Series M70 and M1935 .32 Autos

[Ed Harris]

Many shooters view the .32 Automatic with scorn, thinking it no good except perhaps to kill sparrows or scare little old ladies, but I have found the .32s fun to shoot and easy to reload for.

My M70 and M1935 pistols feed flatnosed SWC cast bullets just fine, providing ballistics similar to the .32 S&W Long when fired in a revolver, about 750 f.p.s.  Any cast LRN bullet of .310-313" diameter from 70-90 grs. will also work.  I use the Saeco-Redding #325 95-gr. SWC cast of wheelweights, tumble lubricated in Lee Liquid Alox and sized .312."   I load 1.8 grs. of Alliant Bullseye and use WSP primers in any old brass I have hanging around, seat the bullet to the crimp groove and crimp separately using a Lee Factory Crimp die with carbide profile sizer.

Lee doesn't ordinarily list a .32 ACP factory crimp die, but they will make one on special order for less than $20.  Well worth it.

While not a target gun, from a 2-handed standing position I can hold a magazine load on my business card at 7 yards and hit cans or clay birds for plinking at 50 feet.  At 25 yards from a standing position all hits will stay in the chest of an E silhouette.  

While I prefer a compact .45 or .357 revolver for serious defense carry, the .32s are highly concealable when you want to go low profile, and with the better JHP loads on today's market such as the Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Custom XTP and the Mag-Tech HP, they carry more oomph than hardhall and are much more effective than a .22 LR.

The Winchester Silvertip loads do NOT feed in my guns, but the above mentioned JHPs all do, as do my FN SWC reloads.  Go figure?

Anybody else fool with the .32 ACP, I'd be interested in hearing about what you are using.

[Mikey]

Ed:  I have enjoyed shooting 32s for a number of years.  I have played with the older 1935 Beretta and would love to find a nice one in 380.  I have a 1910 Mauser left to me by my late father in law who complained that he couldn't hit a rabbit with it at 10 paces.  Once I showed him how to use the sights he was amazed as to how much fun it was.

Fortuneately for me, I found myself a case of older 32 fmj in 77 gn weight a buncha years ago and still have lots left.  When I do take that old jewel out, she functions perfectly and skips cans at the 25 yd line.  

If you have read any of my previous posts you may know that I do like 30 caliber semis.  My most favorite is the 30 Mauser/7.62x25 Tokarev.  My next most favorite is the 7.65 Luger, and years ago I began using cut away 30 Luger cases as adapters to fire the 32 acp from my old 30 Luger - they would not cycle the action but it was a lot of fun.  That 30 Luger is another caliber that could shoot those cast bullets of yours, and with notable accuracy I believe.  

Yeah, I like the 32s, they are lots of fun, and they will serve you well if need be.  You just have to know how to use them..  Mikey.

[Dragon31]

Maybe you two fellows or someone else can help me.  I have Beretta which I know little about.  On the left side of the slide it is mark P. BERETTA-cal 7.65 Brevet-Gardona V.T.  I assume this is the model 1935 in cal .32 ACP but I have never fired it.  Is the caliber the only difference in the 1934 and the 1935?

[michbob]

Hi Dragon.

Doesn't a model number appear on the left side of the slide?  I'm looking in RL Wilson's "The World of Beretta", and the '34s and '35s I see have a model number there.  Hmmmm....

Michbob.

[Dragon31]

Looked at the slide.  No model number,  Serial Number is 77XXXX. (all numerals) on the right side of the frame. Left side of the frame above the trigger are three seperate very small marks that are to difficult to read without a more powerful magnify glass than I have.  The grips are some kind of plastic with BERETTA on the very top of both sides.  Disassembly is exactly like the 1934 model.

[michbob]

Oops!  My goof.  Yes, the m1935 have markings as you describe.  The serial number indicates it was produced somewhere between 1935 and 1959!  Beretta made a few smaller runs of this model in 1962-3 and again in 1966-7.  I guess they were popular.

Yes, the m1934 were in .380.  If you can decipher the markings on your piece, see if one of them is an eagle with a swastika.  If I remember correctly, that was the WaffenAMT mark of acceptance that was used when the Nazis adopted the 1934 for their own use.  If it has them, your pistol probably has quite the story behind it.

Apparently. the Italian army used the .380 m1934, while their Navy, Air Force, and the Germans used the .32 m1935.

This has got me thinking.  I'll have to look for one of these as a plinking piece.  They seem to be solid pistols at a good price.

Michbob.

[Colby Bruce]

I have owned a few 70s models in .22 L.R. and one in .380, always regretted parting with them.  Snatched up this one (upper RH corner) and will never let it go.  As for ammo, I like the Dynamit Nobel European stuff.
I would sure like to find a quality leather holster, such as Bianchi used to make, to fit this pistol.

[/i]

[Type99]

Hello...

I bought my first M1935 - this one 4UT marked.  It is a very well made little pistol and accurate too.  Shoots to point of aim.  Don't let people tell you .32 caliber pistols are good for nothing but sparrows.  

I too find the Dynamit Nobel .32 to be tops.   I would like to buy some more.  I got my last lot from AIM Surplus, but they don't seem to have it anymore.  Neither does Sportsmans Guide.  Do you know of a source for this ammo?

I think Fiocchi .32 would be the next best choice in hardball for this pistol.

Gary

[Mikey]

Type99:  Fiocchi will skin ya on the price of ammo but it is good quality manufacture.  However, the best price and best quality ammo I have found for european calibers, including the 32 acp/7.65mm Browing, is Sellier and Bellot.  New brass cases, original factory velocity specs and reloadable.  Their loads are 72 0r 73 grain fmjs and they work my Mauser 1910 32 acp perfectly.  HTH.  Mikey.