Handloading 32ACP (aka 7.65 Browning). Loads & Testing.

[Wobbly]

My son (the crazy one) has gotten me into 32ACP. I know the CZ 83 is chambered in this caliber. Just wondering if anyone loads this already.

Questions:
• Anybody make bullets besides Berry and Hornady ?
• Does the "X Small" Dillon powder bar really work any better ?
• What dies are you using ?
• General load information ? Preferred (favorite) powders ?
• Loading insights you can share.

Any help appreciated.

Oh, and I'm still undecided on a gun. I'd like to find a Pardini or Walther target gun, but they seem to go into safes and never see the light of day again.

[IDescribe]

I know nothing about 32, so don't listen to a word I say, but I hear some bullseye shooters who don't want to shell out the cash for the XTP are shooting this:

https://tbbullets.com/bullets/polymer-coated-handgun-bullets/32-caliber-polymer/



Hope all is well, sir.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Wobbly]

Hope all is well, sir.

All is well. And thanks for the tip. And great to see you back !!

[larryflew]

Sold my CZ83 in .32 (one of only 2 selling regrets) but still load some for a Colt 1903.  Berry's with our not so favorite Unique that I still have a lot of.

[Wobbly]

32ACP (aka 7.65 Browning) was a very popular defensive "pocket pistol" up until the 1970's. On one web source, someone called it the Miata of calibers because it was small, easy to control, and lots of fun. This is true ! There are lots of European sources for factory ammo, including Fiocchi, but it can get expensive. For American reloaders Hornady, Berry and many others make bullets. However some of these are on the heavy side and made expressly for the many competing 32 caliber cartridges. StarLine can supply brass.

Most of the pistols that fire 32ACP cartridge fire from an un-locked breach, IOW they are "blow back" operated. Therefore faster powders are preferred with light bullets, and the fastest powders seem to work the best. SAAMI max OAL is 0.984", but these light bullets are seated about 0.03" shorter based on experience with 9mm. 32ACP is a true straight walled cartridge, so the taper crimp is set at 0.333" to restore a perfectly straight case wall.


Equipment
Caliber:     32ACP
Bullets:     Berry 71gr plated RN
Brass:       StarLine (new)
Primer:     Winchester Small Pistol WSP
OAL:         0.950"
Pistol:       Beretta Model 81
Qty:          8 rounds each, slow fired
Weather:   60F and sunny
Chrono:    ProChrono DLX
Max Velocity:  ~830 fps (calculated)


- Powder: VihtaVuori N310
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.7gr            836               25
1.8               944               22
1.9               891               13
2.0               993               11
2.1              1033              12

N310 Notes
• Meters great
• Low smoke
• Great accuracy
• Best results so far


- Powder: VihtaVuori N320
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.3gr            423               
1.5               481               
1.7               575               
1.9               613
2.1               638
2.2               773             20
2.3               802             21
2.4               950             33

N320 Notes
• Meters great, just like N320 always does
• Seems to be slightly too slow
• Good accuracy


- Powder: AA No.2
Load        Avg Vel           SD
2.4gr            957               
2.5               958               
2.6               934             

No.2 Notes
• Obvious light issues with the chrono. Retest needed.


- Powder: Vectan Ba10
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.2gr            673               18
1.3               744               52
1.4               727               08
1.5               756               Data lost
1.6               837               26
1.7               876               35

Ba10 Notes
• Works very nicely
• Fabulous accuracy


- Powder: Sport Pistol
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.5gr            661               15
1.7               718               21       
1.9               765               17

Sport Pistol Notes
• Works OK


- Powder: IMR 7625
Load        Avg Vel            SD
1.4gr            345               15
1.6               401               06
1.8               462               17
2.0               545               20
2.2               624               15
2.3               710               07
2.4               741               50       
2.5               757               37

7625 Notes
• Works OK


- Powder: Ramshot Competition
Load        Avg Vel            SD
1.5gr            757               24
1.7               826               20
1.9               875               20

Competition Notes
• Works OK
• Loads are minuscule

[Wobbly]

Most 32ACP authorities suggest the optimal bullet is in the low 70's, but I had these XTP's on hand and Accurate has data in their manual, so I thought I'd give them a try. I'm not impressed with the accuracy compared to the plated Berry, which was a huge surprise. Hornady is supposed to also make a jacketed bullet in the mid-to-low 70gr region and I'll continue to look for those.

Equipment
Caliber:     32ACP
Bullets:     Hornady 85gr jacketed XTP #32050
Brass:       StarLine (new)
Primer:     Winchester Small Pistol WSP
OAL:         0.950"
Pistol:       Beretta Model 81
Qty:          8 rounds each, slow fired
Weather:   70F and overcast
Chrono:    ProChrono DLX
Max Velocity:  ~700 fps (based on AA manual)


- Powder: VihtaVuori N310
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.5gr            712               04
1.6               744               19
1.7               Not tested
1.8               Not tested

N310 Notes
• Meters great
• Low smoke
• Fair accuracy


- Powder: AA No2  (1.6 to 1.8gr)
Load        Avg Vel           SD
1.6gr            580           
1.7               610               
1.8               624               
1.9 *            654
2.0               Not tested

AA No2 Notes
• Meters great, but extremely fine grained
• Very smokey
• Excellent accuracy, best at 1.9gr

[Wobbly]

I hear some bullseye shooters who don't want to shell out the cash for the XTP are shooting this:

https://tbbullets.com/bullets/polymer-coated-handgun-bullets/32-caliber-polymer/

Well, I took your kind advice and ordered 500 of their 79gr LRN.

I had gotten away from shooting anything lead within the last 2 years. It just seemed that anything offered in lead was sort of haphazard... probably due to the high production rates needed to stay price competitive. But man-o-man was I surprised at the quality and consistency of these bullets ! The fit and finish was the best I've ever seen. They are impressive to look at.

With zero load data, initial testing has begun and preliminary results are also very impressive ! Here's a target with N320 from a measured 26 ft, out of a 3.5" barrel...



Except for 2 flyers from 70yo eyes, I'm no JoeL !!, but I'd say these bullets may hold some promise.

More to follow.

[david s]

I load for the 32 S&W long on a 550. For the powder measure I have reversed the powder bars adjustable slide (center portion of the powder bar) and drilled and taped the square end and epoxied the round ends hole. This puts the rounded end of the slide into the  "V" of the powder bar and gets me down to where it can be used. Didn't want to spend 30 plus dollars on a powder bar, just cheap I guess. The top bar in the photo is original and the bottom one is my reversed one.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                   
               

[Wobbly]

For the powder measure I have reversed the powder bars adjustable slide (center portion of the powder bar) and drilled and taped the square end and epoxied the round ends hole. This puts the rounded end of the slide into the  "V" of the powder bar and gets me down to where it can be used. Didn't want to spend 30 plus dollars on a powder bar, just cheap I guess. The top bar in the photo is original and the bottom one is my reversed one.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                   

No, I think you're being realistic.

I thought the super-small bar maybe had a narrower adjuster, or something really trick/ special. I wish someone had told me about this earlier. I also wanted a dedicated powder measure. You can get a PM with large or small powder bar, but not the super small. So I purchased a small bar PM and then took out a perfectly good "small bar" to install the super small bar. I was sick when I saw what the "super small bar" consisted of.

This episode with Dillon has been needlessly expensive, and I'm not too happy about it.   

[david s]

In the early 1980's the French police traded in a bunch of 32 ACP Manchurian Walther PP's. They wound up here for about $100. I bought one and loaded a local 98 grain lead round nose bullet for it. It was the only bullet available locally. I didn't figure there was anything I could add to this conversation so didn't look at it till today. The powder bar idea came about after I couldn't get it to go low enough for what I needed. Should have looked sooner.

[eastman]

In the early 1980's the French police traded in a bunch of 32 ACP Manchurian Walther PP's. They wound up here for about $100. I bought one and loaded a local 98 grain lead round nose bullet for it. It was the only bullet available locally. I didn't figure there was anything I could add to this conversation so didn't look at it till today. The powder bar idea came about after I couldn't get it to go low enough for what I needed. Should have looked sooner.

was that a "Speelchick strikes again" moment? The Manurhin Walthers were very fine pistols (the one I almost bought was a lot more than $100 by that time)

[david s]

I spelt Manurhin so badly not even spell check could help so I Googled it and blindly copied what was thrown up. A typist I'm not, strictly hunt and peck.

[Wobbly]

Today's experiment with 79gr LRN from T&B and N320 was even better ! 2.0gr at 0.950" seems to do just fine-tastic.

[Wobbly]

Well, I took your kind advice and ordered 500 of their 79gr LRN. But man-o-man was I surprised at the quality and consistency of these bullets ! The fit and finish was the best I've ever seen. They are impressive to look at.

[Wobbly]

Another thread on 32ACP here....

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=83977.0