Chamber adapters?

[Kestryll]

Okay, since I like to have my cake and eat it too...
I've heard of adapters for the 30.06 that allow you to fire .308 rounds. As I understand it they fill in part of the chamber and are removable?
I pretty much expect to hear that these are chessy and a gimmick but I have to ask, anyone use these or have info on them? Opinions? Am I wrong and they work great? How do they effect accuracy?
Thanks!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

They're really not worth it. The Navy experimented with 7.62 chamber adapters to covert M1 Garands and found they had a distressing tendency to be extracted and ejected along with the fired case.

In bolt actions,they have been slightly more successful -- you can use an industrial strength adhesive to hold them in place (but that makes them hard to remove.) Aligning the chamber insert is also a problem -- I've never heard anyone say their rifle was more accurate with the chamber insert.

On the other hand, there are some nice inserts for lower power loads. I like the Hamond Game Getter http://www3.telus.net/gamegetter/

This is basically a steel cartridge case with an off-center "primer pocket." The "primer pocket" is really a chamber for a .22 Ramset blank (available at any hardware store) and is offset so the centerfire firing pin will hit the edge of the case.

The mouth of the case takes a suitably sized shot (my .30-06 takes 0 buckshot) and shoots them with reasonable accuracy (minute of squirrel) to about 25 yards. Because the ramset cartridges come in different power levels, you can experiment and find what shoots best in your rifle.

Mine shoots on line, but a bit low. I adjust the power setting on the scope so the top of the thick lower crosshair is on point of impact when using the Game Getter.

By the way, these things are very reasonably priced -- $40.00 Canadian. A check for $40.00 US will cover cost and shipping nicely.

 

[MagnumCaliber357]

Try contacting these people at MCA

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

Theres 7.62x39mm to .308/.30 06 and im pretty sure they have a 30 06 to 308 adapter

.30 06 and .308 are both .308 of an inch projectiles according to Chuck Hawks (http://www.chuckhawks.com/definitive_service_caliber.htm) which means there shouldnt be a problem with making an adapter for them

 

[Topkick]

Topkick
I tried the chamber converters (30-06 to .308), It was a total waste of time and money. I tried it in a M-1917 Eddystone, The first couple of rounds functioned ok, after that I could'nt get them to extract. : :

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I tried the chamber converters (30-06 to .308), It was a total waste of time and money. I tried it in a M-1917 Eddystone, The first couple of rounds functioned ok, after that I could'nt get them to extract.

That's another problem -- if the converters aren't an exact fit, and perfectly seated in the chamber, the expanding brass will hang up in the cracks.

 

[Gewehr98]

Not worth the effort if you're looking for accuracy.

You're adding at least 12mm or more of freebore with a .30-06 to .308 chamber insert. No rifling in the adapter, just 12mm of smoothbore for the bullet to gyrate in before it even engages the .30-06 throat and eventually finds the rifling.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

What about the 7.62x45mm to 7.62x39mm adapters for the Czech Vz-52 rifles?

Are they any good?

Just curious.

 

[Gewehr98]

Same deal.

They will inadvertently come out under the harsh extraction cycle of an autoloading rifle, and even if they stay put, they make the rifle a smoothbore for at least 6mm before the bullet enters the rifle's throat. The Czech VZ-52 extracts rather vigorously, too, compared to some other autloaders.

The problem is, one sometimes may not know the adapter departed the rifle, and the shorter round is then automatically chambered in the longer rifle chamber, with perhaps disastrous consequences.

I know that's a pain in the butt for the 7.62x45 Czech VZ-52. I solved that problem, I make and sell the proper Boxer-primed reloadable 7.62x45 brass. You can use bullets intended for the 7.62x39 no problem. Just put a brass catcher curtain to the left of the rifle, and away you go...

 

[rustymaggot]

i have a 30-06 to 30 carbine sleve and it works great. exept that you have to carry a dowel or screwdriver to punch the empty brass out to reload it and use it again. i have a 38spl/357 adapter for 12 gauge. that works great. has no real purpose that i can think of. its a bit of a novelty to shoot 357 out of my mossberg 500. i want to get the .22lr adapter for 12 gauge so i can practice the pistol grip only shots cheap.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

OK. Thanks. I won't mess with one that hasn't actually been converted (if there is such a thing)

I don't reload, so reloading components won't help, but thanks for mentioning it.