Grease marks around bullet holes?? Its accurate

I'm shooting a 32 S&W Long. I'm loaded 1.7 Bullseye, 98 grain Bear Creek bullet and it's accurate but there are grease marks around part of the bullet hole. I shot factory Lapua 98 grain and these also have grease marks around the bullet hole. And the Lapua was also accurate. BUt why are there grease marks? BOth are nice clean holes. 

I understand the grease maks are the lubricant on the bullet but some of the bullet holes look like they are "tipped" or not going in straight.

THanks!!
Brian Miller

What gun and at what range? If at 50yds, no surprise. If at 25yds you've got a problem. Grease marks or "eye brows" are a sure sign of bullet tumbling.

Sorry, I don't use those bullets/recipe, so cannot offer constructive advice. Wait for fc60 to chime in, he is definitely the expert on this issue.

Hello Roy Dean!!

I'm shooting at 50' currently and I'm shooting a Pardini HP 32 Bullseye. Some of the holes look like they could be a second hole because they are as you state "eye brows". I'm going to shoot some reloads tomorrow with 1.6 & 1.7 N310 and 98 grain Speer HBWC. And 1.6 Bullseye with the 98 grain Speer bullet. 

I also shoot 25 yards outdoor and the eyebrows are still there but not as pronounced. But the loads are shooting accurately. 

Thanks!!
Brian

Greetings,

The "grease marks" are just that.

The 32, and 38, HBWC spins about the nose of the bullet such that the tail end rotation is a wee bit larger. In the world of Ballistics, both 32 and 38 HBWC are characterized as "Non Dynamically Stable".

You will notice the marks are not always in the same position.

So, yes, the bullet is not piercing the target truly perpendicular.

Interesting to note, the 45 ACP does the same thing. Due to the short bearing surface of the bullet the "tilt" is not as obvious.

If you are getting X-ring groups at 50 yards, no worries.

Please to read that your lot of Lapua commercial shoots well. My two lots do not.

Caveat, the NRA rule book says that if the leaded edge of the bullet contacts the scoring ring you get the higher value.

Greetings,

I WOULD NOT LOAD over 1.5 grains of N310.

You may stabilize the bullet better; but, you will eventually damage the pistol.

Source a chronograph when testing. 775 FPS is the MAX velocity and this is a bit on the stiff side.

Yes, the VihtaVuori load data says you can load more; but, that works well in a revolver, not an auto-loader.

1.70 grains of Alliant Bullseye should work well. It usually produces 730 FPS.

Also, 1.65 grains of Winchester WST.

Cheers,

Dave

And not all the bullet holes have "eyebrows". 4 of 10 bullet holes looked tipped--eyebrows. Some are very clean round holes. Am I moving my hand slightly when the bullet leaves the barrel?

Thanks!!
Brian

Hey Dave, 
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm having a failure to feed and I'm told by the manufacture that it needs more velocity to operate the bolt fully to have a direct feed into the chamber. 

The cartridge is hitting on the outside edge of the chamber at about a 45 degree angle and it's usually the second round. Today with Factory Lapua 1 magazine had 3 failures to feed with Lapua and 2 with Bullseye all with the same mag. The other 3 mags I had no problem. 

The Bullseye shot very similar scores. I will load some 1.65 WST. 

I don't like shooting my 32 nearly that fast because it defeats the purpose of the 32 in my thinking. I have lost confidence in the pistol knowing that it may not fire and my scores are going south.

I have a Walther GSP 32 SWL and it functions flawlessly in my 32 but it's incredibly heavy for me. I also hAVE A LOT OF $$$$ spent o the Pardini. 

Thanks!!
Brian

From what Alex from Pardini USA is telling me I need to shoot a velocity of 780 for the pistol to operate properly. That's absurd because my pistol shoots 1.3 & 1.4 N310, 98 gr HBWC really well and accurate. THat's like 750 FPS for the 1.4 N310. I shot that load all summer long and only had an occasional malfunction. 

Today I was out an all my magazines had failure to feed problems. It's not leaving the magazine and hits the top of the bolt. I have suggested to Alex that maybe the feed lips need to be adjusted and I wanted them to do it. 

Is it possible for them to make this pistol shot a lighter load with different springs or manipulating the springs? I want to send the pistol back to them and have them fix the issues so I can shoot the gun in competition or to a certified Pardini Gunsmith. 

Today I shot 1.6 Bullseye, 1.65 WST, 1.3 & 1.4 N310, 1.6 N310 all with 98 grain Speer HBWC. THey all shot well but at least 1 in each mag had feeding issues. That's not right for a high end pistol. If I can't get the problems resolved I'm going to shoot my Walther because it functions flawlessly. 

What would be your suggestions going forward?

Thanks!!
Brian Miller

I forgot to mention it shot Fiocchi factory loads really well but again 1 or both of the magazines had failures to feed. That's 730 FPS and a really nice soft load. 

Thanks!!
Brian

Not having enough grief in my life presently, I'll take that troublesome Pardini off your hands for a discounted price.

OK. Brian, Welcome to the world of Pardini 32 lovers/haters! 

I have owned several several and still own a 32SWL and a 32ACP. Firstly, for the 32SWL the barrel/slide and frame area around the ejection port need to be kept scrupulously clean. Pardini USA say that it should all be dry as a bone, but I personally have a little difficulty with that - I typically clean with a CLP type solvent, then flush with WD40 (I know, lots of folks hate that stuff!) just to make sure it is totally clean, then wipe off everything with an absorbent rag/towel.

BUT - do not spray the WD40 or the CLP anywhere near the trigger/sear/hammer mechanism - they should only be lubricated as directed by Pardini with Lithium grease SPARINGLY on the contacting fine surfaces - there is guidance on that in various online Pardini maintenance instructions.

Magazines - also need to be scrupulously clean and a bit of CLP spray helps - IMHO. If mags are not fairly new consider getting some new springs. When you load the mags, press down the 5th round and make sure it "snaps" back up into place - do that a few times every time you reload.

Gun - if not fairly new- get a new recoil spring and compare to the length of your current spring - they "shrink" with use surprisingly quickly.

Bolt/slide - check the extractor - it should be free to move, but no slop, and should not have any burrs.

Lapua and Fiocchi factory 98 ammo usually work well, but sometimes you get old stock and I've found that a flash of WD40, roll the ammo round a bit then wipe off the excess usually solves the problem.

I've been shooting Sellier & Bellot 98WC recently and it works very nice in my HP32SWL. Magtech 32SWL does not produce good groups IMHO. All at 25 yards.

Hello Roy!!

My Pardini is new and was purchased in February of 2024 and is covered by a lifetime warranty. When I went from a conversion kit Alex sold me a SP 22 LR frame not an HP 32 frame. THere is a space of approximately 1/16" between the frame and the mag fully inserted. THat mag should fit flush with the bottom of the mag well but it does not and that is probably part of the problem. I probably have 1500 rounds fired in my 32 SWL. Until the issues are resolved I'm shooting my Walther GSP 32. I have no function issues with my GSP and I like the Pardini better but I can't keep taking alibis. I'm transferring the onus To Pardini. 

I have cleaned the mags with a CLP and worked the follower numerous times and it moves freely. I should be able to shoot any factory ammo without any problems but that is not the case. I should be able to shoot a factory ammo that is listed as 730 FPS, like Fiocchi without any issues. They do not feed properly and now all my mags do not feed any ammo without issues. Fiocchi shoots better than Lapua and I cannot afford to shoot Lapua all the time and it's "hot" ammo that will eventually destroy the Pardini. Shooting ammo with a higher velocity will beat up the pistol eventually. 

What I have decided to do is send the pistol back to Pardini (under lifetime warranty) and have them or a certified Pardini Gunsmith inspect the pistol and make any changes required at not charge to me. And have the ability to shoot any factory ammo. Or my reloads that follow the Vihtavuori load data and function the pistol without issues. 

Nothing is working from what I'm doing and I do not have the ability to play "Gunsmith". If my gun was not covered by a lifetime warranty I would take it to my favorite gunsmith and have him fix the issues. If I do that with my Pardini then the Warranty is probably gone. 

I do keep Pardini cleaner because there are less problems. I will keep you and Dave informed of my progress. 

Thanks!! 
Brian Miller