Gallery load experience???

[Hatchdog]

I’m planning on making up some gallery loads in 32 caliber. I have a bunch of Hornady .315 round balls I’m planning to use and it was recommended to me to use 32 acp brass. Anybody have any experience creating gallery loads in any caliber?

My plan is to shoot these here at home in violation of the HOA rules. Legal to shoot by county law so…

[Vaquero]

Hatch, I have not. Sounds interesting though.
What 32 cal. firearm are you talking about?
Rifle or pistola??

RP

[The Wiz]

What is a gallery load?

[Hatchdog]

Hatch, I have not. Sounds interesting though.
What 32 cal. firearm are you talking about?
Rifle or pistola??

RP

I’ll shoot them in my 327 revolver. Probably not enough pressure/velocity to clear a rifle barrel. Funny, I have a 32acp pistol and I have never saved the brass knowing I would never reload for it. Now I’m looking for some brass here locally. I did see some once fired for sale on line so I’ll go that route if needed.

[Hatchdog]

What is a gallery load?

Gallery loads are low velocity quiet loads that shooting gallery’s in the past used. Also they were used quite a bit in shooting demonstrations such as Annie Oakley did in the past. There’s not a whole lot of info out there but I understand that I can use only a primer to shoot these but they may be better with a pinch of powder such as Bullseye or Trail Boss. Here’s a picture of a dummy round that John Davies gave me.

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IMG_0223.jpeg (2.55 MiB) Viewed 6725 times

[Mags]

... Now I’m looking for some brass here locally. I did see some once fired for sale on line so I’ll go that route if needed.

Is there a Coastal Farm near you? A while back I was in ours for another reason and saw they had several boxes of 32 auto ammo. I asked to buy 3 boxes. They wanted me to buy all they had because they didn't have any demand for it. I got one heck of a good deal!

[Hatchdog]

... Now I’m looking for some brass here locally. I did see some once fired for sale on line so I’ll go that route if needed.

Is there a Coastal Farm near you? A while back I was in ours for another reason and saw they had several boxes of 32 auto ammo. I asked to buy 3 boxes. They wanted me to buy all they had because they didn't have any demand for it. I got one heck of a good deal!

No Coastal Farm stores around here but that sounds like my kind of store. I have several boxes of 32 acp and I should probably just shoot up a box to get some brass. As you know, 32 acp ammo is stupid expensive.

[Mags]

... Now I’m looking for some brass here locally. I did see some once fired for sale on line so I’ll go that route if needed.

Is there a Coastal Farm near you? A while back I was in ours for another reason and saw they had several boxes of 32 auto ammo. I asked to buy 3 boxes. They wanted me to buy all they had because they didn't have any demand for it. I got one heck of a good deal!

No Coastal Farm stores around here but that sounds like my kind of store. I have several boxes of 32 acp and I should probably just shoot up a box to get some brass. As you know, 32 acp ammo is stupid expensive.

Looking them up, ya it looks like Coastal Farm is mostly a Westside thing, plus Yakima and Winatchee. I haven't followed 32 acp pricing, so have no feel for how expensive it is, but it doesn't surprise me. I have two 32 auto pistols, both over 100yrs old. I don't shoot them often. Both are hand-me downs along with some really old ammo.

I don't know about the stores in WA, but the 2 I've been to in OR are 'candy stores'. Yup I think you'd like them and not just for the gun desk. Power tools and farm supplies too.

[Travlin]

My late friend got me into "cheap" loads for an old 32 revolver that I had. We bought a couple of 12 ga. 00 buckshot shells and pried them apart. Using a .22 short case full of Bullseye powder and pushing the round buckshot pellet into the case gave me a cheep plinking load that I could see going through the air.

[Hatchdog]

My late friend got me into "cheap" loads for an old 32 revolver that I had. We bought a couple of 12 ga. 00 buckshot shells and pried them apart. Using a .22 short case full of Bullseye powder and pushing the round buckshot pellet into the case gave me a cheep plinking load that I could see going through the air.

Thanks Travlin, that’s some good info. I read about using 00bk pellets for the projectile like you did. Happy to hear your personal experience doing so and using the pinch of Bullseye. I ordered 100 rounds of brass and a 32acp seater die from Grafs and Sons. I understand my 32 H&R seating die won’t seat the ball as it’s too long. These should arrive next week so I’ll start experimenting then. Great Labor Day stay home project.

[Hatchdog]

Is there a Coastal Farm near you? A while back I was in ours for another reason and saw they had several boxes of 32 auto ammo. I asked to buy 3 boxes. They wanted me to buy all they had because they didn't have any demand for it. I got one heck of a good deal!

No Coastal Farm stores around here but that sounds like my kind of store. I have several boxes of 32 acp and I should probably just shoot up a box to get some brass. As you know, 32 acp ammo is stupid expensive.

Looking them up, ya it looks like Coastal Farm is mostly a Westside thing, plus Yakima and Winatchee. I haven't followed 32 acp pricing, so have no feel for how expensive it is, but it doesn't surprise me. I have two 32 auto pistols, both over 100yrs old. I don't shoot them often. Both are hand-me downs along with some really old ammo.

I don't know about the stores in WA, but the 2 I've been to in OR are 'candy stores'. Yup I think you'd like them and not just for the gun desk. Power tools and farm supplies too.

Costal Farm sound a lot like the North 40 stores we have here. Talk about a kid in a candy store….

https://north40.com/?utm_term=north%204 ... 4e3e2e8f52

[Mags]

....
Costal Farm sound a lot like the North 40 stores we have here. Talk about a kid in a candy store….

https://north40.com/?utm_term=north%204 ... 4e3e2e8f52

I see that. Except they don't seem to have any 32acp.

[Hatchdog]

My late friend got me into "cheap" loads for an old 32 revolver that I had. We bought a couple of 12 ga. 00 buckshot shells and pried them apart. Using a .22 short case full of Bullseye powder and pushing the round buckshot pellet into the case gave me a cheep plinking load that I could see going through the air.

Thanks Travlin, that’s some good info. I read about using 00bk pellets for the projectile like you did. Happy to hear your personal experience doing so and using the pinch of Bullseye. I ordered 100 rounds of brass and a 32acp seater die from Grafs and Sons. I understand my 32 H&R seating die won’t seat the ball as it’s too long. These should arrive next week so I’ll start experimenting then. Great Labor Day stay home project.

I had advertised on our local gun trader site wanting some 32 acp brass. Nobody replies so I ordered the new brass only to have a guy offer me at no charge 200 pieces of brass. Oh well, I’ll have lots of brass to play with.

[Vaquero]

Hatch, you can't have too, much.

RP

[Mags]

... I ordered 100 rounds of brass and a 32acp seater die from Grafs and Sons. ...

With a ball bullet you might be able to just set the ball on top of the case and tap it in without the need for the seater die.

[Travlin]

When I made my first .32 00 buck plinker loads I had no reloading press or dies. Depriming was done with a fat pointed nail by holding the brass over a block of steel with a whole drilled in it a little bigger than the primer. Repriming was done with the case head against a block of hardwood and inserting a wood dowel into the case to seat the primer. I just used fired cases and never worried about sizing them. Simple was good in those days.

[Hatchdog]

... I ordered 100 rounds of brass and a 32acp seater die from Grafs and Sons. ...

With a ball bullet you might be able to just set the ball on top of the case and tap it in without the need for the seater die.

The guy I got the balls from recommended putting a firm crimp on the ball. Thus the seater die. But this is all very new to me and will be a fun learning experience. Happy to hear Travelin’s experience doing this. And everybody else who has offered suggestions.