Oh The Horrors! Holli Was Seduced By The Light Side! Seaching for 32H&R Smokeless Load Data...

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

Holli and I have an upcoming trip to Florida where we are going to try and shoot 3 (possibly 4) matches during our stay and travels back and forth.  Although we used to shoot that heathen smokeless stuff back in our early SASS days, we have been shooting BP exclusively for about the last 15 years or so and, while we do plan to continue that, Holli would prefer to not be spending time cleaning guns on this trip, probably because she has a Honey Do List ready and waiting for any "Down Time" I may have .  As a result I am looking for some info on smokeless loads for her 32H&R Single Sixes.  While I have been able to find load data on the powder manufacturers sites, but they all seem to be a bit snappy at 900fps+.

 

I still have load data for the 38's we used to shoot, but Holli switched to shooting 32's around that same time-frame and I do not have any smokeless load data for that cartridge.  She presently uses a 115gr 32-20 bullets in her BP loads, but is planning to use some 100gr truncated cone bullets that we picked up some time back in the smokeless loads.

 

So, I am looking for some load data to help her out.

 

Case: 32 H&R Case

Bullet:  100gr Truncated Cone (Outlaw Bullets)

Powder: Titegroup or Cleanshot are powders that we have on hand.

 

So, what are you guys (and Gals) shooting?

 

Thanks,

 

Dogmeat

 

 

 

 

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

26 minutes ago, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

While I have been able to find load data on the powder manufacturers sites, but they all seem to be a bit snappy at 900fps+.

Pretty much the way it is with the SS in 32H&R. Smaller, lighter gun...easier to get a light recoiling out of a Vaquero in 38 Spl.

 

Good luck in your quest!

 

Phantom

[Flat Top Okie]

I use 2.3 grains of HP 38 with 78 or 100 grain bullets and both do well. The 78 grain are very pleasant to shoot.

FTO

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

29 minutes ago, Flat Top Okie said:

I use 2.3 grains of HP 38 with 78 or 100 grain bullets and both do well. The 78 grain are very pleasant to shoot.

FTO

 

Thanks.  I will have to see if I have any HP-38 buried in the safe.  I have used a lot of different powders over the years, but that one doesn't come to mind, but who knows.  At 2.3 grains, a pound will go a LONG way!

 

Thanks,

 

Dogmeat

 

P.S. Still hoping for a load for TiteGroup...

Edited November 4 by Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L

[Eyesa Horg]

Winchester 231 is the same as HP-38. 

 

Also, inquire with @Scarlett as she sells Cleanshot and IIRC shoots 32s. Good Luck and enjoy your trip 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

My wife shoots 100 grain bullets in her .32 H&R mag cases when shooting smokeless powder.  I've loaded Bullseye, Unique and N320 for her.  She prefers N320 because it burns very clean.  I actually increased the N320 load to the published maximum because some inattentive spotters were calling light hits as misses.  Those 900 fps loads might be what your wife needs.

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

38 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

My wife shoots 100 grain bullets in her .32 H&R mag cases when shooting smokeless powder.  I've loaded Bullseye, Unique and N320 for her.  She prefers N320 because it burns very clean.  I actually increased the N320 load to the published maximum because some inattentive spotters were calling light hits as misses.  Those 900 fps loads might be what your wife needs.

 

One of these days, if I ever get any "Down Time" I need to drag the chrono out the the range and chrono her BP loads.  The 115gr 32-20 bullets with 0.8cc of APP will take down all but the most stubborn knockdowns, and ring steel pretty well, but there is always that one....  I'd like to find something that has as close to the same "Feel" as what she is shooting now, just to make life simple.  I guess I need to find a little Range Time somewhere in the schedule.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

 

Edited November 4 by Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L
'Cause I Don't Spel Two Gud!

[Jim Brown]

Using Clean Shot in 32S&W Long case

100g rnfp - 3.2gr Avg 793.24 PF 78 to 80

100g rnfp - 2.5gr Clean shot works. I do not have velocity

78g rn -2.5 CS, Avg 771.34

78g - 2.2cs 740 fps

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Don't forget when shooting those 78 grain loads you are still supposed to make power factor.  740 fps does not make it.  771 is right at 60.  Of course no one seems to chrono loads at matches anymore so maybe it no longer matters.

[Leroy Luck]

Data for a 90gr using titegroup. It’s a starting point. 

[Captain Bill Burt]

My wife and I use 100 grain bullets from Outlaw Bullets, same as you.  Federal SPP and 2.8 of Titegroup.

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

15 minutes ago, Captain Bill Burt said:

My wife and I use 100 grain bullets from Outlaw Bullets, same as you.  Federal SPP and 2.8 of Titegroup.

 

From what I am seeing, this may be a good starting load.  Minimum on the Hodgden page (I finally found it...) with 843 fps for the 100gr JHP bullet (so it will be a little different with all lead) but that gives a Power Factor of 84.3 so there is margin.  I may make a few and test them on Friday at the Cowboy Setup...

[Null N. Void]

Red Dot

 

78 grain RN, 2.5 grains, 844 FPS

 

90 grain RNFP, 2.3 grains, 773 FPS

 

100 grain TCFP, 3.0 grains, 830 FPS (Knockdown load)

[JB Sledge]

Hello Dogmeat,

Little Squaw shoots 2.3 gr of Tite Group under Scarletts 78 gr bullet. No problem with knock downs.

Have Fun!

Cheers

JB Sledge

[Beartrap SASS#57175]

My wife shoots in Grand Dame and I load her .32s with 2.4 gr of Titegroup behind 100 gr bullets.

Won't break a wrist but makes PF and will take all but the toughest KDs down with no problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

 

From what I am seeing, this may be a good starting load.  Minimum on the Hodgden page (I finally found it...) with 843 fps for the 100gr JHP bullet (so it will be a little different with all lead) but that gives a Power Factor of 84.3 so there is margin.  I may make a few and test them on Friday at the Cowboy Setup...

 

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

33 minutes ago, JB Sledge said:

Hello Dogmeat,

Little Squaw shoots 2.3 gr of Tite Group under Scarletts 78 gr bullet. No problem with knock downs.

Have Fun!

Cheers

JB Sledge

 

 

Heck, if it will help me shoot as good as Little Squaw, I might have to switch to 32s myself!

 

Dogmeat

[Preacherman]

2.0g Bullseye, I've loaded this for years with great success. 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

4 hours ago, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

 

 

 

P.S. Still hoping for a load for TiteGroup...

 

I think I have some test data for the .32 using Titegroup.   I'll check and post more info later this evening.

 

..........Widder

 

[Preacherman]

Hey Dad, I tried to PM you and you can't receive messages. Please contact me. Thanks a million! 

[Snake-eye, SASS#45097]

Hi DD. I’ve been using 2.3 grn of either Bullseye or Red Dot in my 32’s. Low recoil and good on knock downs. See you Saturday.

[Scarlett]

You can probably try 2.3gr of Tite Group… 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

These are my wife's knockdown smokeless loads.

 

 

I don't load smokeless knockdown loads because these work so well.  She only burns up a box or two every year.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

1 minute ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

These are my wife's knockdown smokeless loads.

 

 

I don't load smokeless knockdown loads because these work so well.  She only burns up a box or two every year.

Really?

 

Muzzle Velocity 1020 fps

 

Phantom

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

4 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

Really?

 

Muzzle Velocity 1020 fps

 

Phantom

Long Hunter chronographed her ammo fired out of her revolvers at EOT years ago.  These were legal loads when shot from her revolvers.

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

17 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

You can probably try 2.3gr of Tite Group… 

 

That seems to be a consensus.  I think I will make up some test rounds at 2.3gr, 2.4gr and 2.5gr and see how they perform.

 

I'm still convinced this whole "Smokeless Powder" thing is just a passing fad!

 

Dogmeat

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Here goes.    Be sure to note my usage of these as noted for the Marlin 1894 rifle and for my short barreled (3")

Ruger baby vaqs.

 

 

This section covers 78 grain and 100 grain bullets showing 5 shot average velocity.

20" Marlin 1894 Cowboy

Bullseye 2.8 grains            78 gr: 1155           100 gr:  1078

 

TiteGroup 2.6 grains.         78 gr: 1047.         100 gr:  1020

 

Unique 3.0 grains.             78 gr:  898.          100 gr:  963

 

Universal 3.0 grains.         78 gr:  814.           100 gr:  891

 

 

20" Marlin:  all loads listed in this section were for an 80 grain bullet, using 'Clean Shot' powder.

Clean Shot 2.7 grains.         1062 fps.

Clean Shot 3.0 grains.         1181 fps

Clean Shot 3.1 grains.          1199 fps.

Clean Shot 3.2 grains.         1225 fps

 

 

 

3" Ruger Vaquero's (octagon barrels).  This info is for 100 grain bullets, using 'Clean Shot' powder.

Clean Shot 3.0 grains.         875 fps

Clean Shot 3.1 grains.         900 fps

Clean Shot 3.2 grains.         920 fps

 

3" Ruger Vaquero's.  This info is for 100 grain bullets, using 'RED DOT' powder.

Red Dot 3.2 grains.             945 fps.

 

I shoot .32 Vaqueros and the .32 Marlin as my main match Cowboy guns.

My favorite load is roughly 3.1 grains of Clean Shot for 78, 82 and 100 grain bullets.

Its a load that has served me well for quite a few years.

 

..........Widder

 

 

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

16 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Here goes.    Be sure to note my usage of these as noted for the Marlin 1894 rifle and for my short barreled (3")

Ruger baby vaqs.

 

 

This section covers 78 grain and 100 grain bullets showing 5 shot average velocity.

20" Marlin 1894 Cowboy

Bullseye 2.8 grains            78 gr: 1155           100 gr:  1078

 

TiteGroup 2.6 grains.         78 gr: 1047.         100 gr:  1020

 

Unique 3.0 grains.             78 gr:  898.          100 gr:  963

 

Universal 3.0 grains.         78 gr:  814.           100 gr:  891

 

 

20" Marlin:  all loads listed in this section were for an 80 grain bullet, using 'Clean Shot' powder.

Clean Shot 2.7 grains.         1062 fps.

Clean Shot 3.0 grains.         1181 fps

Clean Shot 3.1 grains.          1199 fps.

Clean Shot 3.2 grains.         1225 fps

 

 

 

3" Ruger Vaquero's (octagon barrels).  This info is for 100 grain bullets, using 'Clean Shot' powder.

Clean Shot 3.0 grains.         875 fps

Clean Shot 3.1 grains.         900 fps

Clean Shot 3.2 grains.         920 fps

 

3" Ruger Vaquero's.  This info is for 100 grain bullets, using 'RED DOT' powder.

Red Dot 3.2 grains.             945 fps.

 

I shoot .32 Vaqueros and the .32 Marlin as my main match Cowboy guns.

My favorite load is roughly 3.1 grains of Clean Shot for 78, 82 and 100 grain bullets.

Its a load that has served me well for quite a few years.

 

..........Widder

 

 

 

Widder,

 

Thanks for the detailed information.  Holli shoots the Single Six, in 32H&R that have 4.63" barrels, so I suspect her pistol loads would be just a tad bit faster than your posted data.  I just may run a batch of 2.8gr of Clean Shot and see how they do.

 

Saw a .32H&R Marlin for the first time this past weekend at the NC State match, Bogus Jim was the owner of that fine piece of equipment, and boy oh boy could he run it!  Holli likes her '66 so it's 38's for that, but that's what I shoot so we are good to go there.  I've got some .38-40's waiting in the wings for that "Some Day" when I have just a little more free time, just because they Smoke More! 

 

Thanks again.

 

Dogmeat

 

 

[Krazy Kajun]

If you have some Clays or Clay Dot around….I use 2.2 grains of that with Scarlett’s 100 grain TC bullet in .32 H&R mag brass. 

Kajun

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Dogmeat,

That .32 Marlin that Bogus Jim is shooting is a full blown 'Widdermatic'.      He & I refer to it as the 'Million Dollar Rifle'

cause he had to pay me a million dollar bill to come out of retirement and build it for him.....

 

..........Widder

 

[Taos]

Been loading .32s for a few years now.  My Grandson has Ruger .32s.

I load mostly 78gr, sometimes 100gr.

1.5 gr Bullseye, tight crimp.

Never checked the speed of the bullet but they "pop" real good, spotters do not have problem identifying hits, knock down pistol knock down plates just fine.

[Cemetery]

On 11/4/2024 at 1:37 PM, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

Holli would prefer to not be spending time cleaning guns on this trip

 

After cleaning guns 5 days in row for Land Run, I don't blame her!

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

8 hours ago, Cemetery said:

 

After cleaning guns 5 days in row for Land Run, I don't blame her!

 

I will admit, it is the one big downside I see from shooting BP, ('cause I sure can't see the targets! ), especially on the multi-day matches, and more-so if there rain at the match.  Preacherman just told me that he has started to anneal his .38 brass prior to reloading and it is keeping his rifle clean with no blow-back and that he just needed to run a patch or two down the barrel to keep them clean.  It would be nice to be able to do a quickie clean between shooting days and only do one full tear-down cleaning once we got home.  I plan to look into that during the off-season, but I already have a few thousand rounds primed waiting for reload, so it will be a while before that would kick into the mix. I guess I could just use those for smokeless loads ...  (No, No, Bad Dog, Stop Thinking Like That! )

 

I plan to load up some smokeless rounds for Holli this month and get them tested out over Thanksgiving weekend, which should give us plenty of time to run some before the trip.  It's been a while since I could see the targets, I just hope I don't start liking it too much! 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

You could always go with .32 S&W Long or even .32 S&W.   I am sure they'd have less recoil....

😁

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

38 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

You could always go with .32 S&W Long or even .32 S&W.   I am sure they'd have less recoil....

😁

 

Recoil isn't the issue, she is used to the 115gr 32-20 bullet in the 32H&R case with .8cc of 3F APP, basically all that it will hold.  Lots of smoke too.  I would just like to find a load that has a "similar" feel to it.  Probably should just "Bite The Bullet", drag out the chrono, and do a little math.  Once I figure out the FPS of her BP loads, I can calculate what she needs with the lighter 100gr bullet in the smokeless load and then see where that takes me.

 

As to the .32 S&W, she has a pocket pistol in that caliber, and I even bought some 78gr bullets for it, but I haven't been able to find dies for that.  Another "Project" for another day...

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

22 minutes ago, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

As to the .32 S&W, she has a pocket pistol in that caliber, and I even bought some 78gr bullets for it, but I haven't been able to find dies for that.  Another "Project" for another day...

 

Lee makes dies for it.   I like Lee dies.  You can use them for S&W or S&W Long, just need to "adjust."