Loads for .32 Smith & Wesson Long or .32 Colt New Police (case is .920″ long) (But NOT .32 Long Colt): (Note: Most ARE MAXIMUM loads, you may want to use 10% less to start.) (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.
Bullet size is .314″ (lead) in diameter. Some lead are .313 and Most Jacketed bullets are .312″
(Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231) (IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia)
60 Grain Hornady JHP (usually used in 32 auto)
HP-38
try 2.0 up to 3.6 grains
Bullseye
1.8 up to 3.1 grains
W-231
2.0 up to 3.4 grains
Unique
2.6 up to 3.5 grains
Ramshot
Competition use 3.4 to 4.0 grains
75 grain lead
Bullseye
1.5 gr.
511
Bullseye
3.0 gr.
955 max
HP-38/W231
2.0 gr.
675
HP-38/W231
3.5 gr.
1,038 max Very HOT
Unique
2.5 gr.
601
Unique
3.7 gr.
902 max
83/85 Grain Lead
VV N310
1.5 gr.
767 fps (Start)
VV N310
1.7 gr.
856 MAX
Bullseye
2.3 gr.
782
Bullseye
2.7 gr.
908 max
Titegroup
2.2 gr.
798
Titegroup
2.6 gr.
891 max
HP-38/W231
2.5 gr.
772
HP-38/W231
3.0 gr.
848
Ramshot Zip
2.7 gr.
792
Ramshot Zip
3.1 gr.
898 max
Unique
3.0 gr.
742
Unique
3.5 gr.
902 max
85 Grain JHP
Universal
2.7 gr.
702
Universal
3.0 gr.
862 max
Unique
2.7 gr.
705
Unique
3.0 gr.
838 max
Titegroup
2.1 gr.
723 start
Titegroup
2.4 gr.
819 max
Bullseye
2.1 gr.
651
Bullseye
2.4 gr.
811 max
AA#2
2.1 gr.
740
AA#2
2.4 gr.
901 max
AA#5
3.2 gr.
653
AA#5
3.8 gr.
801 max
HP-38/W231
2.4 gr.
707 start
HP-38/W231
2.7 gr.
810 max
HP-38/W231
2.5 gr.
832 (contributed load)
HP-38/W231
2.8 gr.
872 max (contributed load)
90 Grain Lead
Trail Boss
1.5 gr.
599 fps (Start)
Trail Boss
2.9 gr.
730 MAX
Bullseye
2.0 gr.
715 mild
Bullseye
2.2 gr.
744
Bullseye
2.3 gr.
790 Max
Universal
2.4 gr.
772
Universal
2.7 gr.
839 max
Unique
3.2 gr.
909 hot
HP-38/W231
2.1 gr.
742
HP-38/W231
2.4 gr.
828 max
W231/HP38
2.7 gr.
809 Private load
W231/HP38
3.0 gr.
906 max Private load HOT
Titegroup
1.9 gr.
762 start
Titegroup
2.1 gr.
813 max
90 Grain JHP
Universal
2.6 gr.
672
Universal
2.9 gr.
842 max
HP-38/W231
2.3 gr.
681
HP-38/W231
2.6 gr.
762 max
Titegroup
2.0 gr.
664 start
Titegroup
2.3 gr.
752 max
Trail Boss
1.5 gr.
599 (very mild load)
Trail Boss
2.9 gr.
730 max
98 Grain Lead Wadcutter
VV N310
1.1 gr.
618 fps (Start)
VV N310
1.3 gr.
691 MAX
Bullseye
1.9 gr.
765
Bullseye
2.2 gr.
780
Unique
2.2 gr.
730 (very mild)
Unique
2.7 gr.
775 Max
Universal
1.9 gr.
675
Universal
2.2 gr.
830 max
W231
1.9 gr.
735 Max
HP38
1.9 gr.
718
HP38
2.3 gr.
860 max
AA No. 5
2.7 gr.
750 Ma
2400
5.4 gr.
794 Max
Titegroup
1.8 gr.
782 start
Titegroup
2.0 gr.
865 max
98 Grain LEAD Round Nose or SWC
Bullseye
2.1 gr.
702
Bullseye
2.3 gr.
772 max
VV N310
1.9 gr.
848 fps (Start)
VV N310
2.2 gr.
916 MAX
W231
2.4 gr.
765 near Max
W231
2.6 gr.
789 max
HP38
2.4 gr.
763 Max
2400
5.2 gr.
701
2400
5.6 gr.
809 Max
Universal
2.8 gr.
744
Universal
3.0 gr.
788 max
Unique
2.5 gr.
664
Unique
2.6 gr.
Near factory max
Unique +P
3.0 gr.
~900+ hot (Max)(use in strong guns only or ones designed for H&R mag)
Winchester Factory
.32 Long = 693 fps
Hi=825 Lo=688 ES=137 (in 5.5″ bbl Ruger .327 Blackhawk)
100 Grain Speer Jacketed Hollow Point
Universal
3.0 gr.
694 Max Do Not Reduce
Unique
2.5 gr.
570
Unique
2.8 gr.
730 max
2400
5.0 gr.
660 start
2400
5.5 gr.
733 Max
W231
2.5 gr.
678
W231
1.9 gr.
635
WAP
3.4 gr.
725 Max
AA No. 5
3.8 gr.
675 Max Do Not Reduce
Bullseye
2.0 gr.
600
Bullseye
2.3 gr.
715 max
W296
6.0 gr.
633
W296
6.5 gr.
735 max
115 Grain Chey-cast RNFP (.313″)
Unique
3.0 gr.
755 MAX (hot load)
Unique
3.0 gr.
795 in 4″ bbl revolver, Hi=818, Lo=777, ES=41
Bullseye
2.0 gr.
722
Unique
3.0 gr.
829
Unique
3.1 gr.
922 max
W231/HP38
2.5 gr.
715
W231/HP38
2.8 gr.
808 max
This is the most common .32 cartridge found today for the majority of revolvers. It is called both the .32 S&W Long AND the .32 Colt New Police. But this round is NOT the same as the .32 Long Colt. Discussion: All the powders listed are fast to medium burning powders in small quantities for these lighter bullets. The JHP would be the defense bullet to use.
A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air.
* Power Pistol, Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. No. 2, No. 5, No. 7, No. 9, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company WAP (Winchester Action Pistol), WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. Ramshot powders are from Western Powder Company. Products used here are “Competition” (ideal for .32) and “Enforcer” (usually used for large magnum loads)
References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet – – Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders’ Guide (1995) – – Hodgdon’s Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) – – Speer Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition – – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy Company,reloading booklet (1995) – – Hodgdon.com website 2008 – – Ramshot on-line .pdf load guide (2010) – – Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Hodgdon now owns Winchester and IMR powders (2009)
