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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's (Read 9838 times)
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #15 - Mar 14th, 2021 at 10:01pm
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There you go.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #16 - Mar 14th, 2021 at 10:01pm
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Will your hammer stay at half cock when pulling the hammer back with your thumb?
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #17 - Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:42pm
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Wondering if there might be some wear in the link (#25) and or pins?  I think I would try to avoid any work on the hammer or trigger if at all possible.

Regards,
Joe
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #18 - Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:51pm
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The 417's and 418's had what was called the speed lock action. When you opened the action it went to full cock. It's confusing if you are not familiar with it. These were the last and best of the 44 actions and were designed for target use, not hunting rifles.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #19 - Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:55pm
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slumlord44 wrote on Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:51pm:
The 417's and 418's had what was called the speed lock action. When you opened the action it went to full cock. It's confusing if you are not familiar with it. These were the last and best of the 44 actions and were designed for target use, not hunting rifles.


But full cock was similar to half cock. They were not always reliable. Hammer didn't always hit hard enough. 
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #20 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 6:00am
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jfeldman wrote on Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:42pm:
Wondering if there might be some wear in the link (#25) and or pins?  I think I would try to avoid any work on the hammer or trigger if at all possible.

Regards,
Joe

There could be other possible problems with your rifle along with the above. Possibly the trigger or sear spring could be weak, there could be excessive wear to the sear notches on the hammer or bubba might have modified it, along with the sear on the trigger. Possibly the mainspring is weak also. If you find that it is the hammer or trigger that is your problem, I would try to find a replacement one, rather than trying to modify the hammer or trigger you have. They show up on EBay occasionally.

I own 6 model 44 rifles, and they all go to half cock when opening and closing the action. Someone had reversed the link in my 414 rifle, which has a 44 action, and it would go to full cock when opening the action. I didn’t like that so I reversed the link so it wouldn’t do that, and now it just goes to half cock.
« Last Edit: Mar 15th, 2021 at 6:09am by Sure shot »  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #21 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:06am
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Sure shot wrote on Mar 15th, 2021 at 6:00am:
jfeldman wrote on Mar 14th, 2021 at 11:42pm:
Wondering if there might be some wear in the link (#25) and or pins?  I think I would try to avoid any work on the hammer or trigger if at all possible.

Regards,
Joe

There could be other possible problems with your rifle along with the above. Possibly the trigger or sear spring could be weak, there could be excessive wear to the sear notches on the hammer or bubba might have modified it, along with the sear on the trigger. Possibly the mainspring is weak also. If you find that it is the hammer or trigger that is your problem, I would try to find a replacement one, rather than trying to modify the hammer or trigger you have. They show up on EBay occasionally.

I own 6 model 44 rifles, and they all go to half cock when opening and closing the action. Someone had reversed the link in my 414 rifle, which has a 44 action, and it would go to full cock when opening the action. I didn’t like that so I reversed the link so it wouldn’t do that, and now it just goes to half cock.


Well....it has a new hammer spring and all new screws from CPA. The trigger spring seems to provide adequate tension to engage the sear.  And I keep ebay open practically 24/7 looking for a better hammer and trigger.   
I am thinking you are correct when you say they should go to half cock when the action is opened.  And should STAY there, which mine doesn't.  I'm in no particular hurry to get it going but sometime in the next few weeks would be nice.   
Thanks as always for your comments and advice.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #22 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:08am
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Both my 44 (414) and my 044 1/2 go to half cock when you lower the action.  Two totally different actions, but I think that's how Stevens wanted to design them.  The hammer isn't made to sit on the firing pin if I remember from my readings, lots of reasons what that isn't a good idea.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #23 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:42am
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I was wrong in my earlier post, yes my Stevens rifles go to half cock when closed. When at half cock the hammer nose is very close to the firing pin but not touching it.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #24 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:57am
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Sounds like you will get it sorted out. There is a model 44 trigger on EBay right now.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #25 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 11:08am
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In the half cock position the hammer face will be about even with the frame. 

If you pull the hammer back while pushing the trigger forward, you should be able to feel the trigger ride over the spur on the hammer. If you can't feel that, someone probably got a little happy with a grinding tool. You might be able to correct that enough to verify the problem.

Unless the trigger or hammer has really been rounded or broke off, you should probably be able to hold the hammer back keeping forward pressure on the trigger. if you let off the forward pressure and the hammer holds, there may be more of a spring issue, or the trigger is to short to engage the hammer with the amount of movement by the spring.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #26 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 11:57am
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I would call and talk to Gail at CPA. Now knowing they are actually CPA replacement DSTriggers she could probably be of some help to you. When a friend did the same Paul actually did the installation along with any additional adjustments required and Gail should be familiar with what they might be.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #27 - Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:01pm
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Both hammer & trigger in 44s were only case hardened.  If they wear thru the case they go to heck in a handbasket.  Good news is that this is rare.  
 
I would not buy used parts as they may already be gone.  A dollop of hardface weld on both followed by careful grinding will do wonders, of course.   Final honing of the full cock notch takes a jig to do correctly.  P/M me for a drawing of mine.  

Loose link pins should be renewed by reaming for oversize pins (5mm for the 44, 4mm for Favorite), but that won't solve the O.P.'s trouble.
« Last Edit: Mar 15th, 2021 at 10:09pm by uscra112 »  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #28 - Mar 17th, 2021 at 8:00pm
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I did some rudimentary measurements and took some pics.  I believe the half cock notch needs some welding and some judicious grinding and honing.  As you can see there is no clearance between the hammer face and the back of the breech block.
  
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Re: The mechanics of opening the action in a Steven's
Reply #29 - Mar 17th, 2021 at 8:01pm
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Pulling a sheet of paper tells me there is no clearance.
  
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