32 s&w SHORT

[olafhardtB]

I have a topbreak H&R Premier 32 s&w short revolver which was made for smokeless powder. Does anyone have any load data for this? I have Lee tl 90 gr SWC's, -0- bucshot, Unique, 231, and Titegroup. I have made myself a ~ 0.2 dipper. Comments?

 

[evan price]

I have a couple of Iver Johnson owls-head top-break safety hammerless 32 S&Ws- the 2nd model, which was a black powder model.

I load the Lee 311-93-1R bullet (6-cavity mold 90308 iirc) cast from water-dropped range scrap (bhn 12 or so) tumble lubed in ALOX, seated so that the lube groove closest to the nose becomes the roll-crimp groove.

My powder charge is IMR 800-X because I want a slower powder for those black powder guns. I don't have my notebook here with me *but* I think I am using 2.0 grains of 800-X CORRECTION: 1.75 grains of 800-X in this load!!. The load is pretty wimpy. I was shooting at an old car door. The bullet would just barely penetrate the door from straight-on 10' away and then fell into the door cavity. If I was at an angle it would ricochet off the door. That's my 32 S&W (short) load. You have a smokeless gun so you could go a bit hotter. I would start experimenting around 2.0 grains of Unique and work up from there. I would say a 2.0 grain Titegroup load would be MAX in that.

I load some 32 Longs for other guns, those do nice with 2.5 grains of Titegroup and that 93-gr Lee bullet- this is my favorite load for the Colt Official Police and other such small-frame guns. 2.5 grains of PROMO (Red Dot data by weight) was a little softer but still shot well. I also load a 45-grain #0 Buckshot pellet with 3.5 grains of Titegroup, this is a FUN load. These are 32 S&W Long loads.

 

[FROGO207]

This is where Trail Boss shines. I load with 86 and 98 grain lead bullets. No data in front of me here though. I used the manufacturers instructions to determine load amounts and got great results with both bullets. It is a great shooting soft recoil load that is more accurate than old factory stuff that I had on hand. I also load my 32 S&W long ammo the same way and enjoy the same results.

 

[SHR970]

Case: Win
Primer: Win SP
Bullet: 85 gr. lead
COL: .930
Powder: W231
Charge weight: 1.4 grains
Pressure: 9500 cup
Velocity: 595 fps
Barrel Length: 3"
Source: Winchester

 

[evan price]

Just checked my notebook this morning- I am using 1.75 grains of 800-X for my 32 S&W (short) loads for the BP Iver Johnsons. PLEASE NOTE this, NOT 2.0 grains of 800-X! I will edit my post above! I personally think that in a smokeless pistol 2.0 of 800-X is probably OK but I can't promise that because mine are BP.

This is the same charge for a 25 ACP by the way.

 

[unknwn]

smokeless -or- black powder ?

I came across a way to determine the suitable powder type for these old black-to-smokeless transition era revolvers, and I know that it is true about the Iver-Johnson guns.
Under the hand grip panels resides the main spring. A black powder only gun will have a flat style of spring, where a smokeless-safe gun uses coil springs.Just thought you might like to know, it kept me safer than the "last ower's" recommendation for the powder load.

 

[Old Fuff]

A good point, but an easier way to tell without having to remove the stocks, is to look at the cylinder stop notches. The later "smokeless safe" ones have positive, double-sided notches (like current-day revolvers) that prevent the cylinder from being turned when the hammer is down and the trigger fully forward. The older ones don't.

 

[Clark]

I have 5 or 10 old 32 S&W break tops. I can get them for $35 sometimes.
I put 1 gr of Unique behind any bullet that will fit.