Sometime back a #2 Ballard action refitted with double set triggers was offered here and I bit and bought it. I wanted an original barrel and I figured it would have to be lined. I found two sources of barrels from a "wanted" request on the list. One was fairly close (in western terms) so I drove up to see Tony in Wyoming. We tried a few on for size and I picked a 28 inch one in 32 Long and also got a front sight like the one I had on my other Ballard. After some effort with my Swiss files I got it fitted and got one of the spare extractors that had been supplied with the action fitted to the barrel. One of the nice guys on the list loaned me a 32 S&W Long reamer and I chambered it just to see how bad the barrel actually was. 32 S&W Long was decided on because I have an excellent 32-20 already and this was a #2 action so I wanted to be kind to it and also the S&W sounded like fun. I sent the barreled action off to Oregunsmithing and Wayne York was to line it with a .312 liner and chamber it to 32 S&W Long. Previously I had ordered some wood from Gail at CPA and had fitted it to the barrel and action and finished it in English oil. The lined barrel and action arrived back from Wayne and it was a beautifully done job. Naturally I had no sooner attached the fore end when the rifle slid of the bench and dinged the wood so I will have to refinish that part but first I wanted to see how it shoots. I am almost through loading 50 rounds with 6 different powders and with 3 different loads for 2 of them. Some of the loads are in the 2 grain range and they are finicky to handle. So, in the next few days I will take it out to the range and run the loads through the Crony and onto paper and then I'll post again (with pictures).

It was about 15 weeks and that involved getting a special reamer..

I might add, 32 S&W Long loading data for rifles is not easy to find.

My standard 32 S&W L loading for “weak little” pre-War S&W I frame revolvers uses 90-95 gr SWC bullets backed by 2.0 to 2.5 gr (absolute MAX)grains of Bullseye.  I wouldn’t hesitate to use this load in a cast Ballard, starting at the bottom end.
On a similar note I had a Winchester low wall in 32 S&W with the breech block bushed and chambered to 32 H&R. It shot OK with Ideal 3118 bullets (115 gr) and those little half jacketed plinker bullets they used to make for M1 carbines.  The bore was pretty marginal, but it liked those little Plinkers!
Froggie
Froggie

that little H&G 65 is my favorite little .32 pistol bullet.

Looks great Chauncey! You'll have a lot of inexpensive fun with your choice of chambering!

Nice work, neat little rifle!  Wood looks good, is it curly maple?
Bob