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03-09-2017, 12:33 PM
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.32 short rimfire ammo
Picked up two boxes of .32 rimfire ammo.Clean and not oxidized. Just want to make sure I'm not shooting "collectible" ammo. Found them on a shelf..waaay in the back,of a local gun shop. Pretty much gave them to me.. Had some other stuff I didn't even recognize...mostly rifle calibers. Thanks.
Oops...forgot the photo..
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03-09-2017, 02:41 PM
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I sold a box of .32 Remington long rimfire ammo (at a national auction) with a reasonably good box (much better than the one in your picture) for $82. There are a couple of boxes of .32 shorts for sale now at a collectible ammo site for $160 and $170 with boxes in very good/excellent condition. Although the boxes you have are not very good, the ammo might be of interest to a collector with the correct, but empty or partially full box. I imagine yours are worth $40-50 a box. (Of course, if you'll get a dollar's worth of enjoyment out of each round, then fire away!)
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03-09-2017, 03:21 PM
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Just wondering what you have that shoots 32 rimfire?
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03-09-2017, 03:34 PM
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I've got a couple of early S&W tip-ups that shoot .32 rimfire,an old Bacon revolver and an old H&A revolver in .32 rimfire. Thanks for the info..I'm going to shoot them up. Makes all the other unfired rounds out there that much more valuable..
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03-09-2017, 04:56 PM
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I once had a Stevens falling block rifle which fired .32 Long and .32 Short RF cartridges. .32 RF rifles were fairly popular around the turn of the 20th Century for use on small game. I agree that those boxes in that condition probably have little collector appeal, but I probably wouldn't shoot all of them up.
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03-09-2017, 05:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
I once had a Stevens falling block rifle which fired .32 Long and .32 Short RF cartridges. .32 RF rifles were fairly popular around the turn of the 20th Century for use on small game. I agree that those boxes in that condition probably have little collector appeal, but I probably wouldn't shoot all of them up.
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Yeah, the boxes them self aren't worth much, BUT I suspect the cartridges are more valuable.
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03-09-2017, 05:17 PM
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.32 short
I wouldn't shoot those smokeless loads through an antique Smith & Wesson tip up, your asking for trouble, that old steel was not made to handle the pressure of smokeless powder, may ruin gun, worse yet, may ruin your hands (just a thought)
Ricky B
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03-09-2017, 05:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ricky B
I wouldn't shoot those smokeless loads through an antique Smith & Wesson tip up, your asking for trouble, that old steel was not made to handle the pressure of smokeless powder, may ruin gun, worse yet, may ruin your hands (just a thought)
Ricky B
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They are loaded to low-pressure BP ballistics. True of most factory smokeless loads of the old cartridges which were designed during the BP era, such as .32 S&W, .38 S&W, .45 Colt, .44-40, etc.
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03-09-2017, 06:56 PM
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I had about 125 rounds of 32 rim fire ammo
In short,long, and extra long
I sent it FOC to a guy thru a gun forum and never received a thank you
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03-09-2017, 07:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairtrigger
I had about 125 rounds of 32 rim fire ammo
In short,long, and extra long
I sent it FOC to a guy thru a gun forum and never received a thank you
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There's a special place in Hell for thankless, entitled people.
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03-09-2017, 07:34 PM
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In the early 60's, I lived in Alberta and shot boxes and boxes of the .32RF Canuck as it was still being made and inexpensive. Now it is around a buck a round; IF one can find it. This is one loading that I wish would come back as it was fun to shoot.
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03-09-2017, 08:03 PM
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Hey guys, times have changed. A lot of unpopular center fire ammo is up to $1 a round. Go shopping and get a thrill.
About 1990 a buddy and I went to a gun show. A vendor was selling off, or trying to, all his obsolete 45-70 ammo. He'd had it on the shelf for over 10 years without selling a single box. He'd been asking $3 a box, but offered it all to me for $2. So after his talk about how it was obsolete, I agreed and bought it all. My buddy offered to carry the rifle I'd just bought. Not far along, another vendor had a bunch of nearly the same ammo. When he heard I'd paid $2 a box, he offered me his for the same price. We had to go to the car, it was too heavy. Its a fun story I tell often, but really I've only shot up one 20 round box of it. The rest lives in an ammo can and I shoot reloads. These days the factory ammo is $40 a box of 20 ($2 a shot) and just the bullets cost a bundle.
And then about 4 years ago I was a sucker again and bought a really nice .32 Colt revolver. I think I had to pay $200 for the gun. But 32 Colt ammo is .299 in diameter, and 32 S&W won't even come close to chambering. So I began a quest for ammo. Its even what convinced me ammo sellers are pretty much crooks (at best). They sell you the box, but don't buy unless you get a peek inside. They hate that because it spoils their game. Lucky for me my gun show buddy had some. Then I lucked into a few more boxes that really were Colt diameter. The old 32s are fun to shoot, but I've got no idea how to reload rimfire ammo. Keep looking, the internet is full of odd things.
And to the OP. If you go on vacations, print yourself a list of gun shops at your destination and along the way. Its the little dusty ones that hold the best hope. You just never know what you'll find.
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03-09-2017, 08:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ralph7
There's a special place in Hell for thankless, entitled people.
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About 3 years ago a gentleman from another forum came thru when I needed 25rem ammo
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03-09-2017, 08:17 PM
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Thanks for all the advice. Yes..smokeless in an old revolver. I am told, and have read, the pressures the smokeless rounds were loaded to is safe as they knew back then the ammo may end up in early black powder guns. as long as the revolver is in good condition things should work without incident. However, I will be wearing some kevlar gloves/glasses/shield the first few cylinders...Ha!.. Fear keeps you alive,and mostly in one piece. Hows that saying go..there are old racers...and bold racers,but no old,bold racers.
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Last edited by Breakaway500; 03-09-2017 at 08:19 PM.
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03-09-2017, 08:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg
Hey guys, times have changed. A lot of unpopular center fire ammo is up to $1 a round. Go shopping and get a thrill.
About 1990 a buddy and I went to a gun show. A vendor was selling off, or trying to, all his obsolete 45-70 ammo. He'd had it on the shelf for over 10 years without selling a single box. He'd been asking $3 a box, but offered it all to me for $2. So after his talk about how it was obsolete, I agreed and bought it all. My buddy offered to carry the rifle I'd just bought. Not far along, another vendor had a bunch of nearly the same ammo. When he heard I'd paid $2 a box, he offered me his for the same price. We had to go to the car, it was too heavy. Its a fun story I tell often, but really I've only shot up one 20 round box of it. The rest lives in an ammo can and I shoot reloads. These days the factory ammo is $40 a box of 20 ($2 a shot) and just the bullets cost a bundle.
And then about 4 years ago I was a sucker again and bought a really nice .32 Colt revolver. I think I had to pay $200 for the gun. But 32 Colt ammo is .299 in diameter, and 32 S&W won't even come close to chambering. So I began a quest for ammo. Its even what convinced me ammo sellers are pretty much crooks (at best). They sell you the box, but don't buy unless you get a peek inside. They hate that because it spoils their game. Lucky for me my gun show buddy had some. Then I lucked into a few more boxes that really were Colt diameter. The old 32s are fun to shoot, but I've got no idea how to reload rimfire ammo. Keep looking, the internet is full of odd things.
And to the OP. If you go on vacations, print yourself a list of gun shops at your destination and along the way. Its the little dusty ones that hold the best hope. You just never know what you'll find.
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If you think this is bad, price .348 Winchester!
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03-09-2017, 09:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M E Morrison
If you think this is bad, price .348 Winchester!
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Dang! I just bought a Win 71 and need ammo
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03-09-2017, 09:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairtrigger
Dang! I just bought a Win 71 and need ammo
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Just be sure you are sitting down BEFORE you price it.....
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03-09-2017, 10:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M E Morrison
Just be sure you are sitting down BEFORE you price it.....
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Just have the OP check that store for it
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03-09-2017, 10:55 PM
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Once the manufacturers decide the profit is too small to keep a round in production the supply is fixed and can only decrease over time. Those who have a firearm in an obsolete caliber are well advised to lay in a supply of ammo and to keep their eyes open in case an opportunity to get some more arises. Center fire ammo can be reloaded, often cases can be made from other rounds but the old rim fires are another matter. No really workable way to reload. The 32 short and long and the 41 short were last produced in the late 90's iirc. The old 25 Stevens hasn't been made since CIL closed shop in the late 70's. These seem to be the most popular and requested old rim fire rounds and the prices seem to be on a steady upward climb. Would be nice if someone decided there was enough demand to bring them back but I'm not holding my breath waiting for it.
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03-09-2017, 11:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desi2358
These seem to be the most popular and requested old rim fire rounds and the prices seem to be on a steady upward climb. Would be nice if someone decided there was enough demand to bring them back but I'm not holding my breath waiting for it.
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For a minute there I thought you were talking about 22 rimfire.... The same facts seem to fit.
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03-09-2017, 11:58 PM
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IIRC (?) Dixie Arms had new manufacture ammo several years ago ?
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03-10-2017, 12:20 PM
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"And then about 4 years ago I was a sucker again and bought a really nice .32 Colt revolver. I think I had to pay $200 for the gun. But 32 Colt ammo is .299 in diameter, and 32 S&W won't even come close to chambering."
Fortunately, if you are desperate enough, there is usually some way to convert (not always easily) a more available caliber cartridge case into an obsolete case for reloading. I do it a lot, as I have no shortage of guns in strange oddball calibers. Unfortunately, the .32 Colt is not one of them as there is no known case which can be converted to .32 Colt.
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03-10-2017, 02:00 PM
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I'd love to have a box or two of 38 Rimfire.
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03-10-2017, 02:30 PM
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.32 Rimfire
A long time ago in a land far, far away (VA) I acquired a Marlin 1892 in .32 rimfire ,in an old dusty gun shop in Cold Harbor, VA. It was leaning inside a cabinet with a dust layer that must have occurred right after the great battle, it was a very brown gun. I asked the shop owner, does it work? Where upon he pulled it out, blew a cloud of dust off it and said yes. It was all there. I offered $150 for it and out the door for $200. I asked do you have ammo to fit it, yes! Looking high on a shelf there were 4 dusty boxes of "new made" .32RF, cost $20 each. I left the gun shop with a new found treasure. I later learned that you can change out the firing pin and it will shoot 32 colt CF ammo of which I have several boxes. Like shooting it so much I now have two of the rifles. I never pass up a chance to buy RF or CF ammo for my shooter Marlins.
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03-10-2017, 05:29 PM
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I think there is a place for a .32 rifle of some type (CF or RF) today. For small game at shorter ranges they would be more effective than .22 RF.
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04-22-2017, 10:42 AM
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32 S&W conversion to 32 Colt
32 S&W brass can be converted to 32 Colt, but is a process. The long can be run thru 32 Long Colt sizing die, the part above the rim that does not get resized will need to be trimmed down to match the sized casing, then will need to trim the length. I have even done it on a 32 ACP just to see if I could, will work but must extract by pushing out of a rifle. I have a Marlin 92 with both firing pins as well as a Stevens Favorite that had been converted to centerfire, they chamber fine in the 32 RF barrel with great accuracy.
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04-22-2017, 10:48 AM
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To the OP, try a few rounds but not all of it - .32 RF anything is hard to find and expensive when you do, as noted above.
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04-22-2017, 11:58 AM
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Some obsolete and obsolescent cartridges are still made in limited production runs by the big companies, as they still have the tooling to make them. But apparently not the .25, .32, and .38 rimfires. I think it would be a great idea for at least one of the loaders to have a sideline of making up a production lot of some of the old obsolite rimfire cartridges annually.
I remember about ten years ago Aguila tried to bring back the obsolete 5mm Remington Rimfire cartridge but it didn't last long. Probably not enough 5mm rifles around to create a large enough market for them.
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04-22-2017, 12:39 PM
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I have a got bit of 22wrf, 25 & 32 RF ammo. I use to be very
tight on shooting it. Most is Cannuck. Back in 60s-70s I use to
prowl every Ma&Pa stores & gas station in backwoods Canada
for obsolete ammo. I still don't waste it in guns like H&R pocket
guns, but I do shoot it in decent rifles. I just have got to the
point you only live once, you might as well have some fun while
you are here.
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04-22-2017, 03:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ol777gunnerz
32 S&W brass can be converted to 32 Colt, but is a process. The long can be run thru 32 Long Colt sizing die, the part above the rim that does not get resized will need to be trimmed down to match the sized casing, then will need to trim the length. I have even done it on a 32 ACP just to see if I could, will work but must extract by pushing out of a rifle. I have a Marlin 92 with both firing pins as well as a Stevens Favorite that had been converted to centerfire, they chamber fine in the 32 RF barrel with great accuracy.
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And then there is the problem of finding reloading dies and bullets for the .32 Colt. I would be surprised that any even exist, and they would have to be custom made. Lotsa $$$.
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04-22-2017, 05:04 PM
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32 Colt dies are about $185 from Midway USA. I also shoot a Stevens Favorite, Remington Model 6, Marlin '92 and 1875 Marlin Standard.
I bought some cases that use a 22 blank to fire BP loads also. That's for when I run out of the ammo I bought long before I had a 32 Rimfire!
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04-22-2017, 06:58 PM
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It is weird, but obsolete ammo is either dirt cheap or very expensive. I have several Savages in .303, so I am always looking for it. Hornaday has made some lately, but it has a lighter bullet than the original loads. The Savage first made its claim to fame with a 190 grain bullet, that supposedly penetrated much better than the .30 WCF. I have seen ammo in the last few years priced from $20 a box to $75.
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04-22-2017, 09:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
And then there is the problem of finding reloading dies and bullets for the .32 Colt. I would be surprised that any even exist, and they would have to be custom made. Lotsa $$$.
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CH/4D has a 32 Colt 3 die set for about $109.
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04-23-2017, 07:02 PM
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" I have several Savages in .303, so I am always looking for it."
Easy as pie to make your own .303 Savage brass. Just FL size .30-30 brass in the .303 Savage die (I have a Lee set). Then cut a strip of masking tape about 4" long and 1/4" wide and circle it around the base to act as a centralizer for the first firing, so you get a uniform bulge. Then remove the tape. I have made hundreds of .303 Savage cases that way over the last 10-12 years. You can also use .220 Swift brass, but that's a lot more work.
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05-17-2017, 09:41 AM
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In the 1990s, I bought a case of both 32 Long & Short Navy Arms ammo and did some testing to compare the new ammo to original loadings before shooting. I have since shot this ammo in all my 32RF revolvers and a rolling block. I will admit that I shoot them sparingly, many times as a demonstration for youth shooters in firearms training at the club. I have used up about 650 rounds without incident. The data below, compares velocities of various 32 rimfire ammo and the lowest velocities obtained were from the Navy Arms ammo. As most might suspect, you cannot directly relate velocities to pressures, BUT with velocities almost 20% lower than original BP factory ammo, I see no way pressures can be an issue. As I have always commented, any gun can break and the older the firearm, the more likely the chance of breaking a spring or small part, so there is always a risk. The rewards, however, of fully understanding and appreciating the engineering, functionality, and craftsmanship of these early S&W antique revolvers is by shooting them as they were intended and it is worth risk to me.
Using a 6" Model 2, I shot 6 rounds through my chronograph with the following results:
32 RF Long . . . Navy Arms . . . . . .Factory . . . . . . . . 532 fps
32 RF Short . . .Navy Arms . . . . . .Factory . . . . . . . . 425
32 RF Long . . . Remington UMC. . .Smokeless . . . . . .550
32 RF Long . . . Canuck . . . . . . . . Smokeless . . . . . .520
32 RF Long . . . Remington . . . . . .Black Powder . . . . 640
32 RF Long . . . Winchester . . . . . .Black Powder . . . .670
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08-13-2017, 03:41 PM
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Just a thought. Do any of our shall we say more well known and better connected members here have connections with any of the ammo companies large or small that might be interested in such a undertaking ?
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08-17-2017, 05:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by merl67
Just a thought. Do any of our shall we say more well known and better connected members here have connections with any of the ammo companies large or small that might be interested in such a undertaking ?
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If so that person would have to be highly persuasive as there are not many that would even consider it. They would have to be convinced that there was a large enough market for it to show a profit, and that would likely be impossible to do.
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