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slumlord44
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.17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Jan 15th, 2017 at 8:13pm
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I am looking at a realy nice one that has been converted with a new barrel. I had a discussion here several years back about converting one to .22 Magnium and the concensus was that it shouldn't be a problem. Did it and ok so far. I also have one that was converted to .17 HRM. No problems there. My thought is that the .17 WSM is too much for the action. This caliber was discussed here before and the Stevens 44 1/2 was considered a good choice. Opionions on it in the 44?
  
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bohemianway
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #1 - Jan 15th, 2017 at 8:56pm
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Calculating the force on the breechblock the 17WSM  at 33,000 psi is equivalent to a 32 RF at 17,000 psi or a 38 RF at 11,000 psi or a 32-40 at 8,500 psi. It looks like it should be ok but I have a 44 in 25-21 which would be 17,000 psi to be equal to the 17WSM but with smokeless (don't know the pressure) I get shearing of the breechblock pivot pin so get several "opinions" before trying this at home.
  
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uscra112
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #2 - Jan 16th, 2017 at 7:05am
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I would think it OK, but I'd much prefer to see the breechblock shoulders bearing against the frame, like they did for the centerfire cartridges in the early years of the 44.  If they don't, much of the force is taken on the breechblock pivot pin and the link.   I use thin (.0005") cellophane as a feeler to determine whether there is contact.  One can shift the breechblock back a few thou by opening up the pivot hole in the breechblock.  This will then require setting the barrel back to recover the lost headspace.   

  

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slumlord44
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #3 - Jan 17th, 2017 at 9:05pm
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Anyone else have thoughts on this one? Debating on bidding on this gun.
  
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n.r.davis
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #4 - Jan 21st, 2017 at 8:16am
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Read about the .22 Hornet in De Hass's Single Shot Rifles and how even though everything was fitted "Tight" by Stevens the action just did not stand up to the extra pressure.  I can appreciate Bohemianway's figuring on pressure.  I for one would not be willing to hope it holds up under repeated firings.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #5 - Jan 22nd, 2017 at 8:59pm
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I'm leary of it in the 44. Thats why I asked here. I would have no concerns about it in a 44 1/2 action.
  
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waterman
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #6 - Jan 25th, 2017 at 2:35am
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I'm with Slumlord, not a good idea.  We tried a .17 HMR against Wolf Match Extra at 200 yards, from the bench. The 17 in some sort of Anschutz sporter, the Wolf in my big Ballard.  The 17 lost out.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #7 - Jan 25th, 2017 at 10:06pm
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The .17 WSM is a totaly different animal from the .17 HRM. Both are Varment rounds rather than target rounds. Hard to beat the accuracy of good .22 ammo in a good target rifle. You would also have to have identical guns to make an accurate comparison. It would be interesting to compare identical guns. I did ths with 4 Stevens 418 Walnut Hill's a while back. .22 Long Rifle, .22 Short .22 WRF, and .25 Stevens. The .22 Long rifle was the most accurate. The other 3 were close to the same but not nearly as good as the .22 Long Rifle. Part of the problm with these is that the .25 Stevens ammo was from the '70's and there never was any target ammo for it or the .22 WRF. The .22 WRF was current ammo. I have 3 Savage Model 30's, .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, and .17HRM. I need to do some comparison groups on thos just for fun when the weather gets better. Several  current ammo options for these. Several newer options for the .22 Magnium. My main concern with the .17 WSM in the 44 action was if the action would hold up to the .17 WSM. I have 44's in .22 Magnum and .17 HRM and have had no issues with them. The .17 WSM is a lot hotter.
  
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uscra112
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #8 - Feb 4th, 2017 at 11:29pm
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The .17 WSM is 33,000 psi?  In rimfire round?   That I did not know, and find a bit hard to believe.  Without tight support of the head, it oughta be very prone to rim bursts, I would think.

I take back what I wrote.
  

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slumlord44
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #9 - Feb 5th, 2017 at 10:15pm
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Its definately not your fathers rimfire. I did pass on that one. Still would like to have one on a 44 1/2 action. Might talk to CPA and see what it would take to put a barrel on on of my existing 44 1/2's and have a switch barrel setup.
  
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Redsetter
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #10 - Feb 5th, 2017 at 10:44pm
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slumlord44 wrote on Feb 5th, 2017 at 10:15pm:
Its definately not your fathers rimfire. I did pass on that one. Still would like to have one on a 44 1/2 action. Might talk to CPA and see what it would take to put a barrel on on of my existing 44 1/2's and have a switch barrel setup.


I must have missed something, because I don't get it.  Is the object to snipe woodchucks or prairie dogs at 200+ yrs?  If so, there are MUCH better cartridges than any RF!  At a range of under 100 yds, a match quality .22 RF is quite adequate, in conjunction with a reliable range-finder, because the problem to be overcome isn't killing power, but trajectory.  I once (before the coyote invasion!) took woodchucks very regularly at 80-90 yds using an old-fashioned optical range-finder, so 3000 fps is not a necessity.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #11 - Feb 6th, 2017 at 8:06pm
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Redseter, there are definately better centerfires out there. To me the cartridge is actualy another solution to a non existant problem. I sort of enjoy messing with odball cartridges. This fits. I will punch paper with it for fun and possibly try it on coyotes. My .222 Remington bolt gun and .223 AR15 are better coyote guns. A .32-40 or .38-55 in one of my Stevens would also work well. Just like the odball stuff. I actually have more of those than I need already but that's never stopped me before.
  
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Redsetter
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Re: .17 WSM in Stevens 44 Action
Reply #12 - Feb 6th, 2017 at 8:42pm
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slumlord44 wrote on Feb 6th, 2017 at 8:06pm:
My .222 Remington bolt gun and .223 AR15 are better coyote guns...


You ain't shi......!  About 1000 times better!

Make the world safe for woodchucks--now an (almost) endangered species!


  
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