I shot an 1800 match on Saturday, scored a guy shooting Pardin's in both 22 and center fire. His score only dropped 3 points between 22 and CF. He finished 3rd on 22, but is CF the top 2 guys dropped 17 and 18 points with there 45acp guns. So he want from 3rd to 1st. If you have greater aspirations then I can see learning to shoot a 45 very well, but at a local level you will be more successful with a 32ACP.
Graham
32 ACP - "Flash in the Pan"?
Moderators: pilkguns, m1963, Isabel1130
Re: 32 ACP - "Flash in the Pan"?
Probably the primary reason for the current popularity of the 32 ACP. It will be interesting to see the future impact on the 45 aggregate, it any.fastg wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:39 pm I shot an 1800 match on Saturday, scored a guy shooting Pardin's in both 22 and center fire. His score only dropped 3 points between 22 and CF. He finished 3rd on 22, but is CF the top 2 guys dropped 17 and 18 points with there 45acp guns. So he want from 3rd to 1st. If you have greater aspirations then I can see learning to shoot a 45 very well, but at a local level you will be more successful with a 32ACP.
Graham
Re: 32 ACP - "Flash in the Pan"?
Below are the results of 32 ACP load tests on Monday, April 7th.
Caveats/issues:
• Gun is a MatchGuns MG4 32 S&WL modified with a Shilen .311 barrel and different extractor to grasp the smaller 32 ACP rim. Modifications built by Eulette Precision.
• An old Hoppe’s Pistol Rest was used as a rest. Not ideal but probably good enough to indicate potential. I have a Ransom Rest insert built by Precision Target Pistol Grips but haven’t finished working out a few issues with the fit.
• Loading press is a Dillon 550B.
• Starline brass.
• Hornady dies except taper crimp (Redding).
• Weather: 65 & sunny. Slight breeze from behind the firing line.
• NRA B-8 repair center (25-yd target) @ 50 yards
• Chronograph - Garmin
• Accuracy was very promising for all listed below as tested.
1. T&B 64SWC .314. OAL .888. 1.9 BE. Feed problems (OAL?). Once sighted, all shots were in the black with only a couple wandering out. The rest used probably had something to do with that. Vel (FPS): 843Lo/894Hi/860Avg. SD 16.
2. T&B 64SWC .314. OAL .888. 1.6 Clays. Feed problems (OAL?). Same accuracy as above. Vel: 843Lo/860Hi/773Avg. SD 60.
3. 85 XTP .312 OAL .915. 1.6N310. A few feed problems. Vel: 755Lo/802Hi/773Avg.
4. Brazos 78RN. .312. OAL .933. TiteGroup 1.8. All good, no probs/issues. Vel: 739Lo/870Hi/805Avg. SD 40
5. Brazos 78 RN. .312. OAL .978. 1.9 231 (noticeable recoil). All good. Vel: 736Lo/852Hi/802Avg. SD 33
6. Brazos 78 RN. .312. Oal .978. 1.6 N310. All good. Vel: 825Lo/880Hi/825Avg. SD 29.
Also have T&B 78 RN (.314) that I plan to test. Should have Ransom Rest set up and ready to go by week’s end. Will then be able to work on the above stats and provide more detailed and more accurate results of the above. Still need to fiddle with powder amounts.
At the moment, Clays remains a favorite. As written earlier, Clays in the 32 S&WL with the T&B 64 SWC has provided great results. Looks really weird but works. Concern with Clays in anything is the very, very narrow safe powder amount range.
Caveats/issues:
• Gun is a MatchGuns MG4 32 S&WL modified with a Shilen .311 barrel and different extractor to grasp the smaller 32 ACP rim. Modifications built by Eulette Precision.
• An old Hoppe’s Pistol Rest was used as a rest. Not ideal but probably good enough to indicate potential. I have a Ransom Rest insert built by Precision Target Pistol Grips but haven’t finished working out a few issues with the fit.
• Loading press is a Dillon 550B.
• Starline brass.
• Hornady dies except taper crimp (Redding).
• Weather: 65 & sunny. Slight breeze from behind the firing line.
• NRA B-8 repair center (25-yd target) @ 50 yards
• Chronograph - Garmin
• Accuracy was very promising for all listed below as tested.
1. T&B 64SWC .314. OAL .888. 1.9 BE. Feed problems (OAL?). Once sighted, all shots were in the black with only a couple wandering out. The rest used probably had something to do with that. Vel (FPS): 843Lo/894Hi/860Avg. SD 16.
2. T&B 64SWC .314. OAL .888. 1.6 Clays. Feed problems (OAL?). Same accuracy as above. Vel: 843Lo/860Hi/773Avg. SD 60.
3. 85 XTP .312 OAL .915. 1.6N310. A few feed problems. Vel: 755Lo/802Hi/773Avg.
4. Brazos 78RN. .312. OAL .933. TiteGroup 1.8. All good, no probs/issues. Vel: 739Lo/870Hi/805Avg. SD 40
5. Brazos 78 RN. .312. OAL .978. 1.9 231 (noticeable recoil). All good. Vel: 736Lo/852Hi/802Avg. SD 33
6. Brazos 78 RN. .312. Oal .978. 1.6 N310. All good. Vel: 825Lo/880Hi/825Avg. SD 29.
Also have T&B 78 RN (.314) that I plan to test. Should have Ransom Rest set up and ready to go by week’s end. Will then be able to work on the above stats and provide more detailed and more accurate results of the above. Still need to fiddle with powder amounts.
At the moment, Clays remains a favorite. As written earlier, Clays in the 32 S&WL with the T&B 64 SWC has provided great results. Looks really weird but works. Concern with Clays in anything is the very, very narrow safe powder amount range.
Re: 32 ACP - "Flash in the Pan"?
Conducted another testing session today.
Same equipment as previously listed. Ransom Rest insert modified slightly to provide more room for the slide. All shots were loaded and fired one at a time rather than inserting a magazine of 5 rounds.
Loads tested today were Brazos 78RN .312, TB 78RN .312, and TB 64SWC .314 in that order. Powder for all 3 was 1.6 of N310. OAL for all was .933. Taper crimp. 10 shots of each fired.
Temp was 78, sunny, with no wind.
No issues or problems encountered with equipment or components.
Each of the above 3 grouped tight enough to fit in the 10-ring or better if zeroed for a target. How each would appear if fired in a gun hanging off my arm instead of in a Ransom Rest is an entirely different matter.
Happy with the progress so far. Will continue the effort as above and with trying different powders and powder amounts.
Same equipment as previously listed. Ransom Rest insert modified slightly to provide more room for the slide. All shots were loaded and fired one at a time rather than inserting a magazine of 5 rounds.
Loads tested today were Brazos 78RN .312, TB 78RN .312, and TB 64SWC .314 in that order. Powder for all 3 was 1.6 of N310. OAL for all was .933. Taper crimp. 10 shots of each fired.
Temp was 78, sunny, with no wind.
No issues or problems encountered with equipment or components.
Each of the above 3 grouped tight enough to fit in the 10-ring or better if zeroed for a target. How each would appear if fired in a gun hanging off my arm instead of in a Ransom Rest is an entirely different matter.
Happy with the progress so far. Will continue the effort as above and with trying different powders and powder amounts.