tark
Member
I just picked up a nice Remington Rolling Block. Number two action, in 32 rimfire. Anyone know where to get ammo? Thanks.
32 rimfire ammo
- Thread starter tark
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BCRider
Member
.32 rimfire is more scarce than hen's teeth. And when it does show up you really don't want to pay the cost to shoot the stuff.
I suggest you consider the conversion options of sleeving the barrel to shoot .22LR or have the rolling block modified to convert to center fire and shoot one of the milder .32 center fire options that uses the same size bullets.
Another option that I found in checking on bullet availability is this approach to reloading for the .32 rimfire gun. It looks like it's got a lot of promise if the thicker rim "sandwich" will work in your rifle.
http://32rimfire.blogspot.ca/
From the details on that blog it looks like finding the mold to cast the heeled bullets will be the tough part. Or possibly you could find or make a swaging setup to squash .313 size cast lead bullets into a heeled shape.
Another option if you enjoy playing around with oddball stuff would be to look at sleeving the barrel to .25 and chamber for .25-20 single shot.
I suggest you consider the conversion options of sleeving the barrel to shoot .22LR or have the rolling block modified to convert to center fire and shoot one of the milder .32 center fire options that uses the same size bullets.
Another option that I found in checking on bullet availability is this approach to reloading for the .32 rimfire gun. It looks like it's got a lot of promise if the thicker rim "sandwich" will work in your rifle.
http://32rimfire.blogspot.ca/
From the details on that blog it looks like finding the mold to cast the heeled bullets will be the tough part. Or possibly you could find or make a swaging setup to squash .313 size cast lead bullets into a heeled shape.
Another option if you enjoy playing around with oddball stuff would be to look at sleeving the barrel to .25 and chamber for .25-20 single shot.
OP
OP
tark
Member
Thank you BC for the info. Looks like I have my work cut out for myself, finding ammo. I never planned on shooting it much, and as a collector it would be blasphemy to modify it. I found it at a Gander Mountain in Iowa and they had it marked up as a #4 rolling block. I paid 450 for it.. BIG mistake on their part, its worth three times that much. Thanks again.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
http://www.gunbroker.com/Ammunition/BI.aspx?Keywords=32+rimfire
Nobody still makes it, so you will be paying collector price for old 100 year old dud rounds that probably won't fire.
rc
Nobody still makes it, so you will be paying collector price for old 100 year old dud rounds that probably won't fire.
rc
Making a second firing pin so you can shoot it wouldn't be modifying it or hurt the collector value. Just put the original rimfire pin back in.
Now, modifying the original rimfire firing pin, that's a different story! That would be a sin.
Now, modifying the original rimfire firing pin, that's a different story! That would be a sin.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The problem is, the hole in the breech-face is in a different place on a RF then it is on a CF.
So a new CF FP will not work without bushing the FP hole in the breech block and drilling a new hole in the right place in the bushing.
rc
So a new CF FP will not work without bushing the FP hole in the breech block and drilling a new hole in the right place in the bushing.
rc
witchhunter
Member
If you can find ammo, it will be 3 bucks a shot and it will be older than me. Good luck.
ThomasT
Member
Even if you converted it I seem to remember that the heeled bullets were about .319. Modern 32s are .312 or .314 at best so shooting new CF ammo would still need to have an oversized bullet loaded in it. Good luck finding a mold or swaging die without a lot of expense.
If you paid $450 and can sell it for 3 times that much I would dump it and find something that shoots a more common ammo.
If you paid $450 and can sell it for 3 times that much I would dump it and find something that shoots a more common ammo.
Good point RC. I'm not familiar with this gun, it was just a suggestion. The Marlin we did this with, the firing pin was made from a flat piece of tool steel that slides in a channel in the bolt. To make a CF pin, we just copied the RF pin but moved the striking point over a tad. Worked great.
Jim Watson
Member
Dixie has a reloadable shell.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=8154&osCsid=58ci244r74p5v4i3lbfbt85eb1
Good enough for plinking.
You might ask at Rocky Mountain if they would make the type for heel bullets.
http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/index.htm
Rondog: The Marlin was built to shoot .32 RF and CF (.32 Long Colt) interchangeably. It originally came with both firing pins.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=8154&osCsid=58ci244r74p5v4i3lbfbt85eb1
Good enough for plinking.
You might ask at Rocky Mountain if they would make the type for heel bullets.
http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/index.htm
Rondog: The Marlin was built to shoot .32 RF and CF (.32 Long Colt) interchangeably. It originally came with both firing pins.
LAGS
Member
I bought a Broken .32 RF Leader revolver at the gun show for $35.00.
I fixed it, and finally found a box of .32 RF made by Navy Arms in Brazil back in the 80's when they made a short run of them.
The Dang ammo cost me $45.00 and that was 10 years ago.
Needless to say, I am not going to fire this pistol much.
But when the ammo runs out, I may convert it to .22 LR by sleeving the Barrel and cylinders and lowering the firing pin to match the shells.
The gun is Cute, but doesnt have much collector value even been made around the turn of the last century.
I bought it because it looks like a gamblers pistol.
And my Great Grandfather was a professional Gambler on the steam ships that crossed the Atlantic in the late 1890's.
I fixed it, and finally found a box of .32 RF made by Navy Arms in Brazil back in the 80's when they made a short run of them.
The Dang ammo cost me $45.00 and that was 10 years ago.
Needless to say, I am not going to fire this pistol much.
But when the ammo runs out, I may convert it to .22 LR by sleeving the Barrel and cylinders and lowering the firing pin to match the shells.
The gun is Cute, but doesnt have much collector value even been made around the turn of the last century.
I bought it because it looks like a gamblers pistol.
And my Great Grandfather was a professional Gambler on the steam ships that crossed the Atlantic in the late 1890's.
BCRider
Member
Guys, check that blog I linked. He shows a not all that hard method of modifying center fire brass to accept the blank rimfire Ramset cartridges as primer and propellant to push a bullet. And if done well and assuming a way can be found to produce the heeled bullets I feel that a modest but sustainable supply would not be that hard to produce.
Brass might be hard to find but Winchester still lists the .32 short Colt as available. So the loaded ammo as used by that blogger is an option.
Brass might be hard to find but Winchester still lists the .32 short Colt as available. So the loaded ammo as used by that blogger is an option.
LAGS
Member
I also have toyed with the idea of making a sizer to re size 32 S&W and 32 Longs down to fit my chambers, then modifying my firing pin to CF and shoot Buckshot Ball or Squib loads out of the one gun I have.
It ain't past me to make my own ammo for guns that you can't find ammo for any more like the .34 British Bulldog I shoot.
It ain't past me to make my own ammo for guns that you can't find ammo for any more like the .34 British Bulldog I shoot.
OP
OP
tark
Member
Thanks, everyone, for your help and information.I never really bought it as a shooter, anyway. I figured that if I found some ammo, fine, but the gun is primarily an investment. I'll keep my eyes peeled at the gunshows. Thanks again
dagger dog
Member
There was an article in Handloader on converting center fire cases to work in old rim fire rifles.
It entailed using rim fire shells "blanks" used in construction , and drilling the center fire cases slightly off center so the firing pin on the rim fire firearm could reach the rim of the "blank". The result was reloadable rim fire.
I think it was black powder only, but it would still be fun to shoot !
It entailed using rim fire shells "blanks" used in construction , and drilling the center fire cases slightly off center so the firing pin on the rim fire firearm could reach the rim of the "blank". The result was reloadable rim fire.
I think it was black powder only, but it would still be fun to shoot !
.32 rim fire what? I doubt if a Remington rolling block is designed to fire .32 rim fire short ( for a revolver ) so it is probably .32 rim fire Ballard. or .32 Ideal, in which case you will be paying a whole lot more than 3 bucks a round. There were several .32 rim fire rifle rounds at the turn of the century, could be any of them.
Jim Watson
Member
I sure would not use a Ramset construction blank to fire a bullet out of a black powder gun.
Maybe open it, dump the charge, and use it as a primer for a case full of black.
Maybe open it, dump the charge, and use it as a primer for a case full of black.
Palehorseman
Member
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Had one of the little rollers in .32 rf when I was a kid over 60 years ago, ammo was hard to get then.
jim in Anchorage
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I have 200 rds of the fresh navy arms stuff if you can figure out to ship it from Alaska. [Haz- Mat issues.]
I used to have a #2 RB that'd started life chambered in .32RF, but was converted to .32 S&W Long by the gunsmith I got it from. He'd drilled out the center of the block to a diameter that included the outer edge of the RF firing pin opening, threaded the hole and installed a bushing set up with a hole in the new CF firing pin location. Almost certainly a much harder project than I make it sound. He'd also bored out the barrel and installed a new liner in it.
Sweet shooting rig and it was especially nifty with wadcutter target loads on small game at relatively short range. It was also an interesting looking little rifle, as someone had apparently gotten a whole sackfull of wire brads and spent an entire winter putting all kinds of decorative designs into the stock and forend. I wish I hadn't been so shortsightedly stupid as to sell or trade it for something I don't even remember any more.
Sweet shooting rig and it was especially nifty with wadcutter target loads on small game at relatively short range. It was also an interesting looking little rifle, as someone had apparently gotten a whole sackfull of wire brads and spent an entire winter putting all kinds of decorative designs into the stock and forend. I wish I hadn't been so shortsightedly stupid as to sell or trade it for something I don't even remember any more.
OP
OP
tark
Member
Jim, shoot me a price, give me an address and I'll mail you a cashiers check. You can then ups or fed-ex the ammo directly to me. Nothing illegal about mailing loaded ammo between private parties. I believe you can even use the US Mail. They will not let you mail a firearm but loaded, fixed ammo is not considered haz mat. The components; that is another story. Power and Primers are a no-no. Doesn't make any sense to me, either.
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The British 310 Cadet uses a .318 heeled bullet that would probably be a good match. I believe DKT bullets makes a cast lead bullet that would suit. I've also used Hornady .314 hollow base wadcutters with good results. The hollow based soft lead bullet will expand a bit to fit.
D K T INC.
14623 VERA DRIVE
UNION, MI 49130
USA
Contact: CHUCK RICHARDSON
Phone: (616)641-7120
Fax: (616)641-2015
E-mail: [email protected]
Jackets offered
Bullet diameters:
318 329 348 351 356
364 406 411 412 510
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