.32 ACP Ammunition
 

A few weeks back, I bought a 1907 Savage Pistol....my particular one was made in 1920. I looked at ammo, which was going from $16 to $23 a box! Well, after recovering from that shock, when I purchased the pistol, the guy behind the counter handed me a box of Sellier & Bellot, for $14.99. Needless to say, I jumped on it...:)

Once I got home, however, I looked in 'Ammo & Ballistics 3, by Bob Forker, something I usually do when thinking of putting 'modern' ammo in old guns. Mind you, the pistol has already been given a clean bill of health by my gunsmith, so I'm not concerned with that. At any rate, Forker's book listed normal .32 ACP ballistics as 905 f.p.s., with a 71gr. bullet. The S&B ammo that I purchased was listed at 1043 with a 71gr. bullet, so I put that aside, and went and got some Remington UMC ammo....loaded to the correct specs. I also picked up another couple of boxes of different brands (one is Wolf 'gold' with the brass case, the other being Magtech). Both of those brands also conform to the correct ballistics. I fired the Remingtons in it, and I will be trying one or both of the other brands tonight.

I still haven't fired the S&B, and to be honest, even though it's not listed as +P or anything like that, I was just concerned that it is too hot for this old pistol. Am I being overly cautious?

Your thoughts and insight are greatly appreciated.

THANKS!

Grasshoper -

My "opinion" is always this: As long as an older gun functions fine with the milder ammo, there is no need to risk experimentation with the higher pressured ammo.

However, I realize everyone will probably have an "opinion" about this too.

Mauser720 - Ron

Thanks for the info, and I tend to agree with you..that's why I haven't fired the S&B yet, and I may just wait until (and if) I get something more modern in this caliber...

interesting, I think of S&B being "milder" in many rounds. Glad to hear you tell me, as I like those little 32's!

i agree with what you said Ron, no reason to over power for no reason!


Ed

Wiser words were never spoken.

My little '07 Savage is one of my favorite little toys. I am never going to risk it with hot ammo. Besides, it doesn't matter how hot you load a .32 auto, it's still a mouse gun so why risk it even a little!?

Well, you all pretty much seem to be thinking along the same lines as me...:)

Re : .32 ACP ballistics, the following manufacturer's data was published in the current Shooter's catalog :
Sellier & Bellot---------73 gr. @ 1043 fps ( From S & B website)
Fiocchi------------------73 gr. @ 1000 fps
Winchester USA ------71 gr. @ 905 fps
Remington-------------------same
Magtech----------------------same
CCI----------------------71 gr. @ 900 fps
Speer-------------------60 gr. @ 960 fps (JHP ) Note: May not function properly in older guns
Hornady----------------60 gr. @ 1000 fps ----- same
German, circa 1908--74 gr. @ 886 fps ( From I.Teil "Waffen und Munition" catalog. 4.8 gram @ 270m/sec.)
While early smokeless powder burned at a hotter temperature the resultant ballistics approximated contemporary standards. I certainly agree that older guns should not be subject to needless battering if lower powered ammo functions properly. Regards to all. Dick McEvoy

Sorry for the incoherence. It was typed in tabular form but got electronically converted to linear. Dick McE.

Dick, hopefully I helped and didn't screw anything up in "fixing it".



ed

Thanks Ed ! Sorry you can't make the NAPCA show. I was planning to show you my newly acquired Simson '06 Navy from Simpson's. Best regards, Dick