lightest 32acp load ever?

[cpileri]

What is the lightest 32 ACP load anyone has tried? (I know, hide head in shame at reloading 32acp).

A buddy and I pulled the projectile out of some ball ammo, dumped all the powder, used finger pressure only to seat a single 0-buckshot lead pellet onto the primed case, put it in a 2-inch bbl revolver: click.

try again: click

ejected the case, primer dented otherwise looked like nothing happened. Pulled the 0-buck ball off and the bottom of it and inside the case was covered in soot! The primer wasn't sparky enough to pop a little lead ball pressed on by fingers off the case!

Not wanting to risk an explosion (however theoretical) with too-light load experiments with the leftover powder, we set it aside indefinitely.

Anyone have info on super-light, ultra-wimpy 32acp loads? one step up from primer-only loads?
thanks,
C-

 

[mtnbkr]

I don't have one for the 32, but I had one for the 38spec that was similar in nature. I used a 000 buckshot pellet over 1gr of Bullseye for a load you could shoot indoors. From 10ft away, it would only slightly dent a sheet of tin. It sounded like a capgun going off when fired from a snubnose 38. I would expect to use much less powder for the 32, probably an amount too small to measure easily.

Chris

 

[Master Blaster]

I reload the .32acp for my keltec p-32. My full power load is 2.5 grains of titegroup (fast like bullseye), and a golddot 60 grain hollowpoint, or a 77grain lrn bullet. I did once load a powderless round by accident, and when it went pop it stuck the bullet in the barrel just ahead of the chamber.

I would try 1 grain of titegroup, but I would check to see if the ball cleared the barrel before each shot.Warning USE a Current Reloading Manual My load is max per speer 13

 

[cpileri]

eyah

"too small to measure easily"
Yeah, I was thinking it owuld have to be measured out flake by flake or something! Heck, maybe we should try it...
But like I said, I dont want to go TOO light.
C-

 

[mtnbkr]

I dont want to go TOO light.

Why?

Chris

 

[444]

"Why ?"

I second that ? I have never worked up a load like this in .32 ACP, but I have done it in many other calibers, both rifle and pistol. Just use a fast powder and keep going down until the projectile sticks in the barrel. Knock it out with a dowel rod, add a little powder and you found your minimum load. Keep in mind that as the bore gets dirtier, friction increases so you want to be a little above minimum if you intend to shoot very many rounds at a session.
I realize this is reckless and goes against conventional thinking, but I personally am not all that worried about firing a shot with a plugged bore. I have done it several times (all by accident) and absolutely nothing happened except is was hard to fix. I once fired six shots without ever having one exit the bore and the gun was fine. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you can ignore safety, I am not saying this is something that you should strive for. But at the same time, I wouldn't stay up nights worrying about it. Be cautious, when working up the load, ensure that the projectile clears the bore, but I personally don't obsess over it once I found my load.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I loaded a lot of .32acp for a TomCat I had until the slide, and according to Beretta, the frame too, was cracked. (Sent gun back to Beretta and got a new one, which I traded off NIB), and I loaned a Kel-Tec P-32 I won in a match, along with dies to my nephew who is on TDY with NG to Bagdad.

I shot as light as 1.2gr of Bullseye with a 78gr RN cast bullet. This was the least that would cycle the action, but was not 100%. At 1.6gr of Bullseye, everything was 100% and accuracy was phenomenal- it would hold 18rds in a NRA B-27 10-ring at 25yds, something NONE of the Glocks I've owned would do, (no, haven't owned a G-21, I'm told they will) with a POI/POA sight setting. I shot a LOT of these as they were very mild at 760fps- about like a R-P or W-W factory load (much lighter than Fiocchi factory loads).

I had, but never tried any .311 RB as the 78gr RN's were sooooo accurate, and pleasant to shoot. I would suggest that 1.2 will probably be minimum to get a reliable "exit the bore" load, and probably 1.8 to 2.2 to get it to cycle the slide. Feeding will be another story !!! I loaded mine to 0.984" which was taper crimped to into forward groove for proper cycling.

For powder metering, I used a Lee powder measure with Lee dies, and the Lee Micro-Disc's. Charges were adequately consistent.

I found that WW-231 and 60gr HP's gave highest velocities, but the 71-78gr bullets were far more accurate. When carrying the T-C as a back-up, I carried the Fiocchi 60gr HP's which chrono'd at 1,050fps from the 2.1" bbl. Much faster than the Win. 60gr Silvertips at 850fps. Didn't really care if they expanded.
Even with tack-driving accuracy for a MouseGun, I still figured as other poster stated since I was using it as a B.U.G. for my issue G-22, that the "LOCKING LUG" use of the front sight with repeated discharges as needed would be how it would be used.

Let us know how the #1 Buck load "comes out", as I never got around to trying that, and will probably get my Keltec back some day, and may want to try them out.

(Did he take the Kel-Tec to IRAQ ??? Been afraid to ask, as he is a M-P, and will probably be there for at least 12mos. Perhaps the K-T will send a soul to Allah ?? Hope not- for Nephew's sake, as that will mean he let the B-G get wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy tooooooooooooo close. We taught him better than that !!!!!!!!!!!!! After giving him a Beretta 96 for CHRISTMAS, His Quals. with M-9 went to "Front of the Class", and he's hinted that he may be actually be in possession of a $$IG M-!!?)

 

[cpileri]

lighter ball

Thanks again everyone,
About reliably exiting the bore: the 0B ball is lighter at about 27 grains, and the box (Hornady btw) says .320 diameter. Perhaps it is too large? maybe drop to 1B?
But since it is lighter, what kind of microscopic load of powder would a guy start at?
C-

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

32acp viable load

If you wish to shoot your 32 in the house or for what ever reason scaring pests, how abour pouring a layer of melted candle wax in a baking pan lined with wax paper and press your primed cases in and then you have a wax bullet that will exit the bore under primer power only. Put a target on front of a cardboard box with a piece of rug hanging behind it and the rug will stop the wax bullet.

I have done that with 32's, .38's and even 45's

John Paul

 

[Clark]

Like Paul says, but my wax is a lead ball, pushed into the case all the way to the primer.
It goes through 2 layers of cardboard.

 

[Tex1001]

These loads might be worth a try-
Single 0 buckshot ball(50 grs.) with 1.6 grs. Hodgdon Clays
Single 0 buckshot ball(50 grs.) with 3.3 grs. Unique

These loads will usually/sometimes cycle the slide on Walther PPK and Mauser HsC.
I have loaded 32 auto and 32 S&W Long for years. They are good to use to introduce women, children, and overly excitable men to shooting with a center fire cartridge.

 

[Clark]

Tex,
If you get a recoil spring gunsmithing pak #14 from Wolff, you can pick a spring and cut a spring to length that WILL cylcle with still wimpier loads.
Clark