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.32 S&W dies

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:18 pm
by ScottS
Are there any preferance on brands of Die sets to use for reloading .32S&W for ISU Center Fire? I would like to start reloading for a Pardini .32. Also, where is a good source of bullets?
Thanks,
Scott

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:22 pm
by Fortitudo Dei
Though some suggest more expensive dies, I've been using Lee Carbide dies since I started shooting .32 and have been more than happy with them. Though they come in 3-die sets, if using a progressive / semi-progressive press, try and get a four-station press and get a seperate .32 Lee crimp die. Though the final standard Lee die can both seat the bullet and crimp in one stroke, I've always believed that one gets a better result if seating and crimping are done as two seperate operations (though crimp should be minimal with .32 S&W L).

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:21 pm
by dhurt
Hey Scott, I have been using LEE dies as well. The ammo produced seems to shoot well, though LEE dies are a little different than other brands. I have the dies on a LEE progressive 1000. It's cheap, but works pretty well. Later, Dwaine

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:06 pm
by stratego
Hello Scott.

Unlike my fellow posters I use RCBS Carbide Reloading Dies. I'm very satisfied with it as I'm getting very tight groups either with my Walther GSP than with my TOZ 49 Revolver. As for the Dillon and LEE dies I really don't know them enough to make a fair judgement. However I've never eard any complaints about these two brands.

I suggest you to get a Carbide Die Set as you don't have to grease every sheel you resize. It takes a lot of time it greases everything you touch and the price difference doesn't pay.

When reloading .32 Wadcutter you must have in mind you're dealing with one of the less powdered cartidriges there is. So you must center the attention specially on the powder weightening and the crimping. These two operations are far more important than the actual bullet size you may choose.

For starting don't crip at all. The wadcutter bullet is long enough to be properly placed inside the shell without the risk of displacing during the other shots. By the contrary if you crimp too much you may increase the pressure to dangerous levels that might dammage the gun. In revolvers it might chop the bullet sizes when passing between the cylinder and the barrel. Besides that shots will be spread all over the target without any consistent group pattern. So If you succeed balancing the powder charge along with the crimp, bullet's size will be the less of your problems.

Greetings from Portugal,
Stratego