What about a new custom Nagant cylinder?

[gunfan]

I was wondering whether or not you could have a custom Nagant cylinder manufactured for either the .32 H&R Magnum, or the .32 S&W Long? This not only could prove cost effective for shooting, but could arraqnge for better accuracy than the .32 ACP cylinders that are being offered on today's market.

The .32 H&R Magnum would provide for greater versatility, while the .32 Longs would still provide ample power for pest eradication. Don't get me wrong, .32 ACP cylinders are good, but flexibility of sevice, is even better! With the additional cylinder, you can shoot four types of .32 caliber cartridges (providing that you have a .32 ACP cylinder.) That's a great bonus!

JMHO,

Scott.

 

[Otony]

You may be able to rechamber a .32 ACP cylinder to .32 Long or .32 Magnum.

I have not looked at the exact dimensions of any of these cartridges, but I HAVe fired .32 ACP out of a few different .32 Long/Magnum revolvers with no noticeable side effects other than poor accuracy.

YMMV.

 

[RON in PA]

While I think this is a good idea it would probably cost $150-$200 for a new cylinder. A bit much for a $100 gun.

 

[axeman_g]

cmon...

Ron has gone and done it ... attempted to bring common sense into a "cool gun" thread. Bad Ron.

 

[Stainz]

Having had three Nagants - and buying a new .32 ACP cylinder, fortunately from a supplier with a return policy, let me throw another pale of water on the fire. They are all 'fitted' cylinders. Try two OEM cylinders from the same plant/year - they likely won't exchange properly without fitting. If you notice, the parts have the S/N on them... for a reason, the parts really must be fitted. I elected to go a different route - make ammo to fit the stock cylinder, using the well-documented Lee Nagant set and .32-20 brass.

An M1 Carbine case has the right taper/size - but is from a way too high a pressure round. I chose Starline .32-20 cases, with .024" turned off the rim diameter, so the cases would fit without being slightly 'canted' by pressing against the toothed ring when loaded. Additionally, I took ~ .010" off the headstamp so the stock breech block would fit. While some folks would adapt the revolver, I'd rather leave it stock - and adapt the ammo. I use that Lee 7.62 Nagant die set - with a Lee carbide M1 Carbine sizer to eliminate the lube step. I 'adapted' ~300 cases - that should suffice.

What happened to Hornady's promised Nagant ammo?

Stainz

PS That .32 ACP cylinder wouldn't fit any of my Nagants - and went back for a credit.

 

[Roudy]

7.62 Nagant ammo

You didn't mention if you reload or not. I recently bought a Nagant and have only shot reloads. Used Starline 7.62 Nagant brass and a Lee die set from Midway. Ran into two problems; 1) the dies were made to load 32-20 brass and the bullet seater would not push the bullet down inside the case. A call to Lee fixed the problem, they turned a bullet seater that would work. 2) the new Starline brass has zero taper to it and when forming the first time I had to make several short passes, lubing between rach pass to get the initial taper. If I forced the first pass I would wrinkle the case and it will split when fired. Subsequent re-sizes work normally.

With brass and dies are available at reasonable prices you can reload to your specific needs...light or heavy....withing the capability of the revolver.

By the way, I like the revolver but it has one of the worst trigger pulls that I've owned. Any tips on slicking the trigger up?

 

[JBP]

I was wondering whether or not you could have a custom Nagant cylinder manufactured for either the .32 H&R Magnum, or the .32 S&W Long?

Why bother going to all that trouble? The accuracy I get when I fire .32 H&R Magnum from my Nagant is just as good as when I use Nagant ammo.

 

[Stainz]

My experience with the proper Nagant ammo, whether the yellow boxed Russian 'Target' ammo @ 590 fps or Fiocchi @ 674 fps, was generally good, accuracy wise. Both required the SA-style ejector to unload, due to the long thin snout opening in the barrel's breech. The Fiocchi brass was a bit fragile in the neck - others have had some difficulty reloading it as well - and the Lee dies won't work.

Now, with MagTech 98gr LRN .32 S&WL's, the speed variation is wider - 589-647 fps. Additionally, all cases were seriously bulged - and ~30% were split. Trying the Georgia Arms 100gr JHP .32 H&R Magnums, I did not bother with the chrono - the spitting was excessive - shooting glasses were impacted with powder, etc. Additionally, all cases were bulged. For either ammo, spent case ejection was difficult. All spent cases were not reloadable. I feel that the .32 H&R Magnums are unsafe.

My aforementioned homebrews literally fall out when spent, simply because the mouth isn't long enough to bridge the gap and 'open' like the proper Nagant ammo. The M1 Carbine style taper 'fills' the chamber, so no bulging occurs. I use either a Meister 100gr LDEWC or a Berry's plated 83gr DEWC over 2.5-3.0gr Titegroup, yielding 670-845 fps and decent accuracy. The greatest problem is the variation with those Berry's bullets, as they are nearly too small - and slick - and slide into the cases too deeply. Yeah, modifying the cases took a while - but it was worth it... I think!

BTW, I saw a fellow at a gunshow this past weekend trying to sell 'collectible' revolvers - including his '31 Tula Nagant in 'pulled from the swamp' condition for $399. Caveat Emptor!

Stainz

PS Visit us Nagant-nuts on the Nagant-specific forum at gunboards.com.

 

[Jim K]

Otony wrote, "You may be able to rechamber a .32 ACP cylinder to .32 Long or .32 Magnum."

I did. Cylinder now handles four cartridges, .32 ACP, .32 S&W. .32 S&W Long, and .32 H&R Magnum. Gun is still a clunker, though I have always admired the way they tackled the b/c gap "problem" with a fairly simple design.

Sorry, Stainz, but my cylinder fit perfectly and works just fine.

Jim

 

[madmike]

Jim, what reamer do you need for that? Can you give me some info?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

.32 H&R Magnum? That sounds a bit "strenuous" for the old-timer.

 

[madmike]

.32 H&R magnum is about the same loading as 7.65 Nagant, actually.

About as powerful as a low-end .38 Special.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

Isn't Wolf or somebody gonna start making 7.62 Nagant with full-power combat loadings.

 

[rcmodel]

.32 H&R magnum is about the same loading as 7.65 Nagant, actually.

That's not true at all.
The original Russian load was a 108 grain bullet at 725 FPS.
About exactly the same pressure as a .32 S&W Long (15,000 PSI)

The .32 H&R Mag shoves a 95 grain at 1,030 FPS. (At 21,000 CUP)

It has way too much pressure to be safe in a Nagant, even with a new cylinder!
The frame was not designed for a steady diet of 75% overloads!
Whatever safety margin was designed in couldn't have been much more then that!

rcmodel

 

[Vern Humphrey]

While I think this is a good idea it would probably cost $150-$200 for a new cylinder. A bit much for a $100 gun.

Does anyone remember an old western song, "A Five Dollar Horse and a Fifty Dollar Saddle?"

 

[Flash!]

why not shoot the gun in the caliber is was designed for? I'm using Hotshot ammo and it works great....it would take a huge savings in per round cost to justify a new cylinder...

 

[madmike]

Because .32ACP is ALWAYS available. There's no guarantee Nagant ammo will be.