a question about shell holders...

BlackPowderBurner

BlackPowderBurner

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
123   0   3
Location
the chesterfield
I am trying to figure out what shell holders will work for 32-20 (to be made into 8mm French Ordnance). From what I can tell, a Lee #6, RCBS #1 or Hornady #7 are all specifically made to work HOWEVER Track of the Wolf lists a Lee #3 which apparently works with .30-30, .38-55 and .32-20. This should mean that other brands shell holders meant for .30-30 and .38-55 SHOULD work with .32-20 case right?? I have an RCBS #2 I bought for .38-55 that I am hoping will do however I don't have brass with me to check.

Would one of you kind gents be able to test it out?

Thanks in advance :redface:
 
in my experience 32-20 brass varies drastically from manufacturer to manufacturer in terms of rim thickness. Some shell holders work ok on some brands , some dont. If you plan to use it for 8mm french ord. You will run in to problem of rim thickness when your fired primers will crater and not allow cylinder to turn. better off getting 7.62 nagant brass and use that for this caliber. 7.62 nagant rims are proper for 8mm and brass is properly tapered, while 30-20 has ejector groove cut and tapered differently.
 
Lee shell holders are pretty sloppy compared to the rest, usually why there are several that will work with the same cases, but other makers are more specific.
 
The number 3 is definitely not going to work for 32-20. It's likely a typo of 32-40 which has the same rim and head as the 30-30 case.

32-20 cases work well in my 8mm but it's true that some have less head space. Try before buying too much of any particular brand. Look into thinning the rims or getting the Nagant brass. But to complicate matters, some Nagant brass (fiocchi?) will also need a special shell holder or to have a groove cut or the head turned down slightly. I was disappointed to find that out when I thought I'd got a great deal on some brand new cases a few years ago.

Hopefully 32-20 works for you. It's simple that way. I think Winchester has the thinnest rim of the common brands. It's easy to form using Hornaday 8mm dies and a trimmer.
 
My advice on this is if you don't have any 32-20 brass then don't waste your time on it. Get PPU 7.62 nagant brass and trim it for 8mm Ord. case length and you will be ok with shell holders you have already.
My 1892 does not function with any 32-20 brass at all, so I only use Fiocchi or PPU brass.
PPU brass is more suited for conversion as rims much more robust than Fiocchi, but both these brands work well in this caliber.
 
Last edited:
30-30 holder will not work with 32-20.


I use a Hornady #7 shell holder. Have loaded and shot several 1000 rounds of 8mm in a few different revolvers using Starline 32-20 brass without any issue. Winchester 32-20 brass worked OK too, but avoid Rem 32-20 brass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom