.32 rimfire Rolling Block with heeled bullets and reloadable cases

[David LaPell]

Today I finally got out with my Remington #4 Rolling Block in .32 Rimfire out today now that it warmed up. I am still using the reloadable cases from Dixie Gun Works that use .22 blanks or in my case, I took .22 Shorts, pulled the bullet and powder and used them as the primer. The load uses blackpowder and I have had good results with FFG Triple 7, and this time I used a 85 grain .315" heeled bullet. I took it to the range out to 25 yards and got a pretty decent group. I am cleaning the cases, and will load them back up and I want to be out in the woods after squirrel and grouse either Sunday or Monday.

https://i.imgur.com/DBqqZgc.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/4G3uek3.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/63dEmHe.jpg

[enfield]

Have the cases stood up to much use. It seems like the thin area where the extractor works would be weak ? I have an olds Stevens that I was thinking about getting the Dixie cases for.

[John Boy]

Dixie Gun Works - 32 RF brass - $6.50 per case ... Unavailable
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/8421

HL Ebooks - 32 RF brass - $3.67 per case ... Available, In Stock
http://www.hlebooks.com/32rfkit/prices.htm
I shoot these cases in my 1887 Tip Up - No Issues using 6mm Flobert primers

[sharps4590]

Cool post Dave and thank you! Occasionally I see some of the old Remington rimfire rollers around in decent shape for not a lot of money and I wondered about shooting them. I didn't know the method you're using was available. Might open a window to a new cartridge to play with. Thanks again.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I've made .32 rimfire from Fiocchi 9mm. shotshells, which have the following dimensions:

Case diameter .325in.

Larger diameter of .343 for the first .35in. or so, corresponding to the brass head on the earlier paper case.

Rim diameter .398in.

Rim thickness .058in. (but bevelled on the front edge like conventional shotshells)

They aren't cheap, at $24.99 from Midway, but might compare well with anything turned from the solid, for the occasional user. For the regular user on game, are you really going to check the .22-primed version is correctly oriented, when the second rabbit hesitates for a moment?

I made a simple die to size most of the body very slightly, and the larger diameter quite a lot. Some rimfire guns won't accept the rim diameter without modification. I did it with the primer composition dampened at first, but later dry, with a piece of strong plastic tubing pushed over the die. My rod for ejecting the cases was tubular, to bear on the case mouth rather than the inside, with a crosswise handle so that the tube wasn't pointing at my hands.

I never had any go off, but it is quite important to take no chances, as there is a lot more primer composition than in a cap. The brass is probably much stronger than the early copper ones, and yet when I tried to cook one off on a cooker ring, to send an inert specimen to a friend by mail, it rather effectively shredded itself.

I've got several pounds of these cases, primed but never loaded or turned over at the mouth, which were sent to auction by the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House when they realised that they weren't going to prove that many 9mm. garden guns before death rays took over. But with the legal obstacles to international shipment nowadays, I just have to keep them all to myself, whether I want to or not.

[modified5]

Very cool!!
I was going to buy one from a friend in .32 long that he had found in his Grandma's attic 50 years ago and had never shot. The last patent date was Sept 9 1873.
I made a case out of aluminum on my lathe and shot it a few times. It was a gas.
He decided to give it to his son since its been i the family for so long.
Oh well, easy come easy go.
I may have to save my nickels and look for another one.

[ndnchf]

A few years ago there was a long running thread about making .32 rimfire cartridges. The #2 rolling blocks in .32 are typically chambered for .32 extra long rimfire, while the weaker #4 rifles are chambered for .32 long rimfire. I've loaded both, but the #2 in .32 extra long is my favorite.

[Chev. William]

I think this is the thread you are referring to:

"reloadable .32 rimfire brass"

it is 27 pages long at the moment.
Chev. William

[Walter Laich]

now this makes me want to start looking at 32 rolling blocks again

for some unknown reason I really like them

[modified5]

Centering the .22 blank in my homemade aluminum case never caused a misfire when I shot it. I didn't have to orient it any specific direction. The firing pin hit half on the case and half on the blank. The blank did sit slightly above the surface of the case.
I really want to find another rolling block in .32 rf!

[sharps4590]

Ha...ironic this thread is posted at this time. Next weekend, the 14th, there is an auction in town and there is a #4 roller in 32 rimfire listed. Guess what I'm going to be looking at!!!!

[ndnchf]

One thing nice about making reloadable 32 rimfire cases is that the .22 primer case does not have to be offset. When centered, the .22 rim extends far enough out for the big firing pin to hit it. I make my 32 extra longs from 327 Federal Magnum brass, and just make a relief cut where the firing pin hits so it gets a solid hit on the .22. I've fired hundreds of rounds through my #2 rolling block, they work perfectly.