8mm (.323") bullets in .32 Win Special?

[lgm270]

Anybody tried loading 8mm (.323" ) bullets in the .32 Winchester Special?  The official diameter for the .32 Special is .321" and for the 8mm a mere 2 one-thousanths of an inch larger at .323". 

Setting aside the issue of pointed bullets in tubular magazines, which can be avoided by loading one round in the chamber and them a single round in the tubular magazine, it appears that the .323" 150 grain bullets by Hornady, Sierra and Speer, as well as the all copper TSX 160 grain  Barnes bullet would be good performers in the .32 Special. 

Any comments?

[Tom H.]

I have a 32 special but haven't tried it.  In 'Cartridges of the World', they recommend using the Hornady RN .323 in 32s with worn out bores.  Supossedly it gives a good increase in accuracy.

Tom

[kombi1976]

As much as there may be an improvement in dowrange ballistics, and here's no guarantee on that,  8mm SP bullets would not be somthing I'd be messing with in a 32 Special lever gun. Whilst I'm sure you would be careful yourself all you need is a less attentive or mistaken hunting buddy and you could end up with a busted gun and an injured friend.
On a custom or worn barrelled single shot in 32 Special it would be a very interesting experiment but I wouldn't trust myself with these loads. Besides, don't Hornady make an XTP (flexible tip) bullet in 32 cal? To boot, you're likely to wear the bbl faster with an oversize bullet. I even hazard a guess that jackets for the 32 Special are lighter.

[dpe.ahoy]

Should be just the ticket using cast bullets.   DP

[kombi1976]

Should be just the ticket using cast bullets.   DP

Ahhhh, now that is an entirely different proposition!

[454Puma]

That .002" could be enough of a pressure spike to bust your gun!     If you know your bore is worn out  slug it see how worn it is!  if your just a 001" then I'd try it!

[336SC]

lgm270,
Even if everything went okay loading and shooting the .323 jacketed 8mm bullets in your .32 Special, the 8mm bullets are made to expand at velocities much higher than the .32 Special.  With Speer making .321 170gr FN bullets as components along with
Hornady, there really is no need to "experiment" with a larger tougher bullet.  Hornady has even released thier FTX 165gr bullet
as a reloading component.  Stay with the three component bullets for the .32 Special or cast your own.  I have four .32 Win
Specials and I'm quite pleased with the selection of component bullets and my wonderfully accurate cast bullets.
336SC

PS:  The often stated scenario of loosing accuracy in the .32 Special when the bore gets a little worn is just urban legend!!! Who among us would ever shoot our .32 Specials to the point of wearing out the bore!  It is often said it was becuase of the
1-16 twist that it wore quicker.  The .35 Remington has the same twist rate and when have you heard they wear out?  The loss of accuracy with the .32 Special is caused more from neglect when they used to shoot corrosive primed ammo, not from wearing out the bore.