Anyone reload .32 ACP?

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J_McLeod

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Right now it's the only one of six pistol calibers that I won but don't reload. I've had a Beretta Tomcat for a while that my wife and I were about to sell and then found out that our 10 year twins are just big enough to enjoy shooting it. Did some math today and realized that it'll only take 300 rounds to recover the cost of Lee Dies and LNL shellplate.

Does anyone else reload for .32 acp? Is it hard to reload for? Does 231 work well in it? Do you have a LNL powder measure or Lee auto disk with micro disc that works well with the small charges?
 
yes (reload)
No (not hard)
yes (231 or Hp 38 or BE

No LNL but have a micro disc, RCBS and LEE dippers)

Tomcat and Seecamp:)
 
I do. Not hard at all, just get a good bell with the expanding die. I have not used 231 yet, but quite a few of others. Bullseye, Tightgroup, Unique to name a few, and I will try Red Dot and 700x soon.

I have only used 71gr FMJ's so far but plan to try some lead bullets as well. I load for 32 H&R mag, 32 S&W long, and 32 S&W also, so I have plenty of Meister 94gr LFN bullets. I have some Hornady 90gr SWC I'd like to try as well.

I use a RCBS Chargemaster, so no help with the measures, sorry.

Factory loaded 32 anything is expensive, handloading is the way to enjoy the 32.
 
I reload 32 ACP. I primarily load 71 or so grain round nose bullets. I shoot the 32 ACPs for fun.

I do not find it any more difficult than anything else but the small case and bullet require a bit more handling care. 32 Cp is no sweat when compared to 25 ACP.

I use the Hornady L-N-L to resize and expand the mouth of the case.

I hand prime, but I do that with all cartridges that I load on the L-N-L.

I also charge by hand with a Redding 10-X powder measure. I probably could make a drop tube for the L-N-L powder activated powder drop system but i do not load enough 32 ACP to justify spending the time at the lathe.

I seat and taper crimp on the L-N-L. I crimp in a separate die from the seater. I set the seat die up in station one on the press. Not as convenient as station 4, but the charged cases are not traveling around the press without something closing the case.

So, I double up some of the chores using the L-N-L, but not all.

The 30 Carbine shell plate works with 32 ACP cases.

Hope this helps.
 
If you can find a sale you just might get your money back before 300 rounds but even that's not bad at all. With a set of twins shooting you will probably go through 300 rounds in 2 range trips!

I just started loading for the 32 Auto and it's easier than I thought it would be. You have to go a little slower because the case and bullets are small but other than that, it's not hard at all.

I'm using only W231/HP-38 and I'm using CCI-500 primers with mixed brass.
I load either a 71gr Magtech FMJ bullet or more often a 76gr LRN bullet.
The 71gr FMJ ammo costs $8.56/50 at current component prices.
The 76gr LRN ammo costs $6.54/50 at current component prices.

I'm having very good success with the Lee Micro-Disk with a charge of between 2.0gr and 2.3gr W231. W231 has been very accurate for me and since it was so accurate I haven't tried any other powders. I never used a Hornady powder measure so I can't comment on it.
 
Anyone reload .32 ACP?

I also reload for a Tomcat. But not enough to warrant doing it on a progressive. I just load them one at a time. My
"go to" load is a 71 grain plated bullet over 231. It's not at all hard to load for.

Just a couple of things. I don’t have a separate crimping die so I seat the bullets then readjust the seater to just do the crimp. Sounds funny but I am using a single stage press (well turret) for 32 anyway, so no big deal.

Also I had to order a undersized sizing die. Some of my rounds you could just push the bullet in by hand. Not the best for consistent neck tension.
 
It's easy to load for. The only thing that took getting used to was handling the small cases.

I prefer using powders that meter extremely well since the case and the charges are so small. Bullseye, AA #2, W 231....

I use a 71 Gr RN for general plinking, but also shoot some 60 Gr XTPs.
 
I reload for several 32 caliber handguns. Lead bullets are the most cost effective to reload and seem to work well in my 32 ACP's. Easy metering propellants are a must as the margin for error is so small, especially using a progressive IMHO. The cost savings is large over factory ammo. The brass will last forever if you manage not to loose it as it seems I often do.:mad: I would say have fun and go for it.:D
 
I reload .32 and it's my favorite cartridge for playing around...I look at it like a small .380 or 9mm. I use Unique for powder and have a few hundred rounds of Winchester brass and a few hundred rounds of Fiocchi and Sellier and Bellot brass.

Presently I load Rim Rock 75 gr flat nosed hard cast lead and Unique with CCI primers. 2.3 gr. of Unique is a nice starting load with this bullet but I shoot them now quite a bit hotter than that as an SD round.

.32 auto is a little difficult as the cases are small and the loads must be/should be pretty consistent.... I find .1 gr. accuracy in charge weights to be a little loose and the difference between say 2.3 gr and 2.4 gr. of Unique in this round can be almost 100 fps variation. I *do* love my .32 pistols but have noticed that some .32 pistols (like the Tomcat) do not like flat nosed lead (feeding problems) so you may want to start with the classic FMJ round noses.

Good luck!

VooDoo
 
Here is a mod on a 10$ charge bar if you own a Lee Pro Auto Disc powder measure. I can drop itty bitty charges with ease now.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=757530

attachment.php
 
Segregate your brass. Domestic brass has a smaller internal diameter than the imports (Aguila excluded). I have to bell the brass differently for each and use
.309 diameter cast for euro cases and .312 for domestic. Shoot the Lyman bullet, 70 some grains. Pour has to be hot hot to get a fill without wrinkles. Jacketed does not make sense for reloading this round. Air cooled wheel weights.
 
The brass will last forever if you manage not to loose it as it seems I often do.
Click to expand...
Amen brother. They seem to jump out of my pistol and straight into the Bermuda triangle. I lose more .32 ACP brass than anything else.
 
Walkalong said:
Amen brother. They seem to jump out of my pistol and straight into the Bermuda triangle. I lose more .32 ACP brass than anything else.
Click to expand...
Agreed, I seem to lose the most .32 and .380. It doesn't help that my range is all grass, so it's hard to find the small cases.
 
When I had a Walther PP I reloaded 32. As mentioned, keeping the brass can be difficult. I knew about where the Walther would throw the brass, so I would lay out an old green army wool blanket in that area - helped out a lot. Mine did well with Unique and Universal Clays besides the other mentioned powders
 
I've had success with the 78gr. .313 LRN under 2.3gr. W231. Runs everything from a P-32, Bersa Thunder 32, to a Colt 1903.
 
It doesn't help that my range is all grass
Click to expand...

Agreed. All grass is a recipe for disaster where recovering brass is concerned. Just awful...I have no idea what happens to them. Even if I watch them land for the most part, 3/4 of them are gone when I get over to there to pick them up. I think Arch may be right.
 
If you ever find the missing 32 ACP cases, there will probably be a stack of socks there as well.:)
 
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