.32 Lemon Squeezer Loads

[warren5421]

I have a friend that has a S&W Lemon Squeezer that will only load S&W shorts not .32 S&W long. I thought the .32 Lemon Squeezer was always long. Right now he loads the brass he has with Goex FFFg compressing the powder, card wad, and SPG lubed lead bullets. I told him to look and see if maybe there is a carbon ring keeping the S&W Long from chambering. I can't look at the gun as he is in Florida. Anyone know if I am right on the chambering?

 

[jcj54]

The lemon squeezer was only .32 S&W and .38 S&W.
The S&W Long was never chambered in that revolver.

 

[Leadeye]

Sounds like he is doing a good job making ammo for it.

 

[michaeldexter556]

The S&W Lemon Squeezer typically chambers .32 S&W Long. It's a good idea for your friend to check for any obstructions or carbon buildup preventing proper chambering.

 

[Mgderf]

The lemon squeezer was only .32 S&W and .38 S&W.
The S&W Long was never chambered in that revolver.

The S&W Lemon Squeezer typically chambers .32 S&W Long. It's a good idea for your friend to check for any obstructions or carbon buildup preventing proper chambering.

You can't both be correct.

 

[natdscott]

You can't both be correct.

Well. I mean.

50/50 isn't bad odds...by lottery ticket standards.

 

[Leadeye]

Back in "the day" you had "chambered for" and "what fits" with revolvers. Early guns had bored through cylinders simply because the manufacturing process was simpler. My old Colt 1889, top gun in picture, made in 1892 will easily chamber a 357 magnum loaded with a 125 grain JHP, might even fire it more than once, but it's not something to do. It was made for 38 LC, a similar but much less powerful cartridge.

I don't have a 32 Lemon Squeezer, mine are all 38 S&W, but I'll use the Merwin in the bottom of the picture as a comparison. It easily accepts 32 S&W long cartridges, with careful hand loading I could probably use 32 S&W long brass to shoot in it, much the same as using 357 brass in the old Colt.

So in a certain way you both can be right as with these old guns power level of the cartridge is what actually determines use.

 

[jcj54]

In Jenks book on S & W he states that the new departure revolvers which includes the lemon squeezer were chambered in .32 S&W and .38 S&W. He should know, he worked there....

 

[Mongo59]

Back in "the day" you had "chambered for" and "what fits" with revolvers. Early guns had bored through cylinders simply because the manufacturing process was simpler. My old Colt 1889, top gun in picture, made in 1892 will easily chamber a 357 magnum loaded with a 125 grain JHP, might even fire it more than once, but it's not something to do. It was made for 38 LC, a similar but much less powerful cartridge.

I don't have a 32 Lemon Squeezer, mine are all 38 S&W, but I'll use the Merwin in the bottom of the picture as a comparison. It easily accepts 32 S&W long cartridges, with careful hand loading I could probably use 32 S&W long brass to shoot in it, much the same as using 357 brass in the old Colt.

So in a certain way you both can be right as with these old guns power level of the cartridge is what actually determines use.

View attachment 300846

I knew a guy who would grind off the nose of .38 Specials to get them to fit in the cylinder of a .38 S&W.

You ain't just a woof'n about 'chambered for' and 'fits'...

 

[Mongo59]

In Jenks book on S & W he states that the new departure revolvers which includes the lemon squeezer were chambered in .32 S&W and .38 S&W. He should know, he worked there....

Mr Jenks was a nice guy. I called S&W to date an early pistol (4 digit serial number) in .44 Russian and they put me straight through to him on the phone (this was while he worked there). He had me get out the calipers and measure the cylinder and all, he said it was a nice piece of history I had there. Then I told him I could even read the date printed across the bottom of the grip (they had this from the factory but wore off after very little use). He asked me if I wanted to donate it to the museum for a tax letter, I had to decline...

 

[Mongo59]

Back in "the day" you had "chambered for" and "what fits" with revolvers. Early guns had bored through cylinders simply because the manufacturing process was simpler. My old Colt 1889, top gun in picture, made in 1892 will easily chamber a 357 magnum loaded with a 125 grain JHP, might even fire it more than once, but it's not something to do. It was made for 38 LC, a similar but much less powerful cartridge.

I don't have a 32 Lemon Squeezer, mine are all 38 S&W, but I'll use the Merwin in the bottom of the picture as a comparison. It easily accepts 32 S&W long cartridges, with careful hand loading I could probably use 32 S&W long brass to shoot in it, much the same as using 357 brass in the old Colt.

So in a certain way you both can be right as with these old guns power level of the cartridge is what actually determines use.

View attachment 300846

A quick question, I don't own a .38 S&W at this time, but would a factory .38 wad cutter chamber?

 

[Leadeye]

A quick question, I don't own a .38 S&W at this time, but would a factory .38 wad cutter chamber?

Lets find out.

Pulled 6 S&W top breaks in 38 S&W, and 3 Merwins in 38 S&W. None will accept 38 special wad cutters or empty cases. The 32 Merwin accepts 32 S&W long, as does the Forehand and Wadsworth Bulldog. I don't have any top breaks in 32 S&W.

 

[Mongo59]

Lets find out.

Pulled 6 S&W top breaks in 38 S&W, and 3 Merwins in 38 S&W. None will accept 38 special wad cutters or empty cases. The 32 Merwin accepts 32 S&W long, as does the Forehand and Wadsworth Bulldog. I don't have any top breaks in 32 S&W.

View attachment 301539 View attachment 301540 View attachment 301541

Thank you for answering that question for me. Saves me having to buy another gun in an archaic round, as if I don't already have several...

 

[Mongo59]

The bottom pistol in the top pic looks like a bulldog, I had an English version in .320

 

[Leadeye]

Forehand and Wadsworth copied the British and Belgian Bulldog style revolvers, which were quite popular in the US.

 

[Mongo59]

Forehand and Wadsworth copied the British and Belgian Bulldog style revolvers, which were quite popular in the US.

I picked one up at my LGS a few years back for $100 in good working order. It had minor cosmetic issues but cleaned up nicely. It found a new home or I would show you a pic...

 

[Mongo59]

Mr Jenks was a nice guy. I called S&W to date an early pistol (4 digit serial number) in .44 Russian and they put me straight through to him on the phone (this was while he worked there). He had me get out the calipers and measure the cylinder and all, he said it was a nice piece of history I had there. Then I told him I could even read the date printed across the bottom of the grip (they had this from the factory but wore off after very little use). He asked me if I wanted to donate it to the museum for a tax letter, I had to decline...

I got this one from a widow who's husband had in his possession since 1968. It had a 2000's serial number, was made in .44 Russian and is the same as John Wesley Hardin carried in his later "lawyer" years. It was shipped from the factory in 1881 which was a full year before the next less serial number shipped. Mr Jenks is the one who helped me find all this out, all over the telephone. Nice guy.

 

[Leadeye]

View attachment 301606
I got this one from a widow who's husband had in his possession since 1968. It had a 2000's serial number, was made in .44 Russian and is the same as John Wesley Hardin carried in his later "lawyer" years. It was shipped from the factory in 1881 which was a full year before the next less serial number shipped. Mr Jenks is the one who helped me find all this out, all over the telephone. Nice guy.

I have one of those that I make 44 Russian BP cartridges for. Short ones like yours are hard to find.