I always have hated the notion of messing with a perfectly good old weapon, just so you could shoot a few rounds out of it.   Much better, and not hard, to make RF cartridges to work in it.

I prefer to use cut-off regular 22RF shells as igniters than to mess with the nail-gun ctgs.

A current project is to make ammo for a rare rimless rimfire Allen-and-Wheelock revolver.

CHRIS

rgchristensen wrote on Jul 20^th, 2026 at 9:14pm:


How many would consider it "perfectly good" if it can't be used?  In its present condition its useful mostly as a trotline weight. 
I wonder how many here have relined a 32 RF to 22? 
My intent is to take a gun that hasn't been fired in 50 years and get it back in the woods and the bench where it was designed to be,  not hanging on a wall. 

I guess that's the internet...a guy asks where's the best place to get a steak and someone tells you what you really want is BBQ.

I have done several 32 rimfire to 32 S&W. First thing to do is fill the old firing pin hole in the breach. I machine something that has a close fit and solder it in place. Using a transfer punch down the bore will mark where the firing pin should be. Next step it to drill a new hole for the new firing pin. This is where it gets a bit tricky because it has to come out in the right spot for the hammer. also the hole has to have a step in it so the firing pin will not shoot down the barrel. I made up a piloted drill for doing the firing pin hole. Firing pin should be machined out of something hard, I use 3/16" piano wire most of the time.I have a #4 Remington , a Stevens Favorite and another rifle that have been converted. Also have done several for customers. 
The original 32 Rimfire had 11 grains of black for a pressure of about 13,000 psi. Modern 32 S&W can run 14,000 to 18,000 so be careful not to buy the hot stuff.

I'd be leary of a Remington #6 in 32 S&W long, I don't think that it would be safe. I'd line it to a .22, it shouldn't be too hard to find a #6 breech block in 22 rimfire.

I would also question the strength of the #6. That being said I would also say that I would never own a rifle that I could not shoot. In many cases I feel that converting a 32 rim only enhances the rifle's value because now you have something that you can use rather than hang on a wall. I have a #4 and a Hopkins & Allen that have been converted to 32 S&W and with safe loads they are a joy to shoot and walk around with.

Personally because of the chance of some hotter factory .32 S&W Long ammo I'd never convert a #4 to this cartridge myself. We can always tell ourselves we'll only shoot mild loads in it, but what happens to it after we're gone?