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Author Topic: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?  (Read 1033 times)

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Offline jcn59

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.32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« on: March 15, 2009, 05:30:23 PM »
Did anyone ever fire a .32 acp in a gun chambered for any of the rimmed .32s?   The acp is semi-rimmed as many of you know.   I know that the acp specs out at higher pressure, thats why I am asking.

Thanks!
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Offline bilmac

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2009, 06:36:21 PM »
Isn't it a slightly smaller case and bullet diameter.
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Offline bluecow

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2009, 03:18:10 AM »
the simple answer is to use the ammo thats for that gun.  having said that, there are all kinds of ways to do things that you do ONLY when the s.h.t.f..  paper around the case so it fills the chamber.  DONT TRY THIS FOR THE EXPERIANCE! you generaly end up with a single shot but that could save you hide.  41 mag will fire in a 44mag. not much accuracy and getting the cases out can be a bit of a pain... make sure that the bullet is smaller than the hole in the barrel.  no need for this here in the west, its for some 3rd world hell hole...
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Offline Steve P

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2009, 07:46:18 AM »
32acp head spaces off the case mouth.  32 mag head spaces off the rim.  If you get a 32acp to go off in a gun chambered for 32 mag, the case will not be all of the way into the chamber, the bullet will have a lot of travel, and you will likely have some unpleasant fireworks.  DON'T DO IT!!

Steve :)
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Offline jcn59

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2009, 12:53:06 PM »
Thanks, Steve.  I have no intention of doing it.  I asked if anyone else tried it. 

32 acp headspaces off the rim on my .32 S&W long guns, & off the rim in my 32 mag guns.  I'm thinking that the rim is too thin for detonation of the primer to occur.  I guess I could prime a .32 acp case & try it if I was interested.
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Offline billy_56081

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2009, 02:52:22 PM »
32 acp rim thickness, . 045, 32 HR mag.055, 32 acp case diameter .337, 32 HR mag .337, 32 ACP case length .680, 32 HR mag 1.075, 32 acp bullet diamiter .312, 32 HR mag .314. The max pressure of the 32 ACP is about 1000 psi less than the 32 HR mag.

Now I had a buddy that fired hundreds of 32 ACP out of his Single six with no problems, recomended, NO, doable well I;ll let you be the judge. He was shooting them with no knowledge of it being wrong, now where a real issure could arise is in a 32 SW long, the ACP would be about 60% over max pressure for them. In a pinch, they will work, but there are much more suitable rounds for this gun.
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Offline jcn59

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2009, 04:00:43 PM »
I first began to wonder about this when my son bought an old but pristine German revolver through a dealer in Southern Wisconsin that was a .765mm caliber.  The dealer sold him a box of .32 acp to shoot out of it, which chambered.  It also chambered .32 S&W, which seemed more appropriate for the gun.  I told him not to shoot the .32 acps.
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Offline Larry Gibson

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2009, 07:56:18 AM »
Obviously some misconceptions about .32 ACP.  The .32 ACP headspaces on the rim which is why it is semi-rimmed.  The case mouths of most older .32ACP are crimped into a canelure on the bullet.  This is all the same as with the .original 38 ACP and .38 Super.  The case diameter is the same as the .32 S&W, the .32 S&WL and the .32 H&R Magnum.  The rim of the .32 ACP is however thinner at .045 vs .055 for the H&Rs rim. This can cause mifires if the firing pin protusion is minimal or there is a light blow.  As stated previousl the SAAMI Map for the .32 ACP is lower than that of the .32 H&R Magnum but not by much. However, firing a .32 ACO in the longer chamber of the .32 H&R along with the long cylinder throats and the cylinder/barrel gap makes for the pressure to be much lower.   

I have fired about 100 rounds or so of WW .32 ACP through my M31 S&WL, my Ruger SS .32 H&R (original production) and a 10" TC Contender barrel without any adverse affects what so ever.  This is basically akin to shoulding .38 Specials in a .357 or actually more like shooting .32 S&Ws in the .32 H&R chamber.  Accuracy was actually quite good out of all 3 hanguns.  Velocity was in the low 800s out of the 3" M31, in the high 900s out of the 6.5" Ruger SS and just over 1000 fps out of the 10" Contender.  I did have 2 misfires in the Contender out of 10 shots but none with the revolvers.  The 10" Contender Barrel also has a strain gauge attached which allows pressure readings to be taken on the M43 Oehler PBL.  I have not yet conducted a pressure test of the .32 ACP in the .32 H&R chamber but will in the future.  I really expect no surprises.  Based on my testing thus far I wouldn't hesitate to use .32 ACP in either of my revolvers (the S&W is a solid J frame) if no other ammo (.32 S&W, .32 S&WL or .32 H&R Magnum) was available.  Since I reload for the S&WL and the H&R Magnum that doesn't seem likely. 

Larry Gibson
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Offline jcn59

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2009, 08:15:33 AM »
Wow, Larry!  You covered it all!  I load for the .32 mag. & 32 S&W so I don't need to shoot the ACP either, but I WAS curious about the possibility.  Thanks again!
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Offline John Traveler

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2009, 08:46:23 AM »
My concerns would be more in line with the differences in bullet/bore diameter and the likelyhood of misfires.  The couple thousandths difference in bullet/bore diameter could easily result in a bullet-stuck-in-the-bore malfunction.

As for the conditions under which one would use .32 ACP in a .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R, or .32 Magnum revolver, I think the words "last resort" come to mind.
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Offline Steve P

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2009, 08:52:56 AM »
I had not looked into the .32acp that much and am suprised to learn they are semi-rimmed.  I guess the angle and the way they stack in the clip prevents one rim catching on the one below as they feed.  I learned something new today, but as stated before, I have never studied the .32acp.  Still not sure if I would shoot one in a .32 mag.

My .32 Mags really perform well with 32 H&R brass and with the .32 S&W Long brass.  Several people shook their heads when I pulled out some ammo with .32 S&W long brass and RCBS 165 Silhouette bullets.  The bullet is longer than the case.  They sure shoot nice tho.  Rainbow tragectory out to Ram Silhouettes at 200 meters.  Knocks them over tho.

Thanks for the info on .32 acp.

Steve :)
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Offline Hank08

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Re: .32 acp in a Ruger .32 mag?
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2009, 12:00:00 PM »
I've shot hundreds of .32 acp in an assortment of old .32 revolvers, even some of the old IJ breakopen type, never any problems and never any misfires.  .32 acp cases are the same diameter as the .32 S&W long and .32 H&R.  .32 acp bullets are usually .308 or .309.  I reload with .309 cast.
Steve, interesting that you do that too, most shooters don't even believe it when I tell them I can get 900 fps with a 180 gr. bullet in a .32 S&W long, in a revolver.
H08
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