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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- This remarkable Ballard rifle gets an opportunity to shine once again in this video. The Ballard here is a falling block, big bore rimfire which is quite unique. I actually found a couple of batches of 44 Rimfire from 1890 -1920, so I try to show you this Ballard in action. Firing this rifle did not go perfectly, but it sure was interesting and surprising! Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoy this.
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There are reloadable cases available for 44 rimfire. They use a 22 blank. Think Dixie Guns Works has them.
Sir, I loved the smile and joy those successful rounds gave us all. Just think, they have been waiting all those years for the opportunity to fire and impress their shooter. Rounds are meant to be fired and enjoyed! Great video!
This is an exceptionally interesting video, my friend. You're the first firearms collector that has actually test fired antique rimfire ammunition. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. God bless.
Thank you Rick - it was a lot of fun. God Bless
It brought a smile to me seeing your reaction with it going off 😂 thank you for showing a classic.
I couldn't help smiling seeing how gladly surprised you were with that first shot.
Love those Ballards. I have 4 original Marlin Ballards made in the 1880s, all different models in original excellent condition. Two of them are the earliest known serial numbers for those models. Your early rim fire looks in exceptional condition not often seen in the earlier Ballards.
That first shot had almost as much delay as a musket. Sharing the gun was a treat for sure.
Thank you!
I bought a handful of .43 Beaumont an Egyptian cartridges from a collector in North Dakota, fired one shot into a cottonwood stump and put it back in the rack for trading stock.
Hope you get out with it again - they don't like waiting for too long : )
This problem may be why the original Yellowboy had dual firing pins? I suppose it would help ensure reliable ignition.
Yep
There aren't many channels I follow that I allow the commercials to fully play...this is one of the few, hope it helps. Love these cool old rifles. Always a good day to be out in nature plinking away.
Hello I live in Sweden very cool old guns. I Hunting white Husqvarna cal 9,3x57 and 9,3x62.
Ballards are so gorgeous!!!! I have a buddy who is a "famous" antique Winchester dealer. He had one of these in .32-40 a while back and I was chasing something else, darn it, so I didn't buy it. Man, I wish I had not passed on it.
That would have been a gem to own - maybe it'll do a U turn : )
Loving the joy on your face when that first round went off and glad you could share it with us :)
Super moment : )
Hey it’s me again Mike, It looks like you’re having fun. There was an older gentleman in our black powder mountain man club who had an amazing collection of single shot rifles including some Ballards. He was a bird hunting buddy of mine too. This video reminded me of him and I know he would have liked it. He’s been gone 15 years now and I still remember how much he enjoyed those rifles. He also set up shooting shooting stations for the young kids at our rendezvouses right up until the year he died at age 83. All shooters and hunters should have a mentor like him. I think you fit the category. Happy hunting boys and girls! 😊
Thank you so much!
OUTSTANDING Mike you are the king of the forgotten and rare fire arms. YOU outdid yourself this time .
It was a great day and the Ballard finally spoke. Your kind words are much appreciated.
Your Ballard appears to be a Ball & Williams made about 1866-67. Merwin & Bray were wholesale agents.
Man, those Ballard Rifles are beautiful guns! I've always wanted one, but they (the good ones) are rare as hens teeth these days and quite spendy! I guess I'll have to do what I did to get a Sharps, and buy a reproduction. I might try and find a reasonable used Cody Ballard, but a lot of them are as much as an original! Thanks for shooting (and filming for us) that fine firearm, most collectors would faint if someone suggested shooting an antique like that! Those .44 rimfire are petty expensive rounds you are shooting, I never realized they had that much power!
As always, great video, and love your attitude and style! Thanks much, and cheers!
Wonderful. Being a reloader, I share your joy 🙂. Greetings from Belgium.
Love The Ballard’s 😊😀
What a beautiful, elegant rifle. I'm a sucker for falling/rolling/tilting block rifles.
A couple of years ago I seem to remember seeing a video where a chap had used a liquid priming compound which was poured into empty cases & left overnight to dry before being loaded with powder & slug , although he only reloaded .22 LR . Thanks for showing us such a lovely looking rifle with an interesting action . Catch You next video , Shoot Straight Stay Safe & Stay Well.
My pleasure to share this great rifle and ammo - and even some shots! All the best.
Luv the smile 😃 on your face after that 1st shot.
Being a large fan of rimfire shooting, this Ballard rifle is just amazing, I would really like to see some targets being used with this one someday.
Thanks Mike., and yes I heard her, I think, Cheers to (Mrs.) Mike too.
I'll find more rounds or cobble some rounds myself - maybe that work a little more often : )
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns In this case, it's all part of the 'fun' in shooting such an old rifle, at least to me it is.
Thanks again for another great video. As a new gun owner I am learning so much from you. Keep them coming.
My respect Sir. Always the best content.
Thank you!
I wonder what it would take to produce old rimfire cartridges today? I see so many rifles and revolvers sell for cheap and I'm someone that shoots every gun I own!
Can be done - and they would be far less expensive than center fire - just need someone with the will and resources to do it.
Must feel like stepping back in time shooting that rifle.
Also I love your smile in your intro. It always reminds me to enjoy my time shooting.
You're right - like owning a time machine - and this one even runs...if the ammo does : )
Very cool
My wife and I watch all your videos. She laughed so hard when this gun went off. And you didn't think it would . Her Birthday is the 4th of July.
Thank you! Have the best 4th of July and Happy Birthday to your wife!
@@UnitedStatesOfGunsShe says thank you and keep up the great work.
Well that looks fun! Loved it.
It was a great day : )
Loved the video. The genuine surprise was great.
Great moment : )
That is a nice rifle.
Not easy to find a better rifle : )
I have ammo from 1943 it shoots great !
I enjoy all your videos Mike!!
Much appreciated!
What an interesting rifle! I like the way the block tilts. Looks like it could do with some lubrication tho....🤔🤔 Cheers!
Love your videos
I've never seen that one. If it says H on the stamp just have to assume it's a Henry right? Leave it a rim fire, what an incredible cool idea for an action.
I hope someday to have the machinery and knowledge to reproduce the lesser known guns of the olden days! Great video!
Hello - same here - and there used to be a company in Montana that made new Ballards - but they told me they are no longer doing so and the tooling is gone. Sad.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns what a bummer! Not all is lost, the tooling will likely turn up for sale again! Perhaps by then one of us will buy the tooling!
Try turning the Cart. around a few times,? Thanks Mike another good review!
Great and interesting rifle, I guess the H head stamp could be “Henry”. Is it at all possible to load ammunition for these old rim-fires?
You know. We were just talking about Nylon 66s the other day...and (compete change of gears, here) I see my comment from last year about missing a Ballard....but I finally got one yesterday!!!! It's to the white on the outside but, strangest thing, the bore LITERALLY looks like it was cut yesterday! I slugged it this afternoon ( at .3100") and it felt like slugging a brand new barrel. Now... to make .32 SW Long cases into .32 Long cases.
Congrats! Those Ballards : fantastic; and good on you finding one with a bore like that!
I also like the falling block action and I being a machinist would want to remake the hammer to adapt it to a modern 44 center fire but keep all the original parts for the hammer and block so I could change it back or even just remake the entire rifle .. I believe one can get octagon barrels ..it would make a great project then I could have it in 45 long colt .. but I'm no longer working in my shop ..I'm confined to a rest home as my health no longer permits me to do everything I desire .. but it still would make a dandy rifle ..!
In your opening you're seen firing a Remington Model 8. I've always wanted one and they were a dime a dozen when I was young. I recall one in particular that had beautiful wood and fancy peep sight. At the time I was getting interested in girls so I passed..... bummer.
I have an old Remington .32 rimfire pocket pistol that a distant relative, a store owner in reconstruction North Carolina carried. My dad fired it as a young man but I never have. Like your show!
My dad wasn't sure if our relative was a carpet bagger or a decent man. Back in the late 1970s when my folks retired fully the dad somehow found out the store was still in operation and drove down to see it. Pop told me he wanted to make an offer on the place but never did. He was a top notch guy to enjoy a little backwoods store and make it popular. But i suspect my mother who was a breaker of fun and a maker of mountains out of nothing at all scotched it. Years later I asked him about it following a big fight with mom about me as usual.... he was destroying things in the garage to cool down.
I've been saying I want to make .44 Henry if it's possible to make for less than 50c a round. I think it'd sell like hotcakes if I got one of those companies to make one of their tinny single actions and a lever rifle to shoot it.
That’s a nice rifle! Looks like your luck was holding with the ammo when you filmed this video, lol!
That’d be a neat model to reproduce in a modern 38/357 chambering.
Great video, thanks for posting!
If someone made the Ballard in .357/.38 - they'd sell fast IMHO
38/357 is an outstanding carbine chambering!
Great video. You have expanded my knowledge of firearms like no other channel on this platform. Is USOG an acronym for something?
Thank you! United States of Guns : )
Wyoming Armory is Who you seek.
Do they sell big bore rimfire?
@@alexccjrb1 just Ballard rifles. Dixie Gun Works sells cases for 44 rimfire that are reloadable with 22 blanks and roundballs.
Perhaps you should keep the round in the chamber for a count of 60 if it doesn't discharge? I would be concerned that a hang fire may occur when the unfired round is in your hand rather than in the chamber if it were to discharge suddenly. I have seen 22 LR go off a few seconds after the rim was struck by the firing pin in a hang fire situation. Interesting video, thank you.
Hello - Great idea. I had that happen a few times over the years. I hope to find a manufacturer that can produce a few thousand rounds of .44 etc... but so far no luck.
I remember seeing a gent demonstrate firing paper cartridges with caps in them in a Ballard some years ago.
Interesting
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I imagine it worked like one of those French Chasse Pin Guns. There are some TH-cams on how to make paper bullets for those.
There are some good videos where people show how they convert centerfire to rimfire. I'm getting ready to do that for a Triplet and Scott carbine in 56-50.
I'll look for them - much appreciated
Save those empty cartridges...I am trying help people reload those things. I make the dies and have access to the magic of repriming. I can literally reload the rimfire cases. There are many who do modified center fire cartridges that have offset holes in the case where they "prime" them by using a 22 blank or nail gun cap.
Will do and I'm glad I'm not the only one to try. Years ago I made a primer powder slurry and put a drop in the empty and spun it so it went in the rim - until dry - then a pinch of powder and a bullet and it actually worked....but the time it took😭
Nice rifle! I never heard of the Ballard.
Hope you find one - even just to handle and see how fine and interesting the action is.
Happy Canada Day!!!
One of the all time greats among countries and people!
Always wished there was still some of the old rimfire cartridges in production
I'm pretty sure we'll see some changes to the rimfire line up.
It is possible to reprime abd reload rimfire ammo. It is quite a tedious and delicate process to be sure, but can be done. I reprimed and reloaded some old .41 rimfire rounds for a derringer I once owned. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are truly dedicated and know how to do it realatively safely.
When I go to gun shows and stop at the cartridge collectors table. I always wonder how many would actually fire after being over 100 yrs old
I don't know if there available or not but I'm sure I could make some brass with offset primers on my lathe for you
H would be for Henry. Winchester brand rimfire ammo was still marked with an H when I started smallbore competition shooting in the mid to late 1980s
Nice Seiko 5
My local gun store just sold a 44 rimfire falling block. I wanted it but decided to avoid another rabbit hold of making my own ammo. And reloading another caliber
Fair enough - always something else of interest.
@UnitedStatesOfGuns as a wall hanger I couldn't justify it.
Ballards were used by a Canadian Militia to repel an invasion of Fenian raiders in Quebec they were privately bought by the militia. Also in 44 rimfire. " Atop the rocky cliff of Eccles Hill that overlooked the boundary, James Pell of Dunham, Quebec, crouched behind a time-scarred boulder and squinted down the thirty-inch barrel of his Ballard rifle.
Fantastic! Thank you - I had no idea.
Have you tried reloading these?
I have seen kits for reloading .22LR, so it would seem priming mix is available.
Will do : )
If a decision were made to convert to a center fire system, what would the pressure limitations be on this rifle? Would it be in the range of a 38 special, or higher>
Hi, I've seen .38 in the Ballard. No issues.
What is barrel length and overall length?
The hammer fall looked a little lazy, maybe it was that and not the ammo.
they are making rounds for rimfire by using 22 blanks in drilled out brass.
Maybe I'll try that
I was told that the hammer should be back before lowering the lever so as to avoid damaging the mechanism….
Thank you - good advice; if the hammer is forward the lowering of the block can shear off or damage the firing pin. I owned some single shots from Belgium that had a wonderful external retractor activated by the lever - they were interesting to watch. All the best.
Is that where Ballard rifling came from?
Charles Ballard invented the rifle - and presumably the cut rifling - at least that is what I was told.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns interesting
👍🏻
Yea, it fired. :-)
Great moment!
could you change the Rifle to centerfire??????????????????
c
Some Ballards had what’s called a reversible firing pin so it could fire both rim and center fire.
Centerfire is reloadable, thats why it won out.
Maybe one of the ammo manufacturers can bring back some of the rimfires. Not everyone reloads these days and center fire ammo is expensive. Just a thought.
Id like one in 357 mag... but cant afford it ...
Great idea - the action may be strong enough