30-30 BRASS FROM 32 WIN SPL?

[Bearded Phil]

So I'd like to move toward having all new brass of the same make for 30-30 soon and Starline is my go-to but they haven't been selling any 30-30 for what seems like forever. They always seem to be taking backorder on 32 Win Spl though and what I'm seriously wondering now is:

With an anneal of the neck and shoulder on new 32 Win Spl and a run through of a 30-30 Win FL sizer could they be used in a 30-30?

I know the 32 has a shallower shoulder angle but damn near everything else about the two cases seems like this would work just fine, especially after a first firing.

What do y'all think? Possible? Worth it? Assuming Star would ship 32 Win Spl backorders inside of a month's time?

I don't have a 32 Win Spl and I'm not sharing handloads for 30-30 with anyone so the headstamp difference wouldn't matter much to me.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

"Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions" says to use .375 Win to covert or 9.7x72R. Not sure you can find that either though. Sorry, not sure if 32 Win Spl is an option or not.

I know those are 2 odd ball options but its what this reference cites.

 

[stringnut]

Should be possible. Headspaces on the rim. As long as it chambers you will be good to go. The first firing will fireform it to fit your chamber. Used to go the other way , 30 30 to 32 special, for the neighbor . Worked fine. Can’t vote in your poll as I do not have a horse in this race and have no plan to have one in the future. Only you can decide if it’s worth doing.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

Through the pandemic I haven't had a starline order take more than 3 weeks, including back orders.

Have you given them a ring?

 

[gwpercle]

If you want to move to having all new brass , of the same maker then it stands to reason to have it all of the correct head stamp . Having it all stamped 32 Win. Spcl. would just suck rocks and I'm not OCD about things like that .
Somebody will break loose and make 30-30 cases ... if Starline can't give you an answer as to when or take your back order... start shopping around some of the trusted dealers ... Graf & Sons , Midway , Midsouth ... sooner or later this Brandon induced drought will end ... but just hang in there ...
But ... if you already have a bunch of 32 Win. Spcl. brass on hand ... simply run the 32 Win Spcl , lubricated into a 30-30 full length resizing die and resize it ... it will emerge very close to 30-30 . Check the length of all the resized cases , both rounds are 2.040" in case length . the 32 my get a little longer on sizing , make sure it doesn't exceed 30-30 max length specs , but the rim sets the headspace so on the first firing the 32 spcl case will blow out and become a perfect 30-30 formed case ... it's a simple operation ... it just leaves you with the wrong headstamp on the case .

I would keep searching for proper brass ... but if you have 32 Spcl. brass in hand , reforming to 30-30 is doable and easy and would get you shooting .
Gary

 

[stillquietvoice]

7-30 waters is doable as well if you can find that.

 

[Bearded Phil]

Through the pandemic I haven't had a starline order take more than 3 weeks, including back orders.

Have you given them a ring?

Na, I've had really fast delivery on other cases I've ordered that were on backorder status too (38 spl, 357 mag, 45-70) but those ones were no orders and then went to backorder so I figured they were in active production. I'm not sure on some of the cartridges like 32 win spl that just always seem available to backorder.

 

[Bearded Phil]

If you want to move to having all new brass , of the same maker then it stands to reason to have it all of the correct head stamp . Having it all stamped 32 Win. Spcl. would just suck rocks and I'm not OCD about things like that .
Somebody will break loose and make 30-30 cases ... if Starline can't give you an answer as to when or take your back order... start shopping around some of the trusted dealers ... Graf & Sons , Midway , Midsouth ... sooner or later this Brandon induced drought will end ... but just hang in there ...
But ... if you already have a bunch of 32 Win. Spcl. brass on hand ... simply run the 32 Win Spcl , lubricated into a 30-30 full length resizing die and resize it ... it will emerge very close to 30-30 . Check the length of all the resized cases , both rounds are 2.040" in case length . the 32 my get a little longer on sizing , make sure it doesn't exceed 30-30 max length specs , but the rim sets the headspace so on the first firing the 32 spcl case will blow out and become a perfect 30-30 formed case ... it's a simple operation ... it just leaves you with the wrong headstamp on the case .

I would keep searching for proper brass ... but if you have 32 Spcl. brass in hand , reforming to 30-30 is doable and easy and would get you shooting .
Gary

Thanks for the input! I figured that would be the case (no pun intended) but wanted to see what other folks here thought. I've never done any "fire forming" before, which I put in quotes because the two cases are so close I don't even know if it counts.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I bet they are taking on backorders for 32 WS so they can know it will be sold if/when they make a batch...

I did recently see some 7-30 waters brass for sale somewhere... Hornady brand i think.

Im in a similar boat... Need 30-30 to make 357 Herrett. I have some formed to 30 Herrett, lots with cracked necks. But im in no rush. Gave a buddy about 70 rounds of 30-30 for his new gun, with the caveat that he gives me the brass back.

 

[King Medallion]

There is always brass on gunbroker. All depends on how much you want to spend to get what you want.

 

[AJC1]

I've been scrounging and in the last year put together 50 pieces of Federal. Funny when it was 16 dollars a box two years ago it was everywhere and now nonexistant.... pretty soon our garages will look like or depression era grandfather's, piled to the roof with things we may need some day. I can say for certain some people have huge piles of it, but I won't be caught wanting again.

 

[BigBlue 94]

There is always brass on gunbroker. All depends on how much you want to spend to get what you want.

Proxibid can be a decent spot to check too. Ive gotten some decent deals there lately.

 

[Catpop]

The head stamps issue is the biggest problem down the road.
Why not just sell/trade it to someone that needs 32 spec?

 

[W.E.G.]

I guarantee somebody wants that genuine .32 Special brass more than you want to convert it to 30-30.

Offer it up for trade.

 

[Pat Riot]

I found some Starline 30-30 brass on Ammoseek. $1.50 per round. Sheesh!

https://ammoseek.com/reloading/brass/30-30-winchester

 

[Bearded Phil]

Why not just sell/trade it to someone that needs 32 spec?

I guarantee somebody wants that genuine .32 Special brass more than you want to convert it to 30-30.

Offer it up for trade.

See the thing is it's not that I have 32 Win Spl already, it's that I'm contemplating buying new 32 Win Spl and converting it.

If someone needed 32 they could buy it new same as me. I doubt I'd have any better luck finding someone willing to trade new 30-30 in quantity of 250-500 for other brass they could buy without needing to trade for it.

 

[jag22]

I really think you just need to call Starline, they are generally pretty helpful.
Common sense to me says they are much more likely to make 30-30 than 32 WSP because of demand. The 32 is kind of an oddball round, much lower demand. I have also found that a lot of sellers don't put a lot of effort into keeping their website updated. My bullet supplier constantly shows 9mm out of stock but they usually ship within a couple of days, been that way since the quarantine started.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I really think you just need to call Starline, they are generally pretty helpful.
Common sense to me says they are much more likely to make 30-30 than 32 WSP because of demand. The 32 is kind of an oddball round, much lower demand. I have also found that a lot of sellers don't put a lot of effort into keeping their website updated. My bullet supplier constantly shows 9mm out of stock but they usually ship within a couple of days, been that way since the quarantine started.

More than half in the OP’s poll agree. 91.7% say it’s a bad idea.

 

[Bearded Phil]

To be fair, the question is "is it worth it?" not "is this a bad idea?" but either way I get the general consensus. Unless I start losing the 30-30 cases I do have to failure before Star puts 30-30 back up for grabs I probably won't pursue this avenue.

 

[W.E.G.]

I'm sure you can convert new .32 Special brass to 30-30 by simply running it through a sizing die.

I'd still probably just buy loaded 30-30 ammo at the current inflated price, and limit my shooting to whatever my budget can stand.

 

[KY DAN]

I think I would sell the 32 Winchester brass and buy 30/30.

I have 1000 rounds of 30/30 brass I would let go $30 per 100qty

 

[BigBlue 94]

Midway and brownells both have 7-30 waters right now...

 

[Laphroaig]

Just saw Shooter's Pro Shop is selling new 30-30 Nosler blems for $56/100.