.32acp bullets in rifle cartridges

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Anyone done it? I've got a box of Hornady XTP 85 grainers (.312) that I've run through a .308 sizer. I figure these should make fun little plinker/varmint loads.

I've whacked together a few .308 loads, but it was so unbelievably freaking hot here, I didn't feel like spending time at the range testing them. The nearest load data I could find was for 100gr bullets. I'm somewhat concerned that these'll be moving so fast that they'll disintegrate. Moving at 2-3 times their design speed and at a 10-inch twist spin, to boot.

Anytone ever tried this? How about in a 30-30?
 
I bought a pound Blue Dot (slowest flake powder I could find) for this purpose, but I'm nervous about just 'pouring a little in' and igniting it...
 
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It will be ok, It shouldn't fly apart. Light bullets with a light charge of slow burning pistol powder might fail to fully burn... but shouldn't go KB I would go with something like 11 or 12 grains of hs 6 or something. I Have fooled with cast bullets with pistol powder in the 7.62X39(yugosks), just to fire it in the indoor range.
 
I load 6 grains of green dot under a .357 158gr JHP pistol bullet in my 358 with very good results. Spectacular on gophers! Velocity about 850fps
 
I've heard that 11 grains of blue dot is about right for reduced 22-250 loads. A 308 uses similar charges of the same powders, so that's where I'll start, I think.

I've heard that flake powders are best because of improved ignition characteristics (vs ball and extruded)

Did you use any sort of fillers, or magnum primers?
 
With light bullets and light loads, you want a fast pistol powder like Bullseye.

If you can wait until next week, I might have some results for you. I plan to try some Lee 32 cal cast 90gr SWC bullets in a 303 Brit over 3.0 grs of Trail Boss. I'm looking for an accurate, fun, quiet, cheap, zero recoil load.
 
That's what I was about to say - the lighter the bullet, the faster the powder. I was told to fill the empty space in the casing with some fiberfill to prevent loss of accuracy due to powder randomly moving inside.
 
Blue Dot is up there with H110 and 2400 in terms of burn rate. Much MUCH faster than anything traditionally used, but slow and bulky enough to still get decent load densities & ignition. Or that's my reasoning anyway.
 
With rifle cartridges and low pressure loads pushing bullets at 1500 fps or less, a fast pistol powder is the only way to go. With fast to medium-fast pistol powders (up to about Unique), load density is irrelevant, as is the need for a filler to keep the powder together near the primer. Slower than that and it is hit and miss, with some powders reputed to be position insensitive (e.g. SR4759). Slower still and you end up with wide variations in velocity, lots of unburnt powder, and even squib loads, where the primer just blows the powder and bullet a few feet out of the barrel, or perhaps a few inches up the barrel, the latter being a PITA at best and dangerous at the worst.
 
I did some loads with 71gr. 32cal pistol bullets in 7.62X39
Was loading win 296 powder....forget how much....but the bullets chronied at 3100fps out of my SKS.....accuracy was a mess.....50 yards and it was all over the paper....and off the paper....but the gun cycled ok...

Russ...
 
Well I just got back from the range. Tried the Lee 90 gr SWC cast bullet intended for the 32/20 in my 303 Brit. Sized to 314 and lubed with Alox, over 3.5 gr of IMR Trail Boss. Could only seat to 2.625", so the bullet had a sizeable jump to the rifling. Got a consistent (and not surprising) 750 fps. Was like shooting a 22 LR. Quiet, no recoil to speak of (could watch the target and not lose my site picture between shots). Pressure was so low, I won't even have to neck size next time out, just seat the bullet.

As for accuracy - I can't yet comment. It shoots about 3' high at 100 yds and as I use the gun for deer hunting I wasn't interested in buggering with the scope. I will try again with loads up to about 5.0 grs and report back.
 
Any updates on this experiment? I've been interested in doing the same thing for quite a while, but only recently procured dies for 7.62x39 and 303 Brit. For bullets, I'm thinkin' about the .32ACP 95gr SWC and 78gr RN cast bullets from bullet barn (listed diameter is .312);

http://www.thebulletbarn.com/images/NewBullets/Pistol/02-32-H&R-SWC-FB-95gr-lg.jpg
http://www.thebulletbarn.com/images/NewBullets/Pistol/01-32-RN-BB-78gr-lg.jpg

Brinnel hardness is listed as 25 BN. Unfortunately I don't have a chronograph, so I probably won't start playing around too much until I can measure my results, but what's a good powder to start with for these bullets? I'm talkin for both 7.62x39 and 303 Brit. Plinking loads obviously only need to be hot enough to cycle the action in my SKS, but for a hunting/varmint load (eg; small QCI deer, 'coons, etc) what's the fastest I could push these in an SKS or an old 2-groove No1Mk3 (assuming I heat treat, gas check and tumble lube 'em)? I don't wanna blow anything up, including my own self :redface:
 
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Well, I had success with an 85gr jacked Hornady XTP in a 308 over a 45-ish grain charge of WC-735 (similar to H-322), for about 3300 fps if memory serves. I've recently built a 7.62x39mm bolt gun, so I'll try to cook something up there.
 
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