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Normal Topic Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester (Read 2466 times)
RJ-35-40
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Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Jun 21st, 2019 at 11:04am
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Some 25 years ago I acquired a 310 Martini Cadet that had been converted to a 32 Winchester Special. 
I fired maybe 3-4 rounds of factory ammunition at which point I realized something was terribly wrong. Not only did it not hit the inside of the barn I was in but the pressures were stupid high.

Roll the clock forward to today, it is time to make it a plinker / shooter with reduced loads. 

Slugging the barrel; the Bore / Groove is .311 / .316.?. At any rate it is obvious that the factory jacketed bullets at .321 was at least part of the problem. 

So here are two questions I hope someone will comment on;
I found 100 new Hornady 30-30 brass cases which I want to modify to 32 Winchester Special. Given their dimensions are so close it should be a no brain-er. 
 
1,   Should I Fire Form to Fit or just modify with the 32 Win Sp dies ?
2,   Should I anneal the cases first..?

After casting the chamber it is apparent that the reamer used during the conversion process was .025 longer than SAAMI spec.
And there is basically no freebore in the bore or leade from chamber mouth into the rifling.
I guess I could trim my brass to 2.040 (SAAMI spec) and use the excess chamber length as my freebore... ???

Finding a bullet has been somewhat of a rabbit hunt. 
The twist is 1/20. Necessitating a bullet of no more than .74" using the Greenhill formula. 
 
I could have a mould made utilizing a healed design like the original 310 Cadet or perhaps a design using a stop ring like the 8.14 X 46R [180 gr, RN--.915"] (Buffalo Arms) shortened for my twist.  Unfortunately this design has a stop ring of .326 which I don't know if my groove of .316 just couldn't handle that..?

One last observation;
In your opinion is the groove depth of .0025 enough to grip 1/20 lead projectile. Seems a might shallow to me. Thoughts?

So before I spend $$$ on a mould I thought others might have some experience with such issues.

Thanks to all in advance. 

RJ in St Augustine

  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Reply #1 - Jun 21st, 2019 at 6:16pm
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I'd fire form them if you want to use .30-30 brass. But .32 Special is easily found, and not expensive.
Western Bullet Co. sells oversized 165 gr. .30-30 bullets that are .316" so you might order 100 and try them first.

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RJ-35-40
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Re: Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Reply #2 - Jun 22nd, 2019 at 2:23am
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Marlin Guy,

Thanks for the referral and the recommendation 

I'll take a look at the Western bullets
although I think the 165 grain projectile is going to be unstable in my 20 twist rifle.
Thanks again
RJ
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Reply #3 - Jun 22nd, 2019 at 8:14am
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Accurate Moulds has a lot of designs, and you can specify the diameter you want for the alloy you are casting.  Something on the order of Ideal 32359, reduced to 0.316” diameter, ought to work.  It could be seated out until it engages the rifling, however the leade is configured.

I would suggest that you anneal your brass.  Since your eventual bullet will be larger in diameter than a .30-30, but not as large as the .32 Spl, you will be working the necks of the shells in firing and resizing more than you would with a normal bore and chamber.  However, with luck, you may be able to get away without an “M” expansion die, just full-length resizing in a .32 Spl die.  In any case, proper annealing never hurts, and you shouldn’t have to do it more than once in a blue moon.

I have a Cadet in the original chambering, and the rifling grips the heeled bullets just fine.  With proper groove diameter bullets and light loads, you shouldn’t see any stripping.
  
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Barrabruce
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Re: Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Reply #4 - Jun 25th, 2019 at 6:38pm
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Are you sure the groove is 0.316" they do vary.
The 5 groove can be hard to measure.
Just saying before you go off and buy stuff.

The way I read it is you are wondering about using a 0.335"?? case neck diameter bullet base with a 0.311" nose of about 120 grns. 

I have no idea if it would work in a chamber if it has no chamfer to it at all.
Starline make the longer 38/55 brass that may help some.
Just putting it out there.
« Last Edit: Jun 25th, 2019 at 6:54pm by Barrabruce »  
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notlwonk
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Re: Brass Conversion Question. 30-30 to 32 Winchester
Reply #5 - Jun 26th, 2019 at 8:03am
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If the groove is actually .316 then modifying a Lee 30-30 collet neck sizer to use a .3125 (5/16") mandrel would bring you closer to what you're looking for.  You would still be working the brass quite a bit so they may not last too many shots without annealing.
  
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