Do .32 S&W Short Wadcutters exist?

[Oninotaki]

So as someone really enjoying the .32 caliber family I have started doing a bit of investigating into loading my own, and I haven't come across any .32 s&w short wadcutter loads.

Now I am curious, do they not exist because of case capacity being so low that a wadcutter takes up too much of that, thus not leaving enough for powder? Is it because .32 long wadcutters are just so popular that no one has ever thought to try .32 short wadcutters? Is it something I am just completely missing because I have such minimal experience with reloading?

Also if .32 s&w short wadcutters would work I can't help but wonder how small you could make a little 5 shot DA revolver specifically designed to shoot them. Aside from the vaguries of bigger than a NAA but smaller than a J frame.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

They do if you make them. I shoot them in my Pietta Remington percussion pocket with a Howell .32 S&W conversion cylinder:



My loads are a .3 CC Lee dipper of Trail Boss and Lapua 98 grain target HBWC, the bullet seated with about 1/3 sticking out.

With this little stinker I have to aim at the crotch to hit the upper chest of a silhouette target at 10 feet. Recoil is lively!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

BTW, in a pinch you can shorten .32 ACP cases about 2mm and use them in place of proper (and often harder to source) .32 S&W. The .32 ACP's semi-rim is the same thickness as the S&W, though you may need to occasionally extract fired cases with a pencil if your revolver's extractor misses the smaller rim.

I made up a small batch from some fired .32 ACP brass back when that was all I could find. After loading them with HBWCs or regular LRN bullets you won't get them confused with autopistol ammo.

 

[Oninotaki]

They do if you make them. I shoot them in my Pietta Remington percussion pocket with a Howell .32 S&W conversion cylinder:

View attachment 1179953

My loads are a .3 CC Lee dipper of Trail Boss and Lapua 98 grain target HBWC, the bullet seated with about 1/3 sticking out.

With this little stinker I have to aim at the crotch to hit the upper chest of a silhouette target at 10 feet. Recoil is lively!

Thanks for sharing this info. I couldn't find anyone else even talking about it. Does the Pietta shoot low with most loads or is this one an outlier?

 

[Oninotaki]

BTW, in a pinch you can shorten .32 ACP cases about 2mm and use them in place of proper (and often harder to source) .32 S&W. The .32 ACP's semi-rim is the same thickness as the S&W, though you may need to occasionally extract fired cases with a pencil if your revolver's extractor misses the smaller rim.

I made up a small batch from some fired .32 ACP brass back when that was all I could find. After loading them with HBWCs or regular LRN bullets you won't get them confused with autopistol ammo.

That also good information to have, and I don't think I ever would have thought of it.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Thanks for sharing this info. I couldn't find anyone else even talking about it. Does the Pietta shoot low with most loads or is this one an outlier?

Actually it shoots high -- you have to aim low.

I only have a sample size of one handload to go from, but I suspect it will do the same with any safe load.

At a guess, I'd say it was due to the ergonomics of the little gun -- there isn't much to grip. My friend Bob also shot it and had the same experience.

 

[halfmoonclip]

At a guess, I'd say it was due to the ergonomics of the little gun -- there isn't much to grip. My friend Bob also shot it and had the same experience.

It can't be moving very fast, either...lots of time in the bore, for the gun to recoil. Neat idea.
A .380 'cap and ball' sort of revo went through a local shop, and had thoughts of grabbing it.
Been reloading .32 ACP nearly forever, to feed a dog's breakfast of autopistols. But it seems they should run in some old .32 revolvers...it's an odd caliber. Some things appear to interchange, others not. Color me confused.
Moon

 

[Tallball]

Side note: Please don't shoot 32acp ammo in a 32 S&W revolver. The cartridge pressure is significantly higher than what the revolver was made for.

If you have a 32 magnum revolver, it might or might not shoot 32acp reliably. Something to do with minor tolerances. I had two 32 H&R magnum revolvers that were the exact same model. One shot 32acp just fine every time, and the other would only set them off sometimes.

But yeah, if your particular 32 revolver handles 32acp cases just fine, that's a nice source of brass. Sharp idea!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Actually it shoots high -- you have to aim low.

I only have a sample size of one handload to go from, but I suspect it will do the same with any safe load.

At a guess, I'd say it was due to the ergonomics of the little gun -- there isn't much to grip. My friend Bob also shot it and had the same experience.

It obvious looking at the picture of the Pietta that the front sight is waaay too short. A taller front sight could correct it.

I have a NOE 5-cavity 90gr .314” wadcutter mold! I shoot a lot of .32’s these days…