The Ballard action is well-designed for use with a 22RF cartridge since the block moves forward when closing, thus seating the bullet against the throat of a match chamber. While this forward travel would not be necessary with the various 17 RFs, the Ballard block retracts amply enough to ensure easy access to the chamber, an important point with small cartridges in actions having no ejection capability(!). The forward block movement also allows for tight-breeching with negative headspace if wanted.
IIWY I'd go for it. I've done several of these Ballard RF conversions and it's not rocket science. However the conversion DOES require a good understanding of the bench-fabbing process for the Ballard 2-pc extractor, or else acquirng the 2-pc RF extractor designed for the low wall and sold by DZ Arms (or some such name, grin).
Biggest hurdles IMO:
Ballards are NOT LIGHT and so a heavier rifle might be better. Frank de Haas in one of his articles showed a sporter he built on a SG Ballard and it was OK though.
Early Ballards had a fast thread pitch of 8 tpi, meaning DON'T repeatedly sock the barrel home against the shoulder while fitting/chambering unless you wanta end up advancing it 'just one more thread' because of looseness. Square threads too, I had to grind a special bit.
Fabbing the new RF firing pin will allow room for a retraction spring, a small round spring fits well here.
I STRONGLY suggest you consult de Haas' Single Shot Rifles and Actions as well as his Ballard articles published in The American Rifleman. He's a little sketchy in some of his descriptions but his Ballard smithing info is still the best available in print.
As you can see, IMO all this work is no step for a stepper and no hill for a climber. However your choice of smith will be VERY IMPORTANT here, just make sure that he can step and climb reasonably well....
FWIW I'm always available for advice and long-range consultation but am accepting no new work now.
Regards, Joe
