Just curious but was Merrill the victim of a not so bright editor in his article "Reloading a Rimfire? Why is it that throughout the article it refers to the old Stevens Favorite as being chambered for the .32 S&W Long when it is clear from all the photos that is is a .32 Rimfire in which he is using adapters? In the article he tells about the history of the .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long. Does he not know the difference between that and the .32 rimfire? Am I missing something here?
That makes sense I guess. I thought he had the CF and RF confused...
I have never heard of the .32 RF being referred to as a .32 S&W even though the early S&Ws were chambered for it.
And it is easy to convert Hopkins & Allen and most likely other of those single shots in 32 RF to 32 Colt by making a different lifter to move the breech block to center the firing pin from the rimfire position. With a little effort you can get those old girls shooting without permanent changes. It makes a fun fall afternoon getting close to squirrels.
Bfly
Was waiting for this to appear. Can't believe the author and editor let this get by! I have my Grandfather's Marlin 1892 with rimfire and centerfire firing pins for use with 32 Short and Long rimfire, and 32 Short Colt and 32 Long Colt centerfire ammo. Needs a barrel reline thought. Pretty pitted.
My great grandfather has one of those 1892 Marlins. I was never able to find out what happened to it. Many years ago "Rifle" or "Handloader" had a great article on loading the .32 Long colt to use in the Marlin.
Thanks for the tip! I'll look for that back issue. I have a bunch of new 32 Short Colt cases and may have to cob together a few dies to load them. A proper bullet mould may be a challenge. Might have to bore one on my lathe. I've seen where pliers can be modified to apply a crimp. I actually have a new barrel from Numrich I should get ambitious and install.
Any clue what issue that might have been, I have mine in a pile, by issue year. I don't remember that article, but there have been a lot of issues. Hopefully it isn't in one of my missing issues.
Bfly
No I don't. I will see if I still have it. It was several years ago.
The Feb/Mar 2020 Handloader has good info in a Cartridge Board article.
There is also good info here:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?392249-32-Short-Colt
I found the article on loading for the Marlin 1892. It's in Handloader #122, Jul-Aug 1986. There's also a good article on loading "heel" type bullets in Handloader #35, Jan-Feb 1972.