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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special (Read 18186 times)
brstevens
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Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Jun 11th, 2014 at 5:25pm
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Traded for a very nice Martini Cadet rechambered in 32 win. spcl. are these safe to shoot? Anyone else  have one and if so what cast bullet load are you using?  Undecided
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #1 - Jun 11th, 2014 at 10:23pm
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R.P. Case
Lyman 321298 150 grain
Winchester Primer
9.9 grains Dupont 700X
COAL: 2.421
Taper Crimp
F.L. Sized

R.P. Case
Lyman 321317 170 grain
Winchester Primer
9.5 grains Dupont 700X
COAL: 2.450
Taper Crimp
F.L. Sized

Kicks like a Mule. Lighter bullet shot the best.
Original BSA Martini Cadet .310 barrel rechambered to .32 Winchester Special.
  
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Dr Tom
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #2 - Jun 11th, 2014 at 10:28pm
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I don't use factory-strength loads in mine. It is a light weight rifle with  fairly slow twist rifling. Full power loads punish my shoulder and most bullets heavier than about 160 gr. keyhole badly. With shorter cast bullets and reduced velocities it performs well. 

There are a lot of excellent suggestions on this forum on handloading the 32-40 with cast bullets for accuracy. This data is a very good starting point for the 32 WS and also the 30-30. Both of these have slightly more case capacity than 32-40 so this is a safe place to start. Mine likes a 145 gr round nose plain base bullets and most of the powders mentioned on this forum which are appropriate for 32-40. Slug the bore before buying bullets or molds. I have been using bullets cast or sized to groove diameter +0.001" with good success.

Enjoy!
  
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brstevens
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #3 - Jun 12th, 2014 at 5:55pm
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Is anyone using the Lee 324 174gr bullet? and Unique Powder?
  
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harry_eales
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #4 - Jun 13th, 2014 at 1:29am
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Back in the 1960's the Australian Government decided to ditch the 310 Cadet training rifle and, as usual, buyers from the USA bought virtually all of them. Ammo was available but limited to old surplus military rounds of uncertain age. Many of these rifles were re-chambered to 32 special by simply running in a chambering reamer and slightly modifying the extractor. If I remember correctly they sold for around US$ 20.00. Rifles that had barrels badly pitted or otherwise damaged were stripped for their actions which were sold at US$ 9.95. 

A lot of varmint shooters bought these actions and made them into peewee calibre centre fire rifles. I don't recollect these rifles being re-chambered to any other calibre by the importers.

Harry.
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #5 - Jun 13th, 2014 at 9:26am
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A martini-cadet action in good condition is a great little action. I have several rifles that use them--none in large calibers. However it has its limitations one is its size. the thickness and the barrel shank make strength an issue with cartridges that can produce high pressures relative to case diameter.
Another limitation is that the curved "loading ramp" top of the hinged block limits the length of the loaded cartridge.  A full length .32 Win Sp loaded with long heavy bullets might be a bit too long to "make the curve". 
 
I like and shoot a bunch of martini actioned rifles including cadets and several larger European Martini-actioned target and "stalking" rifles in larger cartridges up to 7.5x55 Swiss, several 8.15x46, and 9.5x46r Mauser-type cartridge.
Breech-seating bullets for ASSRA-style competition can be a problem if you want to use a mechanical seating tool.  Even an Ideal-type "push seater" has to have a dog-leg built into the shaft and carefully fitted to work with the lengths and angles of the "loading ramp"
  

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brstevens
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #6 - Jun 13th, 2014 at 5:16pm
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Just want to enjoy it without doing damage to it are myself. Trying to work with the few molds I have. What about Paper patching a 125-150gr 30cal bullet for it?
« Last Edit: Jun 17th, 2014 at 9:59pm by brstevens »  
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Dr Tom
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #7 - Jun 13th, 2014 at 10:29pm
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Yes. I successfully paper patched a batch of lead pistol bullets that I was given. I recall that the base band was .316 or there about. I have no idea what pistol they were intended for. Gads! that was more than 30 years ago. I have no idea where my loading notes from that era are. I was probably using Unique and not resizing the cases. I didn't buy any special paper. I just used something that was laying around the house. I didn't pursue the paper patch very long. I found an old no-name mold and machined one band off of it to get a bullet that was short enough to stabilize. 

My old eyes are having trouble with the original sights, now. I suppose I could put a long scope on it and offer it on the internet as a rare Australian sniper rifle. I think $2500 would be about right.  Smiley
  
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brstevens
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #8 - Jun 15th, 2014 at 11:14am
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I do have the little Lee 30 cal soup can mold. A 113gr Flat nose gas check bullet. I am hoping this will Paper Patch up and work out.
  
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Dr Tom
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #9 - Jun 15th, 2014 at 3:53pm
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Here is a cast bullet trick that I probably shouldn't admit to knowing. The bullet has to be a semi-wadcutter or wadcutter with a broad flat nose. If you remove the case adapter from the post of a reloading press and screw in a length of 7/8-14 allthread where the dies normally go, you have a simple press with opposing flat surfaces that you can use to squish bullets. The more you squish,the shorter and fatter the bullet will become. Adjust the allthread to give the diameter you want.
  
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brstevens
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #10 - Jun 15th, 2014 at 4:22pm
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That is something to think about. I would think all the bullets would need to be of the same alloy?
  
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EdBu
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #11 - Jun 15th, 2014 at 8:30pm
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Buffalo arms has the correct cadet bullets...a 120 grain heeled bullet.  You can ignore the heeled part and load it with a small dose of unique to give a MV of about 1300 FPS.  That should shoot to where the sights are, and it is a very pleasant round.

The factory loads are not so pleasant, but when used offhand, They are not terrible.

Enjoy.

Ed
  
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Dr Tom
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #12 - Jun 15th, 2014 at 10:34pm
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Yes. All the same alloy, unless you readjust every time the alloy changes.

Ed- That's an excellent suggestion. I will have to try these.

One other note. 32WS is a long case. I seat bullets fairly deep but I still have to pull the lever farther than was originally intended in order to drop the round in. This doesn't hurt the action and it doesn't annoy me.

  
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brstevens
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #13 - Jun 17th, 2014 at 9:57pm
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I have yet to slug the barrel. What seems to be the norm for these little rifles?
  
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Dr Tom
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Re: Martini Cadet 32 Winchester Special
Reply #14 - Jun 17th, 2014 at 11:31pm
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I've never seen a spec sheet on the Cadet. I probably just haven't looked in the right places. Mine is about .321, but that may not be typical. Slug it to be sure.
  
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