Load Test - 32acp.... Looks Good!

Loaded up some 32acp with my Dillon 550B (thanks AP) and I think I have found my go to load.   The below 5 shot targets was shot with my Pardini HP rested at 50 yards.



Here is the load:

60 grain Hornady XTP
2.3 grains of Titegroup
Starline Brass
OACL .925

Sorry no chronograph number yet.....

always 10 shot

Greetings,

Give the Hornady 85 grain XTP some thought...


Pardini Factory Barrel at 50 yards, via barrel tester.

There are actually ten shots, Chris, my chronograph suffered a "fat finger" episode.

Cheers,

Dave

85s same .314?

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

Give the Hornady 85 grain XTP some thought...


Pardini Factory Barrel at 50 yards, via barrel tester.

There are actually ten shots, Chris, my chronograph suffered a "fat finger" episode.

Cheers,

Dave

Dave,

Your killing me .   Just when I finally think I found my load, you show me this.....

Jim

85 grainers are .312", Chris;  It is marked right there on Dave's target.  60 grainers are .311".  Makes absolute sense to try heavier bullet, - it is going to be more stable at 50 Y.

Dave's testing of this caliber is another testimony that other calibers, given ammo is optimized for particular gun/barrel, would be as accurate as 22LR - as discussed in other thread.  With 7.0 SD, it is pretty much as good as it gets, and I'm sure most of it came from shot #3.  If we would have dropped #3 & #9 as recommended, SD would be in sub-5.  And I'd love to see pictures of barrel tester fixture. 

You are welcome, Jim.  You should be able to load 85 grainer with same expander as for 60s.
AP

A few months ago Mr Wilson had me try some 85gr XTP's and they are now the only thing I'm using at 50 yards. I can't call all my shots using the 60's, but can with the 85's.
YMMV

Regarding fc60’s load, I’m guessing that’s 1.95gr of AA#2, but what does the “.195” mean?

Greetings,

I keep as much data as possible when testing.

"1.95 AA#2.195" translates as follows. 1.95 grains of AA#2 powder using a bushing of 0.195cc volume (Thanks to Richard Lee).

When I go back to load more ammo, I merely insert the 0.195cc bushing, throw powder, and check weight with scale.

I SHOULD POINT OUT that my 1.95 grain load is MORE THAN what Accurate recommend. The Pardini barrels are 0.314" groove diameter and a lot of gas escapes around the bullet resulting in less velocity. My load would not be acceptable in a 0.311" barrel.



The Chronograph is your friend!!!


Accurate load data says about 700 FPS is max with AA#2 powder. So, I increased my charges until I got close to the 700 FPS threshold.

Also, Accurate used a 4" barrel for testing. The Pardini is almost 5", thus a slight increase in velocity.

Anyone loading for the 32 ACP and the Pardini is "working without a net". There is little published data available for the bullets that are so popular.



By the way, I did not get good results with the AA#5 powder.

Note the pressures recorded to obtain 700 FPS. Almost 20,000 PSI.

Use caution boys and girls. The Pardini is a blow back gun. Keep those loads tame.

Cheers,

Dave

I found the Hornady 85 grain XTP to be the most accurate bullet of 3 tested .

Do you also have a short line load with a less expensive bullet?

Greetings,

I do not own a 32ACP.

If I did, I would be swaging my own bullets.

I do not have a 25 yard load for anything. I load for 50 yard accuracy and use it everywhere.

Less inventory problems. (My Kave is an organizational nightmare.)

Cheers,

Dave

My short line load:

T&B 60 SWC (.314)
1.8gr N310
OAL = .835
Crimp .330

This load groups about 2 1/4" at 50 yds and the bullets are about $65/thousand.

Dr.Don wrote:My short line load:

T&B 60 SWC (.314)
1.8gr N310
OAL = .835
Crimp .330

This load groups about 2 1/4" at 50 yds and the bullets are about $65/thousand.

I tried to repeat this load in my Pardini but got some failures to feed, I had to bump up OAL to .840 and crimp to .335. So far so good, but I see some leading (not much) in the barrel.

Very, very little leading in mine.  I dropped the OAL to .835 because in my barrel, any longer with this bullet and you could not manually extract a round, i.e. it caught in the leade enough to make it very hard to extract manually.  Mine feeds fine at OAL .835, but I should mention that I shortened my magazine springs by about 2 turns.  Stock spring is very heavy in my opinion.

hmm, I really don't feel like cutting the original springs (in case I screwed up I won't be able to go back). Does Wolff sell replacement springs?

I don't know about Wolff, but Pardini sells them.  A bit more expensive than after-market but not too bad.  A couple of years back Pardini was recommending that 32acp users replace the magazine springs with their 22 springs.  They believe they have cured that problem, but the stock springs are plenty tight.  Even cut, my springs make loading the 5th round an effort. Of course, you can alter a spring a little at a time and try it.  

Full disclosure: I'm a "gunsmith-tinkerer" and I don't mind altering a part that is easy to get and replace.

Well, I just ordered two Pardini springs for .22 cal magazines ($50 for two springs + s/h! I guess now I understand those rich people who pay $20 for a tiny avocado toast in a fancy eatery). Let's see if the feeding improves. I also took my Dremel with a crate tool and broke that sharp edge on the top of the chamber.

I also use the T&B 60 SWCs, but with only 1.4 gr of 310. I’ve never noticed any leading with 1000s of rounds. 

I use the 22 cal magazine springs as well.

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

Less inventory problems. (My Kave is an organizational nightmare.)

Cheers,

Dave

But a nightmare all of us would like!!!

What scores are those, shooting 32acp, getting in matches? I haven't seen anyone posting their achievements.