Come on we need to get something going after all Josh's work!

What you all shoot? 

Me I Shoot all CPA Stevens, now own three at last count and am lucky enough to own one Stevens Pope Sporting Rifle in 28-30 that has an interesting story behind it.

Can we talk loads here or is that not a good thing?

My favorite rifle is one I am getting to shoot at any given time!  My PREFERRED rifle is probably the high-wall because that is what gave me my earliest single shot inspiration and indoctrination, but I even enjoy a Stevens if that happens to be what I am shooting at the moment (but don't tell leadball!  )

Green Frog

This is a tough one because a lot has to do with what's been done to them. One of the things I like is for the butt stock to have a thru bolt installed like the Ballards. But Ballards are not really noted for their strength. High Walls and 44 1/2's are good but their stock "lock-up" leaves a lot to be desired. So to improve these two guns I've had installed a thru bolt in a Low Wall and a 44 1/2. That makes either about ideal in my estimation.

Ballards have about the best DST's going and they seem to fit most people. I'm not overwhelmed with them!

As for discussing loads I'd think that would best be discussed on "Loading the SS Rifle". Wouldn't mind talking about working up loads for the .28/30 with both black and smokeless.

PETE

Pete,
How did you put in the through bolts?  Did you do this yourself or did you hire out?   

At what caliber to you think a through bolt is really necessary?  A .22 lr?  Or maybe anything less than a .32-40 is okay w/o?

bjd,
Boy! You must have posted that between the time I read and answered Schuetzen's message.

Putting in the thru bolts is not particularly hard with either the Stevens or Low Wall. Of course you need the hole thru the stock. The hard part is making the cross piece between the top and bottom tang. We set up offset pieces that used existing holes. Some of the stock has to be cut away.

Please don't do this with an original gun!! I had it done on basically basket cases that had to have a LOT of other work done to them.

The gunsmith who did the work is our local SS gunsmith. Can't remember if I paid him for the job or not.

When should you use a thru bolt?.... Actually anytime you can put the gun in a vice and by twisting on the butt stock you can see it move. Unless a previous owner was very careful you can move just about any SS stock set up like the Winchester SS's and Stevens. Of course you can always buy you a new stock blank.

What cal. should you start using a thru bolt at?...... Probably not a .22 RF, unless it's loose as mentioned above. My Low Wall has had a .25 Hornet, .25/20SS on it over the years, and currently has a .22 Hornet barrel back on it for some experiments this Summer using swaged 60 gr. Spitzers.  The 44 1/2 originally had a .32/40 barrel, a .25/20SS was added and currently has a .28/30. so you can see that, as far as I'm concerned, if you want to install one caliber shouldn't be a consideration.

If you will think about how a gun flexes under recoil you can imagine how the point at which the butt stock joins the frame, that this is where the gun will flex if things aren't attached solidly. As things flex in this area the screws work loose and the amount of flex will change. You tighten the screws back up and the amount of flex will change.

You want to set your gun up so that it recoils as straight back as possible in relation to the target. If the stock flexes, and flexes differently for each shot, you can see that it's going to affect the impact point on the target at 200 yds. Even 100 yds. could put you out of the 25 ring if the gun is barely capable of holding that size.

PETE

Pete so true about flex and loose screws! If I do not keep a carefull watch on the tang screws on my CPA. when my start to come loose my rifle will start throwing shots all over the target! This has cost me more than one match for sure. Good bedding and tight screws good scores if I do my part.

kmedins,

Good! NEVER re-chamber a .22 Short to Long Rifle. The rifling twist on the older Short rifles is different than the LR's because of the difference in bullet wgts. used. You'd probably be very disappointed in the accuracy afterwards.

PETE

40 Rod WOW SOUNDS NICE !! I WANT ONE !!