How do you know when to back off? (.32 magnum)

[Shivahasagun]

I have an LCR 2-inch in .327 Federal Magnum.

I don't have a book that shows loads for .32 mag 100 gr lead bullets.

Previous loads of a 100 gr SNS FP .313 in. lead bullet, CCI SPP, OAL 1.36-1.37, and 3.0 gr of 700x gave me an average of 849 fps.

Same set up with 4.1 gr of CFE Pistol gave me 881 fps and it felt much hotter than the above. I guess because of the slower powder burning out of the muzzle.

I have some factory loads that averaged 1050 fps with a 100 XTP bullet from this very gun. I'm trying to replicate this with these lead bullets.

I can work up the 700x, and the gun can certainly take all .32 mag can give, but what would be the signs of weakness or points of failure if not the gun? Will my cases get sticky? Or split? Is that what I should look for?

My book shows up to 3.5 gr of 700x for a jacketed 100 gr. Can I just jump to that or should I be more cautious?

 

[25-20 WCF]

It is possible to load the .32 H&R to excessive pressures. Sticky cases means you’ve gone way too far, but some guns won’t show cratered primers at all. Stick to published data even if the gun might tolerate it. I experimented with very hot loads in my SP101 many years ago, but with the .327 you don’t need to.

Here is some published data for 98-100 grain lead bullets and one jacketed.

 

[.38 Special]

There really are not any reliable pressure signs for revolvers. Sticky extraction, for example, usually means you are way over pressure, and simply backing down until the problem goes away is no guarantee that you are now in SAAMI territory. Conversely, in a revolver with rough or fouled chambers, you may get sticky extraction even with low pressure loads.

It's the same story with other pressure signs, like flattened or catered primers. There are just too many variables for them to be meaningful.

I urge caution.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Thanks.

Hmm...I hadn't checked the .327 data closely until just now but it does seem it would be easier to load it mildly than load .32 mag hot.

I'm still surprised by the lack of data on 100 gr lead .32 mag loads.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Thanks.

Hmm...I hadn't checked the .327 data closely until just now but it does seem it would be easier to load it mildly than load .32 mag hot.

I'm still surprised by the lack of data on 100 gr lead .32 mag loads.

Maybe check old issues of Handloader magazine? Not sure where else but in some other magazine articles. The big names seem to think it's a jacketed round only. Maybe H&R and Federal spec'd it that way...?