AZshot
That's a really nice rifle you have acquired.
If you are located in Az, we have a small but active Schuetzen Verein that meets at Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) north of Phoenix.
On Dec 17 we will have an all day practice session at the BASF bench rest range. There should be several of our guys shooting 22RF. You and your new rifle will fit right in with with our group.
You are welcome (as is anyone) to come out and join us. Email or PM me and I can provide more details and 2017 schedule.

That's a gorgeous Stevens you've purchased AZshot! The condition is fantastic, and having scope and two barrels is great! Not many Stevens built with single set triggers, so that's an unusual option on your gun! 
Of course you could shoot it in competition, but it is always a risk of a bump or ding every time you take a  gun out, so "rigorous" competitive shooting just means you're going to be shooting it a lot, so more chances to bump it.
I always lower the block with the hammer down. Not sure it matters on a Stevens, but it's safer to raise the block on a live round with the hammer down.

marlinguy wrote on Dec 11^th, 2016 at 10:48am:


This is the danger--you're distracted by the commotion going on all around you, and none of the crowd at such an event are going to be looking out for your gun.

About 30 yrs ago I traveled to a BP silhouette competition thinking it might be something I'd like to do with one of my precious original Ballards; five minutes observation of the dust clouds produced as shooters shook out their shooting mats, along with the general commotion, was all needed to see to convince me otherwise!

Redsetter wrote on Dec 11^th, 2016 at 11:29am:


My mistake. I meant to say most of the early scopes offered by Stevens were Cataract or Malcom.  Sorry I miss typed that, which appeared like I meant they were Stevens marked. wasn't what I was trying to infer.

I agree with Vall.
It's the same for people who restore old cars to better than original and trailer them to shows, take them home and wash and wax everything including the chassis.
The rifles are meant to be shot and the cars to be driven.
More power to you if you just collect and never shoot, I don't shoot much myself.
But it's not because I'm afraid to use my best rifle, where's the fun in that?
Aaron

AZshot wrote on Dec 11^th, 2016 at 12:02pm:


New $5000 guns, or originals that have been "customized," or originals in beater condition...no problem.  But a very rare gun in apparently immaculate condition is quite a different proposition, I think.

Hunting in good terrain (not scaling cliffs, for ex.) in good weather (i.e., not in a rain or snow storm) is far less hazardous, I think, because there are no other people around to distract you, like the guy who started talking to me while I was loading my boat at a public boat launch, causing me to go off and leave a $1000 bamboo rod that was gone when I went back to look for it.  I've hunted with many of my prized antique guns, though none of them, I have to say, in such beautiful condition as your Stevens.

I remember Doug from the time he'd rent one or two tables to display his work at the formerly great Syracuse show, where many fine SSs showed up...30+ yrs ago!  Had a feeling that lad was going places!

Well, shooting it is a done deal.  My daughter and I just got back from the range, where we had quite a good time shooting this old beauty.  The set trigger is nice, not too light, perhaps a pound or two.  The first two shots were almost on top of each other, but at short range to check the scope.  It was close enough, so I shot the rest of the time at 50 yards.  It seems very accurate, but there was a coming and going cross breeze.  About 1.2" groups.  

My 22 year old daughter seems to have shot better than me.

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