I just got a 327 fed mag in an sp101. I really liked the gun. I have read online that you can fire 32 acp in them. I had some cases I found and they fit and don't slide into the cylinder. Has anyone tried this at home? I don't have any 32 cap ammo.
32acp in sp 101
- Thread starter skeeter
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5of7
Hunter
I think you would get away with it, BUT....the rim thickness on the 32 ACP is only .045" and the rim thickness on the 32 H&R MG. is .055 thick. This means that you would have .010" extra headspace, which is not a good situation.
A lot of 32 ACP ammo is loaded with .308" diameter bullets instead of .312" diameter bullets in the 32 Mg., so this might mitigate the situation enough that nothing bad would happen.
The prudent shooter would not do this.... 8)
EDIT:
After posting the above, I got to thinking and pulled a 32 Auto out of the safe for a look. There is a portion of the barrel that is machined away at the back of the chamber to facilitate reliable feeding.
This feed ramp leaves an unsupported portion of the cartridge head that is larger than the extra .010" of headspace will, and causes no problems that I know of.
Therefore, I would infer from that that shooting 32 ACP in an SP101 would be safe enough.
A lot of 32 ACP ammo is loaded with .308" diameter bullets instead of .312" diameter bullets in the 32 Mg., so this might mitigate the situation enough that nothing bad would happen.
The prudent shooter would not do this.... 8)
EDIT:
After posting the above, I got to thinking and pulled a 32 Auto out of the safe for a look. There is a portion of the barrel that is machined away at the back of the chamber to facilitate reliable feeding.
This feed ramp leaves an unsupported portion of the cartridge head that is larger than the extra .010" of headspace will, and causes no problems that I know of.
Therefore, I would infer from that that shooting 32 ACP in an SP101 would be safe enough.
Since you can tell there is a headspace issue. I wonder if you would experience light primer strikes. You would also have an issue with powder rings in your cylinder. I think it would probably be safe if it worked.
JWhitmore44
Blackhawk
They will shoot but it's not recommended. The 32acp is smaller than the 32 S&W, 32 H&R, and the 327. What usually happens is the 32acp brass will split and the accuracy will be bad. As 5of7 said, the 32acp is .308 and the 327 is .312. It really isn't worth messing something up buy shooting the wrong ammo. If you find the place that says that online again you may want to drop them a feedback that they are spreading bad information.
If my memory serves me right, Lee sells the same sizing die for all the 32s -- acp through H&R mag. Am sorry to disagee, but 32 acp is not .308, but .311 or .312.
I have tried the 32 acp in my SP101 without problems or noticing any sizing problems with cases. I don't shoot them regularly, but don't see any reason to avoid them.
willr
I have tried the 32 acp in my SP101 without problems or noticing any sizing problems with cases. I don't shoot them regularly, but don't see any reason to avoid them.
willr
edlmann
Blackhawk
skeeter said:
This is an old story from the days of .32 S&W topbreak guns (which might be made by S&W, H&R, Merwin & Hurlbut, Iver Johnson, etc.)
IIRC, .32 ACP and .32 S&W (not .32 S&W Long) are about the same length, leading people to try shooting ACP rounds in a revolver, hoping to headspace on the case mouth. Bullet is some .004 or so too small and the case is maybe .07" too long. It might go bang - or might not. Don't think there's any way this will work in a .327.
Oh - be sure to post your youtube video link so the rest of us can enjoy your misfortune!
5of7
Hunter
Some 32 ACP ammo is .312 and some ain't.
SAAMI says .312 -.006", so there is a lot of room for differences in diameter. I have a Sig 32 ACP with a .308 groove diameter. I have found 32ACP ammo with .308 diameter bullets in it also. I cannot remember the manufacturer, but I think it was European in origin.
The 32ACP is an old cartridge and I think that ammunition manufacturers sometimes do what they can to keep pressures down. It is not the sort of cartridge where anyone pays a Hell of a lot of attention to accuracy, so bullets a little undersized go un-noticed.
SAAMI says .312 -.006", so there is a lot of room for differences in diameter. I have a Sig 32 ACP with a .308 groove diameter. I have found 32ACP ammo with .308 diameter bullets in it also. I cannot remember the manufacturer, but I think it was European in origin.
The 32ACP is an old cartridge and I think that ammunition manufacturers sometimes do what they can to keep pressures down. It is not the sort of cartridge where anyone pays a Hell of a lot of attention to accuracy, so bullets a little undersized go un-noticed.
European ammo is smaller bullet diameter than US in 32 auto. There is considerable difference in rim and head thickness also. I have miked my Fiocchi 73gr fmj bullets at .306. S&B at .307-.308. Remington and Winchester are .311 to .312. They all fire just fine in my CZ83 with a slugged barrel indicating .308 diameter.
I dropped a 32 auto round in my SP101 4" 32 H&R and it seemed to fit as well as the correct ammo. But, I never had the courage to shoot one.
I dropped a 32 auto round in my SP101 4" 32 H&R and it seemed to fit as well as the correct ammo. But, I never had the courage to shoot one.
louiethelump
Buckeye
It works JUST fine, and I have shot a lot of it out of several revolvers. The S&W guns in 32 S&W long have been 100% reliable (firing pin on the hammer) and we are NOT talking breaktops here. All solid frame guns like the model 30. I have shot them in a Charter Arms, and got some misfires in double action but 100% in single action. (CA has a frame mounted firing pin and the extra headspace seems to be the issue) In my Ruger Blackhawk in 327, and the single sixes in 32 H&R, the big single action hammer does a great job and they never miss a beat. I don't put light springs in my guns, so if you put those crappy after market springs in any of your guns, all the above bets are off.
In firing hundreds of rounds of 32 acp through a variety of revolvers, I have never had a single case split.
For the "why?" askers: I have a lot of 32 acp factory ammo on hand, some old and some new. I don't currently have a 32 auto pistol, so why not shoot it for plinking? IT WORKS JUST FINE.......
Not the best accuracy, but it is minute of tin can at 20 yards with no problem.........
In firing hundreds of rounds of 32 acp through a variety of revolvers, I have never had a single case split.
For the "why?" askers: I have a lot of 32 acp factory ammo on hand, some old and some new. I don't currently have a 32 auto pistol, so why not shoot it for plinking? IT WORKS JUST FINE.......
Not the best accuracy, but it is minute of tin can at 20 yards with no problem.........
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I also shoot the 32 acp through my S&W's and ruger's all the time. On one 431 it does get a light strike every once in a while. I use them to just to plink at targets at close range. Find someone that has a box, borrow a few and try them out.
I fired 10 rounds of .32 ACP hand loads through my SP-101 today. I got three light primer strikes, but for some reason the 60 grain Speer Gold Dot bullet over Titegroup shot to point of aim with my .327 fixed sights. Go figure. Not something I would want to do every day, but at least it can be done.
exile
exile
32magfan
Blackhawk
My Dad had a partial box of 32ACP with no gun to shoot it in. I had heard about the possibility of light strikes, etc. but it shot fine in my Single Six. This was in late '80's. It was not as accurate as handloads but it would shoot. I had no misfires in the single action. I have not shot any since then.
Let's look at economics here for a moment: 32ACP = $20-25 for a box of 50 rounds (FMJ plinking rounds). 327 or 32 H&R is $16-25 for any box of 20 on the shelf. The American Eagle is more like $25-32 for 50 but I don't find it in near as many places as the 20 round boxes. If you are in a pinch or on a tight budget, a box or two of 32ACP is a viable option, just not the best option. 32's beg to be reloaded for.
Due to the unsure nature of ignition in 32ACP from the semi-rimmed cartridge, in no way would I recommend carrying this ammo to protect one's self. I would only use it in a pinch. Period. But it will work - sometimes. :wink:
Thanks,
32Magfan
Let's look at economics here for a moment: 32ACP = $20-25 for a box of 50 rounds (FMJ plinking rounds). 327 or 32 H&R is $16-25 for any box of 20 on the shelf. The American Eagle is more like $25-32 for 50 but I don't find it in near as many places as the 20 round boxes. If you are in a pinch or on a tight budget, a box or two of 32ACP is a viable option, just not the best option. 32's beg to be reloaded for.
Due to the unsure nature of ignition in 32ACP from the semi-rimmed cartridge, in no way would I recommend carrying this ammo to protect one's self. I would only use it in a pinch. Period. But it will work - sometimes. :wink:
Thanks,
32Magfan
Hobie
Single-Sixer
Can and should mean different things. It is a last gasp expedient type choice to fire .32 ACP in certain .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R or .327 Federal guns.
