question for anyone who has lee 32 s&w dies

[fiscus]

Can someone measure the diameter that the lee 32 s&w carbide sizer die sizes brass down to? I have a neat old adaptor made by marble that allows the use of 32 short colt in a 30-30 rifle, I would like to use the lee s&w dies if they size the brass to .331" or less (fired 30-30 ammo measures .332" at the neck from my gun)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6679/dscf0003800x600.jpg

[Von Dingo]

The Lee dies I have are stamped .32 H&R, but is has to be adjusted to load H&R the way .38 spc dies would have to be adjusted for .357 mag. Sized virgin Starline brass miked at .33125. Good luck.

[Shooter6br]

Have used Lee 32 Mag dies for 32 S&W Long. Cant really get a tight bullet crimp but I dont think it is needed

[Marvin S]

.334 is what I just measured a loaded 32 S&W Long at head and mid section. It was sized from a LEE die.
Just saw you said 32 colt, sorry mine is a 32 S&W. Might be some difference.

[Molly]

My Lee carbide sizer for .32 S&W Long (& 32 short & 32 H&R & 327 Mag) delivers a diameter of 0.331" to 0.332" on the sized portion of the case, from three different lots of cases.

Don't worry too much what the fired 30-30 neck measures. You aren't chambering the .32 round in the neck, are you?

Chamber inserts (for centerfire rounds) just have an outside that is shaped to go into your rifle's chamber, and an inside shaped to accept the smaller round that is fired by the firing pin in your rifle. Your only concern should be whether or not the round chambers easily in your adapter. If it does, you should be good to go, no measurements needed. Just pop the .32 round in the insert, put the insert in your rifle, and put your sights on the target. Come back and tell us how it works. What kind of accuracy did you get?

[NoZombies]

Actually, the chamber adapter he has does seat the .32 case into the neck. if you look a how it's made, it holds the case at the front of the adapter.

I think you might get away with it using .32 S&W long dies, and the short .32 S&W cases. Mine measure right at .331 as well.

[Box13]

Wow! Thats cool...Ill have to keep my eye open for one of those...Robin

[Molly]

Here's what I was talking about. I never heard of one that seats the sub-round at the front of the chamber.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/rifle-chamber-insert.aspx?a=471502

And here's a write-up that gives price, where to buy it, and test firing results:

The Survival Podcast Forum
Armory, Self Defense, And EDC => General Firearm Discussion => Topic started by: Serellan on February 27, 2010, 01:25:49 AM


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Title: 7.62x54r to .32 ACP Chamber Insert - Uses and Review (.303 to 7.62x25 added)
Post by: Serellan on February 27, 2010, 01:25:49 AM
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INTRO

After hearing someone in the Mosin thread talking about these inserts, I decided to get one. I ordered mine from Sportsmansguide, it cost me $13.47 (club price).

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/167404_ts.jpg)

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/762x54r-to-32-cal-multi-chamber-insert.aspx?a=587989 (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/762x54r-to-32-cal-multi-chamber-insert.aspx?a=587989)

Sportsmansguide also offers this product in .303, .30-06, and .308.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/rifle-chamber-insert.aspx?a=471502 (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/rifle-chamber-insert.aspx?a=471502)

USE

I tested this product in my Mosin Nagant M44.

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert.jpg)

Per the instructions that came with the packaging, I put a little oil on the first round I inserted. One warning on the package is to beware that rifles with longer than 22" barrels, as the round could become lodged in the barrel. This is why I chose my M44 over one of my M91/30's to test it out with.

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_0.jpg)

Using this product is simple. You put the .32 ACP round into the back of the insert, and then chamber the insert as you would a normal round. Then you pull the trigger. ;D One thing to keep in mind is when you cycle the bolt to remove the insert, you want to do it slowly; if you jack the bolt back, it will fling the insert pretty far, possibly denting the rim and making it unusable!

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_3.jpg)

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_4.jpg)

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_5.jpg)

One thing that I noted was that after a few rounds, the .32 ACP cases started to get difficult to remove from the insert, to the point where I would have to use my knife to pull them out by the rim. I solved this by putting some lube on the outside of brass case of about every 5 rounds.

FIRING

Shooting the M44 with this insert is just plain FUN! It is about equivalent to shooting an air rifle, possibly even less recoil than a .22 rifle; due to the weight of the rifle. A big puff of smoke comes out the barrel, and a "thunk" is heard. I was shooting on an indoor range, so I didn't try it without (double) ear protection, but I would venture that this is pretty quiet to shoot.

EVERYONE at the range wanted to check this out. At least three different guys asked to shoot it. The guy in the booth next to me said that when he first saw me pull out the M44, he was thinking of moving (if you've ever been next to an M44 when it lets go, you'd know why), but then when I fired the first shot his head immediately poked around the corner with interest in his eyes...

ACCURACY

I started out firing at 15 yards, offhand. Accuracy was OK (although not stellar), and after about 20 rounds, all of them were in the 3" black of my target.

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_7.jpg)

Moving out to 25 yards, the first three rounds were in the black, but the next three flew out left and right. I haven't had a chance to test this out at further distances, but I would expect that the .32 ACP wouldn't be too accurate out past 50 yards max. I assume because of the low velocity of the round, plus the fact that it is a bit fatter than the barrel is designed for (7.65mm vs 7.62mm), accuracy is affected. Note that my testing was done with Prima Par. .32 ACP, which is generally considered "plinking" ammo.

(http://serellan.3dretreat.com/guns/mosin/insert/insert_8.jpg)


USES & ECONOMY

This insert and round probably aren't too practicle for hunting, although if I HAD to use it for close range varmint hunting (squirells in an Alaska spruce forrest), I would rather shoot a squirrel with a .32 ACP than with a 7.62x54r!!! You just gotta get close.

The best use of this insert and the .32 ACP is for training. If you want to train a new shooter, or if you only can get ONE rifle and you choose a Mosin (M44, M38, M91/30), this insert would be GREAT for teaching someone with the Mosing Nagant before they got into the full sized round. Let's be honest, shooting an M44 or an M38 is really not fun, it's BRUTAL. Yes, the fireball is cool, but it's not quite an ergonomic experience. Shooting .32 ACP out of the gun is FUN! So if it's your one gun, I recommend it highly. If you need to train a new shooter on the Mosin platform, this insert is a great way to start them out, let them learn the shouldering, aiming, trigger pull, etc.; before they get into the big bang.

From a pure economics standpoint, the .32 ACP round is not a big savings (or even more expensive) over the 7.62x54r. Even if we look at commercial ammo (not counting surplus), the cheapest .32 ACP I have found is around $13 a box of 50, for $.26 a round, compared to Brown Bear 7.62x54r at $8.25 a box of 20, at $.41 a round. If you go bulk surplus, you can currently get Polish Light Ball 7.62x54r for $80 a can of 440, for $.18 a round.

However, one nice thing is that commercial .32 ACP is not corrosive, so you don't have to worrry about that. For me, if I want to shoot at my local indoor range, I have to use brass cased, copper jacketed rounds (which means no cheap surplus or brown bear, etc), which for the 7.62x54r, I am either stuck with expensive commercial ammo, or (what I use) corrossive Yugoslavian surplus. This Yugo surplus currently comes in at $3.95 for a box of 15, at $.26 a round. For me, this makes the .32 ACP the same price as the Yugo surplus, and I don't have to deal with the meticulous cleaning that corrisive ammo entails.

OVERALL

For around fifteen bucks, I highly recommend this insert. Now that I have my one for 7.62x54r, I will definetly be getting one for .303 that I can use in my Enfield, and may get a .30-06 one as well to try it out in a scoped rifle. If you are going for a .303, you will definetly save money, but for the 7.62x54, it is more about a fun shooting experience that lets both new and experienced shooters really focus on the fundamentals of shooting the Mosin Nagant without dealing with bruised shoulders and stiff extracts that are normally associated with shooting those guns.

NOTE: Read the instructions and all warnings! I believe these should only be used in bolt guns, a semi auto would eject and damage the insert!

[fiscus]

Thanks for the measurements guys, I think I am going to use a custom sizing die for this. The 32 short colt case is .650" long which is the length needed to match the 30-30 case with this adaptor. The 32 s&w case is a little bit shorter than the colt case.