Can I load a 71 grain .32 ACP bullet for .32 S&W Long?

T

TruthTellers

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I'm having trouble finding bullets to load into a .32 S&W Long. I know the Hornady XTP will work, but they're expensive and would be a waste because they won't expand at the low .32 S&W velocities.

The .32 ACP's standard 71 grain FMJ round nose is very common and I'm wondering, can I use that in the .32 S&W Long even though it doesn't have a cannelure for crimping?
 
Well, you could try it. I doubt the little .32 is going to cause the bullets to move in the case, crimp or no. If it were me (and now you've got me thinking) I would get out my .32 ACP seating die and use that to taper crimp. But a very light roll crimp might just take the flare out of the case without damaging the bullet. Personally, I load Hunters' Supply 76 cast and Meister 94 cast.

Speer has an interesting load that I have run successfully. They load a GDHP 60 designed for .32 ACP to a precise 1.105 and crimp over the ogive. It just about duplicated auto velocities for me. Doing that with the 71s, however, might result in seating the bullet deeper than you want.
 
I think that, in additional to the crimp issue, it would be a shame to use the 71 grain FMJs in .32 S&W Long. Around here at least, the 71 grain FMJs are scarcer than an honest politician, and we consider them precious for keeping our .32 ACPs shooting.

There are two bullets I use for plinking with my .32 Longs: one is a 95 grain cast SWC from Penn Bullets. These are gorgeous case slugs, quite reasonably priced, and available directly from the Penn Bullets website. The other bullet I use is the Speer 98 grain swaged HBWC. I acquired a couple of thousand of these so long ago I don't remember the cost, but it was quite low, and the HBWCs are extremely accurate.

In both cases, a mild charge of Unique and Starline brass.
 
Acme Bullets out of Wisconsin have bullets for the 32 S&W Long. I have used their 100 grain powder coated bullets in my S&W model 30.
 
There are lead bullets from a variety of sources made for the 32SWL; weights typically run from ~85 to ~100 gr.
 
Any idea what the throat diameter is on the gun? I'd try to match the bullet diameter to the throat diameter.

I believe the the groove diameter is supposed to be .312 so I'd try and find a bullet with a .312 or .313 diameter. Missouri Bullet Co has a couple of powder coated options that would surely work well.
 
I don't shoot my 32 S&W but do my 32 long. all I shoot are cast bullet from a
lee die. I think I have a die for the 70 something gr bullet but I don't have case's for the 32 S&W and probably wouldn't shoot it even if I did, it's an auto loader.
 
You can absolutely shoot the 71gr FMJ bullet meant for a .32 ACP from a .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Magnum. I have made many hundreds and run them in .327 Federal Magnum.

You can also use the Berry's plated 71gr slug.

I will absolutely agree that a better choice, especially for .32 S&W Long is going to be a lead bullet. Likely more accurate, likely lower in cost.
 
Yes it can be done. I have done so out of my SSM. I used 88 gr. lead max loads of Red Dot and Green Dot as my starting point and found myself worried I might squib one. Even in what should be safe for S&W Long territory I wasn't pleased with the results. I had to step up the pressure before they behaved and I got consistent performance.

If you REALLY want to go this route I can offer advice on how to do this but will take ZERO responsibility for your results since I have no control over your practices.
 
The 71 gr FMJs work but I'm not a fan.

Hornady's SWCs and HBWCs work quite well. I'm partial to the HBWC, but as hinted by the lack of a link, Hornady has discontinued them - at least temporarily. (Edit: Looks like the SWC is dead, too. What's available is N.O.S.)

Look to cast bullets. There are hundreds of options out there, and the little .32s can be purchased in bulk for pretty decent prices (due to lower materials costs).
 
.32 S&W and H&R Mag bullets are supposed to be .314" diameter. ACP's are .312". Won't matter with a cast bullet, but it might with jacketed.
 
.32 S&W and H&R Mag bullets are supposed to be .314" diameter. ACP's are .312
Click to expand...

Sorry but that should read 32 S&W and H&R Jacketed bullets run .312" and 32 ACP bullets in the US run .311" Some Euro 32 ACP jacketed bullets run .309".

Typical Commercial cast for the 32's run .312" - .313"
 
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