Powder for .32 mag, 100 gr, snub nose

[Shivahasagun]

Buffalo Bore 100 gr xtp gets 1260 fps from a Ruger LCR .327 in more than one report I've found online and expands at that velocity. I didnt know that was possible from .32 mag.

Last summer I carried my LCR some with the 100 gr xtp and recorded 1050 fps. They don't expand at this velocity.

So, what powder do I need to get that 1200 fps velocity Buffalo Bore does from my LCR .327?

I've also considered GT Bullets 100 gr LHP, but I've seen no tests with it.

I have Enforcer and CFE Pistol. I'm advised Enforcer is probably too slow. CFE P may not give me the number but I haven't tried yet.

 

[fxvr5]

Not sure where you're getting your numbers but Buffalo Bore says their 32 H&R Magnum +P 100 gr JHP gets only 1,187 fps from a Ruger SP101 3-inch barrel.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=257

I've shot this round from my 2" LCR and got 1135 fps, which one might expect with the shorter barrel.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Not sure where you're getting your numbers but Buffalo Bore says their 32 H&R Magnum +P 100 gr JHP gets only 1,187 fps from a Ruger SP101 3-inch barrel.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=257

I've shot this round from my 2" LCR and got 1135 fps, which one might expect with the shorter barrel.

Here is one:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...5818474C0D2C477B811F5818474C0D2C477&FORM=VIRE

The other was an E-magazine test but I cant find it.

 

[fxvr5]

Here is one:

Thanks.

 

[Crosshair]

Not trying to police language, but you need to be more specific than "32 Mag". Is this Buffalo Bore a 32 H&R Magnum load or a 327 Federal Magnum load? (Obviously from the velocity numbers I can infer 327 Federal in this particular instance.)

However, the vagueness of "32 Mag" doesn't tell us what brass you are using. Are you using 327 Federal brass? Or, since 327 Federal brass is scarce, are you wanting to load 32 H&R brass to 327 Federal pressure. (Risky, but has been done.)

I know I could assume you're using 32 Federal brass and not 32 H&R, but why risk assumptions when one can ask for clarification.

 

[Shivahasagun]

.32 H&R magnum

 

[RealGun]

If you use a lighter bullet you will get your velocity and expansion without over stressing the gun or the shooter.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Check Brian Pearce’s column https://www.handloadermagazine.com/32-h-r-magnum-pet-loads. He lists the fastest loads as Longshot or Lil’Gun. Start there and work up to your target velocity.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Thanks!

 

[RealGun]

Check Brian Pearce’s column https://www.handloadermagazine.com/32-h-r-magnum-pet-loads. He lists the fastest loads as Longshot or Lil’Gun. Start there and work up to your target velocity.

"The 100-grain XTP begins reliable expansion at 800 fps" addresses the OP's premise.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

"The 100-grain XTP begins reliable expansion at 800 fps" addresses the OP's premise.

There’s room for experimentation with a strong gun and the .32H&R Magnum case. Pearce rides the line pretty close to going off the cliff, in my opinion, and his data is not meant for revolvers with less overall strength than the Ruger Single Six. But his loading data is published and has been quoted here before so if @Shivahasagun is going to experiment with a different Ruger platform, then Pearce’s data seems the logical starting point. Personally, I agree with you but that doesn’t answer the question.

 

[Shivahasagun]

"The 100-grain XTP begins reliable expansion at 800 fps" addresses the OP's premise.

Pff...says Hornady.

.357 caliber XTP's dont expand as slow as they say, either.

 

[RealGun]

Pff...says Hornady.

.357 caliber XTP's dont expand as slow as they say, either.

That quote is from Pearce's article from the link posted above. I believe he has great credibility and doubt that was a typo.

 

[RealGun]

Buffalo Bore 100 gr xtp gets 1260 fps from a Ruger LCR .327 in more than one report I've found online and expands at that velocity. I didnt know that was possible from .32 mag.

Last summer I carried my LCR some with the 100 gr xtp and recorded 1050 fps. They don't expand at this velocity.

So, what powder do I need to get that 1200 fps velocity Buffalo Bore does from my LCR .327?

I've also considered GT Bullets 100 gr LHP, but I've seen no tests with it.

I have Enforcer and CFE Pistol. I'm advised Enforcer is probably too slow. CFE P may not give me the number but I haven't tried yet.

How are you measuring and judging expansion? Are you just quoting some other source?

 

[Shivahasagun]

How are you measuring and judging expansion? Are you just quoting some other source?

Fired some into water jugs awhile back.

If a bullet wont expand at a certain speed in water jugs it wont in anything.

I'd love for the .312 100 gr xtp to expand or at least flatten at 1000 fps.

And I'd love for the 158 gr XTP .357 to do the same at 850 fps.

It's a very informative article. But he's probably just quoting Hornady.

 

[74man]

I have an Iver Johnson top break in 32 S&W made in 1911, have shot it once at 7 yds, bulleye. The box of ammo I got with it was a green Remington Box with 5 missing bullets, the gun was loaded with 5 bullets, I found the missing bullets and I looked at the barrel and it was dirty but the grooves and lands were sharp, don't think it had been fired. It was found in an Old Ladies Purse after she had died, probably bought for protection. The lady was in her 90's when she passed and her family just wanted everything gone, they only took what interested them and the rest was trash according to them. I keep in on my desk concealed, never know when you might need something. No children in the house so I have guns everywhere and my youngest grand-daughter is 14 and she has been around guns so she knows the safety concerns. I have not reloaded them, I have the original box and two new boxes, should last me my lifetime.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It's a very informative article. But he's probably just quoting Hornady.

For someone who knows so little you assume a great deal. That’s a bad habit.
Brian Pearce is neither deceased nor a recluse hiding on a deserted island. He’s a magazine writer. He answers letters to the editor. Write and ask what the statement is based on instead of assuming the man is quoting without citation.

 

[GooseGestapo]

With the .32H&R, I’ve gotten fastest 100gr loads with Hodgedon Lil’Gun. Lyman #48 has some good data for the 100gr XTP.

For the.327FedMag, it’s good old H110 with a SMALL RIFLE PRIMER! The SRP eliminates the cratering and extrusion as well as velocity variations due to erratic ignition.
I’m quite fond of the “little” magnums as well as most any .32’s.

 

[RealGun]

Fired some into water jugs awhile back.

If a bullet wont expand at a certain speed in water jugs it wont in anything.

I'd love for the .312 100 gr xtp to expand or at least flatten at 1000 fps.

And I'd love for the 158 gr XTP .357 to do the same at 850 fps.

It's a very informative article. But he's probably just quoting Hornady.

Hornady is probably not using water jugs. Something simulating flesh and offering real resistance would more readily cause expansion, I expect.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I didn't recall Mr. Peirce doing any terminal ballistic testing other than hunting results but I'm new to his work.

And that's great information. And he's certainly great at handloading and getting the most accuracy from guns & bullets. But testing expanding pistol bullets doesn't seem to be his interest.

Nothing expands pistol bullets like water. Water represents the best-case-scenario. If a pistol bullet won't expand in water it won't in anything.

If a given bullet won't expand at a certain speed more velocity usually helps.

Using a lighter bullet normally means more speed and usually a greater chance of expansion. But this often results in decreased penetration and less linear path inside the target due to lower sectional density.

If I want a good expanding bullet in an under 2 inch barrel in .32 mag I'll need to choose a different 100 gr bullet than the XTP or use the 85 gr XTP.

 

[25-20 WCF]

"The 100-grain XTP begins reliable expansion at 800 fps" addresses the OP's premise.

As mentioned, this is simply not the case in the real world. Years ago I tried to get decent expansion out of the 100 XTP at 1300 fps out of my SP-101 shooting into well-soaked newsprint - but expansion barely exceeded the unfired bullet diameter. Others report the same, see the article below. For expansion out of a short barrel, it’s best to choose the Hornady 85 XTP.

https://loaddata.com/Article/BenchTopics/The-32-HR-Magnum/92


.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Not sure about the 32 XTP's but I know there are 2 different 125gr and 158gr 38/357 XTP's made for different velocities. May be the same for the 32's and worth looking into. I would not expect one made for a snub 32mag to serve well in a long barreled .327 revolver or rifle, so could be different product #'s like for their 38/357's.

 

[RealGun]

This link is to a paper describing a technically disciplined process for determining the degree of bullet expansion over a range of velocities. Note that their minimum velocity of 248 m/s equates to 813 fps, the same minimum expansion velocity mentioned for the Hornady XTP. It does not represent results for the XTP, but would give an idea of what testing a bullet manufacturer of the scale of Hornady might use in bullet development and performance claims.
https://www.engmech.cz/improc/2012/095_Hub_J-FT.pdf

 

[Shivahasagun]

Not sure about the 32 XTP's but I know there are 2 different 125gr and 158gr 38/357 XTP's made for different velocities. May be the same for the 32's and worth looking into. I would not expect one made for a snub 32mag to serve well in a long barreled .327 revolver or rifle, so could be different product #'s like for their 38/357's.

IIRC there are flat-nosed XTP's and JHP XTP's in .357. I think all of them in .312 are JHP's.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Not sure about the 32 XTP's but I know there are 2 different 125gr and 158gr 38/357 XTP's made for different velocities. May be the same for the 32's and worth looking into. I would not expect one made for a snub 32mag to serve well in a long barreled .327 revolver or rifle, so could be different product #'s like for their 38/357's.

Hm. Hornady's web information is crappy. Shows the different product numbers for 158 gr .357 but says nothing about how they are different.

But one of them is called "FP", so we can assume that means "flat point", not intended for expansion.