"Plinker" loads for .32 projectiles in a .30-06?

[Bwana John]

I just acquired 500 70 grain 32 acp "pulls" with the idea of using them as plinker rounds in a .30-06.

Does anybody have any load data for bullets this light? Any Ideas about powder; 4759, 4895, Trail Boss....

I am currently loading 30-06 with 110 gr plated RN bullets with ~18gr SR4759 and its a wonderful load.

I believe the .32 bullets are .309-.312, can they be put thru a bullet sized for lead bullets to make them .308, or should I just load um up and see how they shoot?

 

[45lcshooter]

To me sounds feaseable but I'm not sure a sizing die could handle fmj bullets, if that what you have.

Next possible issue, its a smaller in length bullet so your COAL is going to be thrown off.

I would just stick to your recipe for the 110gr, probably save a few headaches. Trade or swap the 32cL bullets for more 30cal bullets.

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

You will be heading for trouble if you attempt this one I fear. That bullet will be so short it will completely leave the case before it touches the riflings not to mention how little of the bullet would be seated into the case neck when you run out of the bore riding surface of the bullet and go past the bullets ogive. As for swaging down jaketed bullets using bullet sizers it can be done using Lee push through dies but you need to keep it to a minimum as in this case of .003 inches and is best done in 2 stages to avoid over stressing the bullet resulting in loss of bonding between the jacket and the core. I contacted Lee many years ago about this same issue needing to downsize some .32 cal. .312 dia. pistol bullets as well for a limited production .310 dia. bore in a 32-20 bolt rifle. It works fine. The bullets shot very well. Of note if you do this you need to use a good case lube such as RCBS on the bullets. I also ran the bullets 2X through the final die and they were polished so smooth you couldnt tell they had been sized. I also am doing this with 150 gr. 303 britt bullets down to the .310 diameter for a very tight pre war Mosin Nagant that slugs at .3095 and is VERY accurate with these bullets and running much faster than published velocities. As stated by another poster dont go under the 110 gr. minimum recommended bullets in your 30-06 for the reasons covered here .

 

[kingmt]

If they will chamber I wouldn't size. 10-20gn of Blue Dot should be fun.

 

[Norm Lee]

plinkers

about 17.5 gr of 4759 should be pleasant to shoot. You can go up or down from here to tune for accuracy. Seat bullet to depth equal to bullet diameter or a little deeper.

Cheers,

Norm