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Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? (Read 5528 times)

emmett22405 Full Member Offline Posts: 157 Location: Virginia Joined: Sep 21^st, 2009	Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Mar 13^th, 2017 at 11:28am	Print Post
	Interested in buying one but i recall (I think) reading somewhere they started failing when a higher- powered 32-40 round was introduced way back when and Stevens stopped making them in that caliber. I am thinking about 13-14 grains 4227 load 170 gr bullet. If action safe per se, what to look (out) for?? Thanks


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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7249 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #1 - Mar 13^th, 2017 at 12:21pm	Print Post
	I have a earlier 44, in 32/40, with a 7 o'clock extrator. It was almost like new when I got it in 1985. I haven't shot it a great deal but, I have shot it with smokeless. My load is 12.2 gr 4759, using a 185 gr bullet, breech seated (BS will be lower pressure) but, it would be safe shot fixed. If you shoot fixed, 4227, I'd hold it to 13 gr with the 170 gr bullet. They will take a little higher pressure but, will loosen up. The main thing to worry about with a 44, is double charging. Find someway to insure that you don't make a mistake in loading the powder. Frank

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emmett22405 Full Member Offline Posts: 157 Location: Virginia Joined: Sep 21^st, 2009	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #2 - Mar 13^th, 2017 at 12:33pm	Print Post
	Thank you for a clear and fully responsive reply.


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MAD MIKE Oldtimer Offline Posts: 655 Location: So Cal Joined: Oct 31^st, 2006	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #3 - Mar 13^th, 2017 at 2:01pm	Print Post
	I've got a model 45 on a 44 action that's the most accurate bench rifle I've got I shoot 18 gr. 4227 185 gr, bullet breech seated & It's the most accurate gun I own. never had a problem or sign of one to come. Like frank said "just don;t double charge it"!! ...MIKE...


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MAD MIKE Oldtimer Offline Posts: 655 Location: So Cal Joined: Oct 31^st, 2006	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #4 - Mar 13^th, 2017 at 2:03pm	Print Post
	I've got a model 45 on a 44 action that's the most accurate bench rifle I've got I shoot 18 gr. 4227 185 gr, bullet breech seated & It's the most accurate gun I own. never had a problem or sign of one to come. Like frank said "just don't double charge it'!! ...MIKE...


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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2227 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #5 - Mar 14^th, 2017 at 1:09pm	Print Post
	Think the Stevens 44 is very marginal for a .32-40. Probably not dangerous, but prone to excessive deformation. Yes, Stevens did make some but quit. The reaction load on a 44 is about 1.5X the cartridge thrust. Some 44's react the firing load on the shoulder, some on the pivot pin. Seems to be factory or parts swap tolerances. All 44's put a very high load on the linkage. The lugged hammer was a fix to try to correct that situation. Chuck


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MAD MIKE Oldtimer Offline Posts: 655 Location: So Cal Joined: Oct 31^st, 2006	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #6 - Mar 17^th, 2017 at 12:04am	Print Post
	sorry, that should have read 14 gr. 4227 not 18gr.


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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #7 - Mar 19^th, 2017 at 4:32pm	Print Post
	This has been discussed over and over. Stevens made some .32-40 rifles with a small ledge on the hammer face which slipped under the rear of the breechblock to support it, like a rolling block. (This works only with the 7 o'clock extractor models, BTW.) Set up properly, with the rear of the breechblock bearing tightly on the shoulders in the frame, it can take blackpowder-loads in .32-40. Tight fitting and the hammer ledge take virtually all the stress off the link and the breechblock pivot. Lacking either of these features, the link takes a terrific pounding, and everything goes loose in a hurry.
	« Last Edit: Mar 19^th, 2017 at 4:38pm by uscra112 »
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Redsetter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3468 Location: New York Joined: Aug 6^th, 2013	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #8 - Mar 19^th, 2017 at 5:30pm	Print Post
	frnkeore wrote on Mar 13^th, 2017 at 12:21pm: ...The main thing to worry about with a 44, is double charging. Find someway to insure that you don't make a mistake in loading the powder. Frank I have a pathological fear of doing that. Though it's somewhat more time consuming, I set up a measure right beside my press, and load each case individually, rather than dropping all the charges with the cases in a block, then seating the bullets.


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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3541 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #9 - Mar 19^th, 2017 at 7:18pm	Print Post
	Pathological fear isn't just for a Stevens, I triple check my loads for an immensely stronger Winchester. Don't double load an old rifle of any sort. Probably isn't good for modern made ones either.


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emmett22405 Full Member Offline Posts: 157 Location: Virginia Joined: Sep 21^st, 2009	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #10 - Mar 19^th, 2017 at 7:26pm	Print Post
	Thanks uscra112; your info was perhaps buzzing around in my head but had not alighted when i sent the query.


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Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #11 - Mar 19^th, 2017 at 9:36pm	Print Post
	Redsetter wrote on Mar 19^th, 2017 at 5:30pm: frnkeore wrote on Mar 13^th, 2017 at 12:21pm: ...The main thing to worry about with a 44, is double charging. Find someway to insure that you don't make a mistake in loading the powder. Frank I have a pathological fear of doing that. Though it's somewhat more time consuming, I set up a measure right beside my press, and load each case individually, rather than dropping all the charges with the cases in a block, then seating the bullets. I don't worry about it. I just look at the primer EVERY TIME before I charge the case. No possibility of a double.

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #12 - Mar 22^nd, 2017 at 2:42am	Print Post
	emmett22405 wrote on Mar 19^th, 2017 at 7:26pm: Thanks uscra112; your info was perhaps buzzing around in my head but had not alighted when i sent the query. One thing I've learned about setting-up a Model 44 with a new barrel: Don't obsess over how much play there is in the breechblock pivot. It has to be loose enough that the breechblock can shift rearward into contact with the frame shoulders. Then and only then do you go through the ritual of fitting the barrel and trimming the rear face so the lever "snaps" into place. The breechblock has to be a wedge between the breech face and the frame shoulders. This relieves the pivot pin, but there's still a large load on the linkage. That's why the hammer lug. I've taken to using strips of 1/2 mil sandwich bag as feelers to see whether the shoulders are bearing when the action locks up. If they don't, the barrel needs to be set back and the breech face refitted, and possibly the breechblock pivot eased. A test that should be done whenever buying a centerfire Model 44. (Rimfires with the central extractor seem almost always to be loose. Stevens apparently felt that it didn't matter with the low power cartridges.) Phil

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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: Stevens 44 safe for 32-40?? Reply #13 - Mar 25^th, 2017 at 10:07am	Print Post
	Maybe it's just me, but in what is basically a blackpowder era action, and cartridge, I would only shoot blackpowder in a 44 Stevens .32-40. It's not worth ruining an antique, or your face, just to use smokeless in one.


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