Russian Nagant 1895 Chamber diameter question??
Hello Folks.. can someone out there spare a few minutes and Mic measure the inside diameter of there 1895 Nagant Cylinder ??? I know they take the 7.62 Nagant Cartridge ..but someone gave me 3 new boxes of 32 S&W Longs and said they should fire in it.. and... all the forums also seem to agree... but when I insert a 32 S&W cartridge in my cylinder there is excessive gap around the cartridge in any of the 7 openings..My chambers Mic at .355"....the 32 S&W ammo mics at .335"... Is my cylinder just oversized?? My nagant looks almost unfired with mint barrel and bluing... Any help appreciated! Thanks!
Thin the rims and reload 32-20 cases?
If you are a reloader, then 32-20 cases (not ammo!) are a much better fit in length and base diameter, the length being about the same as the Nagant up to the vestigial neck, thus allowing you to seat a bullet to about the same OAL as the Nagant round. But the rims are too thick, and you will probably have to thin them down at the front. If you thin them at the back, then the primer pocket will be too shallow for a small rifle primer. Theoretically I suppose you could thin them at the back and use a small pistol primer, but I have never done this and you will have to check the feasibility yourself.
This is a reloading tip only. Do NOT try 32-20 ammo!
P.S. PRVI now makes Nagant revolver ammo!