I have an original Stevens 44 1/2 that I want to convert to 40-65, is this caliber OK ? It will be used
with BP. I was told that the hammer has to be fully cocked to load a round because of the diameter.
Any thoughts ??
I have an original Stevens 44 1/2 that I want to convert to 40-65, is this caliber OK ? It will be used
with BP. I was told that the hammer has to be fully cocked to load a round because of the diameter.
Any thoughts ??
The barrel shank on the original 44-1/2s handled .44-40 and .38-40, but of the longer rifle cartridges the maximum head size was the .30-30 to .38-55 head size.
The experimenters in the 1930s used the .44-1/2 for wildcats on the .30-40 head size, but that was about max. Just my opinion, but there wouldn’t be a lot of metal left in the barrel shank with a .45-70 head size chamber like the .40-65. A .40-50 or .40-70 Straight would be better proportioned to the gun.
If you had a CPA action, which takes a full 1” barrel shank, there would be no potential “issues” with a .40-65.
I have to cock my 44-1/2 hammers to use a cleaning rod from the breech sometimes, but no problems with loading.
Thank you for your answer, it answers my concerns
Bob G.
Just to reinforce BRR’s statement on barrel shank size, when CPA designed their “upgraded” version of the 44 1/2, the main change they made was to enlarge the frame to take a larger barrel shank to take 45-70 class cartridges. The newer design would be a good choice for your proposed build, the original, not so much.
Froggie
"It aint easy being green!"
I have an original 44 1/2 frame that CPA built me a .30-40 Krag barrel for. It is definitely maximum diameter for loading cartridges.
God gave us music that we might pray without words
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
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HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
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