doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com A new caliber for a Merrimack Ballard

Dixie gun works sells the ones I use. They also have a few other calibers.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/advanced_search_result.php?s=1&keywords=+rimfire+bras

I appreciate all of your suggestions, really do. I think I'll stay with the 17HMR conversion (just happen to have a liner and liner reamer in the shop) and just extend the blade on the hammer down a bit. I'll need to do a double liner to fill the large .44 bore that's toast, but I think I can do that without too many problems. And I think I will keep the old wood and repair it as necessary because it really isn't that bad. One of the biggest obstacles to centerfire conversion is the percussion nipple which I removed. I'd need to do a lot of tig welding to fill the hole left by that. It should make into a nice little rimfire rifle that will be plenty of fun to shoot.

To install a smaller liner, I have successfully used a tight-fitting collar at the front end and filled the rest with Acraglas, all the way back to the chamber end. Seemed to help accuracy too; perhaps the vibration-dampening effect of the glas?
Regards, Joe

Really? I hadn't thought of that. Use the liquid type instead of the regular thick brand? Sorry for the late reply, just got back from Perry.
Blair

I have been following this thread with interest. We seem to have a consensus that these old cast action Ballards are OK as 22 rimfires, particularly as target rifles wherein only lower velocity loads are used. We also apparently have a consensus that converting to any CF cartridge is not a good idea. If someone suggested making the rifle into a Hornet or a Bee, we would all reply "NO" in bold capital letters.

But where do the 17 HMR and 22 WMR carridges stand in the continuum from "safe" to "unsafe" with these old actions? How much pressure do they generate when compared with a standard velocity 22 rimfire? And what is the nature of that pressure application? And how well does an insert handle that pressure? Particularly an insert held in place with something like glas?

I'm with JD. The old Ballard in the photo has the makings of a dandy 22 Schuetzen.

According to http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm
22RF 24,000 PSI
22RFM 24,000 PSI
17HMR 24,000 PSI according to another website. These are SAMMI maximum pressures, so I assume that rimfire ammo is generally loaded to a lesser chamber pressure figure and these are maximum allowable numbers.

IMO there are 3 major considerations about RF pressures in the Ballard (or in fact in any conversion):

Radial hoop pressure.
Breech block thrust.
Case wall blowout.

Hoop strength of the Redman/Brownell's liners is adequate for any of the above cartridges, by actual test, and especially with the added albeit minor assistance of the parent barrel's sleeve/hoop support.

Breech block thrust is greatly mitigated by the considerable mass of the block itself and the support of the wedge-locked block is entirely adequate for the RF pressures, again by repeated actual test.

The Ballard extractor is fairly easy to fit so that the case wall has full support even in the tiny unavoidable gaps where the extractor meets the cutaway chamber wall. Many other single shot rifles have more problematical designs; the Ballard is relatively pressure-tight & safe while the RF extractor parts are also, unfortunately, somewhat difficult to fab.

The 17 RFs apparently have a different pressure rise rate than the 22RFs since their use in the little Ruger 10/22 frequently requires a different-weight breechblock and a new mainspring. However, after doing several S/S rifle 17 RF conversions in both chamberings, I've found no problems.

The MAIN problem I've found with the 17s is that, when I shoot a squirrel anywhere except the head, then there's NOT ENOUGH LEFT TO EAT!(VBG)
Regards, Joe

While perusing the forum the other day I noticed that I had not finished a thread that I had started about the conversion of my old Ballard to 17HMR. Well, I did finish the rifle a while back and I apologize for not following up. I ended up having to make a new forearm for it and just chucking the old one. I welded up all of the old dovetails and threaded holes in the barrel and refitted it with a new set of Marbles sights. After refinishing the original buttstock and browning the metal work I think it turned out pretty nice. It is a great shooter and is really more accurate than I expected. Wish J.D. was around to see the finished product.

Very nicely done clowdis! That's some beautiful wood, and you did a great job refinishing it! I don't own any pre-Marlin Ballards, and have always wanted to add one to my Ballard collection!

Thanks Vall! This one is about as old as they get. As you can see there was some consternation about rechambering in 17HMR but it seems to be doing fine. The wood turned out to be much nicer than I thought after I got the old finish off of it. I think I'll just keep this one and enjoy it.