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norb68
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25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Apr 12th, 2015 at 11:39pm
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Is it possible to re chamber a stevens 44 barrel from .25 rimfire to 25/20 SS centerfire? Are the bores the same size? Any other input would be appreciated.
  
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BP
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #1 - Apr 12th, 2015 at 11:56pm
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You should slug your existing barrel to see what it actually has for groove/bore dimensions, as there is a fair amount of variation with the 25 RF's.
Another consideration is twist - Stevens cataloged 13" twist for the 25-20 SS, and 17" for the 25 RF. Will the slower twist work for you?

  

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norb68
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #2 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 12:09am
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I was just going to use it for plinking at 50 yards. I probably would have to stay with a lighter bullet to match what the rimfire bullets were.
  
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #3 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 12:17am
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Then I'd check to see if your bore isn't smaller than the pilot on your reamer.

  

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marlinguy
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #4 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 11:31am
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I don't think it will work. The .25 Stevens used a .251" bullet, and the .25-20 WCF uses a .257" bullet (or close). Your bore will most likely be too small to use the .25-20 cartridge, unless you reline it, or find someone really good at reboring it.
  

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norb68
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #5 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 12:18pm
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That is what I was wondering about, the difference between the bores. I don't have a reference for the .25 rf but I thought the 25/20 ss was .257. I don't have a .25 rf but I thought if this was a possibility that I would get one, they are easier to find than a 25/20 ss barrels
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #6 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 2:07pm
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Somebody did that in the 1930's, and wrote it up in The American Rifleman as "A Slow-Twist .25-20."  My references aren't to hand at present, but I don't recall that he had any particular trouble either in the rechambering or the shooting of the modified rifle.
  
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frnkeore
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #7 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 2:27pm
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For the record, the Lyman/Ideal 257420 WILL stabilize in a 17 twist Stevens barrel IF, the grooves are deep enough. I shoot that bullet in a modern .257 groove barrel (not a Stevens) with a 18 twist, no tipping at 200 yards.

The thing that can make all the defference in the world is the groove depth. In 25 cal, Stevens didn't have the best QC. I had a original 25/20ss with a very nice bore, no pitting, it measured .250 bore x .254 groove (yes, .002 deep rifling) but, I could not get it to shoot well. I've read here, that there are .257 groove, 25rf's out there so, you need to have the rifle, in hand and measure the bore/groove, before doing anything like that. But, if it had a .257 groove, i'd try it.

Frank
  

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art_ruggiero
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #8 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 6:41pm
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what about the conversion to center fire?   just buy the correct rifle and save money   art
  
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frnkeore
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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #9 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 8:58pm
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art_ruggiero wrote on Apr 13th, 2015 at 6:41pm:
what about the conversion to center fire?   just buy the correct rifle and save money   art


Can't go wrong there Smiley

But, on the other had, you can't go wrong re-barreling a CF action, even a Stevens 25/20 barrel. 

Frank
  

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Re: 25 rf to 25/20ss centerfire
Reply #10 - Apr 13th, 2015 at 10:03pm
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My Stevens 44 in  .25 Stevens slugs closer to .256-257. Shoots .257 lead bullets fairly well with .27 Nail Gun loads for power at short ranges. I would recommend slugging the barrel.
  
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