[Shotar]

So, I got one for my birthday. I am truly enthralled with this late 19th century design. The one I got was a 1927 Tula, clearly refurbished as it looked nearly new. Nice clean bore, strong rifling. It also came with a .32acp spare cylinder, but that will need some fitting. One chamber does not index correctly and has to be nudged into place, the rest are fine. The orginal cylinder fits fine.

What I've discovered is this. This pistol has a horrendous double action pull but it is consistent and can be learned. It is accurate and can keep shots inside of 4" off hand at 50'. I don't have a pistol rest to test it, but I'm sure it would group well.

I am going to use Hotshot ammo which rates right about at 1000 fps. I think this can be pushed a bit with reloading as the original military load was around 1100 fps putting it right around the power of standard .38spl. For some reason the commercial ammo loaders think we only want target ammo.

I think this is going to be my new going camping gun. It is light enough to carry, has virtually no recoil, and I'm not going to shoot a bear or mountain lion with a pistol anyway. I may also have the .32acp cylinder bored out to .32 HR magnum. I know they will work in the standard cylinder with no modifications, but having the straight walled cylinder would save on brass for reloading.

I figure for a gun that costs about $100 delivered, it beats a .22 and is a gun I don't mind going into the woods with. That and the full flap military holster and lanyard just screams adventure. :grin:

 

[brian45automatic]

i've heard you can use .32S&Wlong in teh russian cylinder. but it's not much less coin than the 7.62nagant.
i picked a 1917 version up some time ago, but have yet to get it out.
i like these cheap russian guns, you almost stupid for not picking one or more up.

 

[Shotar]

I have not yet tried the S&W longs or H&R magnums but probably will just to test. I am going to get into reloading and the recipes are out there for reforming 32-20 cases. I figure reloads for fun and perhaps a higher performance field load and use factory ammo to leave for the wife's nightstand gun. Again, there seems to be much misinformation about the loading for this pistol that was based in part on russian downloaded match ammo and fiochi target ammo.

The original russian military loading seems to match the .32hr magnum in power and pressure.

 

[Hootbro]

i've heard you can use .32S&Wlong in teh russian cylinder. ..........

You can get away with using .32 Longs in a Nagant but I would not make it a habit. The .32 Longs when chamber have a bit on a long "jump" to make it into the barrel and exit. This cause bullet jacket material to build up on the breach face and cause fragments to pepper the shooter face.

Been there, done that and will not do again.

Hootbro

 

[brian45automatic]

i've heard you can use .32S&Wlong in teh russian cylinder. ..........

You can get away with using .32 Longs in a Nagant but I would not make it a habit. The .32 Longs when chamber have a bit on a long "jump" to make it into the barrel and exit. This cause bullet jacket material to build up on the breach face and cause fragments to pepper the shooter face.

Been their, done that and will not do again.

Hootbro

that's why i picked up lead rn's.

 

[k98k792]

I have had one for several years. I have become very fond of. I shoot .32 S&W Longs and H&R.32 mags out of it. The Federal .32 magnum hollow points bring it into the realm of possibly being useful for defending ones self. It would do in a pinch.

 

[MachineGunEddie]

this is the first gun I ordered with my C&R

 

[k98k792]

Good article on these here.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/m1 ... /index.asp

 

[Hootbro]

that's why i picked up lead rn's.

They will fragment and blow back on your face also.

 

[k98k792]

In hundreds of rounds I nor any of my friends that have one, have ever experienced that.
One thing about these pistols however, is there is great variances in chamber dimensions among different years and different factories. So it's best to see what works in YOUR pistol.

Here is the best forum dedicated to these pistols I have found.
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdispla ... f8f1d&f=18

 

[dale914]

Sirs, you have talked me into asking for one (ordering one) for my birthday, BLAST!!! but I shall love it or sell it... I hope love.

 

[Q-gunner2]

In hundreds of rounds I nor any of my friends that have one, have ever experienced that.
One thing about these pistols however, is there is great variances in chamber dimensions among different years and different factories. So it's best to see what works in YOUR pistol.

Here is the best forum dedicated to these pistols I have found.
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdispla ... f8f1d&f=18

Hootbro is correct... not about them blowing up, but about the lead fragments and buildup yes.


Look in front of the cylinder around the bottom "mouth" of the barrel. See the gray buildup? Well, I see it on mine... its lead. I had to scrape it off after shooting and because of that I no longer run the longs through it, only real Nagant ammo. I used Aguila RNL ammo and while it grouped decently it wasn't worth the cleaning trouble.

 

[k98k792]

Yes,I am sure it could if you don't you clean that area after every use. No build up on mine. Much easier then cleaning a .44 magnum.
I only use Winchester .32 Longs or Federal .32 Magnums. By the way the Federals are semi-jacketed hollowpoints.

 

[Q-gunner2]

Yes,I am sure it could if you don't you clean that area after every use. No build up on mine. Much easier then cleaning a .44 magnum.
I only use Winchester .32 Longs or Federal .32 Magnums. By the way the Federals are semi-jacketed hollowpoints.

I only bought one box of Aguila, and I had it happen. I shot 50 rounds in one day and the buildup was VERY noticeable. I cleaned it before I shot, and cleaned the hell out of it after I shot due to the buildup. Do you clean after each cylender? What type of LRN did you use, if you didn't have a lot of buildup?


Call me crazy, but I don't like breathing lead chunks and dust in...

 

[Sidecarnutz]

I tried one of these that my buddy owns at a range. Mechanically interesting and solidly made. We used 32 longs in it. It did pepper us with debris. One hot ember burned the crap out of my ear. My buddy and my son got a good laugh on me when that happened.
DA was horrible for me. SA was so-so. Accuracy was poor with the 32 longs.

Makes me appreciate my S&W and my DW 357's!

 

[k98k792]

As I said there is a lot of variance in these pistols.

As it says in my quote there, I use Winchester in the .32 longs. I don't like Aquila ammo so I never use it in anything.

No, I clean after the range session was over,often more then one box. One of my friends has 12 of these pistols,another 4, so I have shot more then just one example.

Basing an opinion on one example of a weapon or using one type of ammo in it may not give you a good overview .

So as I said,in my previous post, you need to find out what works in YOUR pistol.

If you are breathing in lead chunks or dust,you should stop.
That, doesn't make you crazy...

 

[Q-gunner2]

If you've ever pushed a patch through a barrel which was recently shot with solid lead bullets and seen a puff of solvent or something... you've likely breathed it in. But oh well, a little won't kill you... its just that after that I stopped with .32 S&W entirely. Though I am tempted to try the H&H (or H&R) magnums.

I agree, many variances. I think everyone is right in this situation... my experience made me stick to the ammo intended to be used in the gun. Shoots a lot better.


Sidecar, the guns shoot better with the right ammo. Mine has a horrible DA pull, but, the SA trigger pull is light and crisp.

 

[k98k792]

Here is a little trick to help out that trigger pull.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewto ... 71&t=56731