Converting a 310 Cadet?

W

win94oz

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Hi just wondering what cartridges could you convert a BSA Martini 310 Cadet to.

Obviously a new barrel or liner would be required to change calibre.

My main question relates to what size of rim/rims would be compatible? I know .408 rims are e.g. BEE, 25-20 and 32-20. Are an other rim sizes compatible.

I assume cartridge length is not crucial as being a single shot no magazine exists!
 
Well, you could reload for it as is, brass and dies are available, bullets you would probably have to cast. Cartridges such as the Hornet, Bee, and those based on those cases are a prime idea. 32/20 works after a fashion. I have one in .357Max which IMHO is about the longest practical length, certain bullet profiles cause slight difficulty in loading, also the case is too long to completely extract, gotta hook it with a finger. Not a problem. Some have been converted to .32Win, poor idea. Kicks the snot out of you due to light weight, also need to grind out the ramp of the breechblock to get clearance due to length, a poor idea in my experience. Back in the day there were some rebarreled to .44Mag, a very BAD idea. It fits easily enough, but the chamber walls are very thin and a bulged chamber is the result from heavy loads. Lastly you should have the firing pin bushed, the original is large and you likely will get cratering. GW
 
32-20 used to be the most common conversion, but it's just as hard to find as 310 Cadet, nowadays.

Mine is still 310 Cadet. Loaded ammo, bullets, and brass are available from Buffalo Arms in Idaho.

A Lee hand press is all you need to reload, and some folks just press the bullets in the cases by hand.

Low recoil round, and nice accuracy. Splurge on a box and give it a whirl. You might not want to convert it once you do.

You'll reduce the value by a third or half by converting, if that's a concern to you. Me, I just like to keep them original, for the history and fun of it.
 
These guys are selling one for $275 in 22 hornet.

http://www.johnsonsfirearms.com.au/second-hand-rifles/

I am tempted, but its 1500 mileas away so I can't check it out. I have bought a couple of rifles interstate before and they have been fine, but at higher price points!

I also have the option do buy a 310 cadet with a stuffed barrel for $195, if I did I would convert it to .218 Bee!
 
I think the .22 Hornet, Bee or Jet are all good options for these actions. The .223 Short in the rimmed version being talked about here in the Wildcat forum is about optimum. When I get mine fixed, it will be rebarreled at the same time to .223 Short R...

Tony
 
I got excited there for a minute, until I figured out that gun shop is in Australia... no idea how that would go, trying to buy it out of the country, & ship it to the US ???
 
There are untold numbers of Cadets in the back of US gun cabinets. Abandoned there because people have lost interest in them or inherited them and have no use for anything without a thirty shot 'nanner clip.

The problem is catching the occasional one that comes up for sale.
 
I'm always on the look out... I have 2 Enfield Martinis, & 1 really good fake, outwardly it looks really good, get into the internal parts, & it become apparent it's a Kyber Pass gun...

just a warning for anyone else looking...

that said, my Kyber Pass gun was rebarreled, rechambered, & proofed from 303 British, to 30-30, & several of the inside parts rebuilt ( they could not be replaced, with Enfield parts, as nothing was "true" being hand built )... anyway, we stamped "Not Enfield" in a very prominent area on the receiver & left the Enfield stamps on the sides, it was a 303 carbine, & it's now a 30-30 carbine, ( I left the bayonette lug ) & it shoots great with 30-30 rounds...

I'd still love to find a Cadet in original or already converted to 22 Hornet, for a reasonable price... when they hit Gun Broker, they go for too much for a project gun :)
 
Magnum Wheel Man I got excited there for a minute, until I figured out that gun shop is in Australia... no idea how that would go, trying to buy it out of the country, & ship it to the US ???
Click to expand...

I have now idea how it works the other way around, for us to import firearms the expense comes on the US side, I would assume it would be vice versa and that the exporting country is the one with the red tape!

Sorry to get you excited about that hornet cadet, do you think I should go for it?
 
"Sorry to get you excited about that hornet cadet, do you think I should go for it?"

What are you wanting for, go get it. If the work has been properly done, you'll never regret it... BTW, it'll be even better if you have the chamber cut to the improved K-Hornet...

Tony
 
I think I will buy it tomorrow, the hornet is a cheap fun cartridge to run!

Though it would just be asthmatic version of my 223!

A lot less common though!
 
These guys run between $650 and $900 on Gunbroker, so maybe spending $300 or so on importation expenses, whatever they are, isn't too bad.
 
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