Chamber adapter/inserts are they safe to use

C

commonman

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
93   0   0
Location
Alberta
I have read about these things in a few places and am wondering if firstly are they safe to use and are there any issues other than safety that a person should be concerned about, as in possible damage to the rifle etc.

There have been occassions where the ability to shoot a very light load with a more powerful rifle would have come in handy. One that I was looking at was for a 308 win and adapted it to shoot 32 acp, handy for filling the pot while hunting for bigger game, or teaching a youngster how to shoot the heavier rifle.

I am interested in your experiences.
 
I had one for my 3006 and the very first shot at 25 yards was absolutely dead centre. After that I was looking at 4, 5 and 6 inch groups for three shots. It also used the 32 ACP.
 
I had one in 32 ACP for my 30-30 and it was great for chickens.The one I had for .22 mag in .222 was crap and was jammed first shot and wrecked it removing it........a .308 dia buckshot crimped in 30cals works for short range plinking or load 30 M1 carbine FMJ's........Harold
 
Chamber adaptor

I tried an adaptor that allowed me to shoot 7.62X39 in a .303 British. Using a low miles No.4 Longbranch, the adaptor developed cracks around the shoulder and base. It was made of stainless steel which might have been to brittle. Those six shots were fun however. Have know people that had adaptors to shoot 45/70 in .450/577 Martini's with no problems.
Geoff
 
They are not the most accurate things but they do work after a fashion. A word to the wise! Buy 1/2 dozen of them not just one. They can be a bit of a pain in the butt to knock the 32 ACP case out of when a rabid chicken is attacking you. Beware of squibs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if it makes a sort of FUNK sound when you pull the trigger check the bore to make sure the bullet cleared the barrel. I have knocked out several stuck 32 bullets for customers and I have seen others that have fired a rifle shell into a squib. Doing so tends to shorten your barrel dramatically. If you use good quality modern ammo you should have no problem. www.mcace.com/adapters.htm, these guys make darned near every combination you can dream of. Rod
 
I've used the Hammond Gamegetter with great sucess, Uses the "remington" 22 industrial nail gun cartridges from any good Hardware store. Its deadly on bush chickens and feral cats!!!! JITC
 
Whats your deffinition of adaptor??

European gunmakers have been making adaptors for eons. Some can even turn your shot gun into a 30-06. ACCURATELY

54351_1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Whu don't you just load some light loads? They work a lot better than any of the auxilliary cartridges. For years I use a 100 grain cast bullet in a .308 at just under 1000 fps. It was great on grouse etc.
 
Adapters

I have two- a 22LR in a 22/250 and a 45ACP in a 458 win Mag. Both have been fired, no cracks, no problems but target rifles they are not. The 45/458 has a realistic range of 25 yards or so; beyond that groups expand beyond tin can size. When you actually look a center fire model, like my 45/458, it is pretty simple and I assume a hobbyist machinist could easily make one from a brass case. Rimfire/centerfire conversion is more complicated. Good luck.
 
longbranch* said:
Have know people that had adaptors to shoot 45/70 in .450/577 Martini's with no problems.Geoff
Click to expand...
I have made quite a number of these inserts, and more then a few for the gang op in Vic. Mostly in 45/70, 45-LC and 45-ACP.
The problem with these old Martini's is that the bore diameters vary greatly, if you have a tight bore, the 45-LC and 45-ACP shoot not too bad out of these guns, and the 45/70 requires a light load, otherwise it will crack the insert, the same holds true for any thin wall insert, they will crack if the load is not reduced.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/alflipo/inserts.jpg
 
Last edited:
More questions

It is starting to sound to me that a lot of the commercially available adapters are iffy. I checked on those Gamegetters, an interesting little product. I believe that I will get one of those just to play with.

The pictures that Al Flipo posted are much appreciated, but you mentioned wall thickness. What would you class as a thin wall, and what material are you using. Also noted that some fellows find they are inaccurate, and I understand how the variances in the bores of old guns would cause that but would the length of the smooth throat from the child cartridge to the lead into the barrel play a part?

Cman
 
Does anyone know if inserts or adapters are subject to U.S. export restrictions? I kind of like the idea of 38Spcl plinking out of a 20ga.
 
commonman said:
but would the length of the smooth throat from the child cartridge to the lead into the barrel play a part?Cman
Click to expand...
It may not be all that accurate, but, you are not shooting at any great distance
I don't think that you have to worry about damaging the insert with that small cartridge. Play with it and have fun.
The insert looks good.
144006_ts.JPG
 
Adapters

I believe the accuracy problem is caused by the long distance that the bullet has to "jump" before it encounters the rifling in the host barrel. For example in my 45 ACP/458 Winchester Magnum adapter, the pistol bullet jumps inches, not thousands of inches.
 
longbranch* said:
I tried an adaptor that allowed me to shoot 7.62X39 in a .303 British. Using a low miles No.4 Longbranch, the adaptor developed cracks around the shoulder and base. It was made of stainless steel which might have been to brittle. Those six shots were fun however. Have know people that had adaptors to shoot 45/70 in .450/577 Martini's with no problems.
Geoff
Click to expand...

I recently bought the same adapter. I managed to fire two shots. The 7.62x39 shell wedged itself so tightly into the adapter that it had to be pounded out with considerable effort at home. I didn't get far enough for it to crack.
Next idea...:bangHead:

Adapter.jpg
 
The Hammond Game Getter is a much better system that the cartridge adapters. I have used both and found the Getter to be more accurate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom