Loading 32 S&W Long

Axehandle,
I took some new Starline 32 long brass and measured the inside with a tubing micrometer . the taper doesn't start till .530 from the front of the case. I've been using Dardas cast bullets and the 
bearing surface length is .475 this should present no problem with the internal taper.
I advise using hard cast bullets ,less chance of the casing sizing the diameter of the bullet smaller when you seat them.

Axe,

I have a bunch of Fiocchi brass if you need some. Also could spare a couple hundred Lapua. All once fired.

Good luck with your GSP. With my Benelli the only bullet I've had good luck with  at 50 is the now extinct H&N HBWC. Greg Benner sent me some of his bumped up Speers which show  promise but haven't got around to extensive testing yet. Just bought an Accurate .315 mold that I'm holding out hope for.

Jim

I also never had any luck with any cast bullets in 32long.  Just ok at 25, pretty poor at 50. Assuming you have a .314 size barrel, I found the HBWC to work best, specifically the H&N .314 (not generally available in the US), or the Speer Plinkers, which worked best bumped up to an actual .314 size. 

With cast bullets, I did have loading issues with Fiocchi brass, it seemed a bit thicker than the Lapua as I recall, and I seemed to get some case bulging.  I’ve never tried Starline for 32 long.

My findings:
1) Swaged HBWCs will edge out cast DEWCs, but not to the degree that .38 HBWCs beat out cast DEWCs. This is in Starline cases.
2) Very hard to beat factory wadcutter loads
3) Doesn't hold accuracy out to 50 yards—great for 25 yd/m

Don't ever believe that these little guns won't shoot at 50 yards. Finding the right bullet/load is the trick.

noylj wrote:My findings:
1) Swaged HBWCs will edge out cast DEWCs, but not to the degree that .38 HBWCs beat out cast DEWCs. This is in Starline cases.
2) Very hard to beat factory wadcutter loads
3) Doesn't hold accuracy out to 50 yards—great for 25 yd/m

Keep in mind the OP was referred to S&W 32long, not 38.

With 32l, I find it easy to beat factory loads, using the right materials. Also, with the right reload, it will hold 50y accuracy.



.

I fired up the new mold that I mentioned earlier. It's the Accurate 31-088W, 88 grain wadcutter at .3155." It's my thinking that this bullet, being a little shorter than the 100 gr. HBWC'S will stabilize better in the slow twist barrel. I'm shooting it unsized in unsized cases over 1.9 gr of B.E. Initial bench rest tests with a rifle scope on the pistol show promise with 10 shot groups very close to 2"with an occasional flyer. I have all winter to work on it. I put the dot back on the gun this morning and shot a 95-3x slow fire at 50 yards. Needles to say, I'm pretty fired up about this bullet.

While researching and designing expanders for 32 CAL, I came across of projectile that nobody mentioned here on the forum - Lapua 98 Gr. competition bullet sized in .314.  Since I don't shoot 32 CAL (although I do load and shoot 7.62x25), I have no reference point if Lapua is any good.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/212052/lapua-competition-bullets-32-caliber-314-diameter-98-grain-lead-hollow-base-wadcutter-box-of-1000
AP

The Lapua 98gr HBWC 32 is a very expensive dud. Don't waste your time or money.

Bill

PhotoEscape wrote:While researching and designing expanders for 32 CAL, I came across of projectile that nobody mentioned here on the forum - Lapua 98 Gr. competition bullet sized in .314.  Since I don't shoot 32 CAL (although I do load and shoot 7.62x25), I have no reference point if Lapua is any good.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/212052/lapua-competition-bullets-32-caliber-314-diameter-98-grain-lead-hollow-base-wadcutter-box-of-1000
AP

A few years ago I had the good fortune to acquire a great deal of 98 grain Lapua 32 long ammunition from a retired international shooter. I assume it is loaded with this same bullet. In my gun it will shoot X ring at 25 yards but barely stays on paper at 50.

I had a bunch of Federal 32 long match ammo. Got it from the guy mentioned above. It was horrible even at 25 yards. This stuff was made in the 90's I think. The guy I got it from said it wouldn't shoot in anything he tried it in which included a FAS 603, a Walther GSP, and a S&W revolver. I sold it to Greg Benner. I don't think he had any luck with it either. Maybe you had a better lot but from my experience it's simple to beat the accuracy of any commercial made ammo at 50 yards.

Greetings,

The Federal Commercial 98HBWC has a small diameter bullet.

When I tested it in a 0.308" barrel with ten twist it easily held inside the ten ring at 50 yards.

Here again, boys and girls, the BULLET is paramount.

Cheers,

Dave

Dave,

What do you think Federal's intent for that round was? Always seemed strange to me that a company that size would produce a target round that required a custom barrel.

jim

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

The Federal Commercial 98HBWC has a small diameter bullet.

When I tested it in a 0.308" barrel with ten twist it easily held inside the ten ring at 50 yards.

Here again, boys and girls, the BULLET is paramount.

Cheers,

Dave

Maybe 18 months ago I was so aggravated by the inability of my Benelli to barely keep it in the black at 50y, I was going to sell it and give up on 32l.  Then, my buddy, Jon Eulette suggested I ask Dave Wilson if he might test the barrel in his barrel fixture. I sent Dave my barrel and a a supply of my best reloads. He sent me back some targets, using my bullets, and then his. The targets using my bullets were better than what I was getting, probably due to the barrel fixture, but still horrible. The ones with Dave's reloads were X ring!! 

I kept the Benelli:D.   Also listened to Dave's advice. Then bought more 32s. 

The bullets IS paramount, but is also affected significantly by the barrel diameter.  I have two of Dave's GSP barrels in .308 diameter, and they shoot wonderfully at 50y with the standard Speer Plinker bullet(these are advertises at .314, but in reality are smaller, +- .3125). The standard Speer also shoot very well in the Matchgun MG4 which has a tighter barrel than most other Euro guns (.312 if my recollection is any good).  In the .314 barreled guns (GSP, Pardini) I use a copy of the .314 H&N which is a Dave Wilson concept bumped up Speer Plinker.  Also, at Dave's suggestion I never mix brass (I use Lapua).

noylj wrote:>
If you can easily beat the accuracy of Federal Classic, I would love to get your loading details—particularly at 50 yds.

What gun, and what reloading materials do you have (bullets, powder, brass)?