An acquaintance of mine bought this rifle couple years ago at the Tulsa show.  I saw the rifle a year ago at a small shoot we have here in the area and really liked the looks of it.  He said it was chambered in 38-55 which caused some alarm.  He isn't from the area, but was staying with friends, so I ask if he could bring it to my shop the next day for a closer look.

We disassemble the rifle and found all the numbers still matched, metal and wood, but the chambering was still a concern.  He decided to shoot it with the appropriately loaded shells but found it did not shoot well at all.  He called me and ask if I would be interested in the rifle, I was and agreed to buy it.  Last week he was on his way back to Tulsa and delivered it.

I'm not a Ballard expert but it appears to be a common late model #2 that was chambered in 38 Long for both rimfire and centerfire.  It is a nice clean example and everything checks out in working order and it still locks up very nicely, with zero head space and the breech block square to the barrel. Once the barrel was removed the breech block still locked up like the barrel was still in place.  The barrel has a 1-18 twist and I think someone just ran a 38-55 reamer in it, maybe without removing the barrel.

Some pictures of the rifle.
Bob

Like I mentioned before, it was chambered in 38 long, for both rimfire and centerfire, so it has the reversible firing pin.

When I agreed to purchasing the rifle I started looking at what to do with it.  I thought about making it 38 Special but after talking with Greg (gt) decided to go with 38 Long Colt.  It was also convenient that Dave Plummer (ssdave) had 15,000 rounds of this for sale.  This chambering makes it safe to shoot for anyone in the future, since the 38 special should not chamber in it.  Should be good for kids and plinking.

So I called TJ liners and actually got them on the phone, on the first call, and they were really helpful.  I wanted a 9/16 liner so the entire old chamber was removed.  While on the phone he looked through the leftovers from what he had made for previous special orders.  He found one that was made .560 in diameter.  Perfect, and I had it in less than a week.  Dave's shells came a day or so later.

In order to line the barrel I needed an extractor either built up or just make one.  Since I don't have anyone in the area that seems to be able to weld on that small of a part, and didn't want to wait a month to send it out, I made one.  Making this was the first thing I did before installing the liner.
Bob

My last post on this rifle, showing drilling out the barrel.   

I'm self taught so my methods may differ from others.  I make my own drills.  This factory drill bit is much shorter than what I normally use.  Small town Iowa doesn't offer much for a 9/16 size.  I grind a slightly smaller than bore pilot on a drill bit, then regrind the drill angles on the drill shoulder that is left from the pilot grind.  Never very pretty but these work great.  Cut smooth and evenly (see picture) if I grind the shoulders properly.  Once the grinding is complete I attach a long rod.  Then let the drilling begin, I use my lathe for the ease of use.
Bob

That's a nice catch. The .357 liner will make feeding it so much easier than the standard 38 Long I have. Mine has the .370 groove diameter which requires either a heeled bullet or one with a hollow base. I've made pilot drills the same as you. Prebore the barrel to have it perfectly centered at the start, then it's just sliding the tailstock back and forth a bunch of times. Good luck with your project, you're well on the way.

marlinguy wrote on Apr 13^th, 2026 at 3:56pm:


I talked with 3 others about this and did on line research because I am not very well educated on these pistol rounds.  From what I understand the .357 bore is used for the 357 mag, 38 Special and 38 Long Colt.  But, if I understand correctly, the 357 mag nor the 38 Special will chamber in a 38 Long Colt chamber.  Dave sent me 38 Long Colt loaded shells so I assume they should work fine.  The reamer I have is also a 38 Long Colt.

A possibility of 38 long round being loaded in the rifle will be the only down side.  Although I’m not sure it would chamber because of the bullet size. 
Bob

cellargun wrote on Apr 13^th, 2026 at 3:00pm:



The bore was already done when I posted this.  The liner in glued in. 

Now I have a problem with the chamber reamer pilot, it’s too big by a couple thousands.  So tomorrow I will make a new floating pilot so I can use this reamer.  Probably get it chambered on Wednesday.
Bob

StrippedSprocket wrote on Apr 13^th, 2026 at 10:12pm:


When I did my first liner I used epoxy to hold it in, so I still use it.  Many folks use loctite.  In the old days solder them in.
Bob

marlinguy wrote Today at 10:04am:


Haven’t pulled a bullet yet but will today so I can check to be sure the rifle fires before going to the range.

The bullet measures just about .359 where it goes into the case.  At Dave’s price, I figured if I removed the cost of brass, this first time shooting cost isn’t much more than a 22 lr.

Hope this works out.
Bob