Thread: Making everlasting 44 Rinfire reloadable brass

Here's another how too post

I recently brought a very tidy 1865 Ball & Williams Ballard 44 Ballard Long Rimfire rifle.





The rifle is in excellent condition and has a 9/10 bore

I made a single reloadable case from a massively modified 7x57R case for reloadable rimfire
It was just a proof of concept and I used the single case multiple times
The rifle functions perfectly and it groups well

The case takes 24 grains of 1 1/2 FG BP behind a 210 grain powder coated and heeled bullet



Three shots at 25m

The internet told me that 44 Special cases were the best option to easily form reloadable cases from .

I got given some from a generous forum member.
Spent an entire day getting 10 of them nearly ready to use.
But then realized they were not a great donor case because they end up very fragile.

I don't want to just use this rifle to shoot targets etc

So I revisited the 7x57R idea.
Played around with what was on hand and realized that 303 British was a good option.

So another full day in the workshop and I have formed 15 completed cases with 2 slight variations on the final machining of the primer pockets that the Acorn Caps go in

Attachment 258874

With these cases I've got a mouth thickness over twice as thick as the 44 Special cases.
So they are heavy and stay in shape better .

Because I am heeling the bullets on the lathe heavy case mouth is ideal for my use.

Attachment 258875

The 303 based cases only hold 22 grains of BP but that's plenty.
The cases are very robust and I hope they will last many firings

I ended up with 15 excellent cases

Pretty fiddly reloading them which is why the heavier cases with slightly reduced capacity is a huge help

Can't view middle two photos. Great work as always,love seeing how you just make it work.

And test fired at 35m and pretty happy and what I expected.
Fouling starts to string the shots after 3 rounds .



I have adjusted the front sight to get point of impact over the bull.
Reloaded the last 5 of my bullets on hand.

Started another 20 cases from the last of my 303 brass.
And will cast some more bullets some time soon

It's been a very fun project and I'm looking forward to going hunting something bigger than a hare with it

Realistically these cases each take 30 minutes plus to make !

are the acorn caps a press fit in the case?

If someone is interested in making reloadable Rimfire brass for 25 RF 32 RF or 44 RF I can give you the recipe for them all

The 44 RF has 19 steps in the process

25 RF is as complicated but slightly more difficult because it is so much small

32 RF is child's play if you can get ahold of some 32 Long Colt brass

56 RF I haven't done
But if someone has a 56 RF and has never fired it and wants too, get in touch
Should be easy with 50-70 brass

22 LR

25 Long RF original

25 Long RF reloadable

44 Ballard Long RF reloadable

And these are reloadable 32 RF

The short one is 32 RF that fits in a no4 Rolling Block rifle

The Long ones are 32 Long RF which is more common in falling block rifles.

The key to being able to make these cases is being able to accurately and securely hold them in a lathe

And drilling out and tapping the center fire primer hole
Screwing in a brass bolt dipped in flux
And very securely soldering right through the thread to the inside

Because you are drilling a new Acorn Cap offset it is cutting through half of the brass machine screw.
If the solder joint isn't good the case will fail during machining

Oh my gosh, thats some serious thought and work.
My cases are lucky if they get a wipe b4 loading .
Hats off to you good sir

Nice work Mate when you have to make your own brass an projectiles then you really know you have walked the walk Good Hunting and dont lose that brass .Regards