.32 S&W short, black powder, loads?

[troy_mclure]

i just got my great gpas 1904 H&R top break revolver in .32s&w short. its a black powder gun.

i want to occasionally shoot this gun.

i have goex fffg, and pyrodex rs.

id also be interested in trail boss loads if that would be safe.

im thinking that ill just buy a box or 2 of smokeless .32s&w short and pull the bullets.

itll be way cheaper than ordering the bp loads.

 

[Ideal Tool]

Hello, troy_mclure. An even cheaper way would be to use a round ball (buckshot) lightly pressed into case mouth, with a bit of grease over ball.
I think Hodgdon has T.B. loads for this cal. in their Cowboy load handbook.

 

[BillCA]

A single #0 buckshot ball will work (it's typical .32 caliber)
#00 buckshot is .33 caliber and #1 buckshot is undersized at .30 caliber.

I don't have my BP data available, but fffg was preferred in most of the loads I recall for the cartridge. I think the .32 S&W's pressure limit was the same as the .32 S&W Long - 15,000 psi, so keep those loads light.

 

[darkgael]

.32 S&W

I load .32 S&W with 8 grains of FFFg and an 80 grain bullet.
The Buckshot idea is a good one. If you seat the ball just below half its diameter, you'll have a little rim of the case into which you can dab some Alox.
My little .32:

Pete