very well in 32 Long.

I use Promo (ballistically same as Red Dot) in 32 Long, mostly because I have a large supply.

Interestingly, 22 LR; also a small cartridge (but not center-fire, of course), uses powders closer to HS-6 burn speed.