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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) J. Stevens model 44 (Read 13453 times)
coondawg
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J. Stevens model 44
Apr 10th, 2018 at 8:25am
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First time posting, long time lurker.
I picked up a Winchester low-wall a few weeks ago in 25-20 winchester and have had a blast shooting it. It is a non-matching numbers gun that has a nice aftermarket barrel on it and I have to say I think have been bitten by the single shot bug. So I ran across a J. Stevens model 44 in 25-20ss on GB and end up buying it and while it was shipping I ordered some 25-20ss ammo thinking I would test it out when it arrived. Well it arrived and the ammo will not chamber fully. So I guess a chamber cast is up next to figure out the caliber. I'll post some pic's soon.
  
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Hayface
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #1 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:11am
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CD,

Welcome to the mayhem.  There are a number of other posts regarding the common confusion between 25-20 Single Shot and 25-20 Winchester.

Other than numerical designation, the two are very different.  The 25-20 SS uses a much longer straight tapered case than the 25-20 Win, which uses a short bottle necked case.  I'll leave it to someone who has more experience with 25-20 SS to expand on this.

I always wanted one, just never figured out where I'd find the time to sort out another cartridge atop the pile of things to do that I'm already not getting done

Hayface
« Last Edit: Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:20am by Hayface »  
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Redsetter
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #2 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:27am
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Investing in Barn's Cartridges of the World, Water's Pet Loads, or some similar cartridge reference book, is an easy means of avoiding such surprises.

Newly made brass (by Jamison & Bertram) can be found on-line, although I think it's currently out of production from both companies.
  
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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #3 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:30am
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here are a few pictures.
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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #4 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:34am
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a few more.
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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #5 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 9:38am
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The 25-20 winchester will only chamber to just past the neck and the 25-20ss would chamber to about a half inch sticking out and tight to the point pictured above.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #6 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 10:22am
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You might loosen the set screw at the bottom of the frame, open the action, unscrew the barrel and look at the shank.  I have a Stevens 44 that was rechambered from .25-20 SS to .25-20WCF, and I can see where the shank was lengthened, the threads picked up, and the excess cut off at the breech so the new shorter chamber could be cut correctly.  There is also a second detent on the bottom of the barrel shank where the frame set screw now engages.

I could see the change on the outside because my half-octagon barrel now has the end of the half-octagon slightly short of the schnabel on the original forend.  (The forend screw hole also was relocated.)  Your specimen has been extensively modified and restocked so such outside inspection isn't possible.

It may be a stretch, looking at a photo, but it looks like your chamber is unmodified to me.  If that long bullet round is what you are trying to chamber, I doubt it would go into an original chamber anyway.  Does an empty, full-length resized .25-20 SS case fit in?
  
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marlinguy
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #7 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 10:46am
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The location of the rear sight dovetail sure doesn't appear to be a set back barrel to me.
  

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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #8 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:09am
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Bent_Ramrod wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 10:22am:
You might loosen the set screw at the bottom of the frame, open the action, unscrew the barrel and look at the shank.  I have a Stevens 44 that was rechambered from .25-20 SS to .25-20WCF, and I can see where the shank was lengthened, the threads picked up, and the excess cut off at the breech so the new shorter chamber could be cut correctly.  There is also a second detent on the bottom of the barrel shank where the frame set screw now engages.

I could see the change on the outside because my half-octagon barrel now has the end of the half-octagon slightly short of the schnabel on the original forend.  (The forend screw hole also was relocated.)  Your specimen has been extensively modified and restocked so such outside inspection isn't possible.

It may be a stretch, looking at a photo, but it looks like your chamber is unmodified to me.  If that long bullet round is what you are trying to chamber, I doubt it would go into an original chamber anyway.  Does an empty, full-length resized .25-20 SS case fit in?


I do not have any empty 25-20ss brass to try unless I pull a bullet.
  
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Redsetter
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #9 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:09am
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Bent_Ramrod wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 10:22am:
If that long bullet round is what you are trying to chamber, I doubt it would go into an original chamber anyway.  Does an empty, full-length resized .25-20 SS case fit in?


That spitzer bullet looks about twice the length of the 86 g., flat-point, bullet originally loaded.

Has the rcvr. been BRASS plated?  
  
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Redsetter
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #10 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:13am
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coondawg wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:09am:

I do not have any empty 25-20ss brass to try unless I pull a bullet.


Pulling it vs. continuing to be mystified?  Easy decision, I think.
  
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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #11 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:14am
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Redsetter wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 11:09am:
Bent_Ramrod wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 10:22am:
If that long bullet round is what you are trying to chamber, I doubt it would go into an original chamber anyway.  Does an empty, full-length resized .25-20 SS case fit in?


That spitzer bullet looks about twice the length of the 86 g., flat-point, bullet originally loaded.

Has the rcvr. been BRASS plated?  


Yes it looks to be brass plated.
  
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calledflyer
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #12 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 12:36pm
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Yer gonna be busy it seems. But, if you get an extra minute, can you explain what you meant in the first post when you said the low wall was non-matching numbers. All I ever owned just had one number at most. Some, with replaced tang had none at all. Curious
  
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coondawg
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #13 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 1:16pm
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calledflyer wrote on Apr 10th, 2018 at 12:36pm:
Yer gonna be busy it seems. But, if you get an extra minute, can you explain what you meant in the first post when you said the low wall was non-matching numbers. All I ever owned just had one number at most. Some, with replaced tang had none at all. Curious


oops I meant non-matching number. I was told the serial number matches a highwall.
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calledflyer
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Re: J. Stevens model 44
Reply #14 - Apr 10th, 2018 at 1:41pm
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Thank you. Tha's a good lookin' little rifle. 
  
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