I believe the 3F had a cast P/G reciever.

The Green man is right-- also the inside of the frame on a cast is very rough and the forged is much smoother. Pistol grip frames can be either cast or forged depending on a number of factors. The forged frames were used mainly on the high pressures centerfire cartridges of .38-50 and higher, .22s up through 44 rimfires were more likely to have cast frames.  Richard

Any #3 PG action is a cast action, with very few exceptions.
A cast action is easily determined by checking under the chamber area in the action. Cast actions have a void under the chamber, while forged are solid in that area.

Frank,  I trust the experts will chime in here to correct me. According to Dutchers book all #4s were forged frames for high pressure cartridges including some of the .32-40s. To me probably a better question is the rifle a #4 or or perhaps a Hunter #2, rechambered for .32-40?. Probably not, but just checking all the serial numbers should tell. Some of the higher serial numbered Ballards were offered in the later cartridge of .32-40 and .38-55.  My #4 is chambered in .38-55 and is a higher serial numbered rifle.   Richard

I finaly got a picture of the inside of one of the actions, looks like a cast one to me. 
Mike

Crown-C wrote on Dec 31^st, 2010 at 5:19pm:



That's the new "Kermit" Limited Edition.  

That's not moss, it's pond scum!!  Makes me feel right at home, though!  Anyway, you're looking at the wrong end of the action.  If my eyes don't deceive me (and it is late) that looks like the internal tang I am seeing and the portion of the receiver shell where the tail of the breech block goes.  The determinant is what it looks like at the other end... under the barrel.

Froggie

Thanks to all, I have finaly looked in my Dutcher book, and he shows the same view and pronounced it as cast so it must be. I also pulled down my forged action to compare, and this one is a cast unit, it seems that they are different under the tang also, the forged tang underside is solid smooth steel, no reces to hold pond scum.
Mike

Well, I'm not so sure that is is the wrong end, I used to think so, but after looking in Dutchers book he clearly shows this as a cast action and shows just about the same view, so I'm guessing that there are 2 main features of a cast action, under the barrel lug and the under side of the upper tang. And in the other picture I have it almost looks as though the tang for connecting the thru bolt is cast into the action, as in one solid piece, whereas the forged action this section unscrews.
Mike