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.32 rimfire
elubsme
Member Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭✭
Just curious, why was this caliber so popular when it wasn't reloadable, just a bit more powerful than a .22 or .25. What was it good for? There are many rifles advertised on the auction side. Seems to me that a .25 Stevens or a 32-20 would be more practical.
Comments
I think that was ammo for palm pistols. Seen one 20+ years ago and I really wanted it but no ammo.
The main draw of the .32 rimfire was that it was more powerful than a .22 or .25 and a lot cheaper than .32-20.
You can reload for it..... @ask @TRAP55 he knows all things and I do not lol
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The various .32 rimfires were products of the early development of metallic cartridges in the 1860's. As you state later cartridge designs quickly made them obsolete. But, the .32's served a purpose in the early years, i.e., better than the muzzle loaders.
just to note; .32COLT is the center fire version, it's possible to convert many rifles to c.f. Marlin even made a lever action that came with 2 firing pins for either.
.32 rimfire was very popular in small pocket revolvers. Power per round was a lot more than could be obtained from the muzzle loaders, but the guns were small, easy to conceal, and you could deliver 5 or 6 shots quickly. Reloading was rapid for the day, especially in the designs with loading ports not requiring cylinder removal.