Naghant loads

[EDELWEISS]

Ok, I gave in to the cheap prices and bought a Naghant revolver, it also came with the 32acp cylinder,(which I have no idea how to install).  Now my question is about ammo.  I know its still being loaded in Europe and there are some Russian surplus lots floating around.  Ive always been told it was an anemic round to begin with so I doubt the commercial loads are any hotter.

Im wondering if its possible to reload, and if so could it be bought into a reasonable self defense level, without endangering the gun or ME!  Honestly I have no plans to "carry" it but it would be kinda cool, in the "...'scuse me while I whipps this out..." category.  I once knew a retired cop that did P.I. work and carried a BOLO Mauser because the round would zip through the "bullet proof" vests of that time.

Are SD loads possible or better yet available? 

[threepdr]

Edelwiess,

There are quite a few folks who reload this caliber.  Dies are available from several makers.  I use .30 carbine dies with a Nagant shell holder (from Lee) and it works great.  The original military load was comparable to the .32 H&R Magnum.  In fact a lot of folks shoot .32 long and .32 mag in their nagants with no ill effect.  There is a 1895 Nagant specific forum on gunboards.com where you can fins alot of this information.

although the Nagant is no power-house, I think it has been underrated based on the low powered Russian target loads that have been available for it for some time.

Good luck