TargetTalk

Hello Lounge,
I have a question about the failure of an FAS .32 model 603 target pistol. I have really enjoyed this gun at the range and was able to decrease my handicap with it. Last week the gun was ruined by what seemed like a hot round. I have been reloading the .32 with 1.8grns of bullseye and 98 grain wadcutters. Because the rounds are so diminutive, and the fact that the cartridge is filled with mostly lead and not powder, it seems very strange to have the gun come apart the way it did. The chamber cracked and the slide was broken in two. I'm not sure that even a double powder charge could do that, but have no other explanation. In which case, shooters beware!

Greg

1.8gr Bullseye is a slightly heavy load, a double charge would no doubt blow any .32.
Could have been a detached skirt, caused by your heavy load, followed by a normal round.

There are stories of light charges of Bullseye detonating too.

1.8 of Bullseye in .32 S&W Long is definitely on the heavy side - my experience has been that pressures jumped at anything over 1.7 of the 'old' Bullseye powder

I had a 603 blow up on me when the case split radially - the front half of the case just went into the barrel with the bullet, plugged the whole thing, and the gas pressure must have gone straight through the roof. But, yeah, 1.8 grs is a pretty heavy load. I tried using Bullseye once, and 1.3grs was more than enough for me...