Stevens 44 1/2 Caliber Conversions??

[kend]

I can pick up an original that appears to be in excellent condition (except for the bore) but I don't know much about them, this one is a 38-55 and I'd be interested in converting it to a more modern caliber. Any suggestions on something that will work witin the pressure limits if the action? I'd like to re-bore the barrel to keep the original appearance so it would need to be something that wasn't much bigger than the 38-55 bore which I think is .40? I'm assuming it would need to be a rimmed cartridge as well. 41 Magnum? 41 Special? Assuming it would work would the 44 calibers, Special or Magnum, be too big with the .429 bullet? I can download anything. Any suggestions or info is appreciated. Thanks

[uscra112]

You've got a good one there, and I implore you to leave it alone, unless the bore is truly trashed. The .38-55 is actually not a hard caliber to feed, and it's one of the grand old target and hunting cartridges. Not obsolete by any means - Barnes even lists it as a "Current American Cartridge". Brass is essentially the same as .30-30, (which is just a necked-down .38-55), and for more modern brass the .375 Winchester is a perfect fit. But do NOT shoot factory .375 ammo in it - the SAAMI limit for .375 is 63,000 psi, which is really too much for what should be considered a 40,000 psi rifle.

Boring it out bigger is a problem. The barrel shank is rather small, so the largest base diameter has always been held to be the .30-30/.38-55 class, although Ned Roberts did use one to develop the .257 Roberts cartridge. If that barrel is truly gone, what I would do is have John Taylor put a liner put in it for a smaller caliber. The .25-20 WCF would be a dandy for boolits, and the .22 K Hornet or the .218 Bee for j-warts. The practice of putting liners for varmint calibers in tired 44 1/2 barrels was par for the course in the '30s and '40s, and even into the '50s, so you wouldn't be breaking with tradition. If you do this, bushing the firing pin is pretty much mandatory.

Another approach would be to have CPA make you a new barrel, in any caliber you like. Best choice IMHO would be a fresh barrel for a .30-30 based cartridge, from the .219 Zipper up to the .38-55. But a .357 Magnum could be interesting if you like pistol calibers, and the venerable .30-40 Krag is not out of the question.

BTW if you haven't noticed it yet, the 44 1/2 is designed as a takedown. Back out the screw on the underside of the action, open the breech so the extractor doesn't get trapped, and you can often unscrew the barrel by hand. The possibility of having multiple barrels springs to mind. A .219 for varmints, a .30-30 for hunting, and a .38-55 for black-powder target shooting. . . .

(Full disclosure - I've got four Model 44 1/2s, Hornet, 2R Lovell, .32-40, and a project.)

[wch]

If you are interested, go to (singleshotrifles.com) and see what chamberings they offer for their reproduction Stevens 441/2 actions.
These people are willing to offer advice as to the original actions, too.

[rhbrink]

I would definitly keep the original barrel as is they are very easy to change barrels on as noted above and look up singleshotrifles.com and them give them a call or email very nice people and very knowledgeable. I'll bet after you talk to them you will end up with several interesting choices. The original one is one of the finest in my opinion.

RB

[Nobade]

Yes, I second talking to Paul Shuttleworth and listen to what he tells you.

Learn how to use the rifle with its original chamberings and you will be far ahead of the game. If you want to shoot modern cartridges leave the Stevens to someone who can appreciate it and buy a Ruger #1.

-Nobade

[johnson1942]

nobade, your right about paul shuttleworth, i have one of his gain twist barrels on my cpa stevens 44 and 1/2 45/70. it is like a parabolic mirror in side the bore. it wil shoot holes in holes. good advice.

[bob208]

the many barrel gun is what i was thinking. reline the .38-55. then the 219 or even the .25-35 for varmites. cover deer with the .30-30.

[kend]

I ran a borescope through it and the bore is nothing but rust, no sign it was ever rifled! I'd like to retain the original appearance but still be able to shoot it.

[rhbrink]

Sounds like a reline job to me.

RB

[Nobade]

Or a rebore to something like 40-65 like originally suggested...

Brass is easily available from Starline, dies are plentiful, boolits everywhere, good simple choice.

-Nobade