I have a couple of guns in 32 WCF and I love the cartridge. I decided to convert a No. 1 rolling block from .32 rimfire to 32wcf. I found a gun on the internet advertised as .32 rimfire and it came in a few days ago. well used, but nearly perfect bore, metal in very good shape--it even has a vintage marble tang sight. The stock has a poorly installed hook buttplate but I think that is why I got rifle for a very good price. On the bottom of the bbl is stamped "32" where I have seen the calibre stamped of other rolling blocks.
I decided to examine the chamber and out of curiosity tried to chamber a new 32 wcf case. The case fits, although the rim is a little too tight. A case fired in my Cimmaron revolver will not chamber(neck too big dia.), nor will a new case with a seated round( too long).
I primed a new case and found that this will fire, although the firing pin strikes a bit off center. I took the pin out and it is a rimfire pin.
If I am not mistaken a .32 rimfire is a few thousands smaller case dia. and a smaller rim dia. than 32 wcf, so the center fire case should be too big to fit. Also what seems to be a rimfire firing pin but it looks as if it would not strike the rim of the case. It is only about 1/16" from the center of the centerfire primer.
As nearly as I can measure the bbl is 32 cal.
Any idea what I have here? I have the reamer ordered and if I do not receive any better information I will ream out the chamber and see how it shoots. Will accuracy be affected with a firing pin which strikes the primer about 1/16" off center, or should I make and install a centerfire pin?
Thanks for your help.
Steve K