Has anyone swaged 8mm bullets to .321 to use
in a 32 special model 94? I need more bullets choices.

quote:

Originally posted by GunTruck:
Has anyone swaged 8mm bullets to .321 to use
in a 32 special model 94? I need more bullets choices.

I loaded Norma 8mm .323 bullets for a 32 Remington pump action I had many years ago. They shot okay as a short term measure until I could get some more factory ammo. I couldn't get proper 32 calibre bullets and had to cut a cannelure groove into the jacket so I could crimp for the tube magazine.

No problem I swaged bullets down lot further then that is one pass. 430s to .416.

Yes, I do that in a reloading press with un- hardened dies made in my lathe; I use STP lube. .002 is nothing; read what p dog said.
I have mostly sized .375 down to .366 back when we couldn't get 9.3 bullets but not now. Can't find that die either as someone else wanted it....
And sized lots of .430 to .412 to fit a 405 WCF. That works too.

Thanks for the info. I think Lyman will make
me a die.

But actually, people have fired the Hornady 8mm bullets in 32 Specials without issue. They are soft and work in the 32 barrel. If I had some I would try them as I have 32 Special Model 94s.

In my testing I have fired .310 and .311 diameter bullets in .308 barrels . I opted to start with slower burning powder with some what reduced loads. In my mind this would accommodate for the higher initial pressure that could occur as the bullet took the reduced diameter form of the barrel.
With your 32 special I think you should proceed ( APPROACH ) with a fair amount of caution
roger

I have some old 8mm bullets some one gifted me.
I have shot 357 bullets in 9mm and 38 super.
might give them a try?

A lead core jacketed bullet which is only .002" oversize for the barrel's groove diameter will easily swage down as it is fired. It is not necessary to swage it down before hand.

As others have inferred, pressures might be higher with a .002" oversize bullet, but other factors like the hardness/thickness of the jacket and the length of the bearing surface will likely make more pressure difference than the .002 oversize. Nonetheless, a judicious starting load to "proof" any particular bullet is wise to begin with.

you swage UP not down.

.002 over size is not really oversize in many rifles.
both of my 32 win's will easily accept 324 diameter bullets.

you'd be surprised by the measurements I have found in many guns.
for instance about 3/4 of the 9mm barrels I have measured come in at 357 not 355.
about half of the other 25% come in at 356, a few at 358 and a few are actually 355.
I have found a few 44 mag barrels as large as 432, and some modern 45 colts at 454.

The only critical factor in firing oversize bullets is neck clearance. Be sure that the bullet you want to use will pass freely into the mouth/neck of a fired case from the rifle in question. A case neck must have room to expand in order to release the bullet.

Decades ago, the NRA experimented with a 6.5 mm Japanese Arisaka service rifle which had been rechambered to .30-'06, in the mistaken belief that it was actually 7.7mm. It had been fired with no harm to the shooter. The only complaint was that the recoil was excessive. Test firing under controlled conditions showed .30 caliber bullets which had been elongated by the swaging process, but there was no damage to the action and headspace remained within prescribed limits. In that instance the bullets were .044" (16%) oversize.

quote:

you swage UP not down

You can swage up or down.


swaging is just using a swage to shape metal not direction specific.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
[QUOTE]you swage UP not down

You can swage up or down.


swaging is just using a swage to shape metal not direction specific.[/QUOTE

roger ]

There is one technical reason that when you alter the size of a bullet, you want to swage UP if you can. Reason is that the copper jacket will size down, along with the lead core. Then the copper, being more ductile and springy than lead, will expand some, leaving the lead core, loose.
If you swage/bump up, that won't happen. That is how you make new bullets.
But for this purpose, it won't matter.
But just try some at .323; the plain Hornadys will work. Do not try it with any military or steel jacketed 8mms. Or any solid brass or copper ones, or even Partitions. But you know that.

I,ll load one of those gifted bullets in a case with no powder and see if it will chamber
first.

ch4d can make you dies.. for about $65 bucks ..

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
ch4d can make you dies.. for about $65 bucks ..

Why bother? If you'll look at a drawing of the 8x57 and the 8x60 the two cartridges are identical except for 3mm in length. Just as you can reload .357's with .38 Special dies, you can full length or partial size the 8x60 with 8x57 dies just by backing them off of the shellholder the proper amount. Similarly, the seating die just needs to be backed off so that the shoulder or crimp ring doesn't prematurely make contact.

If using .318" bullets then you will need to substitute an expander ball of the proper diameter to leave the case neck the right diameter.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
But actually, people have fired the Hornady 8mm bullets in 32 Specials without issue. They are soft and work in the 32 barrel. If I had some I would try them as I have 32 Special Model 94s.

Parker Ackley in his Handbooks for Shooters and Reloaders talks about using oversize bullets like 8mm in a .30 caliber with no issues.

Jeff means CH bullet swaging dies.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Jeff means CH bullet swaging dies.

Understood, but underscoring that it's not necessary to swage down if a slightly larger alternative exists. Just make sure that neck diameter of the loaded round won't be an issue.

Was not referring to your post.