32ACP Shooting Favorites

[tejano51]

Is anyone willing to share their favorite handload (jacketed or cast lead) for their CZ 83?  I shoot  a lot of Hornady 90 gr. LSWC and 1.7-1.8 gr. of Bullseye @ 0.955" OAL through mine.  Shoots okay but would like to hear what others are shooting successfully.

[tejano51]

Today, I tried a 71 gr. FMJ and 2.8 gr. of CFE  Pistol and it shot well through my 83.  Primers all looked normal so I am going to try 3.0 gr.  the next time.

[IDescribe]

I wish you were getting more help from the forum.  We're pretty good about it.  I guess not too many load that caliber.

[DeltaGray]

I do not have a CZ 83 or a favorite load for 32ACP; but I plan to use old W231 powder or BE in cast lead or jacketed (all in 70 grain+ weight) projectiles.  The hardware (pistol) is a Mauser 1914 era based on serial number) in .32ACP.  This post does not have an range stories regarding .32ACP.  I reload other pistol and rifle calibers and shotgun shells. 
DeltaGray over and out.  Be safe!

[Wobbly]

I wish you were getting more help from the forum.  We're pretty good about it.  I guess not too many load that caliber.

A search on "CZ-83" brings up lots of reloading info... it's simply not all for 32ACP.

I would think that Clays would work really well in this cartridge. But that could be a brain fart on my part. Or would that be a brain part on my... Oh, well.

 

[painter]

<snip> But that could be a brain fart on my part. Or would that be a brain part on my... Oh, well.

 

...or it could be part brain of an old phart.

[IDescribe]

I don't know much about it.  I looked at the Wikipedia entry on it, and the examples it uses for ballistics have 60, 65, and 73 grain bullets doing anywhere from 925 to 1100 feet/sec, but when I look at the published load data, most is below that, in the 600-900 range, except for Alliant, which has the 60 grain GDHP doing from 970 to 1030.   Oddly, Alliant has Bullseye and Power Pistol with the same max velocity, though Power Pistol takes about 40% more powder to get there.

[tejano51]

In other .32 acp pistols I also shoot a lot of 62 gr. LSWC that I buy from T&B bullets.  I have used Titewad and Clays with that bullet.  However, my CZ doesn't care for it, perhaps because it is sized at .314".  Not too surprised that my post has not generated much interest, but I thought I would try anyway.

[Earl Keese]

Please share your results here when you figure out a load. I have a vzor70 and plan to add dies for it at some point, just haven gotten there yet.

[Wobbly]

Not too surprised that my post has not generated much interest, but I thought I would try anyway.

32ACP is not even covered in my 3rd Ed Hornady Manual !!

[painter]

Not too surprised that my post has not generated much interest, but I thought I would try anyway.

32ACP is not even covered in my 3rd Ed Hornady Manual !!

Isn't that the one in Hieroglyphics? ...

and if we had a decent laughy smiley...

I'd use that too.

[Wobbly]

32ACP is not even covered in my 3rd Ed Hornady Manual !!

Isn't that the one in Hieroglyphics? ...

Cuneiform on clay tablets. 

[painter]

32ACP is not even covered in my 3rd Ed Hornady Manual !!

Isn't that the one in Hieroglyphics? ...

Cuneiform on clay tablets. 

[DeltaGray]

I load multiple calibers.  My very old .32 is a Mauser--had not fired it in years.  I have many powders but I chose W231 today for .32 ACP (but other choices could have been Bullseye or HP38. I loaded some cast bullets but could have chosen jacketed (FMJ).  All are in the 70+ bullet grain weight.  I may fire the .32 on 11/19/16 IF I remember to pick it up along with a CZ P-09 9mm and maybe a .40 S&W MP.  I will let other pistols calibers (and other equipment) take a vacation. That "other" equipment on vacation includes rifles and Thompson Center Contenders and shotguns. 
DeltaGray

[jameslovesjammie]

Full Disclosure:  I have never loaded for .32 ACP.  I bought my wife a CZ 70 in .32 ACP a year or so ago and she hasn't shot it enough to warrant reloading.  I did pick up dies, a shell plate, and a few moulds for it.

A few notes on what I found out about the cartridge:

European brass is better than US produced or South American brass.  Europeans have used a redesigned extractor cut for decades.  Your best brass will be GECO, S&B, or Prvi Partizan.

For SD ammo, you will most likely be best off with a RNFP or FMJ profile.  Penetration will be your friend, as hollowpoints don't tend to expand well with the low velocities.

The ultra small case capacity is also ultra sensitive to small changes in charge weights.

You will need to slug your barrel, as .32's can range from .308 to .314 in groove diameter.



I've amassed a fair amount of load data.  Let me know what you need.  Here's a sample:

Lyman 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook
-10 Loads for 75 grain cast RN
-8 loads for 85 grains cast RN

Lyman 49th and 50th
-Same 18 cast bullet loads
-8 loads for 60 grain JHP
-8 loads for 71 grain FMJ

RCBS Cast Bullet Manual Number 1
-4 loads for 77 grain RN
-4 loads for 84 grain RN

Sierra 5th
-6 loads for 71 grain FMJ

Ken Waters' Pet Loads
-9 loads for 71 grain Hornady FMJ
-8 loads for 71 grain Sierra FMJ
-1 load for 72 grain JHP
-3 loads for 100 grain Lead
-1 load for 100 grain Speer
-5 loads for 91 grain Cast

Ranch Dog Outdoors
-18 loads for 77 grain RNFP


Let me know what you need.