Thoughts on Converting a 32 Rimfire single shot to 38 special or 357 Mag?

[Thisisyourcaptin]

I have 3 32 Rimfire rifles. A Remington #2 rolling block, Stevens Favorite, and a Winchester Low Wall. They were are family hand downs a not taken very good care of. The stevens is shot out and has no rifling left. The other two are just ok. Pitted and very poor bores. The actions are all tight and in good shape. The bluing is old and shoes lots of wear, but no rust. The wood on all of them is pretty dinged up and maybe a 3 out of 10. But none are cracked or chipped.

I do not care about the history of the guns as there is none really. They were family farm guns and used as such. I’d like to get one back into to shooting condition. I have access to a machine shop and can easily convert the rolling block and low wall. I’m pretty sure they can handle the power upgrade as well. With a rebore they will have new bores and chambers. It’s a matter of a couple days work to convert the action.

I do not know if the Stevens can handle the power, but that’s simply cause I know little about them at all.

Again there is no real history being hurt here. They have sat in a gun safe for the last 20-30 years collecting dust. I am going to keep the one I convert and sell the other two as I have limited space in my safes and the rest of the family does not want to have anything to do with them. Nor do I.

Thoughts on the rolling block or low wall conversion?

Nate

 

[someguy2800]

I think I would stick to 38 special in the Stevens and Remington but the low wall should be fine with 357. A machinist will also need to relocate the firing pin, but it’s not that difficult for an experienced gunsmith.

 

[1KPerDay]

 

[adcoch1]

The low wall would be my pick for the conversion, I've always wanted one in 38/357. And I believe it would be the most straight forward conversion too.

 

[Thisisyourcaptin]

This is what gave me the idea. He does it to a low wall as well.

 

[Thisisyourcaptin]

I think I would stick to 38 special in the Stevens and Remington but the low wall should be fine with 357. A machinist will also need to relocate the firing pin, but it’s not that difficult for an experienced gunsmith.

I was kinda feeling the same way. The Low walls seems the most straight forward to do the conversion. I like the Stevens cause it is the arguable in the best condition but it also has a round barrel which I do like as much. The other two are octagonal and to me just look a bit better.

 

[Mosin77]

I have handled several of the Stevens and they are not a great design and not incredibly robust even in .22lr. I’d consider having the barrel relined for 22 if practicable, but definitely not choose that one for a centerfire conversion.

The Remington might be OK in .38spl, rolling blocks are fairly strong actions and honestly .32 rimfire is not incredibly weak, being a 90gr bullet at about 1080fps.

I’d think .32s&w long would be a more fitting conversion, however.

 

[Thisisyourcaptin]

I have handled several of the Stevens and they are not a great design and not incredibly robust even in .22lr. I’d consider having the barrel relined for 22 if practicable, but definitely not choose that one for a centerfire conversion.

The Remington might be OK in .38spl, rolling blocks are fairly strong actions and honestly .32 rimfire is not incredibly weak, being a 90gr bullet at about 1080fps.

I’d think .32s&w long would be a more fitting conversion, however.

I like the 32 s&w long but 38 spl is much easier to find around me. I am an airline pilot for a living and am home very little. When I am the last thing I want to do is hunt around ammo or reload. I have time to either machine and build or shoot. And only for an hour to two a week. The joy of having kids lol. They eat up the rest of the time.

 

[Mosin77]

I like the 32 s&w long but 38 spl is much easier to find around me. I am an airline pilot for a living and am home very little. When I am the last thing I want to do is hunt around ammo or reload. I have time to either machine and build or shoot. And only for an hour to two a week. The joy of having kids lol. They eat up the rest of the time.

Right there with you. I put my own .32 conversion project on the back burner after I found a Martini in .357 mag. Single shots are great fun, and even more so when you don’t have to treat the ammo like it’s made of gold.

 

[Thisisyourcaptin]

Right there with you. I put my own .32 conversion project on the back burner after I found a Martini in .357 mag. Single shots are great fun, and even more so when you don’t have to treat the ammo like it’s made of gold.

Kind of why I want to do this. I have a Pedersoli High Wall in 45-70. Love it. Shoots the piss out of flies out to 500.600 yards with my eyes. I’m sure it will do better but my eyes just wont cut it. But the price of 45-70 its just nuts anymore and really the only round id consider reloading again, that and 35 Whelen.

But to have one of these in 357 would be great for short range deer hunting and plinking with 38 special.