1849 conversion

[kernel]

Greetings,

Found this great forum last night and signed up. I'm looking at getting the 1849 pocket pistol and the cylinder conversion in .32 short. Can the cylinder be reamed to accept .32 auto. Would .32 auto be too high in chamber pressure? My reason for asking is I have a bunch of .32 auto's and would like to keep my ammo compatibility down. Be kind and keep your powder dry, Amigo's 

[FriscoCounty]

To be clear, all the conversion cylinders I know about, including the drop-in and gated versions, are chambered for .32 S&W short.  This is not the same as the .32 short Colt  cartridge.

The .32 S&W short chamber is SAAMI spec'ed to have a tapered cylinder from .350 to .3396 with .6089 depth from breech face. A breech face recess of .382+.012 in diameter and a .055 to .069 depth. At .6089 the cylinder is spec'ed to reduce to .314 over a distance of .0578. Max length on a .32 S&W cartridge is 0.930.

The .32 auto cartridge has a tapered diameter of between .3373 and .3365, a length of .680-.020 (max with bullet .984), and a lip of .358-.008 (d) and .045-.011(w).

Other than cartridge length, the .32 S&W is a larger cartridge than the .32 auto.  If the cylinder does not reduce in size, the .32 auto cartridge 'might' drop in.  Certainly would rattle a little bit if'n it did.

The .32 S&W generates 13,000 CUP with an 88 grain bullet.  The .32 Auto 16,300 CUP with a 71 grain bullet.  The .32 Auto generates 3,300 CUP more pressure than the .32 S&W.

I'm certainly not going to tell you to try it, with an ill fitting cartridge and higher pressures.

On the other hand, shooting the 1849 conversion (with .32 S&W rounds) is fun.  So, forget this .32 auto thing, get your self the conversion and some .32 S&W ammo and have at it.

[kernel]

Frisco: Thanks for the info. I was just curious and was wishing I wouldnt have to add another caliber to my growing collection. Oh well, looks like I'll just have to "bite the bullett" and man up. 

[Hoof Hearted]

Kernel

Thought this might make you froth at the bit...............

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,18953.0.html

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

At one time when I couldn't find .32 short ammo or cases, I tried a .32 auto case but using a load appropriate for a "short".

I gave it up as the auto rim is too thin, giving too much headspace.

[kernel]

Hoof Hearted: That's just "WRONG"

[kernel]

Has anyone used Trail boss powder in reloading for the .32 short?

[will52100]

Been thinking about a kirst in a 49 myself, mainly since I'm not a good machinest to make a cylinder in 22 long rifle!

What's the basic black powder load and how does it shoot?  Would it satisfy a worthog like my self as a plinker?

Thanks

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Although mine is an 1863 Remington, I bought it used because it had been converted to .32 S&W with a cylinder from Millington.

As a point of reference, I shot some Mag-Tech S&W LONG by mistake ... the pistol shot it, but I had to use a dowel to push the jammed brass out of the cylinders ....

But it shoots .32 cowboy loads just fine ... all I need to do now is to raise the front sight to double the height it is now ... cause it tends to shoot high enough that if I aim it at a pocket pistol target three feet away, I will just go over the target ... just.