Multiple cartridges shot from same rifle...do I have it right?

[briannmilewis]

I was looking thru Lees Modern Reloading at cartridge specs and wondered if there were any other combinations of cartridges that can be shot out of the same gun.

For instance, I knew that if a rifle is chambered for 357 Maximum, you can shoot 38 Sp (CL=1.155"), 357 Mag (CL=1.290"), 360 DW (CL = 1.415") and 357 Max (CL = 1.605").

Likewise, if you have a rifle chambered in 445 Super Mag, you can shoot 44 Sp (CL = 1.160"), 44 Mag (CL = 1.285") and 445 Super Mag (CL = 1.600").

I also know that there may be a big jump to the rifling for the 38sp (.450") and 44 Sp (.440"), but the reports from 357 Max owners say no big deal, 38s shoot accurately.

So I paired up some others, and I would like to know if I have missed any obvious non-wildcat combos.

All combos are for rifle NOT handgun.

Except for the 40 S&W which is .001" smaller in diameter than the 10mm Auto, all combos are for cartridges that are dimensionally identical except for case length.

32 S&W Long (CL = .920") in 32 H&R Mag (CL = 1.075") Don't forget the 32 S&W
38 Auto (CL = .900") in 38 Super Auto (CL = .900")

40 S&W (CL = .850") in 10mm Auto (CL = .992")

45 ACP (CL = .898") in 45 Win Mag (CL = 1.198")

480 Ruger (CL = 1.285") in 475 Linebaugh (CL = 1.400") Maybe - the 480 has a thicker rim

Just wondering for future reference.

[quickdtoo]

Here's a list of unsafe combinations.

Tim

http://www.saami.org/Unsafe_Combinations.cfm

[securitysix]

38 Auto (CL = .900") in 38 Super Auto (CL = .900")

40 S&W (CL = .850") in 10mm Auto (CL = .992")

45 ACP (CL = .898") in 45 Win Mag (CL = 1.198")

No can do on these.  Semi-auto pistol cartridges headspace on the case mouth.  The chamber has to be cut so that the mouth of the case will hold it in the right place for these semi-auto cartridges.  Revolver cartridges like the others you've mentioned, headspace on the rim, so it's no biggie to stick the shorter version of a particular cartridge (say .38 Special) into a longer chamber (like the .357 Mag or Max).  A revolver using moon clips for the semi-auto cartridges would probably let you get away with it, but that's because the moon clips would hold them in the right position rather than relying on the headspace cut in the chamber.

[R.W.Dale]

One of the few rifle chamberings that can fire another cartridge is 300 weatherby.  You can fireform 300H&H      Magnum into 300wby brass

[krod47nw]

454 Casull will shoot the 45 colt safely.

Kevin

[stimpylu32]

There are a couple more , in wheel guns that shoot 45 auto you can also shoot 45 Auto Rim , and the new 327 Fed Mag Ruger will shoot all that shoot in the 32 H&R .

stimpy

http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm

[.375 Hawk]

454 Casull will shoot the 45 colt safely.

Kevin

The .460 S&W Magnum will also shoot the 454 Casull,  the .45 Colt , and the .45 Schofield.

I think I may have missed one.....

Eddie

[Lone Star]

38 Auto (CL = .900") in 38 Super Auto (CL = .900")....No can do on these.

Actually, you can fire the .38 ACP in a .38 Super chamber with perfect safety - both have the same 'rimmed' case.  But the .38 Super is loaded to much higher chamber pressures, so it is extremely unwise to load that cartridge into a .38 ACP chamber....



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[krod47nw]

I believe you can also shoot the 44 russian in the 44 mag or 445.  If you can find a 44 russian.


Kevin

[briannmilewis]

Here's a list of unsafe combinations.

Tim

http://www.saami.org/Unsafe_Combinations.cfm

What a great list link...opened that page and saved that one.

Ask and you shall be enlightened. This forum just blows me away with the thoughtfulness of responses.

OK, we have some conflicting or gray areas.

I believe you can also shoot the 44 russian in the 44 mag or 445.  If you can find a 44 russian.
Kevin

I was going to add the Russian but the jump would be CL = .970 compared to the 445 Super Mag of 1.630"...that seemed just an awful long way.

Lone Star: Thanks... This OK...38 Auto (CL = .900") in 38 Super Auto (CL = .900") because it is a less powerful round (38 Auto) in a much stronger chamber (38 Super Auto), and they are dimensionally identical.

Tim, for this group...32 S&W Long (CL = .920") in 32 H&R Mag (CL = 1.075") Don't forget the 32 S&W. I looked at the 32 S&W but compared to the 32 S&W Long the rim thickness (-.001), rim diameter (+.003) and case diameter (+.002) are different. My naivety made me think these differences were too much.

.375 Hawk & krod47nw: Thanks for this group...The .460 S&W Magnum will also shoot the 454 Casull,  the .45 Colt , and the .45 Schofield.

stimpy: Thanks for these..."There are a couple more, in wheel guns that shoot 45 auto you can also shoot 45 Auto Rim , and the new 327 Fed Mag Ruger will shoot all that shoot in the 32 H&R."

The 327 Fed mag will shoot one more older cartridge...I can't remember, will have to look it up in my old copies of Shooting Times.

securitysix...thanks for the confirmation below.





 

[securitysix]

38 Auto (CL = .900") in 38 Super Auto (CL = .900")....No can do on these.

Actually, you can fire the .38 ACP in a .38 Super chamber with perfect safety - both have the same 'rimmed' case.  But the .38 Super is loaded to much higher chamber pressures, so it is extremely unwise to load that cartridge into a .38 ACP chamber....



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Sorry, you're quite right.  I was thinking .380 ACP, not .38 ACP.  They're different, but my eyes played a trick on me.

[Lone Star]

The whole .38 ACP/.38 Super Auto was a fiasco anyway.  Loading the identical case to 43% higher pressures guaranteed problems, particularly when fired in 'weak' handguns.  Real smart using names that were so close too.

Then chambering the latter cartridge in the Colt 1911 to headspace on the RIM was terrible design and engineering.  In addition to feeding issues, accuracy was horrible until the aftermarket solved the problem and offered barrels chambered to headspace off the case mouth.  Finally a decent application - which was soon eclipsed by the various .40/10 mms.



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