Marlin Ballard 1875 .38 LONG?
My brother in law just aquired a rifle which has an 1875 patent Marlin Ballard model rifle. Bore measures .378. Caliber marker is 38 Long. He bought the rifle at a yard sale. Previous owner was shooting 38 S+W black powder loads in it. It would not hit anything and the extractor is not engaging the rim. I suspect that the rifle is intended for an obsolete caliber and I can find no Info on .38 long. Other ballards I have seen are in 38-55. Is this one? Firing pin is square? was it origionally a rimfire converted to CF? Could not get a 38-55 to chamber, Maybe from too much firing of the .38SW? Rim diameter seems about right for 38-55.
any help would be appreciated
A man with a gun is a CITIZEN, a man without a gun is a subject.
any help would be appreciated
A man with a gun is a CITIZEN, a man without a gun is a subject.
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Richbug.....The 38 Long you have was much, much shorter than the 38-55 Ballard and will not even come close to interchanging. The 1875 patent date was for a firing pin system that will shoot either rimfire or centerfire. Just turn it around. Your best bet for shooting is to use shortened 38 Special cases. The 38 Long case length is 1.03" and the 38 Special is 1.16". Everything else is close. The other problem and the cause of the inaccuracy is that the bullet for the 38 Long is a "heeled" bullet like a 22 and the diameter is .375", while a 38 Special is designed for a .357" diameter bullet. The base of the 38 Long bullet is smaller than the front. If you look hard, you can find old bullet molds like that, but you have to load your own.
The action was designed for black powder. I load and shoot mine with black powder and the bullet is lubed on the outside. It's fun to shoot, but realize that it is essentially a pistol round and not really good for deer hunting and such.
I believe you can buy newer cartridges in 32 rimfire long from Navy Arms and use them. Don't know how good they are. You would have to turn the firing pin around, but that's not too hard.
Drop me a line if you need any more help....
max
load the old ones with the old tools.....0 -
Richbug, The 1875 patent date indicates that the rifle was made sometime after 1881 as previous Marlin-Ballards were dated 1861. You do not mention the model of the rifle so I am just going to guess that it is a No. 2 Sporting Rifle, as it is a rather common model. These were made from around 1876 up until 1891. Barrels were 26", 28",or 30" and had straight stocks- that is, no pistol grip.
As to the caliber. The Model No. 2 was chambered for the .38 rim fire or the .38 long centerfire. There is a reverseable firing pin (or there should be) that would allow the shooting of either. The centerfire cartridge died out at the turn of the century while the rim fire hung on until after WWI. There was also an extra long cartridge so that is why your rifle is marked with the "long" I.D.
My old boss loved these Ballards, but this is about all I can remember. I don't know but you may be able to make the centerfire cartridges from .38 long Colt or .38 special brass.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Richbug....Navy Arms does not have the 38 Long rimfire, they only have 32 Long rimfire. Guess you're out of luck unless you can find some old stuff.
max
load the old ones with the old tools.....0 -
I tried cutting down .38 special brass, Full case of blackpowder and a 375 roundball split the cases 1/2 of the time, would not engage the extractor at all, loose in the chamber. case split right at the rim. Also tried a 375 minie ball for a 36 revolver with 1.5 grs of bullseye in a 38 sw case pretty anemic, but fun for the $10 he has invested. has a tang mounted sight too. I think I will offer him $25 and try to machine some cases to fit it.
thanks for the input
rich
A man with a gun is a CITIZEN, a man without a gun is a subject.0 -
Richbug...38 Special cases fit nice and snug in mine and the extractor catches well. It's possible that someone has tried re-chambering in its long life. Don't know to what, but maybe a chamber cast will tell. Good luck.
max
load the old ones with the old tools.....0 -
Richbug, I would be interested in buying that Ballard for quite a bit more than the amount your buddy paid for it. That is, if you don't really want it. Emery 0 -
If I get it it will be a keeper, I like curious guns......
A man with a gun is a CITIZEN, a man without a gun is a subject.0
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