Stout but not excessive load for 32 H&R Magnum

[jski]

I’m thinking Hornady 100 Grain HP/XTP + 10 grains of H110 all wrapped up in Starline brass.

Sound reasonable?

 

[Walkalong]

Hodgdon online data doesn't even show a load using H-110, may be too slow, may be too bulky, I don't know, but that there is a clue to me.

 

[twistytorn]

H110 is probably too slow. I've had good results with Power Pistol and Unique. Seems like that burn speed is right for the 32 H&R Mag.

 

[jski]

Isn’t H110 used in 357s for snubbies?

Oh BTW, no one asked about the barrel length for the intended use.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

So what's the barrel length?

 

[25-20 WCF]

H110 is a great powder for the .32 Magnum - in a strong revolver. I certainly wouldn't use it in a weak handgun like an H& R revolver. It has been a popular go-to powder since the cartridge was first chambered in stronger revolvers like the Rugers and S&Ws and written up in the shooting press. When Speer made .32-caliber jacketed bullets H110 was at the top of their list for their 90-grain jacketed bullet - 10.5 grains @1140 fps. I don't know why Hodgdon doesn't list it, but since they do list Lil'Gun and H4227 - it certainly isn't "too slow". Loading manual data is hamstrung by the low SAAMI pressures imposed on the cartridge by the weak H&R handguns, similar toe cartridges like the .45 LC was before +P data was developed. No chance of that with the .32 Magnum due to it's moribund status.

In his Pet Loads column in Handloader magazine (10/19), Layne Pearce listed 11.5 grains of H110 behind the Speer 100-grain Gold Dot for 1335 fps, a +P load for certain but okay in the Ruger Single Six. In his 2020 Shooting Times article he used it (well actually he used W296, identical powder) behind 98-grain cast bullets, his favorite load. I've used it with the 100 XTP in my 4" SP-101 where it works well. In the April 2001 Handloader a review of the Single Six found H110 to be among the best performing powders for high velocity. The most accurate loads in that Ruger were 10.5 and 11.0 grains of H110 behind a 115-grain cast bullet. So yes, the OP's load sounds reasonable - in a strong revolver.

BTW, handgun silhouette shooters demonstrated 40 years ago that the powder which gives higher velocities in long barrels (which H110 does) will also do so in shorter barrels. Of course, the muzzle blast will be greater with H110/W296 than it would be with W231....


.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The hottest I’ve ever loaded .32H&R for the Ruger Single Six and a heavy jacketed bullet (Sierra 90gr, not the Hornady XTP) is 5.8gr of Blue Dot. That’s a real flame thrower and not the most accurate. I get better accuracy with Unique around 4.2gr. That’s a good load and close to what a .32-20 will do.

 

[jski]

H110 is a great powder for the .32 Magnum - in a strong revolver. I certainly wouldn't use it in a weak handgun like an H& R revolver. It has been a popular go-to powder since the cartridge was first chambered in stronger revolvers like the Rugers and S&Ws and written up in the shooting press. When Speer made .32-caliber jacketed bullets H110 was at the top of their list for their 90-grain jacketed bullet - 10.5 grains @1140 fps. I don't know why Hodgdon doesn't list it, but since they do list Lil'Gun and H4227 - it certainly isn't "too slow". Loading manual data is hamstrung by the low SAAMI pressures imposed on the cartridge by the weak H&R handguns, similar toe cartridges like the .45 LC was before +P data was developed. No chance of that with the .32 Magnum due to it's moribund status.

In his Pet Loads column in Handloader magazine (10/19), Layne Pearce listed 11.5 grains of H110 behind the Speer 100-grain Gold Dot for 1335 fps, a +P load for certain but okay in the Ruger Single Six. In his 2020 Shooting Times article he used it (well actually he used W296, identical powder) behind 98-grain cast bullets, his favorite load. I've used it with the 100 XTP in my 4" SP-101 where it works well. In the April 2001 Handloader a review of the Single Six found H110 to be among the best performing powders for high velocity. The most accurate loads in that Ruger were 10.5 and 11.0 grains of H110 behind a 115-grain cast bullet. So yes, the OP's load sounds reasonable - in a strong revolver.

BTW, handgun silhouette shooters demonstrated 40 years ago that the powder which gives higher velocities in long barrels (which H110 does) will also do so in shorter barrels. Of course, the muzzle blast will be greater with H110/W296 than it would be with W231....
.

I’ve been trying to get hold of the ballistician at Starline to ask about the pressure levels their 32 H&R bass is tested to but no luck, he’s on vacation till Monday. I’m hoping he’ll tell me that it’s shortened 327 brass.

 

[jski]

Oh yeah and BTW, I’m looking at the Ruger LCRx and RUGER NEW MODEL SINGLE-SIX.

 

[Walkalong]

Y'all be careful out there.

 

[jski]

H110 is a great powder for the .32 Magnum - in a strong revolver. I certainly wouldn't use it in a weak handgun like an H& R revolver. It has been a popular go-to powder since the cartridge was first chambered in stronger revolvers like the Rugers and S&Ws and written up in the shooting press. When Speer made .32-caliber jacketed bullets H110 was at the top of their list for their 90-grain jacketed bullet - 10.5 grains @1140 fps. I don't know why Hodgdon doesn't list it, but since they do list Lil'Gun and H4227 - it certainly isn't "too slow". Loading manual data is hamstrung by the low SAAMI pressures imposed on the cartridge by the weak H&R handguns, similar toe cartridges like the .45 LC was before +P data was developed. No chance of that with the .32 Magnum due to it's moribund status.

In his Pet Loads column in Handloader magazine (10/19), Layne Pearce listed 11.5 grains of H110 behind the Speer 100-grain Gold Dot for 1335 fps, a +P load for certain but okay in the Ruger Single Six. In his 2020 Shooting Times article he used it (well actually he used W296, identical powder) behind 98-grain cast bullets, his favorite load. I've used it with the 100 XTP in my 4" SP-101 where it works well. In the April 2001 Handloader a review of the Single Six found H110 to be among the best performing powders for high velocity. The most accurate loads in that Ruger were 10.5 and 11.0 grains of H110 behind a 115-grain cast bullet. So yes, the OP's load sounds reasonable - in a strong revolver.

BTW, handgun silhouette shooters demonstrated 40 years ago that the powder which gives higher velocities in long barrels (which H110 does) will also do so in shorter barrels. Of course, the muzzle blast will be greater with H110/W296 than it would be with W231....
.

I’m hoping there’s a renewed interest in the 32s in general and the 32 H&R in particular. Luckily Gunner’s episode:

Why the Best Snub Nose Caliber is .32

will hopefully help to rekindle that interest!

 

[TTv2]

What gun you shooting this from? Hornady 10th edition has 5.4gr of Blue Dot doing 1100 fps from a 6.5" Ruger Single Six. That would be fine, but for a snub or a 3 inch, I don't like 100gr XTP's in .32 Mag, that's where 85gr is best. Hornady has 5.0gr of Power Pistol at 1200 fps and max charges of several powders at 1150.

Even from a snub those should have be above expansion threshold for the XTP.

BTW, if you're shooting these from a .327, you can go above those charges a few tenths of a grain and be just fine without being anywhere near .327 territory.

Me personally, I want .32 Mag in a snub that is fast enough to expand an 85gr bullet and it seems that at max charges I'm just there, but I want to know I'm over the minimum and the only way for me to do that is I'll have to go .2 grains over max with whatever powder I'm using.

That's a +P load and nobody is going to recommend that cuz .32 Mag +P doesn't exist. Well, outside of .327 Federal Mag

 

[TTv2]

The hottest I’ve ever loaded .32H&R for the Ruger Single Six and a heavy jacketed bullet (Sierra 90gr, not the Hornady XTP) is 5.8gr of Blue Dot. That’s a real flame thrower and not the most accurate. I get better accuracy with Unique around 4.2gr. That’s a good load and close to what a .32-20 will do.

I personally don't like Blue Dot for use in revolvers, I get a lot of unburned powder left over when I shoot it. Power Pistol is good even at max charges.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My Taurus M76 really likes the Hodgdon online manual load of 11.0gr of Hodgdon Lil’Gun under a 100gr Hornady. Gets right at 1,300fps from the 6” bbl. and is quite accurate.
I don’t believe you will get good results from H110 without going well above the SAAMI max pressure for the .32H&R Mag which is around 20,000psi. H110 needs 30,000+ to be consistent.
Lyman lists 9.9gr of 296 with a Sierra 90gr for 1,177fps.

#2400 is another good powder. I don’t have a source, but suggest a start of about 6.5gr and top out at around 8.5gr.

11.7gr of Lil’Gun with an 85gr XTP ran around 1,350fps. Not as accurate as the 100gr.
And yes, I’m using Starline brass... Winchester primers.
Target fired at 45’, off hand leaning back against my pickup. 100gr XTP, 11.0gr Lil’Gun. Shot at 4 o’clock I jerked.

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm surprised that H110 is not listed or used more for the 32H&R Mag. Hodgdon does list data for 327 Mag and 100 grain Hornady XTP. H110 is used in a lot of magnum ammo and also 300 Blackout. I lays have to fight the magnum revolver and 300BO guys for H110 to reload my 410 shells

 

[Shivahasagun]

It seems the 100 gr xtp needs to be above 1100 fps to have a chance at expansion.

I didnt see what barrel you have but I dont think you can achieve that with a snubbie.

Georgia Arms 100 gr xtp gets 1050 fps from my LCR and chrono but they dont expand. Not a big deal though.

I have some 100 gr LSWC's and new .32 mag brass but haven't loaded them up yet.

Not sure what powder I should use.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It seems the 100 gr xtp needs to be above 1100 fps to have a chance at expansion.

I didnt see what barrel you have but I dont think you can achieve that with a snubbie.

Georgia Arms 100 gr xtp gets 1050 fps from my LCR and chrono but they dont expand. Not a big deal though.

I have some 100 gr LSWC's and new .32 mag brass but haven't loaded them up yet.

Not sure what powder I should use.

Take a look at the Sierra 90gr. JHC. It's in their Sports Master line. Expands good enough to take a raccoon's head off at .32H&R velocities and good enough for a body shot at the top end of .32 S&W Long velocities. I've taken some pretty good sized rabid dogs and raccoons with it using 4.5gr of Unique in a 6" Ruger Single Six.

That's a VERY HOT load, by the way. Sierra's app lists it as red-line but still inside of max pressure. Lyman's says it's .2gr over max. Work up to 4.3gr Unique VERY carefully! 4.5gr. in the New Model Single Six .32H&R or .327 only is my recommendation.

I stick to under 3gr. of Unique with .32Longs. That's still fast enough to expand the Sierra's but I buy a 96-2-2 alloy 100gr. LHP online from a vendor that's better for small game. Try a 100gr. DEWC over 3.3gr. of Unique in your magnum and see what kind of damage that does vs. a JHP/JHC.

 

[jski]

Just got some emails from from Starline about their 32 H&R brass.

Me:

Just bought a bag of 500 32 H&R Mag brass and was wondering what pressure levels this brass is tested to? 32 H&R SAAMI specs? 327 Fed Mag SAAMI specs? Something in between?

Starline:

On 2021-08-03 19:25, Hunter Pilant wrote:
They have only been tested to 32 H&R pressure levels. Should be good to go with any published data.

Me:

There is no H110 reloading data for the 32 H&R on Hodgson’s website but there are plenty of articles in Handloader magazine with H110 loads for the 32 H&R.

I was hoping that 32 H&R brass might be shortened 327 brass?

Starline:

No. They are a whole different animal. The H&R predates the Federal by decades. Data in Handloader should be fine and I would consider it published data.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

“Data in Handloader should be fine and I would consider it published data.”
That’s pretty much definitive. Now the only question is do you try your loads in a .327 or a .32H&R?

 

[jski]

Handloader October/November 2018
Volume: 53

 

[jski]

.32 H&R Magnum (Pet Loads)
Handloading for Versatility
Feature By: Brian Pearce | October, 18

 

[GooseGestapo]

Thanks for the link jski!
I quit “Handloader” several years ago and missed that article. I do have the earlier.327FedMag article.

Added: FWIW, Grafs has Starline .32H&R brass in-stock. I picked up 300 cases several weeks ago.

 

[Dunross]

I have a 327, but for short barrel loads I generally load in the H&R range so the Brian Pearce article will come in handy. Thanks for posting it.

 

[TTv2]

“Data in Handloader should be fine and I would consider it published data.”
That’s pretty much definitive. Now the only question is do you try your loads in a .327 or a .32H&R?

Yeah, it sounds like Starline isn't going to say that .32 Mag brass can handle 45K PSI, but they're probably confident it can hold up at pressures over 21K.

I would try everything in a .327 at first just to check for pressure signs, then move over to .32 Mag. It seems OP is looking at getting .327 revolvers anyway in which case I'd have no concerns about loading .32 Mag into +P territory. @jski if you load any hollow points for the LCR stick with the 85gr XTP's and get them moving at least 1000 fps, that seems to be how fast the .32 XTP's need to go to expand. All the velocities I see listed in books and guides use a 5 or 6.5" barrel, so going to a 2 inch barrel means you're likely losing 150 to 200 fps and that puts you in the danger zone of not driving the bullet fast enough and .32's that don't expand aren't great.

 

[jski]

Yeah, it sounds like Starline isn't going to say that .32 Mag brass can handle 45K PSI, but they're probably confident it can hold up at pressures over 21K.

I would try everything in a .327 at first just to check for pressure signs, then move over to .32 Mag. It seems OP is looking at getting .327 revolvers anyway in which case I'd have no concerns about loading .32 Mag into +P territory. @jski if you load any hollow points for the LCR stick with the 85gr XTP's and get them moving at least 1000 fps, that seems to be how fast the .32 XTP's need to go to expand. All the velocities I see listed in books and guides use a 5 or 6.5" barrel, so going to a 2 inch barrel means you're likely losing 150 to 200 fps and that puts you in the danger zone of not driving the bullet fast enough and .32's that don't expand aren't great.

Actually, that Ruger Blackhawk is a 32 H&R and not a 327. The LCRx is obviously a 327.