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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 32 RF and 25 RF (Read 8074 times)
JiminTexas
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32 RF and 25 RF
Apr 8th, 2011 at 4:10pm
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I hope that this is the right place to post this, I just can't think of another thread that is more appropriate. I see a lot of rifles listed on G.B. in the calibers 25 and 32 RF. I just cant think of why anyone would buy one other than to collect it. I have looked all over the place and cannot find a single source for this ammo. Am I looking in the wrong places? JKust where can you buy either of these cartriges?
  
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slumlord44
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #1 - Apr 8th, 2011 at 11:11pm
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I buy .25 Stevens on Gunbroker. Look for the Canuck. Made in Canada up until the '70's You can buy it for around $1 a round if you are patient. Just bought a box of Remington probably from the '50's for under $50 shipped. Not cheap but avaialable. .32 Rimfire I bought from SOG several years back for $25 + shipping. Navy Arms has it available from time to time but has not been available for some time. It is also available on Gunbroker but I have not priced it lately because I have a supply. I bought 2 boxes at a gun show recently for $35 a box. Probably will run around $50. I have been saying for years that there is money to be made if somone like Navy Arms would have both these calibers made again. The .32 that Navy Arms had was made in South Americia. Good luck finding a deal.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #2 - Apr 9th, 2011 at 11:30am
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To answer your question; yes it's mainly for collectors. Nobody buys a gun in either caliber as a shooter unless he's a collector who also shoots his collection.
Some guns listed as .32 RF will easily convert to .32 CF, so if it's a Marlin Ballard, Marlin 1891/'91, 1892/'92 then it's simply a case of reversing the firing pin on the Ballard, and on the '91 or '92 Marlins just getting the CF firing pin and changing it; takes a few seconds to do.
I've got a huge stockpile of .32 RF, .32 CF, and .25 Stevens RF to shoot in my old guns, but I rarely shoot the .25 RF as it's so spendy, and I just don't need to. The .32 CF I shoot a lot because I have the firing pins to convert and I am setup to reload for that.
  

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bisaacson
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #3 - Apr 9th, 2011 at 10:00pm
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If you're bored with just going down to the gun shop and buying cartridges that everyone else uses, and want to have some fun, get a copy of both the June '10 and October '10 SSE (call Brett Boyd, 803-628-5326). The June issue has my article about shooting .25 Stevens Rimfires using reworked .22 Hornet shells and the October issue has my article about shooting the little .32s, including .32 rimfires using reworked 32 S&W Long, 32 H&R Mag., .327 Fed. Mag, or .32 Long Colt cases. There are lots of nice 25 and 32 rimfires available, and with a little work, they shoot very well and are a lot of fun. If enough of us bug the nice folks at Buffalo Arms or the other custom cartridge manufacturers, they might even start making modified cases using .22 cases for primers for reloading. Dixie has some short cases for some applications, but with a little machine work you can make what you need to keep the old-timers shooting.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #4 - Apr 9th, 2011 at 11:05pm
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I thought somone made cases for the .32 RF that used .22 blanks for a primer? I am one of those collectors who likes to shoot my guns when the mood suits me. At the prices I have to pay I do not shoot large volumes of thes rimfires.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #5 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 11:35am
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Dixie made adapter cases using .22 blanks for the .44 RF for sure, as I have some. But they're not a viable option from my experience. Try getting a fired .22 blank out of that .44 case once it's allowed to expand without a chamber to control it. It's a royal pain, and mine are bench decorations now.
I'd assume that there's not really enough meat in the .32 case to hold the .22 blank, but maybe I'm wrong. Even so, I'd never use them, as too much time spent frustrated, and I'd rather be shooting. 
I'd convert my little Ballard #3 in .25RF to something else more shootable, but it's such a minty gun I hate to do anything to it.
  

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bisaacson
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #6 - Apr 12th, 2011 at 7:16pm
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In the first place, you don't use a .22 blank as the primer because you don't know what the powder is, or rather, you know that it's a very fast burning powder of unknown quantity. Pull the heads from cheap .22 ammo, dump the powder, and work up reasonable loads from light load data in cartridges that are close in volume and bullet weight. I've had no problem removing the .22 cases once fired as they see very little pressure and the unsupported portion sees the same pressure on both sides so it doesn't expand. If a centerfire case has enough metal to hold a primer, it has enough to hold a properly fitted .22 case. I shoot .52s, .38s, .32s, and .25s with no problems and get a lot of fun out of them. Once the cases are made, you have a little extra work and expense pulling .22 bullets, but reloading is like any other case. Check the June and October 2010 SSE for details and start shooting your pretty closet queens.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #7 - Apr 12th, 2011 at 11:30pm
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Yes, you DO use a .22 blank, but it's a special blank designed for this application. A whole tin of them comes with the adapters, and they have no charge other than the primer charge. The case is supposed to be filled with blackpowder.
  

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bisaacson
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #8 - Apr 13th, 2011 at 6:01pm
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Although the use of the term blank is certainly correct for a cartridge that contains a priming charge only, there are a wide variety of blank cartridges for various applications, many of which would prove dangerous or destructive if used in a firearm propellant application. My preference is to be very specific when discussing RF primed converted or manufactured cases to assure, as best I can, that someone does not use a "blank" for anything other than the primer for a properly selected propellant. Hopefully being clear that the correct case to use is an empty primed rimfire case, whether available in a kit from a manufacturer or as a .22 case with the bullet pulled and the powder discarded will minimize any confusion and risk.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #9 - Apr 13th, 2011 at 10:16pm
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I tried the .38 RF adaptors in my Remington #2 rolling block, using .22 Short cases with the bullets and powder charges removed.  I found the adaptors didn't hold up very well.  The adaptors are thin brass and there's not a lot of web there next to the hole for the .22 case to resist the firing pin blow.  The rim and side would break after 30 shots or so.

Also, be sure to wear good goggles if you shoot these adaptors in a rifle.  A pistol is better adapted to these inserts because it is held well out in front of you; with the rifle I would feel the "bugbite" of burning powder grains on my face once in a while.

On the other hand, the rifle shot pretty well...
  
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John Taylor
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Re: 32 RF and 25 RF
Reply #10 - Apr 15th, 2011 at 10:03am
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I get quite a few 32 and 25 rimfires in to install 22 LR liners. Most of the time it requires moving the firing pin also. I have never done one that would be considered a collector, most are not in great shape. I have two Stevens Favorites in for liners now. Nether one has any rifling left so going to a 32 Colt is out for the 32 RF. In both cases they are worth more as shooters than wall hangers.
  

John Taylor   Machinist/gunsmith
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