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John_Alexander
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Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Feb 5th, 2009 at 10:56pm
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Can someone recommend a gunsmith who has had experience converting  old Winchester low walls from rimfire to centerfire?

I would also like to to reline the original barrel to 25-20 Winchester.

Any information or advice would be appreciated.
  
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38_Cal
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #1 - Feb 5th, 2009 at 11:27pm
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Easiest conversion is to locate a correct (flat spring/coil spring) centerfire breechblock and fit it to your receiver.  It'll probably be cheaper than converting one!   

David
Montezuma, IA
  

David Kaiser
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John Taylor
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #2 - Feb 6th, 2009 at 12:35am
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Just did one last week, went from 22LR to 45 Colt.  Not to hard to convert the firing pin. This one just needed the hole plugged and a new hole drilled in the right spot. The pin was offset from the main body so I just cut it off and drilled the body for a new pin in the center. Used a piece of pin stock for the new pin. I can also do the liner for you.
  

John Taylor   Machinist/gunsmith
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kenmachine
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #3 - Feb 6th, 2009 at 9:53am
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the link hole on the 32 rim fire block is not in the same place as any of the other 1885 breech blocks so it makes it a little harder to convert it to center fire ken
  
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Green_Frog
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #4 - Feb 6th, 2009 at 11:19am
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What Ken said!  

I tried going with a plugged .32 rf block and a cf pin on the first of these same conversions I did and found the new fp hit low on the primer, leading to the occasional misfire.  That one was fixed by using a longer link which in essence raised the whole block by the necessary amount.  This involved some geometry, and left the block's upper edges looking a little high, but worked well.  

As mentioned by David, replacing the block is the most straightforward and simple method, but if you commission the whole job done at one time (rf to cf and barrel lining) by a single, knowledgeable gunsmith such as John Taylor who has just chimed in, all of these pesky little details get worked out before you see the finished product.

I have no direct connection to either David nor John, knowing both by reputation only, but those reputations would certainly lead me to take advice from either or both on this, and since you don't know me either, I'll just say that the three times I have been in on this exact conversion involved bushing the block on two of them and replacing it outright on the third... and all worked satisfactorily with the adjustments mentioned.

HTH ~ Froggie

PS  The .22 rf block already has the fp on the proper elevation, so no change of link, etc, is necessary.  I have no experience with rf blocks for larger calibers such as the .44, but they come along so rarely they shouldn't present a problem.  The .25 rf, if encountered, will probably be close enough to centered without adjustment, but YMMV.   
GF
« Last Edit: Feb 6th, 2009 at 3:18pm by Green_Frog »  
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creedmoormatch
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #5 - Feb 6th, 2009 at 9:29pm
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     Hi there 38 - CAL

     When you get a chance,  you have a P.M. waiting for you.

     Thanks for your help,

  Creedmoormatch     Smiley      Embarrassed      Undecided      Smiley
  
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38_Cal
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #6 - Feb 7th, 2009 at 12:23am
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Reply sent.

David
  

David Kaiser
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Re: Converting Low Wall from 32RF to centerfire
Reply #7 - Oct 12th, 2025 at 1:21pm
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I just found 1000 .32H&R Magnum cartridges for $175, but I haven't yet had the rifle converted to that caliber yet.  21,000 pounds of pressure would be fine for my early Lo-Wall if I lined the barrel for that cartridge, and 1000 rounds would fill my needs for the rest of my life and more.
« Last Edit: Oct 12th, 2025 at 9:00pm by Old+timer »  
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