The Smallest Round

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I would venture to say that the smallest SASS Legal rounds are .32 S&W and .32 Short Colt.

Anybody shoot these as a main match cartridge?   I shot one match with Short Colts in my Marlin 92 after obtaining the rifle because someone gave me a couple of boxes of the ammo.  I also have an 1860 Colt that someone converted to .32 S&W Long, and I could run S&W's in that if I wanted too.  (And sooner or later, I will.)

I tell you this, .32 Short Colt is quieter than a .22 LR.  

When all is said and done, these two rounds, even when loaded to their maximum levels, are the very definition of "mouse fart" loads.   But, if you happen to have guns chambered for them, there is something very "silly fun" about shooting them.

I doubt I'd ever shoot either cartridge at a "serious" match, but part of the fun of this game is occasionally using very unusual stuff.

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Years ago, I had a bunch of .32 Shorts loaded with .3 grains of either Bullseye or Unique and a 00 buck pellet. They were super quiet! 

[Matthew Duncan]

Well…for one I witness a Cowpoke hit the same target on a Texas Star five times without dislodging the target.  For two I was a Spotter for a different Cowpoke.  I’m watching the first target, heard the timer’s BEEP and kept watching.  I didn’t hear the retort of the Cowpoke’s pistol, didn’t hear the “ding” of a round hitting the target nor see the target move.  Figured the Cowpoke was having a problem with the pistol and hadn’t fired yet, so I looked at the Cowpoke to see what was a happening.  Cowpoke was shooting.  When the TO poled the Spotters we all shrugged.  With hearing protection we couldn’t hear the Cowpokes 32s, no target dings and see no target movement.

 

Edited September 28 by Matthew Duncan
Correct autocorrect

[Blackwater 53393]

I participated in a match twenty years or more ago where a lady was shooting .32s of some kind.  Her rifle rounds couldn’t be picked up on the timer more often than not and you could see the bullets from her pistols from the side!!  They looked like someone was tossing them underhanded and many of them didn’t reach their targets!!!

 

When someone asked her if she had any powder in her cartridges, she became very angry and acted like she couldn’t be more offended.

 

 

There are several of us who were at that match that laugh about it whenever one of us mentions it!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Well, the time I used the .32 in my Marlin, the TO told me the timer didn't pick up the report.  I laughed.   I figure if/when I do use that cartridge, I am gonna get laughed at.   But you know, that's why I use it, for the sheer silly fun of it.   But I'll be respectful of the game and others.   If there is a stage where the pistols are last, for example, I'll be sure to have a .45 to use as pistol 2 to make sure the timer hears something.    If the rifle is last, well, that's not my fault.   Some timers can't hear .45's in a rifle.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

2 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Well, the time I used the .32 in my Marlin, the TO told me the timer didn't pick up the report.  I laughed.   I figure if/when I do use that cartridge, I am gonna get laughed at.   But you know, that's why I use it, for the sheer silly fun of it.   But I'll be respectful of the game and others.   If there is a stage where the pistols are last, for example, I'll be sure to have a .45 to use as pistol 2 to make sure the timer hears something.    If the rifle is last, well, that's not my fault.   Some timers can't hear .45's in a rifle.

The timers I use for a .22 action match are adjusted for maximum sensitivity and easily pick up the report.  However, gentle taps are also recorded as shots.  One must handle the timers gently and read the time promptly.

 

My wife shoots .32s.  I increased the powder charge in her ammo to the maximum value published in a reputable loading guide.  Some inattentive spotters were calling hits as misses.  Now targets wiggle a little and there is a bullet splat.  Hits are now called as hits.

[Kid Rich]

I recently bought a pair of 32's. I shoot at several different clubs and no one has remarked that they could  not hear the shots. Shirttail uses 32 revolvers and when she is shooting BP most people don't believe they are 32's they think they are 38's.

kR

[Rye Miles #13621]

12 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Well, the time I used the .32 in my Marlin, the TO told me the timer didn't pick up the report.  I laughed.   I figure if/when I do use that cartridge, I am gonna get laughed at.   But you know, that's why I use it, for the sheer silly fun of it.   But I'll be respectful of the game and others.   If there is a stage where the pistols are last, for example, I'll be sure to have a .45 to use as pistol 2 to make sure the timer hears something.    If the rifle is last, well, that's not my fault.   Some timers can't hear .45's in a rifle.

 

12 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

I participated in a match twenty years or more ago where a lady was shooting .32s of some kind.  Her rifle rounds couldn’t be picked up on the timer more often than not and you could see the bullets from her pistols from the side!!  They looked like someone was tossing them underhanded and many of them didn’t reach their targets!!!

 

When someone asked her if she had any powder in her cartridges, she became very angry and acted like she couldn’t be more offended.

 

 

There are several of us who were at that match that laugh about it whenever one of us mentions it!

We have a .22 shoot every month at my gun club and the trick is to get the timer close enough to pick up the bang. I’m sure it would work in .32’s as a well. At the cowboy shoot we’ve had a couple . 32 shooters, no problem with the timer you just have to get a little closer to the barrel with still being safe of course. 

[Blackwater 53393]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

 

We have a .22 shoot every month at my gun club and the trick is to get the timer close enough to pick up the bang. I’m sure it would work in .32’s as a well. At the cowboy shoot we’ve had a couple . 32 shooters, no problem with the timer you just have to get a little closer to the barrel with still being safe of course. 

I had some wax bullets set up with 209 primers that were louder than this lady’s match ammo!  

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

I occasionally shot 32-20's with a case full of 3f. No issue with the rifle and a few commented that the pistols were quite snappy, loud,  for 32's.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

3 hours ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

I occasionally shot 32-20's with a case full of 3f. No issue with the rifle and a few commented that the pistols were quite snappy, loud,  for 32's.

 

.32-20 is the most effective cartridge for turning gun powder into NOISE!   By far my loudest guns are .32-20's.   Oddly, the 7.5" barrel is louder than the 5.5" and 4.75" ones.

.32 Short Colt, on the other hand...   

[Kid Rich]

Noise from the shot has a lot more to do with the load of powder that is in the case than it does with the caliber.

kR

[Blackwater 53393]

11 hours ago, Kid Rich said:

Noise from the shot has a lot more to do with the load of powder that is in the case than it does with the caliber.

kR

Is THAT why my 140gr FFFg 10ga loads wake people up over in the next county?? 🙄 😜