Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Why not 25, 32 or 40 cal rimfire?

I was burning some Wolf ammo through my Armalite the other day and had a thought: Why don't gunmakers go back to rimfire cartridges for more than .22 and now .17? The Wolf ammo might as well be rimfire, for as much reloading one can do with it.

I'd think a .25 or .32 rimfire with low muzzle velocity and a bullet weight idealized for 50 yards would be the absolute cat's whiskers for squill or rabbit.

Start up costs, would be my guess, and then the competition with the firmly entrenched .22 rimfires, and now the .17s.

FWIW - a .25/20 can be loaded so low and slow that it can be essentially a rimfire, and then up to a bit more. Same thing for a .32/20, or better yet, a .32S&W. I'm planning on trying that S&W route really soon via a certain S&W revolver.

The .25-20 covers a lot of bases, when handloaded. From what little I know about the .25 and .32 rimfires, they were never as accurate as the .22 LR.

My last .25-20 was very accurate, with a mild report and no recoil.

It's a shame Cooper doesn't offer the cartridge in their Hornet length action. I know Kimber made a few, as I've seen one.

I'm likin' the .25-20 also, but it is a bit short on availability. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'm also liking 120mm's thoughts. I've shot a .32 Long RF, not too long ago actually. Shot quite well truth be know, but the Stevens Favorite it was chambered in had a weak firing pin strike and did not go off every time. I would actually like to see a .40 something caliber with a 200 grain lead bullet. Something I could actually kill big animals with and not reload...just because. Maybe stainless/synthetic, in a lever gun...black powder? Why not, it would appeal to the CAS folks, and I could clean it with a garden hose.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I'm serious....about 90% of that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Talking about the .32 Long RF, I just saw a nice Marlin chambered for it. Slick vintage rifle with a good bore and beautiful patina, but where does one get ammo? I think CIL made some years ago, but have not seen any in a very long time.

My last .25-20 was a nice first run Marlin CL. Put a Lyman on it and punched cloverleafs at 50 yards.

JB in SC;

IIRC, Dixie Gun Works does, or used to, stock ammo for the .32RF. Check on that, and the Marlin might be a STEAL!.

IIRC a friend of mine has a .56 rimfire round in his collection...

IIRC, the .56 Rimfire was one of the first cartridge firearms invented.

Digitaldan, you have just described the Henry rifle, except of course the stainless/tupperware part. .44 rimfire, arise!

I think Aquila was supposed to come out with a .223 rimfire round a few years ago.

And the stars collide.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Somebody..Uberti or another Spaghet oriented gun builder was making those back in the '80s...ammo was difficult to find, even from them, or I woulda done it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Somewhere, some day, someone will start thinkin' straight again....

Dixie has the .32 Long ammo for sure...go get that Marlin and stock up!

The Marlin 1892 has an interchangible firing pin. It will also shoot 32 Colt long and short. The Colt brass is available

Couldn't find the .32 RF ammo at Dixie, only .41 Short @ $55 per box. Doubt the rifle is still available. Might check again this weekend, but have too many other irons in the fire....

Well dangit....they must be waitin' for another delivery from the Land of Brazillians. It was in their catalog for a long time....maybe a call would reveal the future... The older I get the more quicksand I find... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Had some of that Brazillian .32 RF....and a beautiful platform....The batch I had was super erratic, and accuracy.....absent.

Converted it to a CF.....................it shot like blue poison.

GTC

I have some 32 rimfire ammo in 3 different legnths...
Came with the house as well as a bunch of STUFF

Although sold, this one was an 1891.

Cross, I have a Remington #4 Rolling Block in 32 RF long in the pipeline, haven't seen it yet. I figure my options are to reline it to 22LR or 22Mag, or convert it to center fire and chamber to 32 H&R. Any helpful hints or other ideas?

I have a remington #4 that was relined to 22mag. The action is spring enough that you have to de-oil the chamber to avoid case head bulging. DeHaas warned against anything with higher pressure than factory 32 longs. I believe him, dont go to the 32 mag.
Good luck!

The .32S&W long, and the capability to back down to the .32S&W would be a sweet rig.