First off, drslav,
thank you for your hospitality and helping me to reload my first cartridges for this fine revolver. You have inspired me to order a set of proper dies,
which I did today. The "Special Order" from RCBS will take 120 days! So, I suspect I'll be over again in the mean time
Oh, and, because of new US export restrictions, you need to go through a dealer to get dies across the damn border! Brutal.
Because my 11 year old son also joined me at the range, the targets are quite the scattering of holes! So, not really telling of the performance of this cartridge and fine revolver.
All in all, we shot 68 rounds at two targets:
---> 18 were your custom loads: trimmed
32-20 Win brass,
100 grain
.312 lead round nose flat points (LRNFP),
2.6 grains of IMR Trail Boss, CCI small pistol primers
---> the other 50 rounds were Remington "Target" 32 S&W Long, 98 grain .312 LRN
Both loads were
anemic to say the least! The Remington 32 S&W's are rated at "705 fps" according to published sources, and based on the low recoil of your handloads, all 68 rounds were going about the same speed. I certainly need to purchase a chronograph.
One thing is for ABSOLUTE certain, this sweet little revolver can EASILY handle stiffer loads! I am going to
up the Trail Boss to 2.7, 2.8, and 2.9 grains respectively, the later representing "maximum" loads (
for 32 S&W L) as per the Hodgdon Powder Co. website.
I measured my last 5-round grouping using your handloads, and I got exactly 3 inches at approx. 23-25 yards -- not bad for any pistol, let alone an old girl made in 1895!
I measured my last 5-round grouping with the Remington 32 S&W's, and I got exactly 4.2 inches at approx. 23-25 yards -- still pretty good!
I shot both groups in the standing position, both hands on the revolver. In truth, I wasn't really focused on accuracy, as I had my son with me, and I was mainly trying to get a feel for the revolver and all it's Euro-quirks.
I think this revolver is capable of better.
Out of the 50 Remington 32 S&W Longs shot, 3 experienced minor split cases (
I tossed them of course), and about half had some degree of bulging (
but re-useable). Based on the dimensions of your handloads, the dimensions of my proper 7.5mm Swiss Ordnance ammo (
glad I found 40 rounds), and the dimensions of the Remington 32 S&W Long's, there are
very minimal dimensional differences. So the minor bulging and splits must have more to do with the thin-walled nature of 32 S&W, and not fitment. Remington brass is also notoriously inconsistent.
In the end, 32 S&W Longs are
perfectly adequate for this revolver (
if you can find some!), but expect a few splits here and there. At 705 fps and relatively low pressures, there's no worry about damage to the chambers!
One last thing worth noting, the Swiss revolver shot great in both single and double action, was rock solid, and felt great in my hands. What a sleeper. I will be buying another for sure.
(ps... no accidental discharges today
)
