More Cadet Talk

[Hooker53]

Ha. Ha. Very good point Seaboltm but is it my understanding that Birmingham Arms act. Did some of the 32-20 convertions? Thought I read that somewhere. Maybe I'm crossed up on that one.

[seaboltm]

My understanding is they were imported as 310 Greener. Most were converted to 32-20 in the US, some to 357, some even to 44 magnum. I have one in 30-30 and yes, it chambers with ease and is quite accurate. I suppose BSA COULD have converted some, but as Australia was essentially dumping unwanted military surplus onto the market, that seems unlikely to me. I mean, they leave Australia, go back to England for conversion by BSA, and then come to the US? Possible, but it seems very unlikely to me. And if BSA wanted a gun in 32-20 originally, it would seem that BSA would have chambered the rifle with a proper barrel. My understanding is the conversion was done in the US due the fact that 310 Greener was, and basically still is, obsolete and unheard of in the US. If you find out different, I would find that a fascinating piece of history surrounding these fine rifles.

[Hooker53]

All of that makes good grey matter to me Sea. I do love the .357 Mag and have a M92 lever in that Cal that fills the bill for me. I lucked up again and bought a new one free and void of some of the ploblems some have reported on the Rossi levers. If I found another Cadet that was in need of revamping, I would not balk a Min to rebarrel in .357 Mag or another older caliper I'v wanted a gun in. Say in .218 Bee or-------- ha. Ha.

[calaloo]

RECHAMBERING A CADET TO .32-20

I have several Cadets in the original caliber .310 Greener. I do not have a Cadet in .32-20 .

Here is what I know: I use .32-20 brass in my Cadets. I have a die that I use to squeeze the rims thinner so that the block will close on a round. I also trim the .32-20 brass because it is too long for the .310 Greener chamber. No other modifications are required to use the .32-20 brass in the Cadet.

Before I started thinning the rims a friend bought a .310 Greener reamer to cut the rim recess deeper so that he could use .32-20 brass. I did the operation for him. That's the only modification to the rifle needed to permit the use of .32-20 brass.

What I don't know: As I stated I do not own a Cadet converted to .32-20. That the rim recess was cut deeper is a given, but was the chamber lengthened to permit use of untrimmed .32-20 brass? I suspect it probably was. Hooker53 can let us know when he makes his chamber cast.

What is for sure: All that has to be done to use TRIMMED .32-20 brass is to either thin the rims or cut the rim recess deeper.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Calaloo

[Hooker53]

Calaloo. All of you folks info just keeps getting better here. I'm so glad I started this thread. I will tell you this besides the fact I did not get around to casting the barrel. I will do that and get back with the results as soon as can do as some here might could use it. Also

I made myself shoot five more off the shealf 100 Gn Rem rounds this afternoon and just can not dream of how this Cadet is gonna shoot after I pin down a load on it. Ha

At about 50 yards it held 4 shots within 3 inches and one flyer at to about 5" but I knew I pulled off on that one. Lol. It must be like an earlyer poster said upstream in that it must be banging the heel and sealing it some.

Either way, I'm already watching for another full size Martini Mk IV either in 577/450 or 303. I think either one of them would be a hoot with BP.

[oldfart1956]

Hooker, I'm not sure how far you are from Chambersburg, Pa. but Bonnies Guns (717-264-4867) has at least 1 577/450 sitting in the rack as of this past Friday. They also have 3 Cadets (2 ,310's and one 32/20) and a pair of rolling blocks in .43 caliber. 43 Egyption I presume. No affiliation with them, I just keep checking in there for a Greener in 45/70. They can be a bear to reach, I have an e-mail addy if you need. Audie...the Oldfart..

[Hooker53]

Ok guys question. How do you get the action apart on these Cadets? Thought I'd better ask on this one before I go monkeying around on my pride and joy.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Hooker, it will take me much longer to type for you how to take the cadet apart than it will to do the job. There is a pin that sticks out on both sides of the action. To remove the breach block simply push the pin from right to left and pull down on the lever. Presto, you have the action apart.

[Hooker53]

Gopher you were sure right on that one. Presto it was. Ha. Just wanted to make sure on breach open or closed on the drop out. Man. They sure did know what they were doing when they designed this little jewel. Just wanted to take a look see at the lock and all the parts inside. Just don't think this Cadet saw much service. Looks like they shot it. Cleaned it back up and stored it. I did notice something on it that I had not before. The intire back site is canted over to the right side abit.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Hooker, I'm not sure how far you are from Chambersburg, Pa. but Bonnies Guns (717-264-4867) has at least 1 577/450 sitting in the rack as of this past Friday. They also have 3 Cadets (2 ,310's and one 32/20) and a pair of rolling blocks in .43 caliber. 43 Egyption I presume. No affiliation with them, I just keep checking in there for a Greener in 45/70. They can be a bear to reach, I have an e-mail addy if you need. Audie...the Oldfart..

Just querious, what sort of prices are small Martini's fetching in the US, I've collected quite a few over the last 40 years!

[calaloo]

We need a sub forum for the Cadet and put B.A. Wallace in as moderator.
Calaloo

[Hooker53]

Hey Calaloo I agree with ya. The truth be known it was BA's Martini porn I been drooling over is what caused me to buy this one. Lol. I will know more about mine when I can send some heeled Boolits down the tube.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Hooker, I agree with you about the little cadet rifles being used very little. I never examined one that didn't have a shiny bore. I was told many years ago that the importer who brought them to the US paid the Australian government 50 cents apiece for them. When they were first offered for sale here they were priced from 12 to 15 bucks. I have owned a few but I only have one now. I also agree with you that our friend Mister Wallace has a beautiful collection of the these great little rifles. A fried of mine used to take the barrels from these rifles, turn them down and use them to reline 1858 replica Remington cap & ball pistols. He could use 001 buckshot in them. Of course he had to make a new cylinder but then he was a great machinist. He could reline two pistols with one rifle barrel. He installed S&W sights on them and they were unbeatable in a match. I could have bought one for $250 but I passed.

[skeettx]

17 Ack Bee by Reed
17 Ack Bee by Ackley (Yes P.O.)
218 Bee by Burke

[enfield]

B A W if you were crazy enough to sell them, then you would have enough there for a comfy retirement plan.

[L Ross]

I have one marked 32-20. I think they just modified the rim cut to use 32-20 brass and to encourage USA buyers to think they could find readily available ammo. I slugged it and found the bore to be .320". I did not want to mess with heeled bullets. I had a Saeco 8 m/m Nambu 90 gr. mould laying around. So.....I trimmed the 32-20 brass back until I could finger seat a .322" 90 gr. Nambu bullet into the fired case. I use 4.2 gains of Unique or enough Trailboss to just kiss the base of the seated bullet and shoot with a smile on my face. All that being said, I am tempted to get mine rebored and rechambered to 38 spl., just to make things simpler.

[Hooker53]

Hey Ross mine is also marked 32-20. Just wondering on one thing you said. You said your barrel slugged at .320. Mine slugged at .323. My 32-20 cases after fire forming them to my chamber mic's out at around .311/312. How would I get a Nambu 90 gr. that drops at .322 to finger push into my cases. I'm sure I'm missing something here but set me straight. Sounds like I might have to set out on a Nambu mold hunt. Lol. Thanks for stopping in.

Skeet. I like that .218 Bee on the bottom and if you took the butt stock Ackley and put it on the Bee and the grip cap off the Ack on it, I would buy it!!!!!! Lol. just kidding. Wouldn't touch either of them sept to load them. Thanks all of you for stopping by. Calaloo. PM inbound.

[Hooker53]

Ok. The jury is in. I don't think my chamber was reamed longer. After I fire the stock off the shelf Round and hand seat the RCBS heeled Boolit in the fired case, it all goes in shy of .060. Gonna trim .060 off one case here in a few and try it again. If it goes in, will load up a few.

What primer is most using in there reloads? I think I read where some of you were using small pistol and 4.2 to 4.4 gns of Unique??

UPDATE

Just trimmed my brass back .060. Slid a heeled Boolit in a case and she went home fairly easy. When I hit the eject lever, brass cane out, Boolit stayed up on the rifling. Think I'm good to go. Just gotta read back over th threads and decide which primer to use. I'v read shooters used small pistol and small rifle. Think I will load with small pistol first.

Later y'all and thanks for all the help here.

Roy

[Hooker53]

SUCCESS

WOW-------WOW. I'm in Cadet heaven. Ha. Ha. Man I feel like a kid that just won a candy store lottery. Lol. Just tried one of the RCBS Boolits that a gentleman so Kindly sent me and WOW.

Front rested at 50 yards, 1" group with small pistol primers and 4.2 of Unique. The only two things I'm gonna do besides thank every one again for your help is, order that dang RCBS Boolit mould and maybe just maybe turn me a hand die that I could close the fired brass mouth maybe .002 more thousandths. Would like the Boolit seating in just a tad bit tighter so I can carry them on a belt. Later y'all. Back to the shop. Lol.

P.S. wished I had bought that combo from Dave now!!!!!! Lol.

[calaloo]

It's nice when a plan comes together!