Converting .32 rim fire to center fire

[GNLaFrance]

Companies such as Hamilton, Remington, Stevens, and others made popular "boy's rifles" from ~1890 to 1945. Many were in .32 Short or Long rim fire. I'm wondering about converting one to center fire for the .32 S&W cartridges. Any thoughts, etc. would be appreciated.

 

[hvymax]

Are they fired by a spurred hammer or a firing pin? A spurred hammer can be ground down and drilled to install a spur in the correct location. If it has a pin that strikes it? If it is a hammer (internal or external) you "might be able to drill an alternate pin channel to the correct location. IANAGS

 

[Atlasarmory]

A single shot rifle in 32 sw long is high on my want list hopefully this thread sheds some light on the subject.

 

[GNLaFrance]

Are they fired by a spurred hammer or a firing pin?

That depends on the design of the action, of course. The Remingtons use rolling blocks, the Hamiltons and Stevens are, I think, both falling blocks. I've seen a video where Larry Potterfield converts a .32 rim fire Winchester High Wall to center fire after it's rebored and rechambered for the .357 Magnum. Pretty straight-forward, but I'm hoping to avoid anything that involved (read: expensive).

 

[highwayheat]

This is for a 32-30 centerfire. Hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrUI0-q_d-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[GNLaFrance]

This is for a 32-30 centerfire. Hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrUI0-q_d-o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

That's the video I mentioned in post #4.

 

[mikec]

How much chamber pressure difference is there between the two rounds? Can the action take it?

 

[GNLaFrance]

How much chamber pressure difference is there between the two rounds? Can the action take it?

The .32 S&W Long was developed back in the days when nitro powders were new and metallurgy was not nearly as advanced as now, and it was designed to produce what we now consider to be low pressures. Today, 12,000 CUP is the absolute maximum load for the cartridge, and is only to be used in modern revolvers in excellent condition. Most loads are in the 8,000 to 10,000 CUP range. A typical rim fire rifle chamber in good shape can handle those pressures easily, especially if it's a rolling block or falling block design.