25 Stevens?

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Odinson

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Hi Folks, I'm looking for some info on converting a 25 Stevens to a centerfire using 22 Hornet cases that have been appropriately shortened. The big question is hom much clearance should I allow for the brass.
From my research I found the 22 Hornet has a case diameter of 0.298 and a rim diameter of 0.350. How much "extra" should I add to ensure adequate clearance when I ream the chamber of the 25.
The gun is a Stevens Mk 12 Tip up.

Thanks!
 
Nice little rifle, and will take a lot more abuse , then the favourites....I have one in 22 Khornet , custom made, by someone that did a great job! I reload DOWN for it , I don’t shoot full factory loads. I also have another Marksman in 25 cal, and was thinking of the conversion, but I have one in 32 colt and the 22 Khornet....so maybe one of these day, but will like to see other comments!
Cheers
B
 
My plan was to make the case the same length as the original 25 rim case and either cast or find a bullet that will work. A 25 ACP should be fairly close in diameter I would guess. I would work up a gentle load, just enough to get to the paper at 25 yards or so. I need to up size the chamber by 0.022" and the rim recess by 0.017" ..... The 22 Hornet case will be shortened to 1.125" then the next problem would be to reposition the firing pin but I don't see that as too much of a problem.
If I can figure out clearances, I'm going to get a machine shop to make a reamer for me.
I've got a plan in mind to make a fixture for using a drill press to shorten the brass.
 
I "lucked into" this one at a gun shop. They had it on consignment and I was the first one to make an offer. It is as close to pristine as an almost 100 year old gun could be. It has some neat carvings on the stock, they look 'raised' as if they were there before the stock was completed.
 

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the bullets are just Bullet Barn 85 gr for 25-20.
the bore on my 1885 is a bit eroded and the 251 bullets patterned and the 258 I can get a decent group and have used it for grouse and bunnies and can do head shots successful at up to 75 yards
 
pmatuk said:
the bullets are just Bullet Barn 85 gr for 25-20.
the bore on my 1885 is a bit eroded and the 251 bullets patterned and the 258 I can get a decent group and have used it for grouse and bunnies and can do head shots successful at up to 75 yards
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Thank you for your reply! I was looking to cast some , but if the price is right ,.....problem is.....you never know.. when they will be gone/ not available, anymore.
Cheers
B
 
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quinnbrian said:
Thank you for your reply! I was looking to cast some , but if the price is right ,.....problem is.....you never know.. when they will be gone/ not available, anymore.
Cheers
B
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Go dig around castboolits site and see if there is a suitable mold out there still in production. For the most part, if Lyman is not still making one, and Lee is not either, like as not an outfit like NOE will be, or you can research the correct mold pattern and keep an eye out for one coming up for sale.

Look at the 25 cal offerings from Arsenal Molds. Looks like they reproduce some of the out of production stuff that Lyman no longer does, including the .25's. No experience with them, just seeing their site now that I went looking...
 
trevj said:
Go dig around castboolits site and see if there is a suitable mold out there still in production. For the most part, if Lyman is not still making one, and Lee is not either, like as not an outfit like NOE will be, or you can research the correct mold pattern and keep an eye out for one coming up for sale.

Look at the 25 cal offerings from Arsenal Molds. Looks like they reproduce some of the out of production stuff that Lyman no longer does, including the .25's. No experience with them, just seeing their site now that I went looking...
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I thought there was a Canadian mold maker....just heard about him the other day, I think on castboolits site, someone out west...I think. I did pick an old 32 caliber mold the other day , will have to drop a couple to measure, was thinking they would work for my 32 colt centerfire and my 32 rimfire reload.
Cheers
B
 
quinnbrian said:
I thought there was a Canadian mold maker....just heard about him the other day, I think on castboolits site, someone out west...I think. I did pick an old 32 caliber mold the other day , will have to drop a couple to measure, was thinking they would work for my 32 colt centerfire and my 32 rimfire reload.
Cheers
B
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Maybe Red River Rick, in Winnipeg? I had thought he had retired. Dunno though.

Pretty close to being "out east" from here! LOL! Perspective, eh? Us guys that grew up in BC mostly think the East Coast starts about where the highway over the Rockies starts going downhill again! :)

There have been any number of .25 cal pistol bullet molds for the various quarter bore cartridges out there. It doesn't hurt to familiarize yourself with them and their numbering systems, so as to have a better chance of getting what you need, if it gets trolled under your nose at a show or in an advert! But you pretty much have to deal with only a few different outfits these days, if you want new made stuff.
 
pmatuk said:
View attachment 523728
have one that is 25 Stevens long
only gun work required is to alter firing pin to CF or find a CF block .The chamber is not altered the 22 hornet case is what is reformed to fit the existing chamber

here is another thread on the topic
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2080118-Convert-Stevens-25-rf-to-25-20
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I just pulled out my Stevens marksman in 25 caliber, was going to cut down some 22 hornet brass and reload for centerfire.... there is one problem.... chamber is toooo small, brass won’t even start down the chamber. Maybe the ones that will fit, have been shot a lot? Anyways, looks like I’ll need a chamber reamer, and have to mod it ( cut the end off ) or maybe just put it in the lathe and do the chamber by hand( no reamer) has anyone else had this problem? Brass is new ammo( factory loaded) I also tried some resized reloads of mine 22 Khornet, but shouldn’t matter, other then the length ....
 
here is a pic of the dies used to form the 22 hornet brass to the diameter of the 25 Stevens .The 22 hornet brass will not fit the chamber and has to be reformed to 25 Stevens spec .
here is the 22H brass beside the reformed and actual 25 Stevens cartridge (part # on the die box )

AF411AB8-05AA-4EB4-9531-35654C511041.jpg
 

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pmatuk said:
here is a pic of the dies used to form the 22 hornet brass to the diameter of the 25 Stevens .The 22 hornet brass will not fit the chamber and has to be reformed to 25 Stevens spec .
here is the 22H brass beside the reformed and actual 25 Stevens cartridge (part # on the die box )

View attachment 527297
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Thanks you sir! I guess it not a “drop in” like it’s was let in to be....oh well here we go...lol
 
quinnbrian said:
Thanks you sir! I guess it not a “drop in” like it’s was let in to be....oh well here we go...lol
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No, not even close to 'drop in'!

You need to do more homework, if this is a surprise, the process has been covered in several threads with good pictures.

The dies squish the case down, but leave a pronounced hump around the rim, that must be turned off in a lathe.

There have been several Velo Dog cartridges that were done in the same fashion, from Hornet cases, as well as, IIRC, a CF version of the 5mm Remington Magnum.
 
trevj said:
No, not even close to 'drop in'!

You need to do more homework, if this is a surprise, the process has been covered in several threads with good pictures.

The dies squish the case down, but leave a pronounced hump around the rim, that must be turned off in a lathe.

There have been several Velo Dog cartridges that were done in the same fashion, from Hornet cases, as well as, IIRC, a CF version of the 5mm Remington Magnum.
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I did do my “home work” but then I got on here and a well as you have seen on page one. But anyways, I’ll stick with the original plan. Recut the chamber, set the barrel back , so I can reface the barrel to receiver. The brass is going to stay the same as it came, only a little shorter and opened up. Make a new lower fore grip wood, and that is about it. I already have a receiver in centerfire, that someone did a knock out job on!
This will be the three barrel for this receiver, 22 k hornet ( I got it this way) 32 colt, I had to clean up the chamber and face the barrel to receiver ( just to clean it up) and now the 25 cal, made out of 22 hornet brass, just cut down to standard 25 Stevens long.
Why would I do some much work, just to make a 25 cal centerfire? Because it’s reloadable and won’t eat up brass! And just because!!!

Thanks for all the positive input!
But anyways just my two cents... no I’m not a gunsmith....but I’ve been there and done that on a couple of things.�� I’m not a butcher... “if it ain’t right, it doesn’t fly” and scrap it will be.
Cheers
Brian
I did think about buying a 44 or 44 1/2 Steven but the price !!! , and I walk with this little rifle a lot and you hardy know your carrying it!
 
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