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.25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? (Read 7622 times)

Amanda Junior Member Offline Posts: 70 Location: Beaumont, Tx Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	.25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Feb 28^th, 2014 at 3:00pm	Print Post
	I keep pestering you folks, and I appreciate that you are willing to provide much-needed help. I bought this on a whim on Gunbroker [395424099], assuming it is a Favorite? Called the guy and he knew about as much as I do about the gun, nothing . It is marked on the barrel .25 STEVENS. How do you know if it for the Long or Short? I figured they were probably all Longs if a rifle, and that they would shoot Shorts if needed. He didn't have any Long ammo to try and see if it would chamber. Can anyone tell me if this little $275 rifle (cheapest I have bought in 30 years) is a Favorite, will it take Longs, and can CPA replace the barrel with a .22LR barrel, or would I need to get a liner (ugh)? Gracias! Amanda
	« Last Edit: Feb 28^th, 2014 at 8:07pm by Amanda »

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Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Shot in this rifle? Reply #1 - Feb 28^th, 2014 at 4:45pm	Print Post
	1894 Favorite. Probably a Long, but ammo question is somewhat irrelevant--where are you going to get the stuff at a "shootable" price? Nothing wrong with relining it, & cheaper than a new brl. Checked photos in original listing--looks like pretty good shape. Rear sight is a replacement, but it has Beech front, which is worth about $100. That knurled ring at the rear of the brl. compensates for wear, to keep the brl. tight in the receiver; was only used a few yrs & is pretty scarce. Looks like steel butt plate--changed to hard rubber about turn of century.
	« Last Edit: Feb 28^th, 2014 at 5:01pm by Redsetter »

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Amanda Junior Member Offline Posts: 70 Location: Beaumont, Tx Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Shot in this rifle? Reply #2 - Feb 28^th, 2014 at 5:02pm	Print Post
	Redsetter, I have a few boxes of .25 Stevens ammo, and know where I can get some more if I wish to spend the $$, but really bought the thing on a whim after seeing the Beech sight. I couldn't remember if all of the Favorites had slide-in barrels or not? If it can be re-barreled, I would prefer to do so. If not, who could put a liner in it and make it nice? Thanks...Amanda


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Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Shot in this rifle? Reply #3 - Feb 28^th, 2014 at 5:11pm	Print Post
	Well, if you've got the ammo, might as well try that first to see how it shoots. Could buy a LOT more for cost of gunsmithing. All Favorites had unthreaded barrels. Those sold with Beech front & tang sight were #18 models. I'd FAR prefer keeping the original brl. myself & having it relined, but can't recommend anyone to do that work--has been years since I had it done. Numrich Arms once made replacement brls, but don't know if they're still available.
	« Last Edit: Feb 28^th, 2014 at 5:18pm by Redsetter »

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Chev. William Full Member Offline Posts: 181 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2013	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #4 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 1:26pm	Print Post
	Please Don't Change the original barrel by relining it down in caliber. There are several ways to get it shooting available. 1. Buy a used Stevens Favorite Barrel in 22LR to switch out with your existing .25 Stevens barrel. you will also need to buy a '22LR extractor/ejector replica part from "Wisner's" or similar supplier. Save your existing Barrel and extractor parts for the Future. 2. Make .25 Stevens Adapter cases out of reformed .22 Hornet Cases so you can use .22 Blanks as 'primer and/or powder' and available 50 grain bullets (preferably Cast Lead rather than Jacketed bullets). "Slug" your barrel to verify the actual Bore and Groove Diameters first. "Carolina Cast Bullets" has a 50 grain Lead bullet that can be used in most Stevens Barrels, it is designed to fit the Current Taurus Pistols etc. so is about .255" diameter as cast. 3. Check "Dixie Gun Works" as one source of Machined Brass Bar Stock Adapter Cases and the 'Acorn' style .22 Blanks that work as the primers with added powder and either round balls or Bullets. 4. There is also a European source for kits of adapters,bullets, and the 'reloading tools' to use the .25 Stevens as is. Restrictions require buying the blanks used as 'primers' separately. 5. There are Discussion Threads on both "CAS City", "Cast Boolits", and Etc. Forums that discuss the processes and results. Look also at the Threads about reloading .32 Rimfires for additional data. One none traditional source of usable loaded cases is the .27 Caliber Powder Tool Load, which is about .269"in body diameter. Users have found that a 'Grade 2' PTL will propel a 50 grain bullet at around 850fps and a 'Grade 3' will send the same 50grain bullet down range at around 1050fps, both are about the same as the original factory performance of .25 Stevens, Short and Long respectively but with the lighter than original (about 65 to 69 grains) bullet. Also PTL Loads are the same power per Grade for each Caliber. Chev. William
	« Last Edit: Mar 13^th, 2014 at 12:17pm by Chev. William »

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bisaacson Full Member Offline Posts: 170 Location: Kailua Joined: Sep 1^st, 2009	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #5 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 2:45pm	Print Post
	If an old gun is in good shape mechanically and has a shootable bore, my opinion would be to leave it an make ammunition for it, rather than altering original parts. One reason is just to keep some history alive, and the other is avoiding potential problems in the future (but there's always Harlow...). I bought a Stevens Marksman in 25 Stevens RF because it seemed to me that I could alter existing cases to make shootable ammunition, and it proved to be so. The June 2010 Single Shot Exchange has an article on how I did it, and besides being fun to do, it turned out to be quite accurate, as well as a great conversation piece at the bench. Once you figure out how to do it, you seem to find a lot more 25 Stevens RF rifles to buy, though, but I don't consider that a disadvantage.


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graduated peep Ex Member	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #6 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 4:20pm	Print Post
	Maybe I missed it in the replies, but did anyone suggest to buy a spare breech block and convert to .25 Stevens CF. There's been loads of discussion about it; and I think one member was even offering to sell reformed .22 Hornet cases ????? I got as far as the spare breech block, but have to find out who it was that was making the cases.


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slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #7 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 7:56pm	Print Post
	I just got the Black Powder Cartridge magazine yesterday and there is a very good comprehensive article on converting the Favorite to centerfire using .22 Hornet brass. To me doing this with a 44 action seems like a better idea. Find a centerfire breech block to switch out and it would be pretty simple. I have a 44 that would be a good candidate.


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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #8 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 10:20pm	Print Post
	AFAIK there never was a centerfire Favorite. So no CF breechblocks to swap out.

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John Boy Ex Member	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #9 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 10:59pm	Print Post
	The Stevens Favorite was chambered for the 25 rim fire. The 25 Hornet CF is just a tad shorter than the RF. Have a new firing pin coming for the 25 Hornet to down load the CF cases in the rifle Here's the thread I started relating to my Favorite marked "Stevens-25 CF" (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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BP Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 8039 Location: Westside Joined: Aug 27^th, 2006	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #10 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 11:06pm	Print Post
	Stevens did chamber a very few 1894 Favorites in 22-15 SS (22-15-60), and I have laid eyes and hands on two examples. The 22 Maynard EX Long CF chambering has also been reported in the 1894 Favorite, but I have not personally encountered one yet. Important point to remember is that these were Black Powder era firearms using Black Powder loadings - NOT smokeless.

	There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest who have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. Proud Noodlehead
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Amanda Junior Member Offline Posts: 70 Location: Beaumont, Tx Joined: Jan 2^nd, 2014	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #11 - Mar 7^th, 2014 at 11:57pm	Print Post
	Purists will be ok, as I found a parts gun with a decent .22LR barrel and receiver for cheap. No worries about a liner, and I can shoot some .25RF if I wish, but will probably keep the ammo and barrel for a museum Thanks for the ideas!


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graduated peep Ex Member	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #12 - Mar 8^th, 2014 at 11:16am	Print Post
	uscra112 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2014 at 10:20pm: AFAIK there never was a centerfire Favorite. So no CF breechblocks to swap out. Very true; but there's numerous RF blocks that any competent machinist/gunsmith could modify to CF. I also got thinking, why couldn't a Favorite hammer be modified to act like the 44 CF hammer that has a step on it to help support the breech block when it's down on the firing pin ? I know, the 44 action would be a better choice; but there's something about the Favorite that makes it intriguing to re-work. Maybe because it's light and handy, compared to a standard M44. When I could get Navy Arms .32 RF ammo, I had a lot of fun shooting my Favorite; and even thought of converting that to shoot .32 Colt or .32 S&W.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18332 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #13 - Mar 8^th, 2014 at 12:14pm	Print Post
	Considering how easy it is to swap barrels, plus how easy it would be to make up a .22LR barrel to shoot the Favorite; I'd set the original aside and find a donor in .22LR. I've found good barrels at local gun shows for these old slip fit boy's single shot rifles, and turned them to fit various actions. You'll have a lot of inexpensive shooting, and not alter the original nice barrel.

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slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: .25 Stevens-Long or Short in this rifle? Reply #14 - Mar 8^th, 2014 at 8:05pm	Print Post
	I saw a Ruger 10-22 barrel on a Favorite at a gun show once. Got one I will sell cheap if anyone has the tools and knowledge to do it.


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