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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2 (Read 1786 times)
selmerfan
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #15 - Dec 12th, 2022 at 6:52pm
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The add on to the lever is removable. When I received it there was black electrical tape wound around it, presuming it was “custom fit” to great-grandpa Wilson’s hand. He was apparently rather small of stature. I have photos of him with the King’s Mill rifle club. He worked at Peters ammunition company and mention of the Wilson family name is in the Peters history book my mom stumbled on. He was her maternal grandfather.
  
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selmerfan
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #16 - Dec 12th, 2022 at 7:35pm
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S99VG wrote on Dec 12th, 2022 at 3:07pm:
Sure shot wrote on Dec 12th, 2022 at 2:17pm:
Very nice model 404-44 1/2. Interesting add on to the original  lever, is the add on removable?


You beat me to it.  I was thinking 404 (Militrary Style Rifle) myself.  The 404 is a rare bird!


I guess I didn't know this was a particularly rare rifle.  I mean, I know there aren't a lot of 44 1/2s, but is this info from Rock Island Armory Auction accurate?  Only around 250 of this model made?
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KWK
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #17 - Dec 12th, 2022 at 11:42pm
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Earlier discussion of .30-40 on a 44 1/2.
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One fellow in that thread reports Stevens cataloged the originals in 30-40, so I'd think that's good enough. 

However, for what load did they intend? The modern SAAMI rating is hot and appears to be based on the later military loads, the loads which cracked some service rifles.

The original sporting load is 220 RN at 2000 fps from a 30" barrel. Whelen's WW-I era book listed that, and it was written after the #52 catalog cited. 

Working from Lyman's data, I estimated that with 4895 one would be running around 34,000 psi. This is the load I use in my Lone Star rolling block. It's 35 gr over Remington 9-1/2 primers to send the Hornady bullet to 2000 fps from my 30" barrel.
« Last Edit: Dec 12th, 2022 at 11:48pm by KWK »  

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Sure shot
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #18 - Dec 13th, 2022 at 1:51pm
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I guess I didn't know this was a particularly rare rifle.  I mean, I know there aren't a lot of 44 1/2s, but is this info from Rock Island Armory Auction accurate?  Only around 250 of this model made?
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In Bill West’s Savage and Stevens book, he says around 2500 model 404’s were made, who’s right? I don’t think anyone knows for sure since the factory records were destroyed, either way model 404’s are pretty scarce rifles.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #19 - Dec 13th, 2022 at 5:13pm
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Perhaps Tom Rowe will shed some light on the subject in his upcoming? Stevens book, but considering a lack of factory records makes it difficult to come up with anything definitive it would seem.
  

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S99VG
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Re: .30-40 Krag loads in an original Stevens 44 1/2
Reply #20 - Dec 13th, 2022 at 9:58pm
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selmerfan wrote on Dec 12th, 2022 at 7:35pm:
S99VG wrote on Dec 12th, 2022 at 3:07pm:
Sure shot wrote on Dec 12th, 2022 at 2:17pm:
Very nice model 404-44 1/2. Interesting add on to the original  lever, is the add on removable?




You beat me to it.  I was thinking 404 (Militrary Style Rifle) myself.  The 404 is a rare bird!


I guess I didn't know this was a particularly rare rifle.  I mean, I know there aren't a lot of 44 1/2s, but is this info from Rock Island Armory Auction accurate?  Only around 250 of this model made?
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I stumbled onto a 404 action a while back and I was pretty tickled when I figured out what I had.  The "give aways" for a 404 action will be the two screw holes in the side of the receiver, the one large screw below those for the automattic ejector and, if you look at the lower tang, the number 404 stamped immediately behind the trigger.  Your stocks look pretty spot on to me for factory wood too. I would like to restore my action back to its original cofiguration some day and, if you have the time, I would appreciate knowing what your barel diameter and length specificatios are.  
« Last Edit: Dec 13th, 2022 at 10:07pm by S99VG »  
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