Flobert Mystery Rimfire....help!!!

[fabil12]

I posted a query in single shot yesterday about a Flobert rolling block I just bought on GB.
Bore measures .335 as best I can determine, chamber is .360.
This was sold by a gunsmith who said he didn't measure the bore he just assumed it was .32
Also a very heavyweight barrel.
It's an antique in great shape, but what caliber could this be???
Thanks, Bill in Poughkeepsie NY

anyone on here from my area???

[scrapcan]

Bill,

I saw your other post also. Do you have some pictures? Are there any markings on the barrel?

I have only been around one flobert action and it is not the one you have. it was a sliding affair and not a rolling block.

I am jsut curous and can't really help. Dos it appear that the barrel is different metallurgy than the action?

[scrapcan]

Bill here is an interesting thread on duplication of the 32 rimfire by Molly. Not really what you have in hadn, but may give you some idea of what one might be able to do.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=90532

[oldhickory]

Maybe a 9mm ball?

Boolit dia-.337

Case dia-.350

Rim-.402

Case length-.417

Cartridge length-.560

.35 Allen?

Boolit dia.-.342

Case dia.-.342

Rim dia.-.407

Case length-.865

Cartridge length-1.388

My 2 best guess's.

[fabil12]

Thanks guys I'll post some pictures later.
Bill

[fabil12]

Here are some pictures I hope

[fabil12]

OK, I think it probably takes a 9mm cb cap.

I'm going to try cutting down 9mm shotshells. I've never done any reloading but I have triple seven and will get those acorn 22 blanks. Ive read myself stupid but now I have to do it.

How do I go about all this? The shotshells I'm getting are live and have to unloaded...gasp.

[KCSO]

9mm, according to Alpha 1911 catalog they were offered in that also.

[fabil12]

Well I bought some Flobert 9mm shotshells. The're really petite.
They fall into the chamber. Diameter measures .343 at it's widest (not the rim).
There is some cartridge this rifle is chambered for that is certainly not common.
Unless there is a 9mm with larger case dimensions than the shotshells.
I have another Flobert barrel that I think I'll reline in .22 and use that.

[NoZombies]

Could you do a chamber cast?

If I remember right, there was a difference between the 9mm shot and 9mm ball cartridges, but it's been years since I've held them.

I know there were various 35 and 38 caliber rimfires running around 120 years ago, it would seem it might be one of those.

[fabil12]

Thanks, I think I will do a chamber cast. I have a special epoxy I can use.
And on second thought I will adapt an 8mm Mauser barrel and hand load somehow. I have enough .22 cal
I really like the simplicity of the Flobert action, particularly the extractor.

[fabil12]

Here is a picture of terrible quality of a chamber casting.
It is measuring .355" tapering to .340 in about an inch The rim is fairly thick at .025 I would say.

[markinalpine]

Stumbled across this: http://www.oldammo.com/july04.htm

Might help. Couldn't hurt.
Mark :coffeecom

[Multigunner]

Thanks, I think I will do a chamber cast. I have a special epoxy I can use.
And on second thought I will adapt an 8mm Mauser barrel and hand load somehow. I have enough .22 cal
I really like the simplicity of the Flobert action, particularly the extractor.

If you plan on a .32 S&W conversion you'd do better using a 7.65 Mauser or .303 British barrel.
I have been keeping the cut off portion of a defective Enfield barrel with building a .32 bicycle rifle in mind.
The bore is .314.
I'd noticed the rear sight base cross pin was very loose and discovered that the hole had been double drilled leaving a rough furrow that nearly cut into the bore.
I cut the chamber portion off at the hole to demill it leaving 17 inches of pristine barrel that would make a neat .32 caliber companion piece for my Hand Ejector.

Remember that the Floberts weren't meant for much pressure. Most were intended for indoor gallery use only.

[gnoahhh]

They weren't meant for any pressure at all! I consider them to be about the most unsafe action ever designed. BB Caps or something similar would be all I would ever fire in one.