I think for me it would probably be wiser to buy a box of the Navy arms stuff, pull the bullets, recharge with BP and reseat the bullets. I only want a few to try out an old S&W 1 1/2. If I were going to do a lot of 32 RF shooting, the H&C dies would be the way to go, but in my case I can't see where it would be cost effective.
What can you do with a 32 rimfire?
- Thread starter gary c coffey
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
Why recharge with black powder?
After about 1912-1915 many ammo companies began to switch over to smokeless powder, or smokeless/black powder blends (think Lesmoke) in many of the older cartridges.
Depending on when it was made, your rifle may well be able to use smokeless powder loads.
After about 1912-1915 many ammo companies began to switch over to smokeless powder, or smokeless/black powder blends (think Lesmoke) in many of the older cartridges.
Depending on when it was made, your rifle may well be able to use smokeless powder loads.
reloading 32RF
Dug out this old topic on reloading 32RF and was surprised to see they could be relined to shoot .22LR. Could anyone explain me what relining is all about ? I just bought an old 1871 32RF Long Hopkins & Allen handgun and I would much prefer converting it to .22 instead of reloading the H&C way with acorn blanks and BP.
Thank you,
Danyboy
Dug out this old topic on reloading 32RF and was surprised to see they could be relined to shoot .22LR. Could anyone explain me what relining is all about ? I just bought an old 1871 32RF Long Hopkins & Allen handgun and I would much prefer converting it to .22 instead of reloading the H&C way with acorn blanks and BP.
Thank you,
Danyboy
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I have fired the Navy Arms .32 Long Rimfire cartridges in S&W No. 1 1/2 and No. 2 revolvers with no apparent damage or harm. I wouldn't fire a ton of them, but if the gun is in good shape, I don't think a few would hurt.
BTW, the old guns shoot pretty well, though the sights are very hard to use.
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As to relining, it just means drilling out the old barrel to a given diameter and inserting a liner (a thinner inner barrel) that has the rifling cut into it. After the liner is installed, it is chambered. Done well, the liner is almost invisible and can renew a worn out barrel. For several reasons, conventional lining will work only with low pressure cartridges like those being discussed here.
Liners can be obtained for .22, .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40, and maybe others, but those are the ones Brownell's has.
Jim
BTW, the old guns shoot pretty well, though the sights are very hard to use.
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As to relining, it just means drilling out the old barrel to a given diameter and inserting a liner (a thinner inner barrel) that has the rifling cut into it. After the liner is installed, it is chambered. Done well, the liner is almost invisible and can renew a worn out barrel. For several reasons, conventional lining will work only with low pressure cartridges like those being discussed here.
Liners can be obtained for .22, .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40, and maybe others, but those are the ones Brownell's has.
Jim
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I recently inherited a bunch of old stuff, including 5 never opened boxes and two partly used boxes of Winchester 32 short rimfire ammo. See attached photo. Also, I recently started a thread called "Winchester model 1885" in which I describe and show a gun that can shoot these. I haven't decided what to do with the ammo or the gun. Can anyone give me an idea of what this ammo might be worth? By the way, these cases contain black powder.
