Range report: .32 S&W Long

[Steel Hayes]

I like the .32 S&W(short and long)for being a small bullet, it’s pretty accurate. Yes even though they’re antiques, I still shoot both.

 

[Hondo 60]

Very nice.

I have 2 - 32 cal guns, a 32 H&R Mag single six & a .327 Fed SP101.

The 327 was brand new as of last Tues 6/12
haven't fired it yet, but I have not only 327FM, & 32 H&R but 32 S&W Long to fire in it too.

 

[eastbank]

my two .32,s are a ruger in .32mag and a older smith&wesson that some one put adjustable sights on and for that reason I bought it dirt cheap at public auction(ruined as a collector) as it turned out its a very accurett revolver.

 

[Monac]

Dang, eastbank, that J-frame 32 with adjustable sights is a gun S&W should have made but never did. You were lucky to find one so well done.

(Well, S&W did make a stainless steel 32 Magnum Kit Gun for little while. Too little, too late. They usually bring $1,000 or more on GunBroker.)

 

[cfullgraf]

Dang, eastbank, that J-frame 32 with adjustable sights is a gun S&W should have made but never did. You were lucky to find one so well done.

(Well, S&W did make a stainless steel 32 Magnum Kit Gun for little while. Too little, too late. They usually bring $1,000 or more on GunBroker.)

Yes, a Model 30 or Model 31 with adjustable sights would be a great revolver. I have one of each and they shoot fairly tight groups, just not to the point that I am thinking they are aimed at.

Still, a 32 S&W Long revolver is fun to shoot, too bad it was not more popular. It could have been a great reloadable option for a 22 RF.

 

[Hunter86004]

I was shooting the Fiocchis before I had the idea to mark and keep some targets for a post here. They shoot about the same as the S&B. Fool that I am, I neglected to take my chrono along, so I don't know what kind of velocity either the S&B or Fiocchi were getting. I've done up a batch of 98 grain wadcutters with 2 grains of HP-38, but haven't chronographed them yet. I've been scouring the internet to find a range of weights for Unique, since that should give me more variety to play with. (None of my books mention a Unique load.) For HP-38, the spread between starting and max is three tenths.

My 46th edition Lyman Reloading Handbook lists a start load of 3.5 and max load of 4.0 grains of Unique with a 100 grain jacketed SP. With their 77 grain cast bullet (#311252) they show a start load of 2.5 grains and max of 4.0 using Unique.

Hope that helps.

 

[AZAndy]

My 46th edition Lyman Reloading Handbook lists a start load of 3.5 and max load of 4.0 grains of Unique with a 100 grain jacketed SP. With their 77 grain cast bullet (#311252) they show a start load of 2.5 grains and max of 4.0 using Unique.

Hope that helps.

It does, thanks! Does it mention 98 or 100 lead wadcutters, too?

 

[Hunter86004]

It does, thanks! Does it mention 98 or 100 lead wadcutters, too?

No, but my 49th edition of the Lyman book does show 90 gr HBWC with a start of 2.2. with a velocity of 658 fps, and max of 2.5 with Unique and a velocity of 820 fps.

The 90 grain is the heaviest cast bullet they show. The only 100 grain bullet they show is the JHP and velocity takes a nose dive.

 

[AZAndy]

No, but my 49th edition of the Lyman book does show 90 gr HBWC with a start of 2.2. with a velocity of 658 fps, and max of 2.5 with Unique and a velocity of 820 fps.

The 90 grain is the heaviest cast bullet they show. The only 100 grain bullet they show is the JHP and velocity takes a nose dive.

Thanks again; that gives me some ranges to play with. Hats off to you!