Martini Cadet Rebore Barrel or Replace Barrel?
I have a Martini Cadet 310 rechambered to 32-20 Win. I have to use 0.316 sized cast bullets and reload the cartridge so precisely concentric that I have only found one manufacturer's dies (its Hornady's dies) that can do it about 90% of the time and only if I partially seat the bullet to OCL and then rotate the case 180 degrees and then complete the bullet seating to OCL. Even though, I used a variety of reloads accuracy is not too good.
I've thinking of either replacing the barrel and sticking with the 32-20 or possibly hybrid 30-20 (looks like a 32-20 but shoots .308 bullets) - Tompson Center did this according to one reloading manual.
The other idea, was to rebore the old barrel to fit the 357 Mag.
but is the barrel too soft? Does the breech block have to be scalloped out(i.e., deepened) to fit cartridge?
Thank You
Kenneth
I've thinking of either replacing the barrel and sticking with the 32-20 or possibly hybrid 30-20 (looks like a 32-20 but shoots .308 bullets) - Tompson Center did this according to one reloading manual.
The other idea, was to rebore the old barrel to fit the 357 Mag.
but is the barrel too soft? Does the breech block have to be scalloped out(i.e., deepened) to fit cartridge?
Thank You
Kenneth
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I had one years ago with the same problem. Believe your bullets are actually undersized. The groove diameter on mine when I slugged it was in the .319/.320 range. Being your using cast lead bullets they should be at least .001 over groove diameter.
As I recall the only readily available bullets that were that size were for the .32 Winchester Special and were quite a bit heavier then the bullets the .310 Cadet were loaded with.
In recent years I have obtained .320 diameter TMJ bullets that Graf & Son sells for loading 8mm Nambu pistol cartridges. You might give them a try before rebarreling the Cadet.
As the .32 Winchester Special bullets have the correct groove diameter, you could have the barrel rechambered for it to see how it would work out.0 -
Ken
Look at the new .327. You can shoot 32 straight cases down to the 32 short.
The .327 supposedly can be loaded to hot 32-20 levels.0 -
A. REBORE TO .357......THIS WORKS WELL, I'VE SEEN SEVERAL DONE
B. RECHAMBER TO .32 SPCL OR .32/40, I'VE GOT A .32/40 THAT WORKS WELL W/150 GN CAST BULLETS
C. FIND A MOULD FOR THE .31 CAL. PERCUSION REVOLVERS
D. REBARREL TO .327 (OR .32/20), THIS WORKS WELL ALSO. I HAVE A .32/20 DONE THIS WAY. SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A P-14 DRILL RIFLE BARREL, THERE USED TO BE BUNCHES AT THE GUN SHOWS FOR $5. THE .32/20 DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY EXTRACTOR WORK0 -
Hello have you tried any 32S&W long hollow base wadcutter for your rifle[?] I have a colt lightning that I think is factory chambered in 32/20 the bore is 99% near mint however when slugging the bore it is about .318 [:(!]. At 50 yards pattern is about 2 Ft X 2Ft with .314 bullets as well as some molded and unsized but lubed .316 even these bullets go through sideways etc [V] I tried some 32 S&W Hollow base and group was 1.5 inches at 50 yards [^]. Now if I could only find some hollow base ROUND nose I would be good to go [:D]. The wadcutter would be fine for a single shot just will not feed very well in a Rifle with tube magazine [:(] 0 -
I had one that was rebarreled to .357 mag and it was great fun to shoot. If you can find one you could bore out the barrel and sleeve it to a wide variety of cartridges from .17 Hornet to ??? 0 -
Why not try some bigger bullets if the bore is .320? It would sure be easier to alter your reloading dies than the gun. Perhaps you could beagle your molds or just use a harder alloy than you need so it would cast bigger.
In case your dies won't take a bigger diameter bullet, maybe you could test bigger bullets by using 'semi-fixed' ammo i.e. lightly press a bullet into the lands, then a charged case. Then if it worked you could invest in a seater die which could put a .320 bullet into a 32-20 case.
A fired case could be deprimed with a punch or with the decapper removed from the die. Just be careful how you plug the case because if you take up volume such as with a thick beeswax disc, you'll decrease case capacity and raise pressure.
Lee will modify a die for $25 if you can find a way to create a dummy cartridge without already having a die. I wonder if you just talked to them, if they could ream out a 32-20 seating die to take .320 bullets without a dummy.
The plated 8mm Nambu bullets probably have to be kept below 1500 fps like other plated bullets.0 -
Thank You All
For all the ideas for rebarreling/chambering my Martini Cadet 32-20. I'll have to think on this some and decide how to precede with this neat little rifle.
Kenneth0 -
They used a heel base bullet. I believe Buffalo Arms sells the correct ones. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by joel_black
They used a heel base bullet. I believe Buffalo Arms sells the correct ones.
310 cadet was available in both heel seated and inside lubricated styles.0
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