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Its short on headspace by a ton but the cartridge fit and fires. I have a Stevens Fav in 32 long RF, now converted to CF. I needed a case to do some firing pin work and also test the firing pin for center and length. Since the epiphany i just had, Ill need to take a few thou off the pin potentially but in making the 30 carbine-32 Colt, I stumbled onto a 32-20 solution. I used a 32-20 die following a lathe trim of .015 on the carbine, to start a .327 neck. Then used a 32 ACP die to full length size the case. that produces a ball of brass that is very thin (using a modified milled shell holder permitting as much travel as possible) right above the rim. Back to lathe, trim .010 off head again. Now the assembly is .327 end to end. I made a 32 H&R! I don't have any 32 S&W or 32 H&R to experiment with but I did have a ton of 1955 Carbine. Now that the brass is thinner and happier, having less brass to flow, I built a custom .317 die using an insert (not my idea, no credit due). That produces uniform .317 end to end, sans a .005 ball again at the head. The .317 sizer actually has a square face and it kisses the modified shell holder sizing all the way to the extractor groove. But the rim thickness is only .050 on the carbine. The barrel on this rifle is certainly either misfit or is a replacement/foreign item. The takedown bolt doesn't sit in the middle, the barrel needs a .010 setback to line that bolt up. OF course the breach block shows a huge gap as well, not having the appropriate .067 rim thickness. But it sufficed for todays firing pin test, breach block fit and primer test. Proof of concept. Tonight I had an epiphany. So many threads indicate that you can't use 32-20 brass for the colt replacement. BS. I made 32-20 from the carbine before continuing the process. Its a step in my forming. So If I had to thin the carbine to the 32-20 wall thickness, then size form 32-20 from the carbine........ why the hell can't I just use 32-20???????????? Then----- I get a .065 rim, at a larger and correctable .402 diameter (carbine is undersized enough to compound headspace problems, but extracts fine) and I do less lathe work, use less Imperial sizing wax, have prettier brass when complete, save steps, time, money....... and if I do have to set back the barrel to get the nub and takedown bolt to align properly, I can cut the rim recess to .402 and use the natural 32-20 rim as is for PERFECT headspace. So YOU CAN MAKE 32 Colt long from 32-20!! Pics coming!
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