My research tells me that the Navy Arms 32 RF was intentionally downloaded, so as to be safe(r) in these old firearms. I have a box each of their short and long, as well as some old C.I.L. (from Canada) and a selection of vintage copper cased also. Once in a blue moon, I take the 1&1/2 out with its companion rifle, a Frank Wesson two trigger carbine from the same era!
I had the S&W model 2 in .32 rimfire long when I was younger. It was used by a relative who was an officer in the New York Cavalry during the Civil War. He lost an arm and so continuing to fight on he used this revolver. It was silver plated and had varnished Rosewood grips. I fired it a few times using CIL Canuck Canadian ammunition. My theory why they don't make it anymore may have something to do with pistols and revolvers ownership being allowed only by licence there in Canada. Anyway I had a machine shop years ago and I experimented with turning the cases on the lathe from 3/8" copper alloy round stock. I would turn the inside with a form tool that left the primer pocket in the rim then I filled the inside with Cerrosafe Bismuth based metal that expanded to fill the inside and finally turned the outside and melted out the Cerrosafe metal. I was able to get non corrosive priming compound Lead styphnate and spin it into the rim. I then used Bullseye smokeless powder for my propellant. The load was for the .32 S&W short center fire cartridge. My cartridges shot well and we're as accurate as the CIL Canuck cartridges but they were alot of work for 50 cartridges and I didn't try to reload them. I have since thought about reloading these larger rimfire cases but the main problem is the firing pin on the old rimfire revolvers creases the rim of the case in such a manner as to introduce an area for potential failure of the case when reloaded and fired again. Yes, I remember in Physics class the latitude made a difference in which constant was used for the formula.
Oh, *SWEET!!* I have one of these! Only fired it a few times due to the scarcity of ammo, but it *IS* very interesting piece of history. Thanks for the video!!
I have several hundred rounds of shorts and longs by Navy Arms. I purchased them to shoot in my S&W2nd model made in 1863 and carried by R.H. Pererson.. The ammo seems to be loaded with a powder like Bullseye. I only shot 6 as I didn't want to damage the revolver with the snappy ammo. I also have a 1 1/2 that I have never shot but keep thinking about shooting it. My 2nd model has a lot of wable in the henge but my 1 1/2 is tight. My 2nd model shoots about a 4 inch 6 shot group at 25 yards. I was surprised at the group for how loose the henge is. Great video I love the old firearms.
When everyone was hiding a gun like this back in the day, it really tells you why there’s so many stories about people having to ‘dig’ bullets out. If you didn’t hit anything important it’s pretty anemic. Terrible way to go waiting a week or more to die from infection from lead poisoning or contaminated medical equipment.
Well thanks for showing her to us sorry about that old ammunition it certainly seemed to be giving fits looking forward to you getting some more and giving her another try it will be interesting if the speed doesn't change much time will tell
Loved the video! Wow, pretty anemic in power. Nice gun however. I used to have a couple of S&W model 1's in 22 short that worked great. I had to pull bullets off of modern day 22 shorts, dump the smokeless, and load BP and re-seat the bullets. They fired fine. I never chronograph-ed them, but I doubt they would have penetrated a thick coat. Thanks for an awesome video!
Ha Ha! That was a real hangfire! I think back in the 1870s any lead projectile that got under your skin through a probably dirty jacket would have given very big health issues, so even at these seemingly low energies you would not want to be shot at all, interesting to see an antique gun being shot with antique ammunition, the lead corrosion would probably reduced the diameter as well, were these lubricated? You can always load with modern cases adapted with a .22 blank, they are easy to make on your lathe. Many thanks for posting this interesting test! Chris B.
Chris, They were originally outside lubed due to the healed bullet arrangement. Anyone carrying them in their pocket would rub all the lube off and replace it with lint. I smeared a little new lube on them and called it good. Thanks for watching, Todd
G'Day Sir from New Zealand - Thank you for another honest and most interesting test-video. - I'd be guessing that the black powder inside those cartridges may well be effected by old age & moisture .. and who can say what chemical detrioration the priming compound has undergone? - Please do follow through with this ... maybe new cartridges will do the job. - I have seen video of center fire cases home converted to RIM-fire rounds using .22 blank cartridges inserted off-center? Save all used 'brass' just in case. Your 'power' conversions are fascinating and yield very sad low figures. The old British Military reckoned that 60 ft/lb ballistics minimum was enough to be effective power level for anti-personel use.
So, what you're saying is that ammunition that is 140 years old might not be reliable. So maybe subjecting that ammunition to modern testing standards might be futile. Just sayin'. Give me a thumbs up. Screw the algorithm
You are correct on the original ammo. Only a couple out of 12 or so fired, and those were hang fires. So I can't learn much from those. That's why I bought relatively modern 32 rimfires and used them in a test run. Thanks for watching, Todd
My research tells me that the Navy Arms 32 RF was intentionally downloaded, so as to be safe(r) in these old firearms. I have a box each of their short and long, as well as some old C.I.L. (from Canada) and a selection of vintage copper cased also. Once in a blue moon, I take the 1&1/2 out with its companion rifle, a Frank Wesson two trigger carbine from the same era!
I had the S&W model 2 in .32 rimfire long when I was younger. It was used by a relative who was an officer in the New York Cavalry during the Civil War. He lost an arm and so continuing to fight on he used this revolver. It was silver plated and had varnished Rosewood grips. I fired it a few times using CIL Canuck Canadian ammunition. My theory why they don't make it anymore may have something to do with pistols and revolvers ownership being allowed only by licence there in Canada. Anyway I had a machine shop years ago and I experimented with turning the cases on the lathe from 3/8" copper alloy round stock. I would turn the inside with a form tool that left the primer pocket in the rim then I filled the inside with Cerrosafe Bismuth based metal that expanded to fill the inside and finally turned the outside and melted out the Cerrosafe metal. I was able to get non corrosive priming compound Lead styphnate and spin it into the rim. I then used Bullseye smokeless powder for my propellant. The load was for the .32 S&W short center fire cartridge. My cartridges shot well and we're as accurate as the CIL Canuck cartridges but they were alot of work for 50 cartridges and I didn't try to reload them. I have since thought about reloading these larger rimfire cases but the main problem is the firing pin on the old rimfire revolvers creases the rim of the case in such a manner as to introduce an area for potential failure of the case when reloaded and fired again.
Yes, I remember in Physics class the latitude made a difference in which constant was used for the formula.
Thanks Cameron, I respect all the work you went through with a great piece of history. Thanks for watching, Todd
I love working and shooting these old guns. Some guys have made brass that you can reload, using a 22 blank . Maybe something to look into.
Oh, *SWEET!!* I have one of these! Only fired it a few times due to the scarcity of ammo, but it *IS* very interesting piece of history. Thanks for the video!!
This old man really likes your amazing channel and i am sub'ed.....Thanks very much my friend.....
Old Shoe🇺🇸
I have several hundred rounds of shorts and longs by Navy Arms. I purchased them to shoot in my S&W2nd model made in 1863 and carried by R.H. Pererson.. The ammo seems to be loaded with a powder like Bullseye. I only shot 6 as I didn't want to damage the revolver with the snappy ammo. I also have a 1 1/2 that I have never shot but keep thinking about shooting it. My 2nd model has a lot of wable in the henge but my 1 1/2 is tight. My 2nd model shoots about a 4 inch 6 shot group at 25 yards. I was surprised at the group for how loose the henge is. Great video I love the old firearms.
When everyone was hiding a gun like this back in the day, it really tells you why there’s so many stories about people having to ‘dig’ bullets out. If you didn’t hit anything important it’s pretty anemic. Terrible way to go waiting a week or more to die from infection from lead poisoning or contaminated medical equipment.
fantastic job
Very cool stuff 😎👍👌
Well thanks for showing her to us sorry about that old ammunition it certainly seemed to be giving fits looking forward to you getting some more and giving her another try it will be interesting if the speed doesn't change much time will tell
I suspect that the .32 rim fire Velocity was not greater than 600-700 FPS. n clue but i expect the center fire .32 about the same.
Loved the video! Wow, pretty anemic in power. Nice gun however. I used to have a couple of S&W model 1's in 22 short that worked great. I had to pull bullets off of modern day 22 shorts, dump the smokeless, and load BP and re-seat the bullets. They fired fine. I never chronograph-ed them, but I doubt they would have penetrated a thick coat. Thanks for an awesome video!
Thanks Jon, I'm glad you figured out a way to shoot the old No. 1. It was a popular model regardless of the power. Thanks for watching, Todd
Ha Ha! That was a real hangfire! I think back in the 1870s any lead projectile that got under your skin through a probably dirty jacket would have given very big health issues, so even at these seemingly low energies you would not want to be shot at all, interesting to see an antique gun being shot with antique ammunition, the lead corrosion would probably reduced the diameter as well, were these lubricated? You can always load with modern cases adapted with a .22 blank, they are easy to make on your lathe. Many thanks for posting this interesting test! Chris B.
Chris, They were originally outside lubed due to the healed bullet arrangement. Anyone carrying them in their pocket would rub all the lube off and replace it with lint. I smeared a little new lube on them and called it good. Thanks for watching, Todd
Good fun!!
G'Day Sir from New Zealand - Thank you for another honest and most interesting test-video. - I'd be guessing that the black powder inside those cartridges may well be effected by old age & moisture .. and who can say what chemical detrioration the priming compound has undergone? - Please do follow through with this ... maybe new cartridges will do the job. - I have seen video of center fire cases home converted to RIM-fire rounds using .22 blank cartridges inserted off-center? Save all used 'brass' just in case. Your 'power' conversions are fascinating and yield very sad low figures. The old British Military reckoned that 60 ft/lb ballistics minimum was enough to be effective power level for anti-personel use.
hi, to you ‼️
i have some doubts on this revolver, and I wonder what the point of their small calibers was ❓
So, what you're saying is that ammunition that is 140 years old might not be reliable. So maybe subjecting that ammunition to modern testing standards might be futile. Just sayin'. Give me a thumbs up. Screw the algorithm
You are correct on the original ammo. Only a couple out of 12 or so fired, and those were hang fires. So I can't learn much from those. That's why I bought relatively modern 32 rimfires and used them in a test run. Thanks for watching, Todd
''Damn it, Damn it, Damn it.''