New caliber to convert .32 acp pistols to restricted

prosper said:
I wonder - could these be rebarrelled with a barrel stamped '7.65 mm Browning?' That would take 32acp brass, bullets and dies as-is because 7.65mm is the euro designation for the 32 ACP; which is, of course, not *actually* a '32 caliber' at all (just like the 38 special is actually closer to a 36 caliber than a 38, for example)
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There was a court verdict saying that 7.65 Browning is still a 32 cal, and it's a precedent and has not been reversed.

That means that even a longer bbl in that calibre is still a prohib. Too bad. NFA should have the info as IIRC they were closely involved with the case.
 
scott said:
did the cfc change their policy again on cal change? I thought change in cal would not make .32's restricted as the receiver was always prohib. they seem to change back and forth every few years.
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Scott;...can the frame be considered to even have a calibre? Surely the calibre of a semi auto pistol is that of whatever barrel is installed in it as the chamber is integral to that barrel.

I can see this being an issue for revolvers as the chamber(s) are in the cylinder and distinct from the bore. WI guess it would also make any attempt at .32 revolver conversion problematical at best.

Dave
 
Sent my .32 Femaru in for a change-over to .30 Reid in March and still haven't received the CFO inspection (as of June 30). Epp's techs said it can take up to 4 months for CFO to verify the caliber change..
Anyone know if there is a problem with the laws shifting again?
 
It is August 1 and still no Femaru pistol. CFO seems to be sitting on it.
Approved today, now to be approved by CFO.
 
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Got the Femaru from EPPS. They did an excellent job of making a new .30 reid barrel. The CFO took a bunch of time but he/she eventually completed the task .
 
I am curious if this option is still available ? I would be interested in converting a 1914 Mauser and wondering if that is possible ? Would Epps be able to make a new barrel ?

Thanks for the help.
 
Yup, just did one, cost 225$. I am currently looking for the .30 Reid caliber ammo and the reloading dies, bullets and brass. Anybody knows where I can find it?
 
Any light 30cal bullet (around the 85gr mark) and use the same load data as 32acp. Get the dies at epps as well.
 
Popov102 said:
Yup, just did one, cost 225$. I am currently looking for the .30 Reid caliber ammo and the reloading dies, bullets and brass. Anybody knows where I can find it?
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Hi, just wondering how you made out with finding dies, price etc or if you got that far. What pistol did you have converted? I have access to a 1903 colt 32 cal - Epps said conversion is $300 but also want to factor in other costs to see how much sentimentality can bear. Anyone have a colt converted and if so, how does it shoot? Same mag work?
Thanks!
 
sounds to me like all they are doing here is taking 32 ACP brass and converting it to 30 reid, making it a bottleneck pistol cartridge.

Therefore all original magazines *should* work just fine, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't (it's basically like converting a 40S&W to a 357 SIG - it's just a barrel change, mags still work fine with both calibers). Can't imagine any other costs associated with it, other than the obvious reloading dies, brass to convert, bullets and powder. Pretty cool little idea here, but I do wonder how many 30 caliber bullets are available in 85 grain and around there? They must be out there, or Epps wouldn't bother with this, but I just haven't seen a lot of them.

On the upside, there shouldn't be any reason you couldn't just use cast bullets, which I'm sure are easier to find in 30 caliber. Cool idea here, would be neat to be able to own one of these little guns (even if you did have to have the barrel sticking out like that)
 
Thats what I thought - though dies are pricey - $148 and Doug the gunsmith at Epps (who has been really helpful) has bullets for around 32 per hundred. Brass seems a bit scarce but havent begun looking in earnest until I decide whether worth it - sure would be nice to run across someone that had this done to get a feel for how it turned out as well as different reload experiences. Doug was saying the barrel ends up sticking out about a half inch - which isnt too bad cosmetic-wise.
 
mellie said:
Thats what I thought - though dies are pricey - $148 and Doug the gunsmith at Epps (who has been really helpful) has bullets for around 32 per hundred. Brass seems a bit scarce but havent begun looking in earnest until I decide whether worth it - sure would be nice to run across someone that had this done to get a feel for how it turned out as well as different reload experiences. Doug was saying the barrel ends up sticking out about a half inch - which isnt too bad cosmetic-wise.
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You wont find brass, you have to make it from 32acp brass. You wont find loaded ammo either. 30 reid is a 100% hand load option for these guns.
 
Any idea what a Browning 1900 or 1910/1922 would cost? I have the chance to buy buy a few, and would love to have them converted.

Also, what exactly is the .30 Reid? Is it just a .32 ACP that's sized down .004? Will .32acp rounds still work in the new chamber?
 
Blastattack said:
Any idea what a Browning 1900 or 1910/1922 would cost? I have the chance to buy buy a few, and would love to have them converted.

Also, what exactly is the .30 Reid? Is it just a .32 ACP that's sized down .004? Will .32acp rounds still work in the new chamber?
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.32 ACP will not work. You'll need to hand load using commonly available components, and brass necked down.
 
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