Quote:In short, this wildly customized Stevens requires careful feeding as-is, I'd seriously think of getting a nice quarter-bore barrel and extractor for it, and I might even go so far as to have FOR BLACK POWDER ONLY stamped on the current barrel.
Bill Lawrence
On this rifle, I wouldn't object to the above, because of the poorly done lettering. But, NOT on a factory chambered rifle!!
How are you going to protect the public from factory rifles?
These rifles aren't as delicate as you think. My very first single shot was a, like new 44, in 32/40. I didn't know anything about SS's or the strength of them. I bought it in 1985 and to get brass to reload, I bought the factory John Wayne ammo with the jacketed bullets. I fired that whole box for the brass and then went on to reload them with smokeless.
After reading more about them, I started loading it with two loads, both fixed and BSed. First was 4 gr 4759, with a full case of FG on top. Second was Harvey Donaldson's load of 12.2 gr 4759, all loading with the 319273 bullet (~185 gr). It's still as tight as when I first bought it.
The 38/55, with BP pressures, produce no more breech block thrust than a 32/40 and is no more dangerous to shoot than a 32/40 chambered rifle.
I've never seen a factory 38/55 but, have seen several 32/40's (all with lugged hammers) so, I think the 38/55's are fairly rare.
Phil, how many none lugged 32/40 or 38/55 have you documented and where the barrels numbered to the frame?
Frank