A little survey on .32 S&W Long wadcutter...

[buonvento]

The Lee expander plug is for 0.310 - 0.312 bullets, the RCBS is for 0.314 and I think is long enough.
I think also that most of the seater plugs doesn't work very well with wadcutters bullets.

[Popeye]

[quote="Alex L" - I have a Walther GSP .32 for the last 20+ years. Most shooters seem to be using Winchester WST powder , which is a slow burning powder...]

I consider the WST to be a relatively fast burning powder.....right?

So less grains in the case for such powder.

My secret recipe is 1.4gr of V V N310 with a 98gr HBWC of dia .313 fired through a GSP. Works very well, especially with a very light crimp.

[David M]

The WST is the slowest powder in common use for .32/98 wadcuttter loads.
N310 is the fastest, then Bullseye and lastly WST. I am not sure where WW231 fits between Bullseye and WST because it appears to depend on the crimp for burn rate.
Never exceed 1.5g N310 as very high pressure can result, stay about 1.3g and use 1.4g with care (some projectiles may seperate skirts).

[Tycho]

Some years ago, we tested 1.4 N310 with 100grs HBWC from a Hammerli 280, and that was pretty much a copy of the factory Hirtenberger ammo, which was in use with the Swiss national team at that time. Never had any problems with the bullets, but YMMV. From the MG4, I'm shooting 1.1grs M310 with a 83grs Lapua bullet, and that is a nice load to shoot :-) I once tried N320, which is still pretty fast on a absolute level, but seems too sluggish for the .32 for my taste. Was ok from the long barrel of a FAS 603, but not from the H280 or the Pardini. Can't imagine shooting even slower powders. Know some people who use shotgun powder for the same reasons, as that is really fast stuff.

[Popeye]

David M - Hmmmmm - I like the way you expressed the notion - that WST powder has a slow burning rate relative to other common .32-.38 pistol powders. You have the skills of an Accountant or Statistician!

Overall, I have the view that relative to other powders, WST is one of the faster burning powders but I suppose most pistol powders have faster burning rates than rifle powders.

I've uploaded a chart I sometimes refer to - it's from the 2006 Reloading Guide issued by VihtaVuori. It shows that WST has a relatively fast burning rate-which is worth knowing when reloading-and which is the only reason why I'm responding to your post (rather than being pedantic!).

Thanks for your advice over the maximum loads for N310 for .32 reloads. I might try and reduce the load to 1.3gr from now on.

cheers

[Popeye]

Here is a close up of the faster powders in the chart. It's tricky when there is a cap on the size of the file! I hope it is clearer than the first upload.

[David M]

Be careful with powder burn rate charts as they will vary from case to case, load to load.
Here is a close list (includes some old and defunct powders).

POWDER BURNING RATE CHART

These burning rates are relative and can differ from one cartridge to another and even from bullet weight in the same cartridge. They are not all the same type of powder (i.e. double-base or single-base) and should not be used as a loading guide. It is just to show you the comparison between types and brands to each other. Do not substitute one powder for another without checking the loading information for the powder you plan to use.

(Fastest to Slowest)


1. R-1 Norma
2. AP-30N, ADI (no longer available)
3. N310, Vihtavuori
4. Bullseye, Alliant (WW231 is somewhere between Bullseye and WST)
5. N312, Vihtavuori
6. Solo 1000, Accurate
7. Clays, Hodgdon
8. AS-30N, ADI
9. Red Dot, Alliant
10. WST, Winchester
11. N318, Vihtavuori
12. AP-50N, ADI
13. Hi-Skor 700X, DUPONT
14. N320, Vihtavuori
15. Green Dot, Alliant
16. International, Hodgdon
17. No. 2, Accurate
18. N321, Vihtavuori
19. N324, Vihtavuori
20. HP-38, Hodgdon
21. WSL, Winchester
22. N325, Vihtavuori
23. AS-50N, ADI
24. N330, Vihtavuori
25. PB, DUPONT
26. N331, Vihtavuori
27. No. 5, Accurate
28. Unique, Alliant
29. WSF, Winchester
30. Power Pistol, Alliant
31. AP-70N, ADI
32. Universal, Hodgdon
33. SR-7625, DUPONT
34. W-473AA, Winchester
35. Herco, Alliant
36. N340, Vihtavuori
37. WSF, Winchester
38. HS-6, Hodgdon
39. AP-90, ADI
40. W-540, Winchester
41. 3N37, Vihtavuori
42. WAP, Winchester
43. Hi-Skor 800-X, DUPONT
44. AP-100, ADI
45. N350, Vihtavuori
46. HS-7, Hodgdon
47. W-571, Winchester
48. No. 7, Accurate
49. Blue Dot, Alliant
50. No. 9, Accurate
51. 2400, Alliant
52. N110, Vihtavuori
53. R-123, Norma
54. H-110, Hodgdon
55. W-296, Winchester
56. SR-4759, DUPONT
57. N120, Vihtavuori
58. XMP-5744, Accurate
59. IMR-4227, DUPONT
60. AR2205, ADI
61. N125, Vihtavuori
62. H-4227, Hodgdon
63. N130, Vihtavuori
64. AAC-1680, Accurate
65. W-680, Winchester
66. N132, Vihtavuori
67. N-200, Norma
68. N133, Vihtavuori
69. IMR-4198, DUPONT
70. AR2207, ADI
71. H-4198, Hodgdon
72. XMR-2015, Accurate
73. Reloader 7, Alliant
74. N134, Vihtavuori
75. IMR-3031, DUPONT
76. Benchmark 1, Hodgdon
77. N-201, Norma
78. H-322, Hodgdon
80. Benchmark 2, Hodgdon
81. AAC-2230, Accurate
82. IMR-4895, DUPONT

[David Levene]

Is Norma R1 still available; it used to be the only one I would use.

I thought they stopped making it at about the same time I stopped reloading. At the time it was about twice the price of N310.

[daveward]

Dave Levene asked if Norma R1 was still available.
I still have a couple of tins - bought it off some guy getting out of reloading. 1.5grs and a 98gr HBWC is right on the button - just like it always was.
\thanks Dave

[motorcycle_dan]

1) do you trim your cases? No
2) kind of crimp? Roll
3) press? both with progressive being most common
3) which brand and model of press? Dillon 650
4) best speed range of your rounds? Don't know have chrono but looking for most accurate not complete. They ended up on the max end of the scale but I don't have signs of pressure build up.

Should also have asked:
powder charge 1.7gr of BE (Lee Micro disc 1.8cc)
bullet type 90gr HBWC and 98gr cast WC
Type of gun
Benelli MP90S
Barrel? Dave Wilson Barrel.

[Anders Turebrand]

Is Norma R1 still available; it used to be the only one I would use.

I have heard that the company Rhino bullets www.rhinobullets.com in Sweden sell a powder called Rhino R1 that is supposedly exactly the same as Norma R1.
Manufactured by Bofors like Norma R1.

Have not tried it myself though, I use VV N310

1) do you trim your cases?
No, only use Lapua brass
2) kind of crimp?
Taper crimp, custom die
3) press?
Semi progressive
3) which brand and model of press?
Dillon 550 with case feeder and custom powder funnel that is longer than the original
4) best speed range of your rounds?
my loads do about 220m/s (720fps), if that is the best range I don't know...
-load 1,4gr N310
-bullet H&N 100gr .313
-Pardini HP