Stevens 87A

Grouse Man

Grouse Man

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Winnipeg
I picked up one of these rifles a little while ago and have been very impressed with the design. The action is surprisingly simple, and is a nice full sized rifle. 23" barrel and usual iron sights only (not grooved for scope) as I believe this one was manufactured in 1950 based on barrel codes. I'd always heard of them called 'click-clack' guns, or gill guns, and hadn't really paid much attention to them. But they're nice, solid rifles - walnut and steel. No plastic anywhere in this one. It is interesting how the bolt stays open until you release the trigger.

I may have to take a trip out west to the family farm to visit the gopher population.
 
I've had them over the years. You're 100% correct: very solid rifles, not carbines or kid's toys. They're not too bad to clean, once you've taken them down once or twice. Mine were always extremely accurate. No idea why they never caught on as collectible, except I guess the public's general apathy towards Savage/Stevens products in general.
 
I have a Winchester 77 tube semi, and it is a mother to clean. Great rifle, just over-engineered. But this Stevens shows why simpler is better.
 
With the new inner tube, it kept sliding out when unloaded. At first I thought it was because I maybe measured wrong and there was no spring pressure from the magazine follower putting tension on it, to hold it in. Nope. The way the tube is supposed to be held is from tension at the opening of the outer magazine tube. That little J-shaped cut-out was slightly bent outwards so no pressure on the tube. I just gently pushed it in to provide a little pressure on the tube when inserted, and voila! She stays in nice and snug.
 
Grouse Man said:
With the new inner tube, it kept sliding out when unloaded. At first I thought it was because I maybe measured wrong and there was no spring pressure from the magazine follower putting tension on it, to hold it in. Nope. The way the tube is supposed to be held is from tension at the opening of the outer magazine tube. That little J-shaped cut-out was slightly bent outwards so no pressure on the tube. I just gently pushed it in to provide a little pressure on the tube when inserted, and voila! She stays in nice and snug.
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You're on your way to becoming a gun-crank!
 
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