Swiss 1882 Revolver Top Strap thickness?

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NorthWoods22

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Does anyone know how the thickness of the topstrap affects the strength of the Swiss 1882 revolvers?

I am considering picking up one in the ~2000-3000 serial range, which is supposed to have a thin top strap (apparently they changed after 6000?)
How much should I dial back loads for this, compared to recipes shared online for the normal top strap thickness ones?
 
Keep the loads in the 750-800 fps range (use 100 grain .312-.314" lead bullets). You should be fine.
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Are those numbers for the thin top strap, and how do the thicker topstraps compare?

Also, what max PSI should I be targeting, CIP says it goes up to 1850 bar / 26,000 psi but I don't trust that number?
I'm reloading using unique powder, so that should be slower than powders like bullseye/red dot
 
Can't speak to CUP, but I regularly push 950-1000** fps with a medium strap. Pressure is much lower as I use resized full size (uncut) 32-20.brass. Unique is excellent powder, wish I had some.

** Using 72 grain 32 ACP bullets.
 
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It's a 130yo plus 32cal revolver that I hope people aren't packing for wilderness defense or anything. I would keep all loads on the conservative side regardless of the particular top strap design.

Mine is unfortunately not antique. I use 32-20 cases and unique is one of my favorite powders for old guns as it has a more gradual pressure curve than faster powders.

I'm happy with a consistent loads around 700-800fps.
 
Any details on what recipes you're using with Unique?

I'm thinking of using cut down 7.62 nagant cases and seating ~100gr wadcutters to 1.280" to match 32 SW long, quickload says 3.0-3.3 gr will give between 10,000 and 13,000 PSI, which should give a 15% buffer from the 1000 bar/ 15,000psi limit for many black powder cartridges (32 sw long, 38 colt) according to CIP.

I don't exactly trust the 1850 bar limit they give for the 7,5 Ord Suisse they give here https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-iv/tabivcal-en-page8.pdf

On the other hand going too light has given me inconsistent ignition + squibs with another revolver before, so I'm conscious of that
 
The Kurgan said:
Careful of squibs. Had a few with jacketed bullets especially. 3.1 to 3.3 grains of Trail Boss seems to work best for me.
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How timely! I just stuck a squib in the barrel last night with trailboss. 3gr was working well but that one must have been measured light.
Thought I had some unique loads but going to have to check the notes.
 
I have a nice little tool to remove squibs. Plastic tubing and a hard brass rod. The rifling gets protected and the brass rod easily pounds them out. Yeah, don't go lower than 2.9 grains of Trail Boss, especially if you are using jacketed bullets.
 
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