I just picked up a Sevens 44-1/2 in .25-20 SS. The forend has a chip out of it that I can repair, and blend it well enough to be difficult to see. The bluing is about 70% and the case colors are faded to gray. The bore is a bit frosted. The stock is dead plain and needs a serious cleaning. The only thing unusual about the gun is that it has a tapered octagon barrel, which was a $2.00 option when the gun was manufactured. I am trying to decide whether to rebore it to .30-30 or go ahead and having the barrel duplicated and fit a second extractor to it. With the cost and scarcity of .25-20 SS brass I will likely not shoot it. Reboring is about $300, rebarreling is about $500. What are your thoughs?

Back then a that kind of $2.00 option was probably not considered lightly, so I'd guess that your rifle is at least uncommon.  Therefore, I personally would never even consider reboring that barrel, especially as the 44-1/2 is so easily fitted with a second one.  But I also understand your concerns about cost and ammo availability.  Perhaps your best option is to sell the rifle and put those funds toward a better hunting-grade single shot.

Bill Lawrence

My thought’s 

Keeping the 25/20 barrel preserves collectability and value  Rebarreling to another caliber adds usability and is practically risk free . Rebore can work well but sometimes not, it’s not much cheaper than a new barrel.

I would have CPA fit a new barrel. This option not as attractive with other actions. 44 1/2 switch design and CPA’s price workmanship and barrel fitting time make it the preferred option.

Boats

SBoomer wrote on Nov 11^th, 2024 at 9:12am:


I doubt the twist would be correct for the .25-35

Something to consider would be barrel size, dimension. Some of the 25-20’s had a #1 profile. That’s a pretty small barrel for a 30-30.

If this was bought online recently, there was one that might actually have been a 044 1/2, with the shotgun style but plate. If you’re not real familiar with the difference, it’s worth checking out. The 044 1/2 has a smaller action width and barrel shank diameter. The 30-30 case would be a stretch for that action.

The front of the action will be marked accordingly.

I might add to my previous post that CPA will contour a new barrel to match your old one so that the forearm will work for both.  My 25-35 that CPA rebuilt has a 28" #1 barrel with a 1:9 twist in a standard 25-35 chambering.  Tom

I think adding a 2nd barrel not only retains collectible status on your unique 44 1/2, but also adds value with it then being a two barrel set. Money well spent to add the 2nd barrel.

Jamey wrote on Nov 12^th, 2024 at 5:32pm:


If it was only about money, then you'd spend that $200 difference quickly on brass and still have just the single barrel original gun. But getting a 2nd barrel fitted will give you something cheaper and easier to feed while you keep an eye out for possibly finding the expensive brass at a better price. I've found being patient often results in better options, and it's easier to be patient once you have another barrel to shoot with.