Reloading the .32 ACP Any Good loads for a keltec p-32?

M

Master Blaster

New member
Well I bought a new caliber .32 acp, so I went to buy some ammo and found out that .32 acp is very expensive, so I ordered some dies and some bullets, does anyone here have a pet load for .32 acp pocket pistols or have you reloaded for the keltec p-32?

Thanks
 
MasterBlaster:

Me again.

I use W231 since it flows very well when very small quantities are required - W231 2.2gr with the National 77gr LRN. If you use Lee equipment, you will need a special "small volume" disc to get down to 2.2gr. The Lee Handbook says you can go up to 2.5gr -
which I think would be a bit "snappy" in a P32. I did not play around with various loads for the P32 since I just practice "draw and fire at 7 yards". Not must sense in really trying to aim.

I also found I had used some Magtech 71gr JHP - can't remember where I got them however.

Regards
Jim
 
I've tried several powders and have loaded for several .32's. Try starting with 1.6 grs. of bullseye and don't go above 2.2 with a 75 gr. cast bullet or 71 gr. jacketed. My favorite is 1.6 of bullseye with a 78 gr cast from a Lyman mould and only the first lube groove lubed and sized to .311"; from two Beretta TomCat's it gave me 750 fps and shot to point of aim. It would even hold the 10 ring on a B-27 target at 25 yds. !! Would shoot better (more accurate) than my Glock mod 22.
With the 60gr. hollow points (Speer or Hornady), use 2.2gr's. of bullseye or 2.5 gr's of Win #231 (or HP-38, they're the same except for lot#'s). I've tried 2.5 bullseye and 2.8gr's of #231 but it is a little too much, especially for the Keltec.
Load RN's to .985" oal; HP's to .915" for best functioning.
 
Same as jim-alex. 2.3g W231 behind National 77g plated RN's.

Tonite after work will finish a batch of 500 rounds I started loading this morning using a Lee Pro1000 with optional 7B shellplate stuck in my 9mm shellplate carrier and micro-disk for powder measure. Until recently, I loaded 32's on a single stage press just fine, but the ammo off the progressive seems to be just as consistant in performance as the stuff loaded off the single stage & takes less than 1/4 the time to load.

Only other powder I've tried was 2.5g Unique, but neither of my powder measures would throw such a small charge of it consistantly and accuracy and point of impact using W231 is nearly identical to the Silvertips I use for carry in my P-32.

It's amazing how accurate you can become with a P-32 if you'll shoot a hundred rounds or so a week through one!

:)
 
The factory 32acp ammo is good for about 150 foot pounds. The P32 literature has always said 200 foot pounds. With expeimental handloads, I have been able to get 400 foot pounds before feed ramp case bulge, and 500 foot pounds with a P32 barrel modified for length [extra barrel legnth TIG welded on] and case support [Feed ramp TIG welded up and re cut].

With the first shot only, [too long for magazine], and the throat of the chamber cut longer, I can get in a 1.1" OAL 110 gr fmj bullet. I can get this up to penetrating 7" of kiln dried Douglas Fir, and then the ejector / slide stop sheered off [too much recoil]. Kel-Tec replaced it for free, even though I told them it was my fault.

The P32 I am carrying right now has 71 gr FMJ and ~300 foot pound hand loads. The little gun gets full of lint, and I have to clean it with compressed air every couple weeks.

I know a guy who works up imitations of the expensive factory ammo. He says he has been getting perfect expansion with 32 Gold Dots in water soaked phone books.
 
60 Grain Bullet
700-X From 1.8 grains to 2.6 grains
Remington 1-1/2 Primer


71 Grain Bullet
Red Dot From 1.5 grains to 2.5 grains
Remington 1-1/2 Primer
 
Modify load for heavier spring?

Would you modify your load for a 13-lb spring (as opposed to the factory 9-lb)?
 
Had a colt 1903 hammer-less once. 71 gr.FMJ bullets and w-231 it preferred. Still have its RCBS 32 ACP carbide dies yet. Had to use a pacific (bushing) pistol powder measurer so's to hand load mine. So little powder it required that I was unable to beam scale its charge. Great little ankle back-up piece. Now_I wish I never sold it as it was also perfect for a ladies purse.
I actually tested my 32s penetration performance in wet phone books. When compared to a 38 special shot into the same media. 38 specials penetration wasn't even close to being competitive.
 
I got my wife a keltec p32. I am seeking a good load and have some Berry's 71 grin PRN .312....I find a lot of data for 60grn but not much for 71 grain. I am accustomed to Unique, hp38, and Bulls-eye for pistol rounds. I also have some Power Pistol. I understand with such a small charge. a minuscule change in charge weight can have drastic results. I read berettaprofessor's data and it confirms what I have seen but was wondering if others have additional data.A
 
Had to laugh...in fact, since I posted in this thread in 2016, I've changed to AA#2, 2.2 grains behind that 71 grain Berry's bullet. Cleaner and meters a little better. 803fps at an OAL of 0.980.
 
Have a bunch of .32 ACP 7.65mm Browning pistols, but they all date prior (in design) to WWII.

But the following may help. I find minor does of Power PIstol is quite suitable. Perceived recoil and report, case ejection is about the same, but I do get another 100 fps out of most pistols. Nothing seems to object and - rather superficially - nothing has blown up yet.

Second: Stick with FMJ bullets. One need penetration more than expansion in this side and power level. I use the standard 71 grain bullets, but will try JT's idea if the 93 grain Luger bullet. That strikes me as most useful.
 
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