I have a stockless wreck in some kind of .44 Rim Fire that I was thinking of converting, too.  Then I saw that there were tiny cracks in the receiver shoulders and decided it was a wall-hanger after all.  This, as far as I can tell, must have happened on firing the original blackpowder rimfire cartridges.

On those early models, from my reading, the breechblock, as well as the frame, is some kind of poorly-characterized cast iron.  Even if you fill in the rimfire notch in the block, and somehow contrive a centerfire firing pin, it is still going to be even more marginal for a centerfire cartridge than the now notorious cast frame/forged block Marlin-Ballards.

Bent_Ramrod wrote on Apr 27^th, 2018 at 9:28am:


Cast iron all right, but good quality for the time.

If it's in good condition I'd leave it alone also. Better choices of Marlin Ballards that are either reversible firing pins, or already CF that would be better choices to just shoot or reline.
If the condition was poor I'd agree that it's a good choice to rework. But not if it's a decent gun. I'd gently clean off the cold blue and either brown the barrel, or leave it if it doesn't look bad after cleaning. Don't need to shoot every old gun we own.

Sell it and buy a Rimfire that suits your purpose. Better off financially and end up with a more useful rifle.

Boats

That’s true and a whole lot more potential buyers, clobbered up Rimfire single shot, not many intrested. 

Project Guns are fun but better to start with a suitable action at a reasonable price not loosing value soon as you start work. And understand projects rarely good investments.

I could have a nice cabinet full of fine Guns for what I have spent fixing up. Not as much fun though. 

Boats

craigd wrote on Apr 29^th, 2018 at 12:15pm:


Shoots the same cartridge as certain of the Spencers, & they are VERY popular among CW re-enactors.  So perhaps something is available for the Spencer that's also usable in the Ballard.

One question: is the breechblock one of the ones set up for rimfire AND percussion?  If so, there is a member of the North-South Skirmish Association who makes a unit to screw into the block in place of the percussion nipple and VOILA, you have a center fire.  Then all you have to do is find some brass you can use and you're in business.  That's the way some of the folks in N-SSA are doing it with perfect satisfaction.  The best part?  It can instantly be returned to original condition... no permanent alteration to the gun!  Just for your consideration.

Froggie