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Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? (Read 1069 times)

rnnhntr Participating Member Offline Posts: 14 Joined: May 18^th, 2014	Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Oct 6^th, 2024 at 10:57pm	Print Post
	I have access to a Stevens 44 action from a .25 Rimfire that I am considering purchasing if it is practical to convert it to centerfire for use as a .32-20 WCF. What is the "best" way to convert the rimfire breech block to centerfire?


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ssdave Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1796 Location: Eastern Oregon Joined: Apr 16^th, 2004	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #1 - Oct 6^th, 2024 at 11:18pm	Print Post
	Easiest way is to trade the action for one already in centerfire. I have one to trade, what condition is yours in? I can dig mine out and take pictures.


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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7268 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #2 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 4:10am	Print Post
	If you have machine skills, I have a blank breech block for a 44. It's in the center of the picture.

	ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
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jhm Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1453 Location: georgia Joined: Sep 4^th, 2011	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #3 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 12:41pm	Print Post
	It can be done. I made one from scratch once. That slot for the extractor was the hardest part... JMH


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Smoke Oldtimer Offline Posts: 700 Location: San Diego Joined: Feb 24^th, 2013	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #4 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 1:33pm	Print Post
	Is there a difference between RF and CF 44 breechblocks that would keep you from just bushing the RF block and drilling it for a CF firing pin?


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Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 904 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #5 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 4:11pm	Print Post
	Contact Lee Shaver Gunsmithing. At one time he was manufacturing newly made Stevens 44 centerfire breech blocks, but I am not sure that he still is.


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rnnhntr Participating Member Offline Posts: 14 Joined: May 18^th, 2014	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #6 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 10:06pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the recommendation regarding Lee Shaver, I will be seeing him tomorrow and will ask him.


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GunBum Full Member Offline Posts: 187 Location: SW Missouri Joined: Oct 30^th, 2021	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #7 - Oct 7^th, 2024 at 10:27pm	Print Post
	If Lee has centerfire Stevens 44 breech blocks, I could use one. It’s tons easier to shoot .32 Long Colt through a .32 Rimfire Long rifle than the extra step of converting the brass to rimfire. I’m sure there isn’t a huge market for them, but there is a market.


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rnnhntr Participating Member Offline Posts: 14 Joined: May 18^th, 2014	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #8 - Oct 8^th, 2024 at 8:17pm	Print Post
	Lee recommended that I use a different action for what I want to do. He was concerned that a smokeless powder round, even a .32-20, might eventually crack the breech block on a Stevens 44 for a gun that was going to be shot a lot.


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ssdave Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1796 Location: Eastern Oregon Joined: Apr 16^th, 2004	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #9 - Oct 8^th, 2024 at 9:31pm	Print Post
	Lee's recommendation is right on. A 44 will hold up to very light loads of .32-20, for awhile. A low wall or a stevens 44 1/2 would be a more appropriate choice, or a #1 rolling block.


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830singleshot Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 404 Location: Texas Joined: Feb 11^th, 2007	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #10 - Oct 8^th, 2024 at 10:12pm	Print Post
	A 32 S&W Long loaded to factory specs makes a fine fun gun and operates at pressure appropriate to a 44 action

	J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7268 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #11 - Oct 9^th, 2024 at 2:59am	Print Post
	Since we are talking 25RF, if the barrel is pretty good, the best and safest option, would be the convert to CF and chamber for either 25 Hornet or 25/20SS. The 25RF has a 17 twist and will stabilize a resized, common 257420, 70 gr bullet at even lower pressure that the original 86 gr, 25/20SS.

	ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
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gnoahhh Oldtimer Offline Posts: 807 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Joined: Mar 31^st, 2010	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #12 - Oct 9^th, 2024 at 7:14am	Print Post
	I went through the gyrations of converting an early 7 o'clock extractor M44 .32 rimfire to center-fire. I was fortunate to be able to swap a Lee Shaver cf block for 6 o'clock extractor with a friend who had a vintage 7 o'clock breech block. I had the new Shaver block on hand for another project. The results are sweet: more fun to shoot than should be legal. The swaging of .32 S&W Long brass to .32 Colt dimensions is a minor hassle but worth the effort. All that is to say make sure of the vintage of your 44 before buying breech blocks for conversions.


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patriot Participating Member Offline Posts: 37 Joined: Mar 29^th, 2015	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #13 - Oct 9^th, 2024 at 9:03am	Print Post
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Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 904 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Coverting a Stevens 44 Rimfire to Centerfire? Reply #14 - Oct 9^th, 2024 at 10:22am	Print Post
	I have a parts gun Stevens 44 in .32 S&W long,also another 44 that I set the barrel back and rechambered a .25 rimfire into .25 acp. Both are fun plinkers.


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