327 Fed - need help from the 32 caliber crowd

[Petrol & Powder]

It would be interesting to see what happens when you start fresh with those now once fired casings and new primers.

The rounds are going off, so I'm going to rule out a gun problem (headspace, weak hammer spring, etc.). I don't think I would pass judgement until I had once fired cases, with new primers, a known powder load and consistent bullets.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln – “One war at a time”.

Try to get the variables reduced to only 1.

 

[L Ross]

Could the slippery PC bullets be moving with the primer impulse then the powder squibbing?

 

[Glaciers]

P&P: Well that's sounds like a good next step. This gun was used when it came to me, so I don't know the history. I was thinking that maybe that the springs had been clipped or something. But I'll save my spring kit till after reloading some of these hulls.

I also want to try this new mold at 137 grains, so good excuse to resize and prime some once fired cases.

L Ross: I don't think so as the case necks were sized .002 smaller then the bullets plus a crimp.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I use the 327 cases for heavy full power loads and the H&R and long cases for all else.
I bought a Accurate S7 mold of 135g. I also load a Lyman 311440 (150g) its a natural in the 327. I worked a load to 1100 fps and its a nice heavy bullet load.

CW

 

[fiver]

I'm with Ross.
IMO the slicker bullets are jumping too easily.
my rule of thumb with PC is to up the loads by 4-5% to get back to normal.

 

[Glaciers]

Well maybe I should try some BLL. Before and after sizing instead of PC

 

[fiver]

you could try a bit more crimp if you still have a couple of the problem rounds first.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Im not having bullet jump and as ya know.... I PC everything.

 

[Rick H]

IMO the slicker bullets are jumping too easily.
my rule of thumb with PC is to up the loads by 4-5% to get back to normal.

Not always. I load a Lee 125 RF in 38 sp. (129 gr actual) to duplicate my carry load of Winchester Ranger 130 Hp +Ps.

I load them PC and with the same bullets uncoated with 45-45-10. It takes 5.7 gr of PowerPistol to give 870 fps (actual 10 shot average) out of my Ruger LCR3 with the powder coated bullets and 6.1 with the 45-45-10 (868 fps avg.). I use the same cases same crimp and primer for both. The only differences are the PC v lubed and amount of powder used. So in this case it takes more powder with the PC. I usually don't develop loads in this way, but I was just trying to get ammo with the same performance envelope as my carry stuff. Both of these fit the bill. Same recoil and point of impact (at least to 25 yds). as the factory stuff.

My guess is that each particular combination is a rule unto itself.

 

[Glaciers]

These loads in question are reduced loads as well, so recoil is light as well. And I was have the problem with the Federal 100 grain jacketed bullets crimped in the crimp groove.
I would be surprised if bullet movement is the problem. I think P&P has the approach to try first, with the jacket bullets and the cast as well. A fresh start, new powder, primers, resized once fired cases. After that move on to other items if the problem persists.
Afterwards if the problem continues I will look at the springs to see if they have been clipped or replaced. Another rabbit hole.
really want to straighten this out, I like the pistol, I like the idea of 32 cal, but I may do as CW does and just use S&W long and H&R cases for most of what I do. I’m going to try some of these factory loadings today I hope to see how they work.
Frankly I started out with 327 factory loads and was unhappy and shelved the gun after 2 cylinders. So I don’t know how it really is even with factory stuff. Need to give it a fair shake. All I do know is that something isn’t right.
The other thing I know is that I received a new NOE 311 137 mold yesterday and I’ve cleaned it and heat cycled it.
going to get this worked out but time is a problem as freeze up is coming.

 

[fiver]

yeah it is, it felt like a nice day to be up deer hunting all morning, and the dove hunt [HA!] hasn't even started yet.
never mind all the deer and some of the Elk started their northward migration over a week ago.

 

[RicinYakima]

Please come and shoot some of our Eur-Asia doves. No season, no limit. Mourning doves are just about extinct here.

 

[fiver]

I'd love to, they are a lot bigger and have a bit better flavor since their meat isn't as dark.

 

[CZ93X62]

It is cloudy and overcast here today, after gully-washers in the mountains around Hemet and Anza yesterday. Right in time for the Dove Opener on Wednesday. Serial cuss words go {HERE}. In CA, we can only hunt the Euros during open season for mourning doves and white-wing doves. I have yet to try the Euros as table fare.

The 327 Federal run at full-snort is a BEAST. Recoil isn't bad in the SP-101, but the muzzle blast from that 4.25" barrel will batter you, even with plugs and muffs in place. Some sound still gets through via your mouth and nostrils, and does damage to hearing. The 327 is viable caliber for repelling boarders, but the price it charges in hearing damage gets unsustainable over time. Better to rely on proven stoppers that run at less pressure like 45 ACP that won't cause injury via training and practice. Very few of my 30 and 32 caliber pistol and revolver rounds run much over 900 FPS, because they all become eardrum drills once past that benchmark. 327 Federal and 30 Carbine Blackhawk are the worst offenders, in that order. 7.62 x 25 and 30 Luger aren't far behind. It's YOUR hearing, so it's your choice--but for small game and varmint whacking, 30/32 caliber bullets at 850-900 FPS do most of what I want done in the field.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Had a good time with mine today at the range!!

I cannot post a link to my youtube channel. But if anyone is liking the idea, its the last video I posted.



CW

 

[CZ93X62]

I am a long-time mid-caliber handgun hobbyist. You have some VERY NICE 32s right there, sir.

My first centerfire handgun shooting was with a 32. It was my great-grandfather's Colt Bisley x 4-3/4", and it now resides in my safe. I was 7 years old, and got some grip support from Dad. I did get better over time, but I'll NEVER forget my first handgun shooting. The 32/20's 115-120 grain bullet at 900 FPS isn't too obnoxious hearing-wise, and the caliber had a good rep up until about WWII.

 

[RicinYakima]

It has a good reputation now for people that use it.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I was shootin the lol birds head 3/7 again

i posted a video but cannot post link

 

[CZ93X62]

It has a good reputation now for people that use it.

With me, certainly. Accuracy with it is not a "given" like in the 38 Special, though. The 32/20 WCF is a caliber that did not make the seamless transition to smokeless powders that some other BP calibers did. The early smokeless fuels didn't work real well in the 32/20, like they did in 38 Special. Thanks to the late Ken Waters, SR-4756 was his pet fuel in 32/20 revolvers and it works wonderfully. With that fuel now obsolete, I've tried Herco with some success, albeit at 5% less charge weight in a given load.

 

[fiver]

I'd recommend some 800-X but that's gone now too.
steel might be workable and a near case full because of it's bulk, but you'd be running a trickler if you expected any sort of consistency.