Author Topic: What Caliber for 1885 Low Wall? (Read 2721 times)

popplecop · « **on:** July 04, 2004, 02:37:39 PM »

I want to make up a new rifle on a low wall. Will it take the 32 H&R mag, I wonder? Already have a Ruger SS in that caliber. May be I need another Hornet. Anyone play around with these. It is a centerfire already.

KSR · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2004, 09:28:44 PM »

A Low Wall in good condition will be plenty stout for the 32 H&R mag.
I am going to be redoing one from an old 357 conversion to a 32-20
here in a month or two myself.

Somerled · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2004, 06:39:24 PM »

An 1885 in .32-20, .25-20, .256 Win., or .218 Bee sure would be slick. I've never cared for the .22 Hornet as much.

jh45gun · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2004, 10:07:25 PM »

Hi Popple cop

I knew a guy who had one rebarreled in 256 Win first time I ever saw that cartridge. It was quite a shooter. Email Steve Garbe of Ballard/ SPG fame he will tell you what you can use and what you cannot as he makes High and Low Walls along with the New Ballard Rifles. Steve was very helpful to me about my Roller and told me what power range I could reload it for safely and answered my email fairly fast with in a week if I remember right. Seems like a nice guy to deal with. Jim

marlinman93 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2004, 02:10:25 PM »

One thing you'll want to do, even though it's already a centerfire, is check the breechblock face. Original model 1885's in both High and Low Wall actions can have deteriorated breechfaces and this needs to be restored before you rebarrel to anything. The fix is to install a large bushing in the face of the breechblock, and then drill for a smaller firing pin hole. A new pin is then turned on the lathe and installed. This will true up the face of the breechblock, and strengthen it also. The larger the bushing the better.

popplecop · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2004, 08:28:27 AM »

Breech block is fine, looks like new in fact. As far as calibers go I appreciate the advice. Have dies for the hornet, k hornet, 32 H&R mag and have access to 218 bee and 25-20 dies. Mav be I'd better make up my mind and order a barrel. Any more ideas keep em comeing cause it will be another week before I flip a coin or whatever.

Prince of Wales · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2004, 06:04:23 AM »

If a traditional cartrige is used I would prefere the 218 bee. If non traditional then I would see about using the 41 mag. or at least the 357 mag. They shoot very well in a rifle length barrel. Good luck. POW

marlinman93 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2004, 02:50:05 PM »

The .41 Mag, and the .357 mag are pretty high pressure rounds for a low wall action! The bushed firing pin is a MUST, should you try either of these, and even with a bushed firing pin, I wouldn't want to use the .41 magnum! I'd stick with lower pressure rounds myself.

EDG · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2004, 05:45:38 PM »

Another traditional round it the .25/35. Accurate, good varmiter, can be used for deer size game. Dies, brass and bullets are readily available.
I sort of like your idea of the .32 H&R. I suppose it would be easier to build a really accurate rifle using the straight sided case.

Ed

gewehrfreund · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2004, 01:17:52 AM »

My choice would be the 32-20 (32 WCF), but since you already have a 32 H&R handgun, that's the logical choice.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2004, 12:52:40 PM »

The .25-35 is a traditional cartridge, but way too hot for a Low Wall, and with the Low Wall's .825" small shank, it leaves too little material between the chamber and the threads. The Hi Wall with it's .935" shank has plenty of metal, plus good support for the breechblock, but the Low Wall has little support for the block, and surely wont handle the .25-35. Winchester never chambered a Low Wall in the .25-35.

Lurker · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2004, 02:02:20 PM »

I have a friend in Northern Nevada, who has reached a precarious stage in his life. He acquired two of the 1885 Winchester/Miroku Low Walls. One in .357 magnum and one in 44 magnum.

The 44 magnum Low Wall he had rechambered to 444 Marlin. :shock: I keep waiting for something to happen to the 444 Marlin Low Wall. But, he claims he shoots it almost every day.

He only shoots cast bullets, with smokeless powder, in it.

Does anyone care to venture an opinion on how long, or how well this firearm, will hold up?

Bill

paul47 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2004, 02:52:49 PM »

I'm wondering if there is some confusion here. I'd worry about pressures in an original Winchester low wall, but the recent Browning Lo Walls (Miroku, right?) were chambered in .243 Win and .260 Rem (I have one of the latter). Certainly higher pressures than a .357 Mag or .41 Mag. I assume the steel on the later guns can hold up. But I haven't put 10,000 rounds through it! :shock:

I was looking at a Low Wall Traditional Hunter in .357 Mag (they also came in .44 Mag). Price reduced, too. I had almost talked myself into buying it, with the intention of rechambering it in .357 Maximum. Would make a great deer gun, but cheap to plink with using lead bullets. But it was gone the next time I went into the shop. <sigh> I still think this would be a great chambering.

Graycg · « **Reply #13 on:** November 14, 2004, 03:30:27 PM »

What about 38-55 or 32-40?

Mntngoat · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2004, 06:31:13 PM »

I have one in 22 Hornet I just sent out to Geroge Wessinger be rebarreled in 17 Ackley Bee.

Michael

marlinman93 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 18, 2004, 04:44:01 PM »

Although the modern Low Walls are identical actions, they are made of modern stels, of higher strength, plus they aren't 100+ years old!
The new Low Walls are chambered for much higher pressure cartridges than the old ones were, but they can handle it. Not sure about the .444 Marlin, as that sure leaves very little metal between the threads and the receiver!
I have a few rifles in .32-20, including an 1892 vintage Low Wall, and I love that caliber. It's great to shoot, accurate, and easy to reload for.

EDG · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2004, 03:27:46 AM »

>>>Not sure about the .444 Marlin, as that sure leaves very little metal between the threads and the receiver!<<<
The .444 is only a few thousandths larger than the .44 magnum which was the original chambering. Same size as the head of a .243 case. Go get some brass and measure it. The .44 Mag. measures .450 and the .444 measures .470. In addition the .444 is not a high pressure round in modern terms and does not approach the pressures of the .243 and .260 Remington and both have been chambered in the Brownings. However I would not chamber a .444 in an original low wall. Your concern about the strength of the threads over the chamber is somwhat misplaced with a modern steel barrel. AISI 4140 has more than double the tensile strength of the barrel steels used in the late 1800s.
Ed