Early 1885 caliber conversion

[COLT45SA]

My 1885 low-wall was made in 1895 in very odd ball and totally obsolete caliber, the .25 rim fire. I know what a rim-fireI to center-fire conversion involves. I've made an appointment to have the barrel relined and want the most accurate caliber I can buy for this old man. Can a .32-20 be accurate~? Are there others~?
I just learned that the low-wall and the hi-wall used the same firing pin. Rather than going thru the modifications to the breech bolt that many owners have had done, wouldn't it just make sense to modify the pin portion of the firing pin~?

 

[1885Winman4590]

I have an Uberti low wall replica in 32-20 that is accurate enough to put 3 shots touching @ 100 yds. 100gr Hornady xtp for hunting only of course. And I wouldn't go beyond a 100 yds for hunting either. Heart shots kill clean and quick, but you have to be able to get that heart shot. I won't take the shot if I can't get it.

 

[djporter]

PM sent

 

[COLT45SA]

I have an Uberti low wall replica in 32-20 that is accurate enough to put 3 shots touching @ 100 yds. 100gr Hornady xtp for hunting only of course. And I wouldn't go beyond a 100 yds for hunting either. Heart shots kill clean and quick, but you have to be able to get that heart shot. I won't take the shot if I can't get it.

Actually, the accuracy of the .32-20 is not my biggest concern. And at my age I certainly won't be doing any hunting. I feel that even in this current absence of ammunition, the brass and components are going to be difficult to get your hands on well into the future. Even Starline has stopped making brass for the .32-20 with no plans for bringing it back anytime soon.

 

[JSH]

How about rebore and rechamber, rather than a sleeve?

I would do a 1-10” twist with a 308/309 bore. Make a good cast bullet rig and still shoot the pistol bullets. Don’t look down on the 32-20/30-20, I and numerous others were doing 20-25+ years ago what is “new” today, 300BO sub and super sonic.

 

[COLT45SA]

I would very much like to go with one of the more modern cartridges, but so many people have told me that the "early: '85s can't handle the pressures because of the steel used in those days. Winchester had to change to a "better", "stronger" steel once smokeless powder came out. The .300BO is a fantastic cartridge as is the 6mm Creedmore. Maybe I should just sell this before spending money on it a buying one of the new Winchester in 6mm Creedmore.

 

[Cbashooter]

I had John Taylor in Lewiston Idaho convert a rare Stevens 47 from 25 Rimfire to 25-20. mine had a good bore and is. good shooter with shorter bullets.I can shoot. 258 diameter bullets in mine.

 

[COLT45SA]

I had John Taylor in Lewiston Idaho convert a rare Stevens 47 from 25 Rimfire to 25-20. mine had a good bore and is. good shooter with shorter bullets.I can shoot. 258 diameter bullets in mine.

A Steven 47~? What a beautiful rifle. I've spoken to John and have a tenative spot on his work schedule for the end of October. I didn't even ask him about refinishing the barrel and receiver. Does he do all that work too~?

 

[Cbashooter]

A Steven 47~? What a beautiful rifle. I've spoken to John and have a tenative spot on his work schedule for the end of October. I didn't even ask him about refinishing the barrel and receiver. Does he do all that work too~?

My 47 is on a model 44 and worn quite a bit but it has the original sight set. It was 3 months from the time I sent it to him. He converted it to center fire and re chambered it and I think it was under 300.

it's the top rifle.bottom is a stevens pope 32-40 also a model 47

 

[COLT45SA]

My 47 is on a model 44 and worn quite a bit but it has the original sight set. It was 3 months from the time I sent it to him. He converted it to center fire and re chambered it and I think it was under 300.

it's the top rifle.bottom is a stevens pope 32-40 also a model 47View attachment 1355651

I'm certainly aware of his barrel lining, re-chambering, and breech block work. What I don't know and didn't ask was does he do any cosmetic work like re-bluing or case coloring of receivers.
I have the original sights on mine including the tang sight. I may have the front sight changed to a Beeches Folding Combination or a Lyman Globe 17 with interchangeable inserts

 

[grovey]

Isn't there a foreign rimmed cartridge alot like the 6 ppc?

 

[dellet]

You could reline it to 17 WSM and not have to change a thing. The Low wall should be fine with those pressures. Probably actually less thrust than the 32-20.

Or if you had a lot of free time and the bore is good, pull the .17 bullets, neck up the case and load .25 bullets.

 

[COLT45SA]

Isn't there a foreign rimmed cartridge alot like the 6 ppc?

The 6mm PPC is not rimmed and the .220 Russian was the parent cartridge of the 6. Dealing with the extraction of a rimless cartridge is no big deal. Look at the huge number of rimless cartridges that 1885 clones are built for. I would expect successful extraction would simply (maybe not so simple?) be the design of the rifles extractor.

 

[COLT45SA]

You could reline it to 17 WSM and not have to change a thing. The Low wall should be fine with those pressures. Probably actually less thrust than the 32-20.

Or if you had a lot of free time and the bore is good, pull the .17 bullets, neck up the case and load .25 bullets.

I dislike a tiny bore intensly. They're a PIA to clean. .22LR is the smallest I'm willing to deal with. I love the .24 bore as in .243/6mm.

 

[Cbashooter]

I'm certainly aware of his barrel lining, re-chambering, and breech block work. What I don't know and didn't ask was does he do any cosmetic work like re-bluing or case coloring of receivers.
I have the original sights on mine including the tang sight. I may have the front sight changed to a Beeches Folding Combination or a Lyman Globe 17 with interchangeable inserts

he's more of a mechanical gunsmith not a restoration guy from what I gather.
CPA can re case the action I believe.

 

[grovey]

The 6mm PPC is not rimmed and the .220 Russian was the parent cartridge of the 6. Dealing with the extraction of a rimless cartridge is no big deal. Look at the huge number of rimless cartridges that 1885 clones are built for. I would expect successful extraction would simply (maybe not so simple?) be the design of the rifles extractor.

What I was referring to wasn't the russion/ppc case , but rather a foreign case of similar size and design with a rim. The 6.5x50 jap comes to mind as another rimmed case, but maybe too big for your needs?

 

[COLT45SA]

How about rebore and rechamber, rather than a sleeve?

I would do a 1-10” twist with a 308/309 bore. Make a good cast bullet rig and still shoot the pistol bullets. Don’t look down on the 32-20/30-20, I and numerous others were doing 20-25+ years ago what is “new” today, 300BO sub and super sonic.

I went with a reline using a .38 caliber liner with a 1:10 twist. I've never reloaded anything in .38 for a rifle and need every scrap if information I can get regarding powders and bullets capable of giving decent accuracy.

 

[JSH]

So what chambering did you have done?

 

[55fairlane]

Follow the load data in your book, my Hornady book has rifle data for several pistol cartridges......

 

[Clark]

I rebarrelled a Uberti 1885 falling block from 30-30 to 257 Roberts Ackley rimmed.
That breech cut on a Shilen blank was the hardest gunsmithing I ever did.