New to reloading, need help with .32 ACP

[lordpaxman]

What kind of issues did you see when using Titegroup - group sizes?

TGs a good powder, just a bit temperamental. The name says it all when it comes to group sizes. It meters really well but stay within the published lines. I don’t load .32, this thread is an interesting read, but do load other calibers with it. .38 loves it. Good luck.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

TGs a good powder, just a bit temperamental. The name says it all when it comes to group sizes. It meters really well but stay within the published lines. I don’t load .32, this thread is an interesting read, but do load other calibers with it. .38 loves it. Good luck.

Agreed about TG. I'm not a "fan" but small-frame, blowback semi-auto's is a good place for it. I use TG exclusively in 9mmMak. WAY back when I had nimble fingers and good eyesight I loaded .32ACP. Back then I used Red Dot exclusively, measured with a pharmacist's spoon for a dipper. It measured about 0.25CC rounded and dumped a nice 1.8gr. load of RD consistently. Yes, I did measure EVERY load. Still do. Always. 1.8gr. of RD is a starting load for a 71gr. FMJ, which is plenty for that little cartridge in an older relics like my old Mauser HSc and my last remaining Savage '07.

Thing is, reloading that little bugger is a chore and I decided way back it wasn't worth the effort. Good luck and be safe.

 

[Rex B]

Eugen & TTv2: Do any of those powders have a greater volume? I would like to use a powder that fills the case to the point that a double-charge is impossible. I haven't started measuring power for these yet, but I suspect a case will hold 4 gr (double charge) easily.
It's possible that the decapping rod was a replacement, as it measured .075. It definitely enlarged the flash hole. The 1/6" rod did not, the primer pocket is neat and clean. After tumbling the brass looks new inside and out.
Interesting comment on the bore sizes. My .32s are Keltec P32, wife's Beretta Tomcat, plus a Star SI, Llama Model 2, and couple of Ruby's. The Spaniards get a lot more range time.
I think I need to check those bore sizes. What is the correct method of measuring the bores? To be clear, do you think the .312 bullets will be ok in these barrels?

 

[Rex B]

TGs a good powder, just a bit temperamental. The name says it all when it comes to group sizes. It meters really well but stay within the published lines. I don’t load .32, this thread is an interesting read, but do load other calibers with it. .38 loves it. Good luck.

My next batch is a bag of .38 spl for my K38. Maybe I'll save this TiteGroup for those. Perhaps someone will suggest a .32ACP powder with a bit more volume.

 

[Rex B]

Thing is, reloading that little bugger is a chore and I decided way back it wasn't worth the effort. Good luck and be safe.

I am starting to appreciate that! Actually, pumping that handle a couple hundred times has aggravated an old rotator cup issue, so that may limit my reloading.

 

[WeekendReloader]

I am starting to appreciate that! Actually, pumping that handle a couple hundred times has aggravated an old rotator cup issue, so that may limit my reloading.

I found that doing steps in batches on a single stage went easier on my arm/shoulder. I'd do one step in a sitting.
Decap and size a bunch.
Flare and prime 100 (one tray of primers at a time).
Charge, seat and crimp 50 at a time.

I have reloading trays that hold 50 rounds. One on the left of the press, and one on the right of the press. Take from the left, do the operation, place in the right. This minimizes the chance of errors and omissions. Place powder in all 50 cases, then take a light and visually inspect the tray to verify all the cases have the same amount of powder before placing and seating bullets.

I always have brass laying around and would work away at prepping it on Saturday mornings when the family was still sleeping. usually just an hour or so at a time. Once all the brass is prepped and primed, the loading part is just a few pulls of the lever.

 

[Rex B]

Out of curiosity, I checked the bullet diameter of the loaded rounds on hand.

MagTech .309
Winchester silvertips .309
Hornady 60gr XTP/HP .305
S&P .306

The Berry's bullets I bought are marked "32 ACP .312" and measure .312"
The cleaned cases measure .300" average.

So does the case get bell-mouthed in a subsequent step, or the bullet sized down, or both?

 

[WeekendReloader]

The case mouth gets flared by the second die in the set. The bullet is then pressed into the case. Ideally, the bullet is not resized when pressed into the case.

If you are measuring loaded factory rounds, you are most likely measuring after the bullet begins to taper to the nose. The full diameter portion of the bullet is pressed into the brass case and cannot be measured unless you pull the bullet.

 

[N555]

I'm very interested in reloading 32acp as I would like to construct a semiauto VZ61 skorpion.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My next batch is a bag of .38 spl for my K38. Maybe I'll save this TiteGroup for those. Perhaps someone will suggest a .32ACP powder with a bit more volume.

IMO you should try to find some W231/HP-38 or even W244 which seems much more available. I use W231 for the .32 ACP.

 

[Rex B]

Rex, can you post a few pictures of the cases, the inside, one without depriming, and then the deprimed ones. I don't think I've seen a boxer primed brass with additional holes before.

Here's a photo. S&B inside and outside, plus an Aquila for comparison

 

[Eugen]

Eugen & TTv2: Do any of those powders have a greater volume? I would like to use a powder that fills the case to the point that a double-charge is impossible. I haven't started measuring power for these yet, but I suspect a case will hold 4 gr (double charge) easily.
It's possible that the decapping rod was a replacement, as it measured .075. It definitely enlarged the flash hole. The 1/6" rod did not, the primer pocket is neat and clean. After tumbling the brass looks new inside and out.
Interesting comment on the bore sizes. My .32s are Keltec P32, wife's Beretta Tomcat, plus a Star SI, Llama Model 2, and couple of Ruby's. The Spaniards get a lot more range time.
I think I need to check those bore sizes. What is the correct method of measuring the bores? To be clear, do you think the .312 bullets will be ok in these barrels?

Win 231 or HP-38 meters well and have slightly larger volume per charge than some other possible powders, but don't be overly concerned with that. Don't overthink the projectile's .312" OD, assuming you bought the correct 32ACP/7.65mm projectiles. I only use with 71gr FMJ.

 

[Rex B]

Yep, I think I'm going to go with what I've got. It does appear I need to bell-mount these slightly to take the bullet. Does the 2nd die do that? If so, I probably need to do so before I cap them.

 

[GONRA]

GONRA sez- rexB needs a micrometer, small lathe, LOTTSA PATiENCE
to reload the .32 ACP Range Brass cases he will encounter......
Get a complete RCBS die set, shell holder too. Do Not cheep out!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Eugen & TTv2: Do any of those powders have a greater volume? I would like to use a powder that fills the case to the point that a double-charge is impossible. I haven't started measuring power for these yet, but I suspect a case will hold 4 gr (double charge) easily.
It's possible that the decapping rod was a replacement, as it measured .075. It definitely enlarged the flash hole. The 1/6" rod did not, the primer pocket is neat and clean. After tumbling the brass looks new inside and out.
Interesting comment on the bore sizes. My .32s are Keltec P32, wife's Beretta Tomcat, plus a Star SI, Llama Model 2, and couple of Ruby's. The Spaniards get a lot more range time.
I think I need to check those bore sizes. What is the correct method of measuring the bores? To be clear, do you think the .312 bullets will be ok in these barrels?

Red Dot, Green Dot, Unique, and Herco are suitable powders that have greater volume. Most anything has greater bulk than TiteGroup.

 

[Rex B]

GONRA sez- rexB needs a micrometer, small lathe, .23 . >LGSA :AENCE - t relad the .32 cases jsw tnnter.

I have all that stuff - 3 lathes, 2 mills, etc plus all the mics and calipers etc. . My other hobby is machine tool rebuilding.

 

[Walkalong]

IMO you should try to find some W231/HP-38 or even W244 which seems much more available. I use W231 for the .32 ACP.

It works very well in .32 ACP for me.

 

[TTv2]

TGs a good powder, just a bit temperamental. The name says it all when it comes to group sizes. It meters really well but stay within the published lines. I don’t load .32, this thread is an interesting read, but do load other calibers with it. .38 loves it. Good luck.

I have found Titegroup good in .38 as well. That and I use it for hot .45 Colt handloads. Get good velocity, but not super high nuclear velocity with it in .45 Colt. Really a just right powder for .45 Colt that exceeds 14K PSI.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Yep, I think I'm going to go with what I've got. It does appear I need to bell-mount these slightly to take the bullet. Does the 2nd die do that? If so, I probably need to do so before I cap them.

Didn’t your dies come with instructions? If not every manufacturer keeps them online for free. Might help for have them, especially when it comes time to adjust them for your press and bullets of choice.

 

[TTv2]

Eugen & TTv2: Do any of those powders have a greater volume? I would like to use a powder that fills the case to the point that a double-charge is impossible. I haven't started measuring power for these yet, but I suspect a case will hold 4 gr (double charge) easily.
It's possible that the decapping rod was a replacement, as it measured .075. It definitely enlarged the flash hole. The 1/6" rod did not, the primer pocket is neat and clean. After tumbling the brass looks new inside and out.
Interesting comment on the bore sizes. My .32s are Keltec P32, wife's Beretta Tomcat, plus a Star SI, Llama Model 2, and couple of Ruby's. The Spaniards get a lot more range time.
I think I need to check those bore sizes. What is the correct method of measuring the bores? To be clear, do you think the .312 bullets will be ok in these barrels?

If you eant to avoid a double charge, avoid Titegroup because it is ripe for an OC given the low volume it uses. This is why I went with Bullseye, more so that Tite is temperamental, not so much a double charge.

I have used a Berry's bullet to check groove diameters, best done in a handgun barrel, the 20 inch on my Henry split a lot of wood dowel rods given the distance the bullet had to be driven, but with the potential for a .309 bore I would check with a lead round ball to get an idea as the older European guns tend to be .308.

You could cut a shotgun shell and use a pellet of 00 Buck to check. That's harder lead, but the bearing surface is so thin it shouldn't be super hard to tap down the bore.

I've never tried to use 00 buck pellets to check a bore before so IDK. It would be the cheapest way to do it.

 

[Rex B]

I decided to work on that powder charge and see how it looks. The powder measure I have is a digital scale that measures g/oz/gr/ct. In use, you cannot see which mode it is measuring, even with a magnifier. So I weighed a 71-gr bullet and found a mode that showed it at 70,6 to 70.8. so that would be grains. Then I made a dipper (thanks BC17A) and shortened it until it dipped 2.0-2.1 grains. that fills a case about 1/3 full. I think that will work with the Titegroup.

In the meantime I'm going to expand the case mouths and cap them. I may yet get another powder before I charge them. I'll see,

 

[Rex B]

If you eant to avoid a double charge, avoid Titegroup because it is ripe for an OC given the low volume it uses. This is why I went with Bullseye, more so that Tite is temperamental, not so much a double charge.
I have used a Berry's bullet to check groove diameters, best done in a handgun barrel, the 20 inch on my Henry split a lot of wood dowel rods given the distance the bullet had to be driven, but with the potential for a .309 bore I would check with a lead round ball to get an idea as the older European guns tend to be .308.
You cold cut a shotgun shell and use a pellet of 00 Buck to check. That's harder lead, but the bearing surface is so thin it shouldn't be super hard to tap down the bore.
I've never tried to use 00 buck pellets to check a bore before so IDK. It would be the cheapest way to do it.

Very aware of the OC danger. I'd be just the guy to do it! So what powder has about 3 times the volume, to fill this case?

Measuring groove diameter - What do you do, drive the bullet or ball ball through the barrel? With a press perhaps?

 

[Walkalong]

. that fills a case about 1/3 full. I think that will work with the Titegroup.

W-231 or AA #2 both give much better fill.

 

[mstreddy]

Rex,
Thanks for those pics. I had never seen Boxer primed cases with the two extra (Berdan style) holes before. That's sure a new one for me. I've encountered 32 ACP Berdan primed cases in the past.
As to powders -- I'm another in the Win231 camp for the 32 ACP.

 

[Rex B]

Rex,
Thanks for those pics. I had never seen Boxer primed cases with the two extra (Berdan style) holes before. That's sure a new one for me. I've encountered 32 ACP Berdan primed cases in the past.
As to powders -- I'm another in the Win231 camp for the 32 ACP.

Yeah, I'm leaning toward going back to Cabelas and see if they have some of that. I can always use the TiteGroup for the 38spl. IF I can find primers for it.

I have 200 large primers, so I guess I can do 45 ACP with Titegroup, right?