Old .32 S&W Long Ammo Still Usable?

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I finally got my old 32 S&W Long revolver in working order, but the only box of ammo I have for it is an old box of Sellier & Ballot LRN from the 70's. The lead is pretty corroded, and leaves behind lead dust if you handle them too much. The cases look fine, and are not corroded at all.

Is this ammo safe to shoot?
Will it effect the ammount of leading in the barrel?
What are the chances that the primers will still ignite?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Onward Allusion]

I would be most concerned with oxidation of the lead bullets. It sometimes enlarges the bullets and causes over-pressure. If the cartridges were kept dry, they should function. I would recommend using a caliper on the bullets to ensure they are all within specs.

The other concern is your revolver chambered in 32 S&W Long - is it meant for smokeless cartridges or blackpower? The really old revolvers chambered in 32 S&W L were made from soft metal.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Hmm...I never thought that my gun would only take blackpowder rounds. I'm 99% sure that it's NOT blackpowder, just because the box of rounds that came with it were half used, and they're not blackpowder. The story behind the gun is that an old coworker of mine was cleaning out her parents house and found this gun in the bedside drawer. Her dad used to be a security guard who they lovingly refered to as Barney Fife. I'm hoping I can find ammo for it so I can return it to her in working order.

Oh, and the ammo was Remington, not the other brand I mentioned.

I also never would have thought that the bullets would EXPAND. If anything, I would have thought the opposite.

 

[Jaymo]

Which make and model revolver is it?
I'd clean the lead oxide off the bullets with wet wipes or disinfecting wipes.
Or just use alcohol wipes. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, as lead oxide is the bioavailable form or lead. You don't want lead posioning.
Nothing to fear, as long as you wear rubber gloves while doing it, and/or wash thoroughly after.
If you decide that you don't want to shoot them, I'll take them off your hands.

I recently bought a box of 1950s vintage Western "Lubaloy" .32 Longs, and I intend to shoot them. The box is not in good enough shape for a collector, and only about 40 rounds are originals. The rest are plain lead with one .32 S&W (the short one) thrown in for good measure.
The price was right, so I bought them.
I found a couple of 20 round boxes of Federal .32 S&W Long Wadcutters the other day.
I was going to buy them both, but they'd only sell me one box, due to the shortage.
I need to stock up on ammo for mine, too. Maybe I need to break out the reloading gear and roll my own.

 

[BlindJustice]

Reeds Ammunition & Research offers
4 different loads for S&W .32 Long.
Including 85 gr. Hornady XTP @ 950 FP
50 rds for $22 sounds like a good
price,

Randall
-

 

[Onward Allusion]

I also never would have thought that the bullets would EXPAND. If anything, I would have thought the opposite.

What make/model is the revolver?

The bullets don't expand per se. Lead bullets oxidize and get crusted - that can cause the over pressure.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

The revolver is nothing special. It's an INA Tiger imported from Brazil in the 70's and early 80's. I've tried doing research on them, but there seems to be only a handful of people who have ever heard of it. I guess they're pretty numerous in Brazil, but not too many people know them in the U.S.

It may be a cheep knockoff, but it locks up tight and has a very nice bright blueing to it. I'm hoping to find some good ammo so I can make it my CC gun. I like the smaller drum size (compared to a 38 special or 357). It feels real good tucked IWB in the 4 o'clock possition.

Thanks for the ammo liinks. Do you think there will be a 2 year wait on an online order like there seems to be with everything else?

 

[Burt Blade]

The Privi Partisan .32 S&W Long is useable stuff. $16-$19 per 50.

 

[safebustr]

Woodchuck, If that gun is a Tiger like the one a good friend has it is not drop safe, he found out the hard way, kept it in a money bag and forgot to zip it. Upon leaving his business he dropped revolver from bag and it discharged, missing him but putting a hole in ceiling and up into rafter in attic. He said after changing his drawers he now never carries a round under the hammer...

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Yep - I've heard that story more than once. While this is my first snubbie, it's not my first revolver. I ALWAYS carry with the hammer on an empty chamber. Having that 6th round is nice, but not worth an accidental discharge in a crowded place.

Did your friend have a good experience with the INA Tiger?

 

[45lcshooter]

For example I got a Nagant revolver with the 32acp cylinder. Year before I was at a sale that the guy reloaded almost everything. He had a lot of ready to fire factory rounds. When I got the revolver I dug out the bucket of ammo that I had, and found some 32acp.

Put 7 rounds in and only 5 fired. It was because the there was moisture that got in the cases.

My suggestion would be take apart the ammo, and put new primers and bullets in it. If you don't reload 32sw long is going to be a hard one to come buy.