I have a Soviet Officer's Model Nagant Revolver. And i was wondering if it would be possible to shoot .32 S&W out of it in the standard cylnder. The only thing that I've put through it is 7.62X38R. The standard cartridge for that pistol. The problem is ammo is hard to find cheap. The reason I'm asking this is becasue I use .32 S&W blanks in it for WWII re-enacting. The blanks fit fine in the revolver, but I've yet to try it with live ammo. So if you guys know, it would help greatly. Thanks.

I have a Soviet Officer's Model Nagant Revolver. And i was wondering if it would be possible to shoot .32 S&W out of it in the standard cylnder. The only thing that I've put through it is 7.62X38R. The standard cartridge for that pistol. The problem is ammo is hard to find cheap. The reason I'm asking this is becasue I use .32 S&W blanks in it for WWII re-enacting. The blanks fit fine in the revolver, but I've yet to try it with live ammo. So if you guys know, it would help greatly. Thanks.

A whole lot of Nagant shooters do shoot .32SWL from thier revolvers. The cases will swell a good bit in the larger chamber and there is a possibility of split cases and gas leakage...but a lot of shooters do it and get away with it. .32SWL pressures (in factory loads) are pretty low, and this is the only thing that allows this.

For that matter, the .32SW (the short version) could be used...it's case is short, seldom splits, and is at very low pressure.

Now for the bad news.

The Nagant's cylinder mouth is designed to hold a bullet AND case all the way to it's end (and a little bit beyond). The diameter of the cylinder mouth is about .337" to allow the bullet and case neck to enter.

SO, when a .32SWL is fired, the .312" bullet has a .337" hole to wonder arround in before it finds rifling. Accuracy can be a bit poor (although some people report it as acceptable) and leading from gas cutting is pretty common.

Real Nagant cases supply the gas seal...as that cylinder moves forward, the very end of a real case is placed into the forcing cone to suppoly the seal. With shorter than full length Nagant cases, there is no seal.

Cuban Gun Nut: If you reload, cases can be made from 32-20 brass. Full length size and square case mouth.Chamfer and fireform. case will be .205 inches short, but will be O.K. seat the bullet completely inside the case and apply roll crimp to case mouth. if case rim is too large, turn to .388" dia.. Use a 100 grain lead 30 cal bullet in front of 3.8 grains of bullseye for 900 FPS. Hope this helps.

Lee L.

Thanks for the info guys. Nope, I don't reload. I dan't have the funds to get the equipment. Nor do i have the funds to get the books to learn how to. College sucks up every nickle and dime I make. So i can shoot both .32S&W and .32S&W long out of it. Thanks.

Thanks for the info guys. Nope, I don't reload. I dan't have the funds to get the equipment. Nor do i have the funds to get the books to learn how to. College sucks up every nickle and dime I make. So i can shoot both .32S&W and .32S&W long out of it. Thanks.

If you've got all of the guns in your signature, then sell one or two and start reloading. You'll easily make up the difference in ammo consumed, in a year or less. Seriously, give it some thought.

Those were all giving to me by my late Grandfather. When he passed away, he left me those. I could never sell them, it would just be wrong. My garndfather fleed communism and when he got here, the first thing he got was a enfield. He told me at an early age that a Man with a gun is free. he would always have a chance to fight back against those that wish to hurt him. Sorry MikeG. But I can't do it.