Good job, Steve! Sometimes I end up with blanks that fit a little loosely. So I apply a little clear fingernail polish in the hole. Doesn't seem to matter if I then insert the blank, or wait for the fingernail polish to dry.
@@steveblancard5566 Yes, I should get one of those reamers. I only used drill bits, and like you said, they don't leave a perfectly round hole. And often times, they get a little vibration going, that leaves the hole to big.
@@Dimwit_the_last_mountainman I started out using just a drill bit about 7 or 8 years ago. But when I found that a proper reamer was inexpensive, I got one. Well worth the money.
Excellent video Steve! This is an excellent way to get the old rimfires running again. It would seem this method would also work with ramset blanks in smaller cartridges without adding any black powder. Anyway, great video!
Hello Steve , Great how-to video, And to you and John L. ... I have some guns that have very aggressive firing pins that rupture the case of the acorn primers, so I do not do the last step of milling the edge of the rim as that will take some of the load of the hammer, until I see how they ignite......Doc
Interesting observation. Has the firing pin tip been altered, damaged or erroded? I would think something changed from how it left the factory. Otherwise it would have punctured the original soft copper rimfire cases too.
@@steveblancard5566 Hi Steve, You are absolutely correct in that assumption, and I thought the same, but everything looks stock . Out of six guns maybe two will rupture the acorns on occasion . They have heavy hammers and stiff mainsprings. !??? ...Doc
Ross Jones Hello Steve , I enjoyed your video . I have several Ball &Williams and Richard Ball patent Ballards . I find the 44 40 and 44 magnum cases fit too tight in the 44 RF breech . Did you resize your cases . If so what did you use . Thanks. Ross
There seems to be considerable chamber size variation in these early Ballards. On the N-SSA forum I read of guys using both cases. Mine has a large chamber that shortened 44-40 is just right for. I use a 44 S&W American heel bullet. But the heel is a bit undersized in the case. I found that sizing the shortened 44-40 case in 38-40 sizer was just right.
@@steveblancard5566 Thanks Steve , I guess I will have to keep buying more Ballards until I find one that will take a 44 40 . I live in Quebec Canada close to the Vermont border where the 1870 Fenian raid occured . The Fenians with their Needham conversions were driven back by a small group of sharpshooting farmers using 30 inch Ballard rifles . Until I find one I will try making some cases from 303 Savage cases like I saw in your how to video , that I found after I sent you my question . Ross
@@steveblancard5566 Thanks Steve , I do plan to try them . I have been thinking that the 44 40 and 44 mag shells I tried were used brass and posssibly too big because they had been forme fired in other guns . I will try some unfired shells in my Ballards as a double check , but I think the 41 mag sounds promising . Thanks again . Ross
Hey Steve. For your Ballard do you just need any standard .44 shell and what do you use for a projecrile in the Ballard? Normal .44 cal? Very new to this and I have a 44-Ballard I'm restoring. Have to shorten the shell at all?
You need to measure your chamber. Some can use 44 mag brass, others take a larger diameter case like the .44-40. That's what I use. I use a 44 S&W American heel bullet from Old West Bullet Molds. But the heel is a bit undersized. If I was going to shoot it a lot, I'd get a custom mold made for it. More info here: www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1618099748/0
Nice work. Many thanks!
With so many or these wonderful rifles and pistols available. This is very informative and I thank you for sharing this information!
Thank you very much! I just picked up a Winchester 1885 32RF and this has been helpful.
Check out seller "tenmile" on gunbroker. He sells ready to use reloadable. 32 RF cases and heel bullets.
Good job, Steve! Sometimes I end up with blanks that fit a little loosely. So I apply a little clear fingernail polish in the hole. Doesn't seem to matter if I then insert the blank, or wait for the fingernail polish to dry.
I've done that too, nothing wrong with a little extra security. The .224" reamer work very well, providing a consistent fit of the acorn blank.
@@steveblancard5566 Yes, I should get one of those reamers. I only used drill bits, and like you said, they don't leave a perfectly round hole. And often times, they get a little vibration going, that leaves the hole to big.
@@Dimwit_the_last_mountainman I started out using just a drill bit about 7 or 8 years ago. But when I found that a proper reamer was inexpensive, I got one. Well worth the money.
@@Dimwit_the_last_mountainman drop me an email at splitdorf@cox.net
Great info! Thanks for sharing!!!
Excellent video Steve! This is an excellent way to get the old rimfires running again. It would seem this method would also work with ramset blanks in smaller cartridges without adding any black powder. Anyway, great video!
You are the Man
I need to do this for some .32 rimfires.
Awesome thanks mate!
Hello Steve , Great how-to video, And to you and John L. ... I have some guns that have very aggressive firing pins that rupture the case of the acorn primers, so I do not do the last step of milling the edge of the rim as that will take some of the load of the hammer, until I see how they ignite......Doc
Interesting observation. Has the firing pin tip been altered, damaged or erroded? I would think something changed from how it left the factory. Otherwise it would have punctured the original soft copper rimfire cases too.
@@steveblancard5566 Hi Steve, You are absolutely correct in that assumption, and I thought the same, but everything looks stock . Out of six guns maybe two will rupture the acorns on occasion . They have heavy hammers and stiff mainsprings. !??? ...Doc
Doc - please shoot me an email at splitdorf@cox.net
good jobs....
Thank you
Ross Jones
Hello Steve , I enjoyed your video . I have several Ball &Williams and Richard Ball patent Ballards . I find the 44 40 and 44 magnum cases fit too tight in the 44 RF breech . Did you resize your cases . If so what did you use . Thanks. Ross
There seems to be considerable chamber size variation in these early Ballards. On the N-SSA forum I read of guys using both cases. Mine has a large chamber that shortened 44-40 is just right for. I use a 44 S&W American heel bullet. But the heel is a bit undersized in the case. I found that sizing the shortened 44-40 case in 38-40 sizer was just right.
@@steveblancard5566
Thanks Steve ,
I guess I will have to keep buying more Ballards until I find one that will take a 44 40 . I live in Quebec Canada close to the Vermont border where the 1870 Fenian raid occured . The Fenians with their Needham conversions were driven back by a small group of sharpshooting farmers using 30 inch Ballard rifles . Until I find one I will try making some cases from 303 Savage cases like I saw in your how to video , that I found after I sent you my question . Ross
Have you tried trimmed 41 magnum brass? I use that in a 44 rimfire rolling block. The rim is a little small, but it works very well.
@@steveblancard5566
Thanks Steve , I do plan to try them . I have been thinking that the 44 40 and 44 mag shells I tried were used brass and posssibly too big because they had been forme fired in other guns . I will try some unfired shells in my Ballards as a double check , but I think the 41 mag sounds promising . Thanks again . Ross
Hey Steve. For your Ballard do you just need any standard .44 shell and what do you use for a projecrile in the Ballard? Normal .44 cal? Very new to this and I have a 44-Ballard I'm restoring. Have to shorten the shell at all?
You need to measure your chamber. Some can use 44 mag brass, others take a larger diameter case like the .44-40. That's what I use. I use a 44 S&W American heel bullet from Old West Bullet Molds. But the heel is a bit undersized. If I was going to shoot it a lot, I'd get a custom mold made for it. More info here: www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1618099748/0
@@steveblancard5566 Thank you! Just looking to shoot it a couple times at most once it's "restored"
"how to convert centerfire cartridge cases to rimfire" - just get a machine shop theory 😃