1915 Favorite - .25 Stevens, Shooting Again

[smellie]

Started reading this, heard a most piteous whining coming from the Sock Closet.

I am down to exactly THREE rounds and my Canuck has not been to the range for many years.

NOW it's just get another Bolt, crank up the itty-bitty lathe and get to work.

THANK YOU!

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Started reading this, heard a most piteous whining coming from the Sock Closet.

I am down to exactly THREE rounds and my Canuck has not been to the range for many years.

NOW it's just get another Bolt, crank up the itty-bitty lathe and get to work.

THANK YOU!

Happy to help, or at least to inspire

NCBB

 

[skwerl]

Skewrl, gorgeous rifle - may I ask who did your colour case hardening? Love to get a few done....

I can't say mine are entirely originally anymore since I've converted them to centerfire - I get a real kick out of shooting these tiny centerfires. "Every Shot is a Smile" (me, 2021 )

I have a good selection of Favorites this is the only ''non stock'' rebarreled .

I'll have to check
back it was a fellow in Sask. , he also turned down an Anschutz .22 barrel and refit it into
the Octagon shank.

 

[wr.sainsbury]

Have never tried this but a .27 cal Hilti cartridge is an exact fit for the base. Perhaps a .25 round ball and Hilti green might be fun?

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Have never tried this but a .27 cal Hilti cartridge is an exact fit for the base. Perhaps a .25 round ball and Hilti green might be fun?

Should work depending on your hammer spring - from my adventures in .32RF the .27s actually seem to have a fair amount of steel in 'em and I found a lot of multiple strikes was required. The RB might be a little small diameter but I'm sure it would knock a pop can over with authority.

When I first tried the CF conversion I loaded the cases with primers only and .25 cal pellets - let me tell you, those pellets were moving with only a primer.

 

[rwnblack]

Thanks, I casehardened and put a new barrel in that one. I have another Favourite with a nice 22 barrel that I am planning on casehardening sometime soon.

Skewrl, gorgeous rifle - may I ask who did your colour case hardening? Love to get a few done....

I can't say mine are entirely originally anymore since I've converted them to centerfire - I get a real kick out of shooting these tiny centerfires. "Every Shot is a Smile" (me, 2021 )

 

[A-zone]

How did you convert the hammer to centerfire? Can you post a picture of that?

 

[Snider shooter]

How did you convert the hammer to centerfire? Can you post a picture of that?

The hammer is not changed. The angle of the firing pin is changed in the breech block. Done properly the only thing you will see is a new hole in the front of the block.

 

[A-zone]

"Doing it properly" is the key, isn't it. I don't have a Stevens yet, but hope to find one. Sounds like an interesting challenge.

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

"Doing it properly" is the key, isn't it. I don't have a Stevens yet, but hope to find one. Sounds like an interesting challenge.

Yup. I made a jig to hold the breech block. Careful measuring is a must. Endmills are your friend, twist drills generally seem to flex or wander too much.

 

[A-zone]

Yup. I made a jig to hold the breech block. Careful measuring is a must. Endmills are your friend, twist drills generally seem to flex or wander too much.

Would you mind posting a picture of the breech face of the one you converted?

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Would you mind posting a picture of the breech face of the one you converted?

When I have a chance ya. Ended up having to work all long weekend.

 

[skwerl]

Thanks, I casehardened and put a new barrel in that one. I have another Favourite with a nice 22 barrel that I am planning on casehardening sometime soon.

Rex , that is the sweetest shooting Favorite that I have seen and/or shot.

Here is that 44 , what do you think ?

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Thanks, I casehardened and put a new barrel in that one. I have another Favourite with a nice 22 barrel that I am planning on casehardening sometime soon.

I've followed many of your other threads, that is some quality work you do sir.

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Would you mind posting a picture of the breech face of the one you converted?

Found a few from the conversion. Not sure if this is better cropped out into a separate thread(?), but at any rate this is the original breech face:

I drilled and tapped the original firing pin hole for (IIRC) a #4 or #6, it'll be immediately obvious though what size you'd need by measuring it; and then use red loctite to set it in place:

This is the jig I made to get the firing pin angle correct. I'm not entirely happy with it. But it's a start:

I apparently don't have a photo of milling that screw head off, but you gotta remove it cleanly and carefully. Then I turn a center punch that fits perfectly inside the chamber. After that you reinstall the filled & faced breechblock, insert that centerpunch and then use a brass (or taped steel) rod down the barrel give it a whack:

Looks like I used a twist drill to drill the freshly centerpunched firing pin hole/pilot hole. Also, In some cases (and I think this is one of them) I bushed the entire firing pin channel (using a cross pin to ensure strength) and then re-drilled it, using a pilot bit and then an end mill from the back to clean it up.

There's the finished breech face:

Hope that helps!

Edit: Found a picture of the offset firing pin I still had to make for this (it's been a while but I vaguely recall that the angle hadn't been perfect, so you gotta improvise):

 

[A-zone]

Thanks!

 

[skwerl]

Hey NorthCoast , it certainly xlnt to see some one like you
whom appreciates the vintage Stevens & doing the machining to
keep them in circulation , we have a few Stevens fans here.

rwnblack does some fantastic case colouring and he knows
the Favorites inside and out.... skwerl

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Hey NorthCoast , it certainly xlnt to see some one like you
whom appreciates the vintage Stevens & doing the machining to
keep them in circulation , we have a few Stevens fans here.

rwnblack does some fantastic case colouring and he knows
the Favorites inside and out.... skwerl

Yes indeed I replied above; I always read his build threads with great interest and admiration One skilled feller there.

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

I had the .25 through a chronograph today, very interesting.

Accuracy was by far the best with around 2.0 grains of Bullseye and that load didn't give any signs of stress; but to my surprise the velocity was a stunning 1172 fps on the high end with a 65 grain bullet. That's pushing (likely exceeding) the limits of backthrust on the Stevens Favorite action. 1.7 grains (so far) showed the most consistency but was still hovering around 1,000 fps. Below that, accuracy was falling off - and the chrono showed the greatest spread (so far). I didn't chrono Trail Boss loads but the accuracy in those loads hadn't been great in early trials, however I like it for this application and I'm sure the velocity would be a lot lower just from previous experience. I'll probably stick with Bullseye but maybe try some light paper filler on a lighter load to help improve consistency (it's a long thin case) - it's only a theory but I suspect the powder position is playing a role.

I also chronied my .32 Long Colt Favorite - that one was a nice consistent low 800's with a heeled bullet from Jethunter (90 gr I think). That was 2.0 grains of Trail Boss (Long Colt), although my favorite powder for this one is also Bullseye. That cartridge as well enjoys the best accuracy with Bullseye but hey....

 

[rwnblack]

Thanks,

I casehardened that rifle. They are fun to work on so I have done a few.

Rex

Skewrl, gorgeous rifle - may I ask who did your colour case hardening? Love to get a few done....

I can't say mine are entirely originally anymore since I've converted them to centerfire - I get a real kick out of shooting these tiny centerfires. "Every Shot is a Smile" (me, 2021 )