My near disaster loading for Keltec P-32

Master Blaster · September 25, 2002, 08:45 AM

I recently acquired a keltec p-32 and bought 4 boxes of factory ammo for practice. After shooting all the factory ammo, and saving the brass I ordered 1000 lasercast bullets, and a set of Lee carbide dies in .32 acp. I started out on a dillon 550B. I load 4 calibers on it . Since I dont have one I decided to get a single stage to reload the .32 ACP, since I dont need high volume like .45, 9mm, or .357.

I loaded my first 200 rounds on a single stage, it was slower than the progressive but lots of fun.

yesterday while I was shooting the last box of reloads, practicing my draw and double tap, I pulled the trigger and PFFT no report (no brass ejection either). I hand cycled the slide and the empty case popped out.
I had a squib load. fortunately I stopped shooting and sure enough there was a bullet stuck in the lead in to the rifling. The next round would not have chambered.

I then vaguely recalled that the phone had rung and I had two piles on the bench, primed brass and primed charged brass, I think I mistakenly took one from the primed pile, so there was no powder in the case.

I learned that you can screw up with a single stage, and to never leave primed brass on the table with no powder when you are seating bullets in cases with powder.

Be careful.

By the way my load was 2.1 grains titegroup with a 78grain LRN lasercast bullet, this round is very clean and accurate in my p-32.

Just dont load any without powder.

Sport45 · September 25, 2002, 10:08 AM

Good catch on the squib. When I am using my single stage press I have made it a habit to keep all uncharged brass upside down in the loading block. It is easier to prevent the uncharged or double charged loads that way. I use the Lee expander and dump the powder in with the case in the die.

C.R.Sam · September 25, 2002, 12:12 PM

Good catch.

Whether loading with automatic, progressive or single stage...
Division of attention can get one into trouble.

No kids, phone, telly pets etc.

Sam

hitnthexring · September 25, 2002, 12:27 PM

I load on a single-stage because I'm not comfortable with progressive loading. I keep batches of cases primed & belled. From that point, I can load 150 per hour. I always:
1. Tap the mouth of the case on the table. (ensures there is
nothing in the case)
2. Charge each case, glance at the powder level, then IMMEDIATELY seat the bullet. That way, if I'm distracted, it's unlikely that I will double charge or not charge a case. It's never happened in 28 yrs of loading. It would be impossible to follow this procedure on a progessive press.

stevesmith7 · September 25, 2002, 04:10 PM

Master B
I was just about to start reloading for my P32 as well. Got a pound
of Tightgroup to start. What OAL were you loading to?

Thanks,
Steve

Master Blaster · September 26, 2002, 08:05 AM

Steve, .980 OAL , seems to work fine in the magazine and give good accuracy.

September 25, 2002, 08:45 AM	#1
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	My near disaster loading for Keltec P-32 I recently acquired a keltec p-32 and bought 4 boxes of factory ammo for practice. After shooting all the factory ammo, and saving the brass I ordered 1000 lasercast bullets, and a set of Lee carbide dies in .32 acp. I started out on a dillon 550B. I load 4 calibers on it . Since I dont have one I decided to get a single stage to reload the .32 ACP, since I dont need high volume like .45, 9mm, or .357. I loaded my first 200 rounds on a single stage, it was slower than the progressive but lots of fun. yesterday while I was shooting the last box of reloads, practicing my draw and double tap, I pulled the trigger and PFFT no report (no brass ejection either). I hand cycled the slide and the empty case popped out. I had a squib load. fortunately I stopped shooting and sure enough there was a bullet stuck in the lead in to the rifling. The next round would not have chambered. I then vaguely recalled that the phone had rung and I had two piles on the bench, primed brass and primed charged brass, I think I mistakenly took one from the primed pile, so there was no powder in the case. I learned that you can screw up with a single stage, and to never leave primed brass on the table with no powder when you are seating bullets in cases with powder. Be careful. By the way my load was 2.1 grains titegroup with a 78grain LRN lasercast bullet, this round is very clean and accurate in my p-32. Just dont load any without powder.

September 25, 2002, 10:08 AM	#2
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Good catch on the squib. When I am using my single stage press I have made it a habit to keep all uncharged brass upside down in the loading block. It is easier to prevent the uncharged or double charged loads that way. I use the Lee expander and dump the powder in with the case in the die. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

September 25, 2002, 12:12 PM	#3
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Good catch. Whether loading with automatic, progressive or single stage... Division of attention can get one into trouble. No kids, phone, telly pets etc. Sam

September 25, 2002, 12:27 PM	#4
hitnthexring Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2002 Posts: 223	I load on a single-stage because I'm not comfortable with progressive loading. I keep batches of cases primed & belled. From that point, I can load 150 per hour. I always: 1. Tap the mouth of the case on the table. (ensures there is nothing in the case) 2. Charge each case, glance at the powder level, then IMMEDIATELY seat the bullet. That way, if I'm distracted, it's unlikely that I will double charge or not charge a case. It's never happened in 28 yrs of loading. It would be impossible to follow this procedure on a progessive press.

September 25, 2002, 04:10 PM	#5
stevesmith7 Member Join Date: April 20, 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 69	Master B I was just about to start reloading for my P32 as well. Got a pound of Tightgroup to start. What OAL were you loading to? Thanks, Steve

September 26, 2002, 08:05 AM	#6
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	Steve, .980 OAL , seems to work fine in the magazine and give good accuracy.