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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Modify A Ballard #2? (Read 187 times)
Green_Frog
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Modify A Ballard #2?
Yesterday at 10:31pm
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Well guys, I have a possibility of getting a Ballard #2 in 32 with reversible firing pin.  It has blue turning brown and solid wood without any significant marring and o cracks.  In other words, just average 125 year old gun condition. 

My question is would I be committing a crime against nature if I rechamber it to 32 S&W Long, or perhaps even H&R?  I just hate the prospect of forming and loading those outside lubed rounds it’s chambered for.  The more I think about it the more I’m talking myself out of it. But if I DO go through with the acquisition, how bad would I hurt its value with a rechamber job?
TIA ~ Froggie
  
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rgchristensen
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #1 - yesterday at 10:45pm
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FROG:

Will you get enough pleasure out of simply using it to warrant ruining a neat and presumably unusual piece of machinery?  From my point of view, I get enough satisfaction out of doing all the necessary work to make “original” ammo to make it worth my time.

CHRIS

RG Christensen
  
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JHand
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #2 - Today at 1:25am
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Personally,  I look at these old rifles as tools, so whatever you need to do to keep it shooting consistently is worth it (unless it has serious historical value). As long as its not bubba'd,  no issue
  
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Jamey
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #3 - Today at 7:44am
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It’s only original if you don’t change it, and there are fewer and fewer original guns in usable condition. I’m here on this forum because I’ve stumbled across some “odd caliber” rimfire guns in decent condition. And doing what you have to to shoot them is half the fun. With the convertible firing pin, all you have to do is make a few cases for it and go!
If it’s already modified, messed up, shot out,etc., go ahead and fix it up. If it’s good leave it alone…
My two cents.
  
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Oldbee
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #4 - Today at 8:10am
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I have a Ballard #2 in 32 rimfire and was thinking along the same lines as you.  But I have enough rifles to shoot and decided to keep it original!
  

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Statesrights
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #5 - Today at 8:16am
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It sounds like you are asking about its ECONOMIC value. I don’t think a common #2 Ballard has a lot of room for significant depreciation. Weigh that against your enjoyment of easy shooting.
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #6 - Today at 8:57am
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I'll not personally maintain a blanket credo concerning originality versus usability. I tend to make personal pronouncements of same on a case-by-case basis. 

In this instance I would be sorely tempted to move heaven and earth to make it shootable, unless of course it was Cactus Jack's personal stagecoach hold up gun (no relation to bpjack, I think) then of course it would get a spit shine and hung on a wall for all the lotus-eaters to genuflect in front of.
  
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Dellet
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #7 - Today at 9:22am
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You could always breech seat.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a 32 S&W actually fits already.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #8 - Today at 11:00am
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If this was a pristine #2 Ballard I'd advise leaving it alone. But it really sounds like it's not and I wouldn't hesitate to chamber it in .32 S&W Long and enjoy it. 
There's really no shortage of well used Ballard #2's, so you're not going to affect the value negatively, and might even make it more desirable to some who wont or don't want the hassle of reloading for the original .32 Long.
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #9 - Today at 11:01am
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Oldbee wrote Today at 8:10am:
I have a Ballard #2 in 32 rimfire and was thinking along the same lines as you.  But I have enough rifles to shoot and decided to keep it original!


Your Ballard #2 isn't just .32 rimfire. The firing pin is reversible to also allow it to be .32 Long centerfire.
  

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frnkeore
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #10 - Today at 12:03pm
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I've only got one Ballard left and it's similar to yours. A JM Marlin #2 in 32 but, it is SN 498 with a Brown hammer and lever. 

What I did was take the barrel off, with it's original sights and installed a new 25/20SS barrel on it so, it can go back to original if the next care taker so chooses.

A word of warning on the firing pin...... mine CF pin was so wide that it would sometimes stick in the SR pocket and not fire so, I had to narrow it.
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Modify A Ballard #2?
Reply #11 - Today at 1:48pm
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The #2 firing pins leave a square mark on primers or RF rims, so I take a jeweler's file and knock the square corners off both RF and CF pin posts to make them move freely.
I got some tool steel plate from one of my machine shop customers. He milled it the exact thickness I asked for, so I shoot it with dye chem and mark out firing pins to make spares if I need one. Lots of hand work once I rough cut the outside shape, but they work good.
  

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