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fayettefatts
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Winchester low wall 32-40
Sep 18th, 2026 at 11:25am
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Safe combination or asking for trouble?
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #1 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 11:28am
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Asking for trouble.
  

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bpjack
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #2 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 11:29am
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Knowing what I know now, I regret not buying one early in my quest for a 32-40. You would have to be careful about things like double charging while breech seating (not that that had ever happened to me Smiley

Jack
  

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westerner
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #3 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 11:59am
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I shot one for many years. Kevin Erickson shoots it now.
Easy access to the chamber like a Ballard.
  

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bpjack
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #4 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 12:39pm
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Vall,
Trouble is my middle name!
My ultralight pioneer friend Jack McCornak, inventor of the Pterodactyl Ascender would say that phrase all the time and then immediately whip out his drivers license and show that he had legally changed his middle name to Trouble.
  

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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #5 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 7:52pm
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bpjack wrote on Sep 18th, 2026 at 12:39pm:
Vall,
Trouble is my middle name!
My ultralight pioneer friend Jack McCornak, inventor of the Pterodactyl Ascender would say that phrase all the time and then immediately whip out his drivers license and show that he had legally changed his middle name to Trouble.


I'm not saying it wont work, or it hasn't been done. I'm just saying it's not something I'd personally do anymore than I'd choose to do a Ballard #2 in .32-40. I see those too, and guys shooting them for years, but I wouldn't build one myself.
  

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RJ-35-40
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #6 - yesterday at 3:05pm
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Old Low Wall..? vs. New Metallurgy Low Wall..?

32-40 roughly 30,000 PSI

A.I. /
"Pressure Guidelines for Low Walls Original Actions: Built in the black powder era, they lack the massive side support of the High Wall. Stick to traditional or moderate smokeless loads matching cartridges like the .25-20, .32-20, .38-55, or standard .22 Hornet limits (approx. 20,000 psi/CUP max).

Bolt Thrust Factor: Small case-head diameters (like the .218 Bee or .22 Hornet) generate less total rear thrust on the breech block than large-diameter rifle cases, offering a slight margin in safety with mild loads, but frame stretch remains a risk if over-pressured.

Modern Reproductions: Modern replica Low Walls (such as those by Cimarron/Uberti or Miroku) use vastly improved, modern alloy steels. They can safely handle standard factory pressures for historic cartridges designed into the smokeless era, though you should still avoid heavy "+P" or hot custom handloads.

marlinguy wrote on Sep 18th, 2026 at 7:52pm:
bpjack wrote on Sep 18th, 2026 at 12:39pm:
Vall,
Trouble is my middle name!
My ultralight pioneer friend Jack McCornak, inventor of the Pterodactyl Ascender would say that phrase all the time and then immediately whip out his drivers license and show that he had legally changed his middle name to Trouble.


I'm not saying it wont work, or it hasn't been done. I'm just saying it's not something I'd personally do anymore than I'd choose to do a Ballard #2 in .32-40. I see those too, and guys shooting them for years, but I wouldn't build one myself.

  
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Old-Win
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #7 - yesterday at 3:44pm
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Sure shot
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #8 - yesterday at 4:23pm
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I'd shoot a Winchester low wall in 32-40 before I would shoot this Stevens 1915 favorite in 25-20 wcf.  Shocked
  
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frnkeore
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #9 - yesterday at 7:19pm
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I'm another one that has "proofed" my LW. Cartridge is 357 x 1.6 or 38 XL as I call it.

Fixed ammo

Lyman 357315 w/gc, 208 gr, 1832 fps

H&G 150 gr GC, 2291 fps

I don't give out the powder or charge and don't recommend those loads Smiley
  

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fayettefatts
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #10 - Today at 10:05am
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Old-Win wrote yesterday at 3:44pm:
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That's the rifle I'm asking about.
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #11 - Today at 10:39am
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frnkeore wrote yesterday at 7:19pm:
I'm another one that has "proofed" my LW. Cartridge is 357 x 1.6 or 38 XL as I call it.

Fixed ammo

Lyman 357315 w/gc, 208 gr, 1832 fps

H&G 150 gr GC, 2291 fps

I don't give out the powder or charge and don't recommend those loads Smiley


I've done the same exact thing with aplomb in a Martini Cadet action. 1680 powder is one's friend.....

(The Cadet having way more "strength" than a vintage Low Wall in terms of back thrust, the awkward approach into the chamber being its Achilles Heel for slick use with long cartridges, as well as narrow action width/wall thickness and small diameter barrel shanks limiting resistance to hoop pressures.) 

As for .32-40 (or any cartridge with the same diameter head) in a vintage low wall, I would surely hesitate. Backthrust being significantly higher than with a smaller "normal for LW cartridge" head diameter, the safety margin in the instance of a mistake being too narrow for my tastes. Ditto such use in a cast Ballard or Stevens 44 (lugged hammer or not). Too many other choices for .32-40 fun to have to seek said fun in a vintage Low Wall, IMO.
  
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RJ-35-40
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Re: Winchester low wall 32-40
Reply #12 - Today at 1:34pm
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Gunbroker.com has new "surveillance" levels of personal information requirements to use their web site.

I just reviewed the fine print, 'privacy polices' etc.
After too many pages of fine print it's obvious that ALL the personal information you are required to disclose to use their web site is not only intrusive but also requires the user to agree to their  sharing of YOUR personal information to anyone and everyone, including DOB, search history, social security numbers (this gem is hidden in the fine print)
etc. 

Gunbroker.com is no longer a viable resource for our hobby if you want your personal information to be kept private. 

 

fayettefatts wrote Today at 10:05am:
Old-Win wrote yesterday at 3:44pm:
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That's the rifle I'm asking about.

  
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