Kind of a bummer with the 44 1/2 today...

[selmerfan]

A little background: I inherited my great-grandfather's Stevens 44 1/2, chambered in .22 LR, complete with Pope Scheutzen sight and J. Stevens external adjustment 6x target scope. Gun functions great, is the best trigger and most accurate firearm I own, and I own some dandies. Last year I decided to have CPA Rifles make me a .30-40 Krag barrel for it. It has been an absolute joy to shoot with cast boolits, and that's all I have shot in it thus far, and all I may ever shoot in it. I can get the 311299 to 2000 fps with Varget and shoot 1 1/2" groups at 200 yds with the Scheutzen rear and Lyman 17a front globe. When doing load development I mounted a modern scope on it with a Weaver base modified by CPA to fit their barrel and the 44 1/2 frame. I took it off after load development and have been shooting paper and steel with the Scheutzen sight. This morning I decided that I should try the J. Stevens scope on the Krag barrel - I had CPA make scope blocks so I could mount it on the barrel. I had it sighted in within two shots from the bench. But unfortunately, I noticed that the front "ring" on the Stevens scope had slipped its stop on the scope tube - so the tube was moving forward (or rather staying in place) upon recoil. There isn't much purchase there for the stop screw and no damage is done, so I guess I'll limit the original scope to the .22 LR barrel. Kind of a bummer, as the optics are actually reasonably decent for a 100 year old scope - I could see my .30 cal holes on white paper at 100 yds. Anyway, back to the modern scope base and modern scope for optics-aided shooting - I already had a Nikon mounted in QR Warne rings, so I'll have no trouble shooting scoped or Scheutzen sights at the range.
I put together a bunch of different load combos with powder I have on hand in abundance, as my favorite, 2400, is difficult to get a hold of right now - I'm down to about a pound and a half, but I've got Reloder 7, 4227, 1680, Blue Dot, Accurate #9, and Unique - all of which should yield decent results, and when I decide to go hunting, I've got a load with Varget that should produce great terminal results.

[uscra112]

I'm not detail familiar with the Stevens scope, but if it's an external adjust type like my Feckers, Lymans and Litscherts, (and I think it is), it's supposed to do that. Some have a spring to return the scope to battery, but with all of mine you have to pull it back to the stop after each shot anyway. Even the ones on .22s.

#9 is an excellent substitute for 2400. So much so that I don't use 2400 at all any more.

[selmerfan]

Really?!? I wondered because the stop is under a little piece of what appears to be spring steel. And it would explain the wear marks in the tube as well. I suppose it's one way to protect the scope from recoil. I got to thinking - that scope should be able to hold up to 38-55 and .32-40 recoil, and my mild cast .30-40 Krag loads shouldn't beat it up. I'll get a picture of it up for you and see what you think. It makes sense, because in looking at it, if it held the tube in place it would simply wear the hole in the tube into an egg shape and let loose anyway. My definitely doesn't have a spring return though. You may have just made my day!

[selmerfan]

And I didn't get to the #9 loads today, but Unique and Reloder 7 sure shoot just as well!

[selmerfan]

Here are a few pics. Now that I look closer, I think it's designed to do exactly what it is doing. One question - is there a rubber eye cup that I should have on the ocular end?
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu58/selmerfan/IMG_05621_zps61fa4df0.jpg (http://s633.photobucket.com/user/selmerfan/media/IMG_05621_zps61fa4df0.jpg.html)

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu58/selmerfan/IMG_05631_zps0f51de7c.jpg (http://s633.photobucket.com/user/selmerfan/media/IMG_05631_zps0f51de7c.jpg.html)

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu58/selmerfan/IMG_05641_zpsafce99bc.jpg (http://s633.photobucket.com/user/selmerfan/media/IMG_05641_zpsafce99bc.jpg.html)

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu58/selmerfan/IMG_05651_zps4a903b96.jpg (http://s633.photobucket.com/user/selmerfan/media/IMG_05651_zps4a903b96.jpg.html)

[uscra112]

I don't think Stevens ever had an eyecup as standard, but they were a very common aftermarket item for the Lymans and Unertls and Litscherts that came later. You can still buy them on evilBay from time to time. Some fella had a cottage industry moulding setup and made them, and also some small parts for motorcycles. They do help a lot, 'cause those old optics were not coated, so they are often pretty dim.

Damn I'm jealous! I would love to have a genuine Stevens for an 1894 New Ideal I've acquired. I believe it may have worn one in the past, judging by where the holes for scope blocks are.

BTW you have the higher grade Stevens mounts. The lower grade slotted into ordinary dovetails on the barrel.

Thinking about it, I'd probably forego using that scope with the .30-40 barrel. They were designed when recoil was less. That one looks so nice that it would be a shame to hurt it in any way.

[selmerfan]

Yeah, the more I learn about this rifle the more fortunate I feel. :) As the scope sits, I can easily pick out the .30 caliber holes on white paper at 100 yds, and I've taken more than a couple of squirrels with it mounted on the .22 LR barrel - it's not modern bright, but for it's 100 year old age - darned good! It mounts on Unertl blocks - at least that's what the Shuttleworths told me. They also made a set for the .30-40 barrel so I could use the scope on both barrels.

[uscra112]

Yes, you are exceptionally lucky to have such a good specimen, and to know the provenance going back to new.

Those blocks you bought may come from Steve Earle. He has a little home machine shop to die for - (A Haas CNC machining center!!!) and makes all manner of scope blocks and stuff. Everyone used 3/8 blocks, the differences seem to be only in the detent for the clamp screw.

[slumlord44]

Nice setup. The old external adjustment scopes were designed to slide. I have Stevens and Lyman both and that is the way they work. The optics are not all that bad on the old scopes unless you try to use them in extremely low light level conditions.

[wch]

I think you can find an eyecup for your scope at this forum: www.assra.com/