Why would one choose 32 acp rather than 32 smith and wesson long?

First topic message reminder :

Hi, 
Newby with amateur question. 

Pardini offers both above calibers as a conversion unit so that your .22 pistol can be used for center fire. 
What is the logic in choosing one over the other? 

Thanks

DocDerm

The 22/32 pardini (or eurogun) argument can also be countered by you can also shoot a 38/9mm 1911 for centerfire. You can shoot a 22, 38/9mm, and 45 1911 for a 3 gun match. Again end of the day shoot what speaks to YOU.

You are correct….I like the same platform for centerfire and 45 and I only shoot two guns instead of three.
Having said that, if Nelson ever brings the 32ACP conversion for a 1911 to production, I’ll buy one for sure to play with.

James Hensler wrote:

Wobbley wrote:Economics of shooting 32 vs 45

Primers—costs are identical
powder—32 uses 1/2 to 1/3 of the powder. 45 (~$.03 per for 45)
Bullets — 32 has issues with supply, both quality and availability.  However, the comparable costs appear to be 32 are 2/3 the cost of 45 bullets.

So 32 is marginally cheaper, but 45 is far easier to load and requires about the same skill… 

Opinion follows….Bottom line, the 32 is a High Masters gun.  But you’ll likely find it to be fussy to load for.  Bullets are the hang up.

You made me do it! Lmao I hate being an engineer! 

Assume you have the cases for both calibers
 
This is what it cost me 
32 ACP 14.5 cents a piece 
45 ACP 20.6 cents a piece

I was an Enginerror for over 30 years….

Unless you're shooting only 1800's, every time you choose anything other than a .45 for the CF match, you're probably going to wind up losing points to the guy that shoots a .45 for both when it gets to the .45 Aggregate.   I've seen lots of shooters gain points in the CF with .32s or 9s and then start losing more points in the .45 match overall.  And for a 2700, you gotta shoot a .45 eventually.

Yea, there are a few shooters that can really get the benefit of a .32 or 9 and then keep the 45 scores up, but I can only think of a couple.   (And they would have probably won the match anyway.)  

Just my 2 cents.  And getting points in .45 is worth way more than the cost to reload.

CR

CR10X wrote:Unless you're shooting only 1800's, every time you choose anything other than a .45 for the CF match, you're probably going to wind up losing points to the guy that shoots a .45 for both when it gets to the .45 Aggregate.   I've seen lots of shooters gain points in the CF with .32s or 9s and then start losing more points in the .45 match overall.  And for a 2700, you gotta shoot a .45 eventually.

Just my 2 cents.  And getting points in .45 is worth way more than the cost to reload.

CR

I agree with Cecil's point above, it's proven true in my 30+ years of BE (excluding Doc).
Hopefully the OP will mention the type of match or distances, so we can provide more focused help. 
Everyone is forgetting to add in the additional cost of an accurate reloader like a Star.

I just loaded some of the 85 gr Hornady JHP and will be testing them soon at 50 yards. I love the way it shoots at 25 yards. But getting the dot to stay where it’s mounted….. frustrating. I’m also testing a potential solution to the creeping dot mount phenomena very soon.

I must have gotten lucky! I too have Pardini Rings and they have never ever slipped!

Wes Lorenz wrote:

I agree with Cecil's point above, it's proven true in my 30+ years of BE (excluding Doc).
Hopefully the OP will mention the type of match or distances, so we can provide more focused help. 
Everyone is forgetting to add in the additional cost of an accurate reloader like a Star.

Doc was a force to be reckoned with with his 32 long. I remember him shooting 2677 and he used his 32 for the CF aggregate. He's the only shooter I ever worried about getting beaten by with a 32 back in the day.
I think Wes is spot on regarding reloader quality. I've seen too many shooters load 32 ammo that wouldn't hold on a repair center at 50 yds. 
I'm a newbie 32 shooter (shot tons for military rapid fire a lifetime ago) and reloader. I have a Star setup for ACP and am working on another Star in Long. My initial feelings are I like ACP better because its not as snappy as the S&W long. Both my ACP and Long have custom barrels and shoot tiny little groups from a machine rest. At the moment I still prefer my 1911 38 specials.
Jon

As an outsider looking in, and I did think about a 32 a couple years back, it seems to me the difference between the SW Long and ACP is the choice of making your own bullets by casting AND/OR swaging, or pouring JHP's out of a red box.

I know which way I would have gone.

If I were to add a 3rd gun at this point, it'd be a 38 cal of some sort. Probably a 38 Super vs 9mm. It'd be a better transition to the 45 in terms of recoil, and wouldn't sound like a cap gun ;-)

Due to my past experience, I would  prefer 32acp .