Reloading .32 SWL Wadcutters
by Hoot 
, Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 15:13 (3874 days ago)
I picked up a wadcutter gun to shoot in our little pistol league. Everybody and their brother is out of HBWC's so that is not an option. I did manage to pick up some DEWC's of two makes. Problems began immediately.
I am using some Lee dies originally purchased (and work well for) the .32 H&R Magnum. A little adjusting, and they were set for the shorter case. During bullet seating, nearly every case will end up with an annular bulge right at the base of the bullet. Of course, this plays havoc with chambering.
For expediency, I ran bulged cases back into the sizer die. I suspect this reduces the bullet diameter overly much as they will punch the target sideways at 7 yards. Ammo that will chamber without the second trip through the sizer fly nose first just fine. And make tiny little groups as well!
I've tried belling more and less. A bit more bell and it seems to reduce the problem but it is still not eliminated. I am leaning towards the expander. It measures .309" and bullets are .314".
I called Lee and they insist their product is faultless and related that "the boss shoots a Walther and he has no troubles".
A bit of 'net searching didn't reveal any real solutions so I am left wondering...
--Will another set of dies work out better?
--Along the same lines, should a larger expander be used?
--Would the Lyman M-Die solve this?
--Will the Lee Factory Crimp Die undersize the bullet much like the sizer?
--Any other suggestions?
Thank you!
Reloading .32 SWL Wadcutters
Have you tried sectioning a case to see if those bullets are long enough to reach the point where the case side walls thicken? If so, why not back off on seating depth, unless the throat precludes?
Flush seating is the ONLY option.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 22:54 (3874 days ago) @ John K.
I tried 1/16" out and they wil not load into the magazine. Was thinking a longer expander would help out but Glen's suggestion is pretty durn easy to try.
Reloading .32 SWL Wadcutters is a PITA without the tooling..
TO properly load all the common bullets available for the 32S&WLONG and 32MAG I have five full sets of loading dies and an extra or two. I also have ended up with at least six brands of 32S&WLONG brass the best of which for WC bullets is from SAKO[socko]. Just for laughs the brands I can remember are R-P, W-W, FED, NORMA, HERTER, SAKO, and SEUNSHAMETALVERKEN[SP]. HINT: find yourself a really phattazzed FL sizer [ the RCBS 32ACP steel sizer is superb] and also use the RCBS 32ACP expanding plug [ .309"O.D.] for everything
Thank you Sir.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 22:57 (3874 days ago) @ Who....me...??
I have not yet tried the .32ACP RCBS set I have. Just measuring the expander, it is nearley the same diameter and within a skosh of the same length. I didn't think it would make any difference. Costs nothing to try that'un.
Cheers!
Size the bullets .312"
nm
Size the bullets .312"
by Cherokee , Medina, Ohio, Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 18:54 (3874 days ago) @ Glen
At least try a few @ 312 and see what happens, there's a good chance they'll work just fine.
Glen, Sir, I was hoping you would weigh in.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 22:51 (3874 days ago) @ Glen
I poured over your wadcutter and .32 articles over on LASC (right?) and I saw nothing overtly jumping out.
As for your suggestion? Duh. Of course! I will slug the bore (ashamed to admit I haven't yet) and then try a different size bullet. Simpler than where I was headed. Then try a few and go from there.
I very much appreciate it.