.38 Rimfire - How cool is that?

**Aguila Blanca** · June 26, 2018, 06:16 PM

I was poking around Youtube, looking for a particular video by Mike Beliveau (duelist1954), and I stumbled across this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxXqZ7XNIk

What a neat idea -- simulate rimfire ammunition by setting a "primer" off-center in the case head. I don't know why they chose to use .22 blanks for primers -- I would have thought that shotgun primers would be as effective, and more readily available.

**Aguila Blanca** · June 26, 2018, 07:13 PM

Aaaaaand ... After watching Mike's video again, I realize why they used .22 blanks as primers. Because they're rimfires, and the guns were made to shoot rimfire ammunition (duh). A shotgun primer has to be hit with a firing pin in or near its center, and these old rimfire handguns can't do that.

Which, IMHO, makes this little kit a very ingenious solution to the problem of non-existent ammunition for these old guns.

Model12Win · June 26, 2018, 07:14 PM

I wonder why the larger-caliber rimfires went extinct in the first place?

44 Dave · June 26, 2018, 07:55 PM

Rim fire case has to be thin enough to fire therefor not suitable for higher pressures that were coming into use.

rodwhaincamo · June 28, 2018, 11:19 PM

Very cool indeed!

TruthTellers · June 29, 2018, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Model12Win

I wonder why the larger-caliber rimfires went extinct in the first place?

Centerfire was more reliable and reloadable. Also, I think the move to smokeless powder meant that the cases weren't crammed full of powder, so the ignition of the powder wouldn't be as consistent as with black powder.

Also rimfires require heavier hammer springs and thus a heavier trigger to ensure a good hit to ignite the primer in the rim.

I agree tho that there's no reason why rimfire ammo larger than .22 shouldn't be made. There are plenty of older single shot .32 rimfire and .41 rimfire derringers out there that are selling for so little due to ammo rarity. All it would take is a couple machines to produce .32, .38, and .41 rimfire and the manufacturer would basically have a monopoly on the market. A dollar a round of rimfire isn't too outrageous when you consider most premium ammo costs the same.

Driftwood Johnson · July 2, 2018, 10:54 AM

Quote:

I agree tho that there's no reason why rimfire ammo larger than .22 shouldn't be made. There are plenty of older single shot .32 rimfire and .41 rimfire derringers out there that are selling for so little due to ammo rarity. All it would take is a couple machines to produce .32, .38, and .41 rimfire and the manufacturer would basically have a monopoly on the market. A dollar a round of rimfire isn't too outrageous when you consider most premium ammo costs the same.

Howdy

The law of supply and demand. With all due respect, it would take more than 'a couple machines to produce .32, .38, and .41 rimfire' ammunition. It has been tried before. A number of years ago Navy Arms was selling some 41 Rimfire ammo for the Remington double derringers. I picked up an almost full box not too long ago to add to my cartridge collection. If it had been economically viable it would still be available.

Likewise with 32 and 38 Rimfire and 44 Henry Rimfire. If it was economically viable, somebody would have stepped into the vacuum by now and would be producing them.

gwpercle · July 2, 2018, 02:25 PM

Now that's an interesting way to do it.
Gary

**Mike Irwin** · July 3, 2018, 09:52 AM

That's been done for decades.

Dixie Gun Works used to carry .56-56 cases that used the offset .22 blank as the primer.

Matter of fact, they're still available.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/...+Round+Ball%29

**4V50 Gary** · July 3, 2018, 12:41 PM

Those are pretty neat.

Bishop Creek · July 4, 2018, 09:47 PM

I used to have a couple of boxes of .32 rim fire cartridges made in Brazil as I recall, and distributed by Navy Arms in the 1970s and '80s.

**Mike Irwin** · July 5, 2018, 07:57 AM

Yep, CBC would occasionally make runs of .32 Short rimfire and .41 Short rimfire for Navy Arms.

June 26, 2018, 06:16 PM	#1
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	.38 Rimfire - How cool is that? I was poking around Youtube, looking for a particular video by Mike Beliveau (duelist1954), and I stumbled across this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxXqZ7XNIk What a neat idea -- simulate rimfire ammunition by setting a "primer" off-center in the case head. I don't know why they chose to use .22 blanks for primers -- I would have thought that shotgun primers would be as effective, and more readily available.

July 3, 2018, 09:52 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	That's been done for decades. Dixie Gun Works used to carry .56-56 cases that used the offset .22 blank as the primer. Matter of fact, they're still available. https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/...+Round+Ball%29 __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 3, 2018, 12:41 PM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Those are pretty neat. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 5, 2018, 07:57 AM	#12
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Yep, CBC would occasionally make runs of .32 Short rimfire and .41 Short rimfire for Navy Arms. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 26, 2018, 07:13 PM	#2
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	Aaaaaand ... After watching Mike's video again, I realize why they used .22 blanks as primers. Because they're rimfires, and the guns were made to shoot rimfire ammunition (duh). A shotgun primer has to be hit with a firing pin in or near its center, and these old rimfire handguns can't do that. Which, IMHO, makes this little kit a very ingenious solution to the problem of non-existent ammunition for these old guns.

June 26, 2018, 07:14 PM	#3
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I wonder why the larger-caliber rimfires went extinct in the first place?

June 26, 2018, 07:55 PM	#4
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	Rim fire case has to be thin enough to fire therefor not suitable for higher pressures that were coming into use.

June 28, 2018, 11:19 PM	#5
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Very cool indeed!

July 2, 2018, 02:25 PM	#8
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	Now that's an interesting way to do it. Gary

July 4, 2018, 09:47 PM	#11
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	I used to have a couple of boxes of .32 rim fire cartridges made in Brazil as I recall, and distributed by Navy Arms in the 1970s and '80s.