Ballard 32-20 project

[rwnblack]

A few years ago I bought a Ballard project and I finally got around to finishing it. I put a Ron Smith gain Twist barrel and chambered it to 32-20. I fixed up the wood, casehardened and blued it. The rear sight is an old rusty original peep sight that I cleaned up. I think this will be a fun gun to shoot gophers and for plinking.

 

[powderman]

That's sure a nice Ballard.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Lovely little rifle. Gophers will be nervous within range fer sure.

 

[tokguy]

I had some Hornady personal defense 32 ACP JHP in 32-20 that would explode gophers at about 1300 fps.
Beautiful rifle OP

 

[HuskyDude]

Very nicely done.
Love to see a closeup of the receiver too.

Does yours have the reversible firing pin from center to rim?

 

[cooter303]

A few years ago I bought a Ballard project and I finally got around to finishing it. I put a Ron Smith gain Twist barrel and chambered it to 32-20. I fixed up the wood, casehardened and blued it. The rear sight is an old rusty original peep sight that I cleaned up. I think this will be a fun gun to shoot gophers and for plinking.

View attachment 577814View attachment 577815View attachment 577816View attachment 577817View attachment 577820View attachment 577822

Is that the one I sold you? Sure looks great.

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

Nice rifle! Did you do the case hardening yourself?

 

[skwerl]

Hey Rex , you are always one to tempt us
with what you've done.

The wood work is marvelous.

 

[mooncoon]

I am definitely impressed

cheers mooncoon

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Looking great sir!!

 

[rwnblack]

Thanks. It does have the reversible firing pin. I think it was originally a 38 rimfire. It is a cast steel 3 line action but it is plenty strong for a 32-20. I did the casehardening myself, the colors are muted but still pleasing. I don’t seem to get as vibrant colors on cast actions but that is okay. The breech block has great colors but that isn’t cast.

 

[bandanaman]

Kudos to you ,very nice work indeed !!!!!

 

[a j cave]

I have a #5 Pacific in 40-85 that I was going to do something with. Not sure where to go what to do now. I sure like how yours turned out.

 

[rwnblack]

I have a Pacific in 40-85 as well. Great rifle but in far too good shape for me to do any work on it. Still has evidence of Colours, good bluing and stock finish. It has the stress fractures in the wrist like most large caliber Ballards but it doesn’t seem to be moving or changing. I have been shooting it with full loads of black and a 330 gr paper patch. Great fun but definitely use a slip on recoil pad with that one.

 

[rwnblack]

I took the 32-20 to the range tonight. It is showing promise with Unique but seems to really like black powder. I was shooting 16.5 grains of 4 fg under a 100 gr bullet. I need to make a blow tube and play some more soon. Very nice offhand rifle, it is going to be great fun to play with.

 

[rwnblack]

I took the Ballard to the range yesterday. It prefers 3F Olde Eynsford over smokeless powders. Kinda fun shooting black in that little caliber.

 

[cdnrokon]

did it foul up quickly?

 

[B_noser]

4F as a main charge? Thought that was a no-no.

 

[rwnblack]

No problem with fowling at all. I use a blow tube between shots.

I was only using 16.4 g of 4 F powder in that little 32-20 case so it didn’t seem to be an issue. I have a few pounds so I thought I might use some up.