how would the .44 rim fire stack up with todays ammo?

[cactus joe]

Nice shooting and a very fine old rifle. Cool idea with making your centerfire ammo into rimfire ammo.

[ndnchf]

Dredging up this thread yet again. I went to the range a few days ago to shoot both the .44 rimfire Ballard rifle and the .44 rimfire converted to centerfire Remington rolling block. I made a short video of the fun.

[mtmarfield]

      Greetings, Ndnchf!

   I noticed that the shorter Remington .44CF produced significantly less smoke, and seemed to have a "stouter" muzzle blast; better ignition?

                    M.T.M.
                 11-06-22

[ndnchf]

      Greetings, Ndnchf!

   I noticed that the shorter Remington .44CF produced significantly less smoke, and seemed to have a "stouter" muzzle blast; better ignition?

                    M.T.M.
                 11-06-22

Good observation.

In consideration of the Ballard's cast iron receiver, I load its cartrudges light, with some filler and Blackhorn 209. The Remington cartridges were loaded with Reloader 7 - thus less smoke, but more bark.

[cactus joe]

For your Ballard loads how hard is it to remove the .22 casing from the brass or are they just set in there?

[ndnchf]

For your Ballard loads how hard is it to remove the .22 casing from the brass or are they just set in there?

Unlike power tool blanks, acorn blanks tap out pretty easy. They are a .001" - .002" interference fit. I made a little decapping stand and punch. I doesn't take much longer or more effort than decapping centerfire primers.