GSP in .32?

It is possible that I may be able to get my hands on a GSP in .32 S&W Long for fairly cheap, and I had some questions..  I haven't seen it yet but hope to do so soon.

Is there anything I should know about this gun before I buy it?  
Are there any sort of wear marks that would indicate it's not a good purchase?  
Anything else to know?

Thanks for any help! 

I thought folks were having accuracy problems with .32 longs at 50 yards. Is that no longer the case?

Newbie here too.  I have a GSP 22 from the 80's and i'll tell you that it is an awesome gun.  It just feels right.  (Maybe it just feels right to me though since i've had it since I was 19?)  The gsp recoil (in 22) is very controllable.  Rapid fire in 10 seconds is not rushed at all.  Some of my best practices targets are in about 6-7 seconds. (99's so far-there's still that one shot that gets out on me).  As to the 32 performance, I can only speculate that it would be very manageable.  The 50 yd performance is my only hang up right now.  I wouldn't want to spend the money to re-barrel it, since it's not cheap to begin with.

Question related to the thread:  Can a person shoot another gun during slow fire and switch to the 32 for 25yds?  (in the CF event)

I had shot next to a forum member from WI at Perry with a Benelli 32S&W long with factory barrel.  He was very accurate with it. Dave Wilson gave him load advise before he considered rebarrel

Lightfoot wrote:

Question related to the thread:  Can a person shoot another gun during slow fire and switch to the 32 for 25yds?  (in the CF event)

It is my understanding you can switch guns between matches, but not during a match.  Therefore, whatever gun you start with for the National Match Course, you must use it for the NMC course timed and rapid.  But once the NMC is complete, it is my understanding you can switch guns for the remaining Timed Fire match and the Rapid Fire match.

mpolans wrote:I thought folks were having accuracy problems with .32 longs at 50 yards. Is that no longer the case?

They are real accurate out to 49 yards. To compete on the 50 yard line it takes some load development. The first thing is place your order for an over sized sizing die. I ordered mine to be .334 diameter. You will need an oversize expander plug also. Lee makes one that's .314. I had them make me one that's .315 and it has closed down the groups. So far I have been able to hold the ten ring off of a rest with 1.6gr of WST. Fiocchi brass, Magnus 98gr LWC, and CCI magnum primers. I anxiously await my order of H&N 100gr LWC's from Canada. I have been told that they are the best. Cibles Canada Targets has received two skids of them and after what he went through to get them he doesn't plan on getting anymore. His number is 819-778-8857. I have tried the very expensive Lapua HBWC's and have had terrible results. I have been trying some AA#2 with promising results. If anyone comes up with the "Magic" load, please share it here.

Bill

I kinda want to buy a 32 conversion for my gun, but i should probably just shoot my 45.  It's just a cool gun, but by the time I get a trigger and a mount/optics, it would be $15-$1700 more all for what?  Maybe 5-10 pts?  Once I tune up my 45 skills, I should get those points back anyway.

Lightfoot wrote:I kinda want to buy a 32 conversion for my gun, but i should probably just shoot my 45.  It's just a cool gun, but by the time I get a trigger and a mount/optics, it would be $15-$1700 more all for what?  Maybe 5-10 pts?  Once I tune up my 45 skills, I should get those points back anyway.

I am constantly told the same thing by just about everybody I shoot with. I just like a challenge. I find load development a fun challenge. I have been shooting a Benelli 32 but just bought an early model Walther GSP 32. Does any one out there know where I can buy or download a manual for it?

Bill

Bill, I have my manual for my 22.  Late 80's model.  I also have the 2 stage trigger additional manual.   I could scan it if that helps.

Lightfoot wrote:Bill, I have my manual for my 22.  Late 80's model.  I also have the 2 stage trigger additional manual.   I could scan it if that helps.

That would be great. I can't figure out how to remove the bolt assembly for cleaning and really don't want to learn the hard way. If you don't mind email a copy to fuji50s@gmail.com. Thanks for your help.

Bill

There is a spring loaded detent in the charging handle.  Push it in and slide it out.  It is a captured spring/detent so it won't go flying.  I'll get the manual copied today.  Do you have the 2 stage trigger or the upside down older version?

http://freeshopmanual.com/downloads.php?cat_id=27&rowstart=330


Try this link before I scan and save the manual. I googled and got a couple of results.

Saladman,

These little guns are definitely fussy but don't let anyone tell you they won't shoot at 50 yards. I've had great success with a Benelli 90. My scores are usually equal to or better than my 22 scores with slow fires in the low to mid 90's. 

Find the right bullet.(H&N 314 for me) Pay attention to all details of hand loading, and have fun!

Best of luck.

Jim

Has anyone tried the Lapua bullets?  It seems that would be a good pairing with Lapua brass...  They have two bullet weights - 83 and 98 grains.

I have tried the Lapua HBWC @ $150.00 per thousand and can't get good results. I spent over $250.00 on 1000 new Lapua brass and have had better results with Starline and Fiocchi. I bought a couple boxes of Lapua commercial 82 grain ammo and they key hole at 50 yards. I have done most of my testing with a Benelli MP95E. I just bought a Walther GSP 32 and am waiting on a 3D printed copy of the Nill grip off of my Benelli. Not to change the subject but my GSP came with only one magazine. Anyone know where I can get any mags for it? As far as the trigger it's single stage but not the inverted one. It kinda resembles a short 1911 trigger.

Lightfoot wrote:http://freeshopmanual.com/downloads.php?cat_id=27&rowstart=330


Try this link before I scan and save the manual. I googled and got a couple of results.

I appreciate the link. Thanks.

Bill

JKR wrote:Saladman,

These little guns are definitely fussy but don't let anyone tell you they won't shoot at 50 yards. I've had great success with a Benelli 90. My scores are usually equal to or better than my 22 scores with slow fires in the low to mid 90's. 

Find the right bullet.(H&N 314 for me) Pay attention to all details of hand loading, and have fun!

Best of luck.

Jim

Just curious Jim, would you share some of your loading knowledge? I'm getting decent results but at 50 yards I'm getting a flyer here and there. 

Bill

OK . Here goes.

It all started when I made the acquaintance and became fast friends with an ex army reserve international shooter. He had retired from shooting all together and had no use for six cases of 32 s&w wadcutter ammunition. 

Well, I didn't have a 32 but bought the ammo anyway. Shortly afterward I bought a Benelli 90 which was a perfect choice as I was already competing with the same pistol in 22.

The first thing I discovered was the pistol wouldn't shoot for beans with any of this factory ammo at 50 yards. However it was simply awesome at 25 yards with the Lapua and Fiocci. The Federal ammo wouldn't shoot well at any distance no matter what.

Well, as you can imagine, by this time I've got quite a lot invested in this project and it seems to be going nowhere. In desperation I turned to Dave Wilson who is the man to talk to when it comes to 32's. I'm thinking rebarrel the thing, but Dave say's try this first. He makes me a .314 expander die and steers me to H&N 314 bullets. He also suggests 1.7 grains of Bullseye. 

Things started to look up immediately. Right off I had a two inch ten shot group at 50 yards. My CF scores took a 40 point jump. 

Since then I've tweaked the load some. I now use 1.8 grains of BE. I use UNSIZED once fired brass for my long line loads. I use a light roll crimp. 

I'm still using the supply of factory ammo from my friend for sustained fire. I have enough left for one more season. When that's gone I'll embark on a new adventure finding a load that works well for the short line.

By the way, at Perry I shot next to a shooter from NY using a GSP. He was shooting Speer bullets and shooting well. On my other side was a young man who came down from Alaska. If I could shoot a 45 like him, I'd have no need of a 32!

Jim

JKR wrote:OK . Here goes.

It all started when I made the acquaintance and became fast friends with an ex army reserve international shooter. He had retired from shooting all together and had no use for six cases of 32 s&w wadcutter ammunition. 

Well, I didn't have a 32 but bought the ammo anyway. Shortly afterward I bought a Benelli 90 which was a perfect choice as I was already competing with the same pistol in 22.

The first thing I discovered was the pistol wouldn't shoot for beans with any of this factory ammo at 50 yards. However it was simply awesome at 25 yards with the Lapua and Fiocci. The Federal ammo wouldn't shoot well at any distance no matter what.

Well, as you can imagine, by this time I've got quite a lot invested in this project and it seems to be going nowhere. In desperation I turned to Dave Wilson who is the man to talk to when it comes to 32's. I'm thinking rebarrel the thing, but Dave say's try this first. He makes me a .314 expander die and steers me to H&N 314 bullets. He also suggests 1.7 grains of Bullseye. 

Things started to look up immediately. Right off I had a two inch ten shot group at 50 yards. My CF scores took a 40 point jump. 

Since then I've tweaked the load some. I now use 1.8 grains of BE. I use UNSIZED once fired brass for my long line loads. I use a light roll crimp. 

I'm still using the supply of factory ammo from my friend for sustained fire. I have enough left for one more season. When that's gone I'll embark on a new adventure finding a load that works well for the short line.

By the way, at Perry I shot next to a shooter from NY using a GSP. He was shooting Speer bullets and shooting well. On my other side was a young man who came down from Alaska. If I could shoot a 45 like him, I'd have no need of a 32!

Jim

I don't think i really saw much for keyholes either out of your 50 yard load. 

What was the giant weight hanging from GSP ?

Chris,

That was a brass catcher that walther makes for their GSP's. As you know from shooting next to me, 32's really throw brass.

The sad thing was, he told me he wanted a 22 upper for it but couldn't buy one because of NY law. They classed pistols with forward magazines as assault weapons. Nuts!!!

Jim

JKR wrote:...
I'm still using the supply of factory ammo from my friend for sustained fire. I have enough left for one more season. When that's gone I'll embark on a new adventure finding a load that works well for the short line.
...

In case you have not already done it, if the factory ammo is giving you decent short line scores, you may want to chronograph the factory ammo to give you a fps velocity to measure against when you embark on your new adventure.

Thomas

joy2shoot wrote:

JKR wrote:...
I'm still using the supply of factory ammo from my friend for sustained fire. I have enough left for one more season. When that's gone I'll embark on a new adventure finding a load that works well for the short line.
...

In case you have not already done it, if the factory ammo is giving you decent short line scores, you may want to chronograph the factory ammo to give you a fps velocity to measure against when you embark on your new adventure.

Thomas

For the longest time I couldn't find any Fiocchi factory ammo. right now it's everywhere.

Bill

Greetings,

Interesting reading. It compliments my years of testing the 32.

Lapua commercial generally shot well, never was able to reload the 98 grain bullet to equal the commercial load.

Fiocchi commercial. Velocities varied all over the rainbow lot to lot. Some of the best Fiocchi I ever tested always shot X-ring at 50 yards. Other lots would hold ten ring.

Federal commercial. Good stuff in barrels of 0.308" groove diameter. The bullets are small in diameter, about 0.309", and do not shoot well in barrels of 0.314", which is common to most European guns. I have had the privilege of shooting next to some of the top US Olympic shooters back in the day and all commented Federal was the worst.

Lapua and Fiocchi once fired cases are excellent for wad cutter bullet reloads. The case walls are uniform in thickness for the full length of the seated bullet. Federal and Star Line are thicker in the midsection and with cast bullets often leave a bulge.

Cheers,

Dave

A question for Dave.

Were there any commercially made 32 pistols that the federal would shoot well in? Jerry Wilder told me he had a S&W revolver and it didn't shoot in that either. Just curious. I have a case of it if you know someone who can use it. 

As an aside, I have a couple boxes that Doc loaded for Jerry. Scot 453 powder in one, WW452A in the other. Both have H&N bullets. Nice conversation piece in my loading room. 

Jim

Greetings,

I once came across an FAS603 barrel that measured 0.309" groove diameter. Early Pardini barrels I have measured were 0.312".

There is an old American Rifleman article written by an Air Force shooter stationed in Germany. In it, he describes how Walther made a 0.308" barrel for his GSP-C.

Doc Young had Hart 0.308" groove diameter stainless barrels installed on his pistols.

I also experimented with 0.308" barrels and my personal Haemmerli SP-20 had a 0.309" barrel. I shot an 884 with this barrel. I did cheat a little however, I had an Aimpoint sight mounted on the pistol.

Cheers,

Dave