.32 S&W in a .308 bore?

[scythefwd]

Not sure if this goes here or in the accessories section, but I suspect I would get a better answer here.

I saw a chamber insert for a .32 S&W in a .308 win chamber. Since the lead is soft, would this even present an issue with it's .312 diameter? Wouldn't you have to worry about the bullet getting stuck?

From a different angle (completely ignore the above info), if you are using cast bullets in a .308 bore, what size are they?

 

[evan price]

32 s&w in a rifle? Not the best idea because the 32 is a low powered cartridge and quite likely to run out of juice in the long barrel and maybe stick a bullet in the bore. However I use 32 S&W Long in a Nagant revolver.

Cast boolits in a .308, depending on bore size, typically .309" or .310" work fine.

 

[Oyeboten]

It'd be pretty quiet probably!!

As even price mentions, if it even got all the way out of the Bore at all.

32-20 might do better...

 

[rcmodel]

There would be no problem with using .32 S&W in a .308 chamber adapter.

By the time a lead bullet has traveled it's own length in the bore, it has been resized by the rifling to fit. From there on to the muzzle it's just a light .308 grease lubed bullet.

The problem would be loading way oversize lead bullets in .308 cases that would not fit a .308 rifle chamber.

But since the chamber insert is made to fit loaded .32 S&W rounds, it would not be an issue.

But probably a better caliber for a .308 chamber insert would be .32 ACP.
That ammo costs about half as much as the way less common & hard to find .32 S&W.

http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm

rc

 

[scythefwd]

rc - I can get a couple hundred rounds of .32 S&W by noon. .32 ACP ... not so much. So you think it would have enough power to make it out of the barrel? It could be a fun plinking toy then.

 

[rcmodel]

I think if it wouldn't clear the bore, somebody would have sued the company that makes them out of business by now.

Chamber inserts like that have been in use for over 100 years now in 30-40 & 30-06, so they must work at least safely, if not just O.K..

rc

 

[fireman 9731]

I haven't had any issues shooting 32sw out of my Mosin with a chamber insert. The 32 autos have a little more oompf though.

Both are very quiet and pretty fun.

 

[W.E.G.]

There is no chance whatsoever of a factory-loaded .32 S&W, fired in a chamber adapter, failing to clear the bore due to inadequate powder charge.

I predict chronograph results would show velocities in the range of 650 FPS.

 

[scythefwd]

WEG - I figured that the drag of the bullet and that it has to be sized down to go through the barrel would be pretty significant. That and the .32 S&W isn't exactly a powerhouse to begin with. A 24" barrel could have presented a problem, but as people have already pointed out... I'll have to accept that they work.

 

[Oyeboten]

Try 'em and see..!

Save the empty Brass of course, and then re-load some experiments for seeing how 'slow' slow could be with Mr. Chrono, as well as making some a little peppier.

Sounds kinda fun...

 

[Clark]

The niche for inserts for me is to carry a grouse load that makes a pellet gun like sound in a deer rifle.

That was sort of possible when Alex adapters were available.
They had Aluminum firing pin extensions.

I have one that shoots 32acp from a 7.62x54R adapter.

The problem with Mace adapters is that the jump to the riflings is so long, the accuracy is terrible, and it would be hard to hit a grouse.

Last month I build some cartridge capacity reducers from free machining steel.
I am using a hole from the primer pocket to the powder chamber ~ .080" in diameter. I am using ~ 1 gr powder chamber.
I can get a 155 gr cast bullet going 400 fps with a BB gun like sound.
The accuracy is great with the bullet jammed into the lands.

 

[UpTheIrons]

How useful are these adapters, anyway?

I saw one of these the other day and wondered how useful it might actually be. It might work to get one used to the mechanics of a new gun, but where is the use beyond that?

How much does it change the POA/POI at reduced ranges? Do I need to resight my scope every time I switch from .32 to .308?

I guess I don't see a use FOR ME, but others might. Unless someone has a compelling reason why these adapters are a must-have, I think I'll stick to .22 LR and my Marlin 60 for squirrels & rabbits.