New NOE/RCBS .32-103 SWC at the range

Dale53

Active Member
The weather, after an unseasonably warm spell while I was out of the state, has turned rainy, wet, and cool.
The bottom is supposed to drop out of the thermometer tonight and tomorrow with worse to come on Monday.

The day started with rain. Then it eased up but was quite dreary (almost ideal for shooting, however). The temps were a mild 53 degrees (not bad for January 9th, huh?) after lows of 20 or so. I decided to grab my gear and head for the range as this opportunity may not return for a couple of months.

I took my TC Contender with custom JD Jones barrel (a .312" barrel) along with my S&W 16-4 with 6" barrel. I had loaded up fifty test loads with the new NOE/RCBS 103 Gr. SWC using new Starline .32 H&R Magnum cases, Wolf small pistol primers, and 3.5 grs. of HP-38 (courtesy of a powder swap with my very good friend, the Green Frog). These were sized to .314". I have not chronographed this load but the loading manuals suggest it should be somewhere around 900 fps. This should be a good "middle of the road" loading for both the range and edible small game.

I was not having a particularly good "seeing day". At my age, with implants in both eyes, I have good days and "not so good" days with my vision. The two power Leupold scope on the Contender was working well for me but the only targets I had were pistol targets with black bullseye. When shooting groups, I have had better luck with benchrest targets with the black square. I can target the intersection of the corner and get precision aiming. At any rate, I worked with what I had and shot several targets (five shots at 25 yards off a rest) with 3/4" groups. I'll try to better that with a better target the next time. At any rate, my new NOE bullet mold is working and working well.

My 16-4 S&W has a Red Dot sight. I could not focus properly on the dot (it was oblong). It was a vision problem, not a Red Dot fault. My groups were not to my liking. Then, I had an idea. I pulled out my adjustable aperture from my shooting kit, and put it on my glasses. Voila! The dot was now in focus and I could properly center the dot on the black bullseye. I shot several targets of five shots at 25 yards (off the rest) that measured an inch. Again, the NOE bullet has proven itself.

I had a few Hornady hollow base wadcutters loaded and shot them with a singular lack of success. The groups were twice the size of my cast SWC groups. I had to smile a bit, knowing that my home cast bullets "won the day":).

My Mihec 100 gr. full wadcutter mold has shipped and I should have it within a week or so. I have no doubt that it'll shoot as well as the SWC.
Pictures to follow.

Here's the pictures (the top two are with the T/C, the bottom two with the 16-4);








Stay tuned.

Dale53
 
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Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I'd brag on any of those targets if they were mine.
GREAT shooting Dale !

Ben
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Those are "bad eyesight" targets?

Must be rough!

I would take those about anytime. Nice shooting Dale.
 

Dale53

Active Member
Thanks for the kind words, folks! A kind of "nasty" day turned out to be a DANDY! Just goes to show...:confused:

Shoot center!

Dale53
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Dale,

I've already shot the NOE bullet enough that I also have zero doubts about what it can do.
It is a fine bullet, I'm just thankful that you got me in on the group buy.

Ben

 
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Dale53

Active Member
Ben;
As I have said before, that is GREAT shooting!

That is the kind of target that really helps when you are using a scope. I'm going to have to run some of those down.

Dale
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Dale,

Of course , with a 6X scope at 25 yards, it almost gets into the zone of a Ransom Rest.
If your hold, squeeze, and follow through are good, it is real test of what the ammo is capable of.

Ben
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Not certain just how common a 32 H&R Mag barrel is for an Encore, but the one for my old model Contender was like looking for a 4 leaf clover.
 
9

9.3X62AL

Guest
Some fine targets on display, gentlemen!

My 32 Mag revolver (S&W Model 16-4 x 6") is without doubt the most accurate handgun I own. My longtime online companions here and elsewhere know that I'm something of a crank for mid-caliber handguns, and a few have asked why I haven't fallen all over myself for a 327 Federal. I don't really have an answer, other than to say that another caliber to ride herd upon would be a PITA. I never would have thought such ideas would come to me, but there it is there. The combined effects of hoplophobic California politicians and intransigent, unmotivated suppliers really throws the shade on enthusiasm.
 

Dale53

Active Member
Some fine targets on display, gentlemen!

Thanks for the kind words. Regarding the Fed .327: Frankly, i am not interested. My tastes are similar to yours. I really only need two loads from my .32's? One is a cast SWC (my recent acquisition of the NOE 103 gr. Is an excellent example) at 900-1000 fps as a general field load and a more specialized 100 gr. W/C at 800-850 fps. For indoor and outdoor target use as well as squirrel hunting. I am happy with my SWC load and am just starting to load the W/C. The bullet is my new Mihec 100 gr. W/C.

Both of those loads can be handled by any strong platform for either the .32 S&W Long or (my choice) the .32 H&R. I insist on good target sights and my platforms give me that even with my "less than stellar" vision. I have absolutely no need (or desire) for the .327.

That's just me, of course...

Dale53
 
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Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
Great shooting guys. Pretty targets anywhere.
I tend to share your opinions of the .32 cals. I really don't need a .327 because I have a .32-20, and don't need another to gear up for. Dale has my 631(LOL), but I have a Ruger 4 5/8" single six in .32 mag and had a SP101 for awhile. I prefer J and K frame S&W's with 4" bbl's so am seeking a 631. I just didn't like the SP101 at all and am really not crazy about the single six. I feel it is just too big to be in a holster all day on my trapline. Makes a good elbow rest and shoots the RCBS bullet well, but I'd still rather carry a J frame, and already have the holster that fits my 63 and 60-4 on my belt rig. I recently got the NOE 314-115 in a RG4 so I can make HP or Dimple point bullets for a special beaver dispatch load, I hope to develop. I also want this bullet to feed better than the RCBS did in my Marlin at an overal longer length and still feed, which it is. My Marlin wouldn't feed well unless I seat the bullet above the leading band and then it is has to make quite a jump to the lands. Then had to add a little metal to the shell stop to get good feeding.
My feelings are that the .32 mag really didn't get a fair shake when it first was introduce. I was working a gun counter at that time and the .32 mag was really being advertised to women, in small frame RB versions. Most revolvers were in .357 and the 10 mm was hot at the time and the .38 Super also was making some inroads to certain markets. The small frame revolvers with +p ammo were considered rude to most women when they shot them and small autos cut the hands of many using a two hand hold. We had a 21 lane inside pistol range and several women (and a few guys) came out bleeding. The women could use LC ammo for practice and a light HP loading in the bedstand of their .32 mag. We sold a bunch of them and I'm betting there are still alot of them in nightstands to this day. At one time the sales of .32 mag ammo, by Federal, was one of their best sellers. Not sure where it ranks now. Seems like when the "black " market started, the offerings of fine revolvers just went down hill. Maybe I'm just getting old too. Remember when you could buy a Colt Python or Diamondback over the counter?
 
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Dale53

Active Member
I have two SSK barrels for my Contendors and if I were buying another, SSK would be my first choice.

FWIW
Dale