Laoua 83 grain loads, 32 SWL Pardini HP32

First topic message reminder :

Recently I loaded 1.6 N310, 83 grain Lapua HBWC. for my Pardini HP32 and they all functioned (YEA) and they 83's were very accurate and less felt recoil than the 98 grain. But's its a warm load and needed (770 FPS) but manageable recoil and I was thinking that maybe Tite Group, W231, W244, Bullseye (although short on supply) or other powders would give a softer recoil and give me some options. So I came to the Bullseye shooters to get some ideas. 

The 83 grain Lapua shoots very well in my pistool and the recoil is less than the 98. 

I would appreciate any input I could get from the people reading this. 

Thanks!!
Brian Miller

I have a Pardini 32 SWL and offer the experiences I had - many of which sound like yours.

I started off with using a 22 SP frame with the 32 conversion kit and it worked fine. I later ordered a 32 frame only because I got tired of change outs at matches.  I agree that the 22 and 32 frames are essentially identical at least for the later productions.

I had similar feeding problems when shooting reloads loads with 1.6 gr BE and 98 gr Bear Creek HBWCs - the hang ups looked just like your pics. Like you I was told loads were too hot and bolt cycling too fast.  I dropped the charge to 1.3 BE and it has cycled reliably ever since and now running without any problems.

I don't have any serious problems with leading using the Bear Creek bullets sized to 0.314.  But, I have learned that I need to clean the barrel well with bronze brush every couple hundred rounds. Like others I've seen more crud near breech. I bet the Lapua bullets are too small causing the leading you're seeing. They should be 0.314.

I'd be interested to hear what Pardini says.  Afterwards I suggest buying some factory Fiocchi ammo. It should fit in the mags, and cycle and shoot reliably. If it won't cycle or shoot those factory loads i would rest the problem at Pardini and not let them off the hook until it does.  There's no reason that's your fault that it should not shoot good factory ammo.   Assuming you find the Fiocchi ammo runs OK at that point you can begin your reloading journey.  Measure the factory rounds for diameter and look carefully at the roll crimp profile, depth of bullet seating, case OD, etc. As far as sizing the Fiocchi brass it is GFL head stamp and it needs to be sized 0.333.  Most commercial dies are sized wrong for Pardini and you will need one custom cut.  What I'm saying is start off using Fiocchi factory ammo and if you can get that to run well do all you can to duplicate its dimensions and velocity in reloading for it.

There are a boat load of reloading details that are tricky with the 32 and Dave (FC60) is the acknowledged expert in this field. Reloading this cartridge is a challenge for a variety of reasons.  I recommend reading all you can find that Dave  has to say on the topic. I have not yet graduated to developing loads for long line like he has but I have managed to develop a full progressive reloading method that works for me at the short line. It has been a fun journey but it takes a lot of patience so hang in there.

Hey WillH, 

Thanks for your reply and assistance. 

I have told them at Pardini that Fiocchi shoots very well and is the best factory round for this pistol. They tell me that the factory loads they follow are the factory Lapua ammunition that is equivalent to 1.7-1.9 N310 and a 98 grain HBWC. The 1.9 is 843 FPS according to Lapua load data and the 1.7 is like 787 FPS. 

They have been told the Fiocchi shoots(730 FPS) the best out of my pistol when I first shot it but now it will not function the pistol without several rounds malfunctioning. But that to them is a low power load, even though its factory won't make any changes to the pistol to make the round function. If I want to make those adjustments I'm welcome to at my own risk. Probably voids the warranty. I'm okay with that if a gunsmith can make it function because that's not much of a warranty from Pardini. 

Did you ever make any adjustments to the lips of the magazines to not feed the bullet so high? 

I will keep you informed of my process Will. 

Thanks!!
Brian miller

Boy, at this point, I would cut my losses and send it to pardini, if you can that is.

Hello Bruce, Wes, Dave, Roy, AP

I am sending it back to Pardini to get their assessment of the pistol and make changes if something is not up to factory standards. I believe there are some issues that are causing all the failure to feed problems and not just higher velocity ammo.  Magazine lips adjustment? Slide adjustments? bolt issues? Frame issues? Barrel? They have to determine that to get any authorized factory warranty repairs. I have not made any changes to the pistol so it is a stock pistol. 

Thanks to all!!  
Brian Miller

Hi Brian-  No I haven't made any modifications to my 32 mags and agree it's not best to do any modifying it at this point.  It sounds like they expect it to run with Lapua factory ammo and that is fine if they can make that run reliably.  Once you're able to run that factory ammo without problems you can then work towards a reloaded Lapua clone instead of the Fiochi. It's worthy of note that Lapua brass is thinner than GFL and requires a different sizing.to 0.332 instead of 0.333 when you get to that point.  It seems now the onus is on Pardini to make it run on the factory Lapua so you will have a base line to work with.  I've always found Pardini good to work with and i expect they will make it right.

Hello Will H!!

Thanks for your comments!! When I decided to purchase the Pardini product which they don't give away many of my friends that I shoot with raved about the Pardini pistols and their customer service. They have the knowledge base to find the problems I'm experiencing and fix the issues. I believe they will "make it right" or I would not have purchased from them. Time will tell. Alex and myself have had many discussions and his father Vladimir. 

They do expect the shooter to shoot the Lapua ammunition or reloads that mimic that round and it's velocity. From listening to Alex apparently they have or Pardini had a issue with a shooter having problems with lower velocity loads. It sounded like they had a customer with a squib load and then fired another round and had not pleasant results. And that's why you hear "at your own risk". It's a liability issue on their part. 

I believe in my reloading ability and trust what I'm doing because I take my time and have good equipment and have been reloading a long time. I would compare my finished product with factory ammo. I have followed the dimensions  of the Lapua factory ammo.  

It's my hope they can find the issue(s) why my pistol is not functioning properly. 

Thanks!!
Brian MIller