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Thread: .310 Cadet with Speer .32 HBWC

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    .310 Cadet with Speer .32 HBWC

    I posted this in Casting and Reloading/Molds...Maintenance and Design, but perhaps the question is better posted here. Sorry for the duplicate posting.

    I recently purchased a .310 Cadet and the chamber cast showed a full length .32/20 case, with the rim thinned to 0.050" and the shoulder removed with a .30 Carbine die, would fit just to the origin of the rifling. The bore dia. is 0.314" and the groove dia. is 0.321". I had the idea to use the Speer .32 HBWC, seated out as a bore rider, expecting the hollow base to bump up to fill the grooves like a Minie ball.

    Then I got concerned with the bullet separating, leaving the skirt in the bore, which is reported to happen in revolvers. The rifle has a smooth run from case to muzzle, unlike all the possible drag issues on the bullet skirt caused by a revolver.

    I wanted to load it to about 1200 ft/sec, perhaps with about 5 grains of Unique.

    Does anyone have any experience with this?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    I load the same bullet flush seated in .32-20 brass with 3 grains of Bullseye. I would keep velocity subsonic to avoid blowing the skirt. If you don't have Bullseye the same charge weight of TiteGroup, WST, 700X, Red Dot, Promo or 452AA work too. Or 3.5 grains of 231 or HP38 or 4 grains of Unique.

    I got better grouping with this to 50 yards than with the RCBS heeled Cadet bullet.
    The ENEMY is listening.
    HE wants to know what YOU know.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master challenger_i's Avatar
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    WARNING! Cadets are addictive!
    Rights, and Privileges, are not synonymous. We have the Right to Bear Arms. As soon as the Government mandates firearm registration, and permiting, then that Right becomes a Privilege, and may be taken away at our Master's discretion.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    I reload the 310 Cadet with Hornady and Speer hbwc bullets. I use 2.5 gr Bullseye. I found the groups would enlarge when the velocity got above 900 fps. I was also concerned there wouldn’t be enough factory lube for the rifle length bbl, so I lightly tumble the bullets in Lee liquid alox. I don’t have my OAL measurement with me right now, but roughly they are 1 caliber out from flush.

    Keep us posted with your results.

    PS no leading and fine accuracy.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
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    My friend Outpost75 beat me to the punch. As long as you keep the pressures and velocities down, that should be effective at short ranges. Don’t get too timid with your loads or you’ll be in danger of leaving the whole bullet in the bore.
    Used properly hollow base bullets can cover a multitude of shortcomings with bore fitment. As noted, the Minie Ball is ample proof of that. BTW, the skirt of a MB is pretty heavy compared to that little 32 HBWC. Hence the cautions about blown skirts.
    Froggie
    "It aint easy being green!"

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

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    When I got my Cadet it had not rechambered but I also tried some different bullets and was surprised how well they shot, I wasn't expecting it. I never tried a HBWC but regular Lee WC's shot well along with the Lee SWC.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy Ajohns's Avatar
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    And just in case you'd like to try, Old West Bullet molds sell the true 310 cadet bullets, or the mold also

  8. #8
    Boolit Master challenger_i's Avatar
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    Something I did:

    RCBS 8mm Nambu 110gr bullet, sized with a Lee .318" push-thru die (they made it for me on special order and it wasn't any more expensive than the off-the-shelf dies), loaded with a 30 Carbine die set. Was very reliable and accurate.

    Somewhere in the dusty archives, someone else had done something similar. Called it an 8mm x something or other.

    In the past, I have used the 32 HBWC. It will certainly tighten up your groups but One has to respect the velocity as that lead doughnut in the bore can be trying to remove.



    Click image for larger version. 

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    Rights, and Privileges, are not synonymous. We have the Right to Bear Arms. As soon as the Government mandates firearm registration, and permiting, then that Right becomes a Privilege, and may be taken away at our Master's discretion.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Rapidrob's Avatar
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    The .32 HBWC will work very well. I've been reloading .310 Cadet for 60 years now and it is one of my favorite calibers/rifles.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master trails4u's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by challenger_i View Post
    WARNING! Cadets are addictive!
    No truer words ever spoken......
    "Do not follow where the path might lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Ralph Waldo Emerson

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Bad Ass Wallace's Avatar
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    Wait untill you get a WW2 bayonet for your Cadet

    Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    Several years back I traded into a cadet action with new wood. The only flaw in the action was two holes in the side for a receiver sight I made up and octagon barrel and chambered it for 32 S&W and put it all together, including an old receiver sight that I had. This is a fun little "pop" gun. The only problem is that I have not located a butt plate to fit the stock.

  13. #13
    Boolit Mold
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    Ummm, challenger i -- do I now know who to contact it that happens????

  14. #14
    Boolit Master challenger_i's Avatar
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    Cadets Anonymous.
    Rights, and Privileges, are not synonymous. We have the Right to Bear Arms. As soon as the Government mandates firearm registration, and permiting, then that Right becomes a Privilege, and may be taken away at our Master's discretion.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    I went with a friend today to the gun shop to pick up a rifle he ordered.
    While I was there I cast my eye around and picked up a Sportco 22lr martini that has lots of patina on it.
    The bore and chamber looked good and the action looks like it’s never been taken out since it left the factory.
    So it will come to stay here with the abandoned mottly mob of Martini’s
    I did see a nice Wesley Richards just sitting there too. Oooohhhh!
    I’m sure they just trickle one or two out of the rubbish bin for me to take home every now and again.

    I’m not a sucker for martini’s.

    Then there was the 303 Calvary carbine……………
    Last edited by barrabruce; 02-11-2025 at 07:15 AM.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check