Henry Rifle Forums

I sprung for a late 60's Model 31 revolver, 4 inch barrel. Looks nice in pictures but that's always a bit deceiving. I'll know when I get it in. The .32 has a good reputation for being an accurate target gun. I was looking around for a good load and kept coming up a bit stumped as I couldn't find anything without using XTP bullets which are a bit expensive for doing a lot of shooting. I do use them in my .327 Federal Mag BBS but I don't shoot it every week. If anyone could offer up some good advice on loads I'd appreciate it. I've ordered some brass and Berry's 71 grain .312 plated bullets and am going to start of with 2.0 grains of Bullseye and see how that works out unless I get other advice.

That's a prime vintage Smith, so even if it doesn't shoot for you, it's still prime trading material. Won't lose value unless you drop it or get it beat up, somehow. Nice find.

Oops, I read your post incorrectly. You have bullets. I have some load data at home, get it out here in the next day or so.

lost californian wrote:Oops, I read your post incorrectly. You have bullets. I have some load data at home, get it out here in the next day or so.

Thanks, I'd appreciate it. My Lyman and Hornady manuals only show XTP 85 gr and 100 gr. loads except for some lead loads. I'm not into making my own cast bullets. I think I can make the Berry's work with 2.0 Bullseye and maybe able to increase it to about 2.4. We'll see.

Get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook , lots of good info .

If your only paper punching there is lots of data for WC loads, it is after all the preferred chambering for ISSF.
Only 32swl I have is one of these Wadcutter only
Have just started loading some lee 90gr SWC for my BBS, there is a bit of data for our Aussie made AP-70 powder. It is repackaged by hodgdon and sold as Universal.
For 90gr lead SWC the current manual lists 2.4gr as a starting load for 777fps and 2.7gr as max for 844fps.
The other option would be trailboss

Going to be silhouette shooting mostly.

Travlin wrote:Get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook , lots of good info .

Exactly.
Ask, and ye shall receive.
From the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition

.32 S&W Long
93gr Lee#311-93-1R
OAL 1.250"

Bullseye
Start 2.1gr 634FPS
Max 2.4gr 720FPS

Titegroup
Start 2.0gr 636FPS
Max 2.4gr 792FPS

700X
Start 2.1gr 707FPS
Max 2.5gr 768FPS

Green Dot
Start 2.4gr 703FPS
Max 2.7gr 757FPS

Unique
Start 2.7gr 676FPS
Max 3.1gr 828FPS



85gr Lyman #313249
OAL 1.210"

Bullseye
Start 2.3gr 786FPS
Max 2.7gr 904FPS

Titegroup
Start 2.2gr 798FPS
Max 2.6gr 897FPS

700X
Start 2.5gr 779FPS
Max 2.8gr 872FPS

Red Dot
Start 2.4gr 727FPS
Max 2.7FPS

Green Dot
Start 2.6gr 780FPS
Max 3.0gr 905FPS

Unique
Start 3.0gr 740FPS
Max 3.5gr 910FPS

As always, this data is offered with no warranties.
Please verify data for yourself.
The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook (4th edition) is a treasure trove of data for lead bullets.

Good luck.
Hope this helps.

If you lack a good source of cast bullets for the S&W L. you can always use a 00 buckshot pellet shoved down in the case against a .22 short case measure of Bullseye powder. The first rounds I ever reloaded were that combination for an old Hopkins and Allen revolver that I got after my grandfather passed. Obviously this is not target grade ammo but it is fun to shoot @ tin cans etc. That much powder is good in a revolver but I would use more in a rifle so the ball makes it out of the muzzle.

Loaded up some Berry's 71gr plated round nose bullets Sunday. I took 18 rounds to the range: 6 loaded with WSP and 1.7gr Bullseye. 6 loaded with WSP and 2.0 gr Bullseye. 6 loaded WSP and 2.2 gr Bullseye powder. The 2.0 gr grouped quite well at 10 yards in my Ruger LCR .327 Federal Mag. Now that I know these little buggers will do okay I'll load up 100 or so to try out when the Smith comes in. It's supposed to be delivered to my FFL today so I'll see if I can't pick it up tomorrow or Thursday.