I was reading the hangun post of Ranch Dogs, where they were discussing heeled bullits for an 1899 41. I have a Ballard 44 rimfire, which used a stepped bullet. I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference between the heeled bullet and a stepped bullet. As I understand stepped bullets they were 41 cal base with 44 cal top suggesting something like a mushroom.

I was reading the hangun post of Ranch Dogs, where they were discussing heeled bullits for an 1899 41. I have a Ballard 44 rimfire, which used a stepped bullet. I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference between the heeled bullet and a stepped bullet. As I understand stepped bullets they were 41 cal base with 44 cal top suggesting something like a mushroom.

Same as heeled..the 44 RF used them, as did almost all of the early RF rounds. When they made the move to centerfire, they kept the rest of the diementions in many of them the same. The .41LC we were discussin uses a .388" shank and a .403" bearing area....looks like an extended gas check base.

BTW: The Ballard is possible to make shoot. Dixie use to make cases that looked like .44RF (and they made .38's and 50's as well) but at the rear the case is drilled off center for a .22RF blank. By drilling well off center, the .22RF case's rim overlays (at only one point) the rim of the .44case. If you line the case up right, the rim fire pin strikes the off-set .22 rim....22case acts as the primer for a BP load pushing a round ball.

Cases were heavy gauge brass, with very limited powder space..but yu could make an old one fire with them, and if mechanicaly sound, the very reduced charge teh case allowed with blocak powder caused no real stress to the action.

Unfortunatly the Henry lever gun used a dual firing pin arrangement...the cases won't work.

Let me check Dixie and see if they are still made.
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Still listed...KA0206...no pictre, but a pretty good description. If available,at $4.50 a case, I don't know anyone that would turn one for you at that cost.

Thanks for the quick reply. I learned from one source that I could fire it this way:
"What I used to shoot mine was a shortened .41 magnum case. Sized and deprimed, I then adjusted my bell die, until I opened the case up enough
to be a close fit into the chamber. A little trial and error got it so it had a slight friction fit. I then filled the case with blackpowder, and put a wad on top, leaving about 1/8" of case above the wad. I set a ball on top, and pushed it into the chamber. If it wont fully chamber, remove enough powder to let it fully seat. After the first firing, the case forms to the chamber, and all you need to do is fill with powder, card, and ball, to shoot again. The primers are the same as used on muzzleloaders."
I have yet to do it however I do want to try it.

Maybe I'm dense...but how is your rim fire going to ignite a center fire primer?

The abovbe will proably work to make ammo for the centerfire version...and there was one, but if you've a rim fire rifle, the pin is just doing to put a dent in the rim (or break the pin).

The rimfire firing pin on this thing is really wide but narrow and reaches the center of the case. I just went and looked at Dixie and I will try that as well and see which works best/ is easiest.

The rimfire firing pin on this thing is really wide but narrow and reaches the center of the case. I just went and looked at Dixie and I will try that as well and see which works best/ is easiest.

Would have to see it...but to dent the primer, even if the pin is full width and reaches it, wouldn't it have to also dent the solid brass case head?

Would have to see it...but to dent the primer, even if the pin is full width and reaches it, wouldn't it have to also dent the solid brass case head?
No the Muzzelloaders primer/cap, not sure of the correct term, doesn't seat all the way in and it sticks out far enough for the firing pin (bar) to detonate.