I have read many threads on the subject of converting old .32 rimfire Stevens rifles to centerfire. It's generally accepted that .32 S&W is pushing the limits of these old actions. But what about the new production Savage 30g aka New Model Favorite? Would that action be strong enough to safely handle .32 S&W modern ammo?
The reason behind all this is I used to have an old Stevens .32 rimfire that I enjoyed hunting with. In my youth ammo was still available and I feel it was superior in standard velocity to the .22 because of the heavier bullet weight. After Navy Arms discontinued their .32 rimfire ammo I finally got rid of that old Stevens and now I'm looking at revisiting the concept in something I can feed.
So I'm thinking that the general problem with converting the old models is in the metallurgy. The saami chamber pressure for .22lr is 24,000psi. The highest pressure I've seen listed for .32 S&W is 17,000 for modern guns, but it varies down to 9,000 for antiques depending on what reloading data I've looked at.
So I think a new made Savage 30g or 30gm is a viable option to convert to .32 S&W. The action is plenty strong enough for the sedate .32. I know the breech block and extractors will have to modified and a new firing pin made but I think I can replicate the experience of the old .32 Favorite model in something that I can easily feed.
My alternative idea if the consensus is this is ill advised is finding a Navy Arms Rolling Block .357 magnum and rebarrelling to .32. In this action I could go ahead and chamber for the .327 magnum but this action is considerably heavier than what I'm wanting to go with. I'm trying to keep with the light, trim characteristics of the Favorite and Remington no 4.
The reason behind all this is I used to have an old Stevens .32 rimfire that I enjoyed hunting with. In my youth ammo was still available and I feel it was superior in standard velocity to the .22 because of the heavier bullet weight. After Navy Arms discontinued their .32 rimfire ammo I finally got rid of that old Stevens and now I'm looking at revisiting the concept in something I can feed.
So I'm thinking that the general problem with converting the old models is in the metallurgy. The saami chamber pressure for .22lr is 24,000psi. The highest pressure I've seen listed for .32 S&W is 17,000 for modern guns, but it varies down to 9,000 for antiques depending on what reloading data I've looked at.
So I think a new made Savage 30g or 30gm is a viable option to convert to .32 S&W. The action is plenty strong enough for the sedate .32. I know the breech block and extractors will have to modified and a new firing pin made but I think I can replicate the experience of the old .32 Favorite model in something that I can easily feed.
My alternative idea if the consensus is this is ill advised is finding a Navy Arms Rolling Block .357 magnum and rebarrelling to .32. In this action I could go ahead and chamber for the .327 magnum but this action is considerably heavier than what I'm wanting to go with. I'm trying to keep with the light, trim characteristics of the Favorite and Remington no 4.
