FROM THE MAIL BOX
32 ACP Actual Diameter?
32 ACP Actual Diameter?
QUESTION: What is the correct diameter for bullets in 32 ACP?
I have a .311 mold but I've seen bullets being sold specifically for 32 ACP that are .308 diameter. I've shot .308" bullets out of my FN 1922 but they lead the barrel. So I would ask what y'all do?
ANSWER: Most important in .32 ACP is how large your chamber is in relation to the thickness of the brass you are using.
In most cases I would ignore the groove diameter of the barrel entirely and instead determine the largest bullet diameter which will freely chamber when dropping into the barrel of its own weight, and which will fall out likewise.
Problems occur when people use bullets which require greater seating depth than factory FMJ, because the base of the bullet then impinges against the internal case wall where it begins to get thicker towards the mid-part of the case body, so that it causes a bulge, which precludes chambering.
In a tiny case like the .32 ACP deep seating of bullets can also dangerously spike pressure. Accurate has a great variety of well-designed .32ACP bullets which feed well and approximate both the seating depth and overall cartridge length of factory loads, to positively prevent rim lock, and to ensure reliable feeding.
Many older WW2-era guns will not feed JHPs or flatnosed bullets, whereas there are a few notables like the 1935 Berettas and Colt 1903s which will feed nearly anything, even blunt semi-wadcutters with meplats as large as 1/4"!
Groove diameters of .32 ACP pistols run all over the map. Maximum useable bullet diameter is limited more by chamber dimensions and brass body wall thickness than anything else. For the majority of .32 ACPs a .311-.312" diameter works best. Some very tight chambers, such as Keltecs, may require .309-.310". While some wartime barrels, such as the Spanish makers may go as large as .315" diameter. But in a lifetime of fooling with these guns I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of pistols I ever saw which would reliably function with a .314" bullet unless brass was carefully selected and loaded rounds run through a Redding .32 S&W Long Profile Crimp Die to size the case body so that rounds would readily chamber.
A proven recipe which works in all .32 ACP pistols is the Accurate 31-081 H cast from wheelweights, sized .311" and loaded with 2.2-2.5 grains of Bullseye at minimum 0.955" overall cartridge length. Hard alloy is unnecessary. The 2.5 grain load should be considered maximum, but is safe in the wartime, steel-framed pistols. For the Keltecs, and Beretta Tomcats reduce initially to 2 grains and work up to 2.2 grains only if needed for reliable function.
C. E. "Ed" Harris
44WCF and Reloader 7
QUESTION: Back in 2018 I had a discussion with Savvy Jack and (@ Outpost75 regarding a load with Accurate 43-245gr mold (249gr of 50: 1 lead /tin) and Reloder 7 for my 44WCF in a 1873 Winchester (circa 1892). Well it became a little convoluted with my misunderstanding the term 'capacity load' of RL 7.
Well since that time I have been playing with my Winchester 200 grain antique mold and an ideal mold of 215 grains.
I did I establish that the 249 grain bullet measured .416" from its base to the crimp groove, then I measured 1.138" from case mouth to the inside bottom web of the shell, and then .722" from the inside web of the case to a position inside the case which corresponded with the base of the seated 245-grain bullet. I then dropped an amount of RL 7 that filled the case to the position that would be occupied by the bottom of the 245gr bullet and weighing that amount of powder it turned out to be precisely 24 grains. Amazing!
Now my question, is that 24 grains a 'capacity load' because it fills the case to the bottom of the bullet?
How does that 24 grain load stand against my 249gr bullet when compared to Alliant's 1995 load of 23.5grs behind the 240gr bullet - Pressure etc? I would appreciate your guidance regarding this matter.
ANSWER: Great question! In your original 1873 I would consider your 24 grain charge of RL7 quite safe with a 249-grain bullet. This is because when a longer, heavier bullet is seated to an overall cartridge length which feeds reliably in the 1873 rifle, deeper seating of the bullet reduces the available powder capacity, which tends to be self-limiting.
In loading RL7 I would consider a "full case capacity" load as one which provides base support for the bullet in the same manner in which black powder does, such that a traditionally-designed bullet does not require a crimp groove to prevent its being "telescoped" back farther into the case under compression of the magazine spring. This is achieved by bulk loading the powder of its own weight, without the use of a long drop tube or compression die, but the bullet base may indeed provide "slight" compression of 1/10" to 1/8" (2-3mm) as the bullet is seated.
C. E. "Ed" Harris
I have a .311 mold but I've seen bullets being sold specifically for 32 ACP that are .308 diameter. I've shot .308" bullets out of my FN 1922 but they lead the barrel. So I would ask what y'all do?
ANSWER: Most important in .32 ACP is how large your chamber is in relation to the thickness of the brass you are using.
In most cases I would ignore the groove diameter of the barrel entirely and instead determine the largest bullet diameter which will freely chamber when dropping into the barrel of its own weight, and which will fall out likewise.
Problems occur when people use bullets which require greater seating depth than factory FMJ, because the base of the bullet then impinges against the internal case wall where it begins to get thicker towards the mid-part of the case body, so that it causes a bulge, which precludes chambering.
In a tiny case like the .32 ACP deep seating of bullets can also dangerously spike pressure. Accurate has a great variety of well-designed .32ACP bullets which feed well and approximate both the seating depth and overall cartridge length of factory loads, to positively prevent rim lock, and to ensure reliable feeding.
Many older WW2-era guns will not feed JHPs or flatnosed bullets, whereas there are a few notables like the 1935 Berettas and Colt 1903s which will feed nearly anything, even blunt semi-wadcutters with meplats as large as 1/4"!
Groove diameters of .32 ACP pistols run all over the map. Maximum useable bullet diameter is limited more by chamber dimensions and brass body wall thickness than anything else. For the majority of .32 ACPs a .311-.312" diameter works best. Some very tight chambers, such as Keltecs, may require .309-.310". While some wartime barrels, such as the Spanish makers may go as large as .315" diameter. But in a lifetime of fooling with these guns I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of pistols I ever saw which would reliably function with a .314" bullet unless brass was carefully selected and loaded rounds run through a Redding .32 S&W Long Profile Crimp Die to size the case body so that rounds would readily chamber.
A proven recipe which works in all .32 ACP pistols is the Accurate 31-081 H cast from wheelweights, sized .311" and loaded with 2.2-2.5 grains of Bullseye at minimum 0.955" overall cartridge length. Hard alloy is unnecessary. The 2.5 grain load should be considered maximum, but is safe in the wartime, steel-framed pistols. For the Keltecs, and Beretta Tomcats reduce initially to 2 grains and work up to 2.2 grains only if needed for reliable function.
C. E. "Ed" Harris
44WCF and Reloader 7
QUESTION: Back in 2018 I had a discussion with Savvy Jack and (@ Outpost75 regarding a load with Accurate 43-245gr mold (249gr of 50: 1 lead /tin) and Reloder 7 for my 44WCF in a 1873 Winchester (circa 1892). Well it became a little convoluted with my misunderstanding the term 'capacity load' of RL 7.
Well since that time I have been playing with my Winchester 200 grain antique mold and an ideal mold of 215 grains.
I did I establish that the 249 grain bullet measured .416" from its base to the crimp groove, then I measured 1.138" from case mouth to the inside bottom web of the shell, and then .722" from the inside web of the case to a position inside the case which corresponded with the base of the seated 245-grain bullet. I then dropped an amount of RL 7 that filled the case to the position that would be occupied by the bottom of the 245gr bullet and weighing that amount of powder it turned out to be precisely 24 grains. Amazing!
Now my question, is that 24 grains a 'capacity load' because it fills the case to the bottom of the bullet?
How does that 24 grain load stand against my 249gr bullet when compared to Alliant's 1995 load of 23.5grs behind the 240gr bullet - Pressure etc? I would appreciate your guidance regarding this matter.
ANSWER: Great question! In your original 1873 I would consider your 24 grain charge of RL7 quite safe with a 249-grain bullet. This is because when a longer, heavier bullet is seated to an overall cartridge length which feeds reliably in the 1873 rifle, deeper seating of the bullet reduces the available powder capacity, which tends to be self-limiting.
In loading RL7 I would consider a "full case capacity" load as one which provides base support for the bullet in the same manner in which black powder does, such that a traditionally-designed bullet does not require a crimp groove to prevent its being "telescoped" back farther into the case under compression of the magazine spring. This is achieved by bulk loading the powder of its own weight, without the use of a long drop tube or compression die, but the bullet base may indeed provide "slight" compression of 1/10" to 1/8" (2-3mm) as the bullet is seated.
C. E. "Ed" Harris
455 Webley Brass
QUESTION: I have a Webley MK-6 that has not been modified to take 45 Auto cartridges. What is the best brass for it and what is a good safe load for it? ANSWER: The short 0.76" .455 MkII brass from Starline is excellent and uses a large primer like the Hornady cases of 2008-2010. The Fiocchi brass is also good, but uses a small primer. Safe loads with 265-grain lead bullets are 3.5 grains of Bullseye, 4 grains of WST or 452AA, or 4.5 grains of Unique, which all approximate the service velocity of 600 fps in a revolver with normal cylinder gap not exceeding 0.010". With larger barrel-cylinder gaps I have fired up to 0.015" using soft lead, lubricated bullets these loads will still exit the barrel reliably, at the expense of reduced velocity, around 500-550 fps.
Be aware that much published .455 load data is based on the longer CIL-Canuck .455 Colt brass which is longer, about 0.87." Substituting those loads in the shorter Mkll cases will spike pressure. Some published loads from older Lyman handbooks work fine in the Colt New Service and S&W .455 Hand Ejector revolvers, but in Mkll cases are excessive in even a sound MKVI, and used excessively may result in shearing off the barrel catch pivot screw and damaging the frame.
Some people have fabricated .455 Colt/Eley cases by shortening Starline .45 Schofield brass to 0.87" and thinning the rims from the front, and this is correct if you want to shoot black powder loads in the older Mkl through Mklll revolvers which were not proved for smokeless powder. The CIL cases have not been made for many years, and are rare and highly collectible. In a MkVI there is no advantage to using the longer case, with appropriate mild smokeless loads, producing pressures not exceeding 13,000 psi, assembling correct loads with SOFT bullets which "fit."
Both my Boer War model MklV and 1914 MkVI had cylinder throats which were tighter than barrel groove diameter, as this was common practice to get efficient burning of the small powder charge. Whilst the Mkll hollowbased service bullet of 1 to 16 tin-lead was forgiving of these conditions, accuracy is greatly improved by having the cylinder throats uniformed. DougGuy honed my cylinder to uniform them and removed most pitting or frosting resulting from use of corrosive-primed ammunition. Accuracy was much improved by using a properly-designed bullet which fit the new cylinder throats, matched barrel groove diameter, and reduced seating depth to enable seating the bullet out to avoid excessive free bullet travel when shooting the short Mkll case in the longer .455 Webley/ Colt/Eley chamber. Doing so also maintains a low loading density which is absolutely necessary to avoid pressure spikes in the shorter Mkll cases.
Accurate 45-262H and 45-264D are my designs for the .455.
C. E. "Ed" Harris