.32 report (pics)

[Berto]

I shot a couple .32s today;
my $40 Iver Johnson Safety Hammer in .32 Smith and Wesson and a Belgian made Melior pistol in .32acp.
Both guns date approx 1920.

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/8698/32sreport001.jpg

Ammo was Remington .32 SW 88gr RNL in the Iver. Typically good for about 600fps in a 3" revolver like this.
The Winchester 60gr Silvertip fed the Melior, these run about 900fps in 3.5" barrels like the Melior's.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2677/32sreport002.jpg


I shot the old top-break in both DA and SA modes; it worked fine.
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2564/32sreport004.jpg
A few times I had brass under the automatic extractor, had to dig them out until I learned to open the gun upside down.

It shoots to its sights, I was happy to see, and the boolits successfully penetrated the paper target nose-first.

Not much in the way of power here, but a gun almost exactly like this managed to scramble President McKinley's giblets enough to kill him, so it gets due respect.

It handled the Alien pretty well with nice centered head shots and COM out to 45ft. Recoil was soft, even in this tiny revolver, but plenty dirty with lead dust all over both my hands after 25rnds. No signs of shaving boolits either.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/6582/32sreport006.jpg

[Rick C]

Thanks for the report. Co-worker has a .32 S&W Long revolver, not sure of the mfgr and is looking for ammo.
Excellent report as always.

[Berto]

I think the Melior has finally found an ammo it really likes in the Silvertips....this gun was also a pawn shop score, $165 IIRC.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1473/32sreport003.jpg

I've run Fiocchi, Fed AE and S&B FMJ through this gun with good accuracy, but mediocre reliability. I figured maybe it's just the nature of older guns like this, but I thought maybe I'd try the shorter OAL 60gr Silvertips and see what happened.
Turns out, they ran much better.....I had one nose-up feed ramp jam on the third round, then smooth sailing for the remainder of the 50rnds. Not bad.
Accuracy was good too, this old striker fired gun actually has a very nice trigger.

I shot from 21ft to 25yrds, it grouped tight on Alien guy.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6751/32sreport007.jpg

Considering both guns are pushing a century, I was pretty happy happy with the performances. The Iver has a stiff trigger in both modes, but shoots where you aim it and works well for a low priced pocket revolver of the era.

The Melior was a little low and left, but nice trigger, very accurate and ran on jhps not even heard of until about 60+ years after it was made.

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/5576/32sreport005.jpg

[Berto]

Thanks for the report. Co-worker has a .32 S&W Long revolver, not sure of the mfgr and is looking for ammo.
Excellent report as always.

Thanks.:wavey:

I see .32 SW Long frequently, but almost never see the "Shorts" this gun takes.

[fnfalman]

What do you feed your dogs? I heard that Nutro is a pretty good brand.

[NeverMore1701]

The can is Pedigree.

[Berto]

The dry stuff is Origen (red) and the can stuff is Pedigree.
Little changes in their diets can be trouble (soft serve), so I don't eff with the formula.

[pennlineman]

It's always nice to see the old guns put back into action. Very cool range report.

[Wyoming]

Good job Berto.:cool:

I can't wait for Breto Report on you "new" S&W 1 1/2.

[bac1023]

Very cool, Berto :cool:

[cowboywannabe]

have you tried the acp rounds in your revolver? you can ya know. might be cheaper too.

[NeverMore1701]

Guns like that are so cool, but I can't shoot much besides 9mm and .22 right now.

[countrygun]

Cool report. I love the oldies but goodies.

[Glock40man]

Nice work Berto!

[SigFTW]

Great report! Glad all preformed well and to your liking!!

Using a dog bowl prop the gun, classic!! :thumbsup:

[1gewehr]

My experience has been that older .32 autos like hotter ammo. Much of the current factory .32acp ammo is pretty wimpy. Remington target ammo won't reliably cycle my Savage 1907, Colt 1903, or FN 1922. Years ago I bought a bunch of surplus FN .32acp that seems to run well in every .32 auto I've tried it in.

[Bill Keith]

Berto, is that Melior a copy of the 1903 Browning 32 ACP? It looks familiar...:wavey:

[Berto]

have you tried the acp rounds in your revolver? you can ya know. might be cheaper too.

I know it can be done, but .32acp makes more than 5000psi over the .32SW these guns are made for.....and it's an old top-break. Not a smart move.

[Berto]

Berto, is that Melior a copy of the 1903 Browning 32 ACP? It looks familiar...:wavey:

Looks wise, it would be more like the model 1910 Browning, though design-wise more like the 1900 and Jieffco pistols.
The 1903 was the Colt pocket pistol (by Browning) which used a hammer. The Melior is a striker fired gun.