.32 ACP Loads?

Good day everyone, I was looking to purchase a .32 calibre pistol for Bullseye centerfire and perhaps international pistol as well, and I wanted a .32 ACP but I'm not sure what loads are available.  

Does anyone have any, brass, powder, primer, and bullet recommendations for the uninitiated?  

Additionally what are some good reloading dies for this round?

Go to Targettalk forum, they have some really good post on the .32 acp loadings.
Jon

What Jon said

Greetings,

Link to a very interesting subject...

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=42516

By the way, only Lead bullets are allowed for ISU shooting. No jacketed ones.

Reloading the 32 ACP will challenge all of your mechanical abilities. Be prepared.

Cheers,

Dave

fc60 wrote:
Reloading the 32 ACP will challenge all of your mechanical abilities. Be prepared.

Cheers,

Dave

+1 on this, 

I know of at least one person that gave up on his Pardini 32acp because he just couldn't get the lead loads right.  His JHP (XTP) loads were a challenge too. He could never duplicate the Hornady XTP 60gr ammo which were getting near 1" groups but are pricey at $0.60 each. 

- Dave

If you're talking about .32 ACP, I don't know of any guns other than Pardini.    There are five of us shooting that gun just in our local Bullseye league.  We all use 60gr JHP bullets.  I suggest you not buy the Pardini .32ACP if you are going to try to shoot lead.  There's a reason 1911 "ball" guns and "wadcutter" guns are slightly different.  Pardini makes a gun for ISU but it's the other .32 caliber.

As for .32ACP reloading, yes, the small cases, bullets and powder charges mean you to have to be careful in setup.  The tolerances mean I have to be more smooth and steady on my XL650 than I do when reloading .45ACP.  I've used PMC factory ammo, VV N310 powder and Bullseye powder and all have provided accuracy @25 & 50yds similar to the .22LR which runs from the same gun.  Honestly, the Hornady and PMC ammo works but is faster than you really want. Ideal velocity is ~880fps vs 950-1000fps from factory.  I settled on Bullseye powder even though Pardini USA shooters and the other local guys use N310.  If you are shooting Bullseye matches, keep it simple and use what works. I did have to put lighter springs in the .32ACP magazines for reloaded ammo.  (Hornady XTP 60gr JHP, WSP primers, Bullseye/N310 powder, ... Starline sells .32ACP brass or you can reuse your PMC/Hornady brass.  I recommend you get the Hornady die set that is specific to the .311 bullet.  I use .895 OAL and crimp to .330.)

Since the Pardini is not a "compromise" gun and you want to shoot both sports, you could get the HPNew (.32 S&W) and the .32ACP conversion. Not cheap but add the .22LR conversion you would then be shooting NRA .22LR, NRA CF and ISU CF with the exact same grip and trigger.

That is interesting what was he shooting?

ChipEck wrote:

Christopher Miceli wrote:I shot next to Wes Lorenz in Washington and I picked up a lot of 32acp and he wasn't using a Pardini.

You sure it was not .22 brass?  My "friends" keep picking up .22 brass and say is this yours?  :-)
That said I love my Pardini .32 ACP.
Chip

Yeah it wasn't  a 22 Dave Wilson build a barrel for it.

Christopher Miceli wrote:Yeah it wasn't  a 22 Dave Wilson build a barrel for it.

Hi Chris,
We all want to take credit for your success at Perry, as we feel that our abnormal 90+ degree weather in the Seattle Regional prep'd you for hot & humid Ohio!!!
.32acp: After talking to Larry Carter in 2004, I wanted to build one on a 1911. Then Dr. Young sold me his Erma and I decided to have my friend Dave Wilson make a 32acp barrel for it. Had JGS make a reamer and Dave did his magic of barrel making using a Kreiger .311 x 10" twist blank that Mr. Kreiger recommended. Thus, I don't have all of the oversize bullet/reloading problems of the Pardini.
So far, I only get 7-8 on-call shots and have the same 2-3 not on call using both jacketed and lead bullets. I think part of my problem is old age.........not giving up though.
The east coast is getting a great new shooter when Chris relocates there!
Wes