Very LIGHT .32 H&R handloads

T

TruthTellers

New member
Since we are nearing the event horizon of the greatest rifle to be released since the Remington Rolling Block, I'd like some recommended load data for very weak .32 H&R, mostly with 85 grain bullets, 76 grain lead and maybe even 71 grain .32 ACP bullets.

Rifle will be the 20 inch Henry .327 Big Boy, the greatest gun to be released to the public since the 1911.

Yes, I realize the 71 grain .32 ACP round nose bullets will be dangerous in the tube magazine, do not worry, I plan to single load them.
 
S&W Long was my original idea to make super weak loads for, but the thing is they're not likely to feed in a lever action. Henry is claiming the incoming .32 Big Boy (The greatest firearm to be made the past 300 years) is able to feed .32 H&R just fine.

I'm willing to single load each round, but if given the option, I'd rather not.
 
Speer has a load for .32 S&W Long with their 60 GDHP bullet designed for .32 ACP. You have to ensure case length is very consistent and seat the bullets exactly to their spec, then crimp over the ogive. I tried it, and it worked fine. They ran pretty close to the auto. The same approach would work with any straight walled .32. But, of course, not in a tubular magazine.
 
For a mild load there's no better suggestion than the use of Trail Boss and any bullet weight that you prefer. Simply fill the H&R case to the level where the base of the bullet will be after it is seated. That is considered max but you probably won't want to go lower than that. Max is still whimpy at best and your Big Boy just might be screaming for a more robust load.

I've been using a 90 gr SWC in the S&W revolver that makes the greatest looking round but at the moment cannot find the container of bullets to pass along the information.
 
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I am also looking forward to this new offering.

In my volunteer work as an RO at our public outdoor range, I have yet to see a complaint
about a Henry rifle and the only problems I have ever seen involved feeding some brands of 'cheap crap' .22s.
All of the big bores brought to our range worked flawlessly.

TT,
I like a mild charge of Unique 3.3 grs. with the Lee 90 gr. SWC.
Since the twist rate will be 1 in 16" (Winchester 32-20 was at 1 in 20"), I think my 90 gr. might be good, but I'm prepared to go to a 100 or 115 gr. if need be.

Not giving up on feeding .32 longs though. I reckon the lifter/carrier in the gun will let me know quick enough, but the tube would hold about 12 -13 rounds.
I'm intending to try .32acps with between 16 - 18 in the tube!
If the extractor will not let me do that, I'll try loading up some .32 short with the 90 gr. bullet seated out a bit instead.

This new chambering will prompt ammo companies to provide a .327 'cowboy' load.

JT
 
the greatest gun to be released to the public since the 1911.
Click to expand...

I know there might be a bit of hyperbole in the statement to some, but I tend to agree. I am greatly anticipating getting my hands on one of these .327 Henry's (I will even compromise my forever non-compromise and buy a lever action without a loading gate). I am at the top of a few waiting lists for this gun.

I read on a forum (can not remember which since I read quite a few) within the last week, that someone who has one, has verified that he was able to feed .32 S&W Long reliably. That has me even more excited. I am not sure I really care if they will function with .32 ACP since .32 S&W Long is probably as low power as necessary. That round alone would make a pop gun round.

Edited to add: My above statement about .32 S&W Long is hearsay, so take it for what that is worth. I spent a few minutes trying to locate the discussion that made this statement and can not seem to find it. I know it was not a dream, but can not point you to a link.
 
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Note that Henry refers to the new .32 as a .32 Federal Magnum that also shoots .32 H&R Magnums, but doesn't appear to mention .32 S&W Longs. But the H&R is an extended S&W Long so my money would be on the new Fed/H&R to also shoot the Longs. It seems to be advertised currently for 600 and some dollars so grab one before the MSRP climbs to $900 or so. Those Henrys seem to have the smoothest actions that can be found.
 
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I think I will wait for Marlin, who used to offer a JM in 32 H&R and which is legal for SASS, although with the caveat that it may not be powerful enough for indirect hits on reactive targets that fail to go down.
 
Well that may be a reason to go with the Henry and the more powerful .32 Federal Mag. I have both Henrys and Marlins and will not claim one to be better than the other.
 
"...not likely to feed..." Will with .32 H&R brass with .32 S&W Long data. 98 grain cast data on Hodgdon's site/ Pistol side. 830 to 861 FPS max load velocity.
Jacketed 85 grain data there too. 707 to 865 FPS max loads.
 
I went through my reloading manuals and so far I'm really liking the starting loads using Blue Dot. For 75 grain lead bullets, Lyman suggests 6.0 grains and for 85 grain lead, 5.0 grains. Lyman's saying at those charges, from a 5 inch barrel, the 75 grain is almost 1050 fps and the 85 grain is just over 800 fps.

I'm liking the velocity for that 85 grain load a lot. From a 20 inch barrel, I'd think that might go up to 1000-1100 fps, which is perfect.

The only thing I'm really not likely with the Lyman manual is it doesn't have any data for wadcutter loads and it doesn't list any data for 115 or 130 grain .32 H&R loads. I've heard a lot of people say the 50th edition was a letdown... and I'm starting to see why.
 
Why the light loads?

Why not run standard loads?
It's a rifle. It's not like recoil or muzzle blast will be an issue...?
And, it's a relatively low capacity cartridge. I can load 600 rounds from a pound of powder, even when running my preferred load that's on the hotter side of things.
 
To keep the velocity as low as possible, preferably subsonic.

The problem is that I can't find any data for .32 in rifles only revolvers with 4 to 5 inch barrels. Loading standard means the velocity coming out of a rifle is probably going to be somewhere around 12-1400 fps. That's too fast for what I want, which is just a reloadable, centerfire cartridge as close to standard velocity .22 LR as possible and is accurate out to 50 yards.

Beyond 50 yards, I'd be using standard loads up to the hottest .327 Federal I can load.
 
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Understood.

I've messed with some light loads, all the way down to less than 400 fps. (Mainly in .32 S&W Long.)

My advice, especially for use in a rifle, is:
Start with a safe load that has every indication of working (going bang, leaving the barrel, and having no chance of being a squib).
Then work down to where you want to be.
Watch for signs of problems along the way, and be prepared to push out a stuck bullet if you go too low.
Once you find the 'sweet spot', work down just a bit more to make sure you're not on the edge of sticking bullets, failing to seal the chamber, or some other issue.
Then jump back to what worked as desired.
 
At 5.0 grain of Blue Dot with a lead bullet, I don't see how that wouldn't be enough to leave a 20 inch barrel and if it doesn't go over 1100, I consider that perfectly fine.

I might also try some Trail Boss as that's a dense powder and even at 100 percent loading density, it doesn't generate too much velocity.
 
Trail Boss has been very unpredictable for me in the .32s. (Several other members here have had similar issues.)
Keep your eyes and ears peeled for oddities.

I'm also not a fan of Blue Dot when it isn't compressed (it was designed for heavy compression in 'magnum' 12 ga shot shells), but plenty of people run it without issue.

My preference for a light .32 H&R load would be Unique, Red Dot, or W231/HP38. (As much because they're in the right burn rate, as that's what's on my shelf.)
 
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