Author Topic: Stevens 44 1/2 (Read 1925 times)

marlinman93 · « **on:** November 16, 2003, 08:03:46 AM »

Well my yearning for a 44 1/2 rifle has finally been fulfilled! Bought a Stevens original Walnut Hill Schuetzen rifle at the gun show Friday! It's in near perfect condition, with 30" heavy half octagon barrel, double set triggers, schuetzen stocks, and nickel swiss buttplate, Pope windage adjustable tang sight with adjustable aperture disc, globe front sight, and chambered for the .25-21 Stevens cartridge!
I just can't put it down for even a few minutes! It's such beautiful workmanship, and great lines! I think I've died and gone to heaven!

First Shirt · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2003, 10:40:07 AM »

Hey Marlinman, congrats on a great find! I've given up on finding an original, and when the fever gets too bad I'll scratch that itch with a CPA.

I just recently picked up an original 44 in 25 rimfire. The action is good, but the bore is lousy, so I'm going to build it into a Mod. 51 look-alike, and convert it to .22 rimfire.

Greg

marlinman93 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2003, 05:22:07 PM »

A wise choice First Shirt. The .25 Stevens is a wall hanger, and the .22 will bring it back to life! The model 51's were great lloking guns. Should be a neat gun when you're done.
I have a Stevens 44 schuetzen rifle that I built up using a Badger barrel, and Winchester Helm style buttstock and buttplate. Topped it with a 20x Litschert target scope, and it's a kick to shoot.
Good luck on your project!

FAsmus · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2003, 02:16:40 AM »

This is kind of an old thread but I just thought I'd see if there were any more 44 1/2 riflemen out there.

I bought a CPA Stevens about a year ago with two barrels. One in 44/63 Ballard and one in 22RF, made to match the 44 barrel's weight and balance.

I spent some time finishing the wood and then went to shooting the RF barrel first (it was winter) in the indoor 100-shot offhand Scheutzen Matches we have here in Paradise.

Since then a full season of long range has been fired with the 44/63 barrel, the rifle doing reasonably well in its first outing with a 5th at Broadus.

A question for anyone who may know: Is the CPA Stevens big enough to handle somethinglike the 50/70?

Good morning,
Forrest

KENTDEP · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2003, 02:58:21 PM »

I have a 44 1/2 that I bought at a local shop last year. It in .22lr. Its a great shooter. It has the swiss butt plate, globe front sight, tang sight and a 30 inch barrel. Really like this gun.

Jay

FAsmus · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2003, 01:23:12 AM »

Jay,

My rifle has the shotgun butt plate and the two barrels mentioned above.

Yesterday, in preparations for the 100-Shot Scheutzen Offhand the rifle really did ell in practice, shooting a 2374 for the 100 rounds.

Come on out for the first match in January!

Good morning,
Forrest

KENTDEP · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2003, 07:30:06 AM »

Where are you in Wyoming? I have hunted in the Cody area a couple of times. I have stopped into the Ballard factory out there too. Nice place. I like it there. I was talking with the wife about coming out there next summer. Maybe we will have to make an early trip too!

Cheers,

Jay

FAsmus · « **Reply #7 on:** December 15, 2003, 08:18:56 AM »

Jay,

J: Where are you in Wyoming?

F: I live in Sheridan.

J: I was talking with the wife about coming out there next summer. Maybe we will have to make an early trip too!

F: What an idea!

Here in Sheridan we have the 100 shot offhand over the winter, plenty of practice and three matches. It keeps us shooting when the weather is really too cold or stormy to do the long range stuff we like most of all.

Ourdoors the range has a 10 targets set up for long range Buffalo Rifle shooting. Distances from 395 yards on out to the full 1000.

This is where the 44/63 barrel of the Stevens comes into play.

Also, you may have heard about the Quigley match in June nearby in Montana. It is not the only one held out here during the spring and summer. If you have a suitable rifle, these are the most fun all.

Good afternoon,
Forrest

marlinman93 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2003, 06:00:30 PM »

Fasmus,
I'm not sure if the 44 1/2 can handle the .50-70? It has the same size barrel shank and threads as the Winchester Hi Wall, and the action should be strong enough, but I don't think Stevens ever chambered them for even the .45-70 originally.
De Haas says the action is capable of 50,000 cup, but he feels the barrel shank is too small for a .45-70 rim diameter. I find that strange, but I'd never argue with anything DeHaas wrote. He was the expert on singleshot rifles.
Vall

FAsmus · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2003, 03:21:30 AM »

Marlinman:

M: I'm not sure if the 44 1/2 can handle the .50-70?..

F: The same sequence went through my thoughts as the 50/90 was considered. I have deceided not to press the issue. CPA says they have never made up a barrel for their action for the big 50s. I'll go with them on this.

Good morning,
Forrest

marlinman93 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 16, 2003, 01:55:30 PM »

I'm a big fan of the 44 1/2 actions, but I like the 44 action also. I've heard great things about the CPA guns! How do you like your's after having it for awhile? Is it as accurate as I've heard? Whose barrels are they using on their guns, or do they do their own?
I waited so long to get my Stevens 44 1/2 schuetzen rifle, that I came very close to buying a CPA repro. I'm still interested, just because they seem like a lot of gun for the money.

FAsmus · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2003, 04:19:35 AM »

Marlinman93:

M: I'm a big fan of the 44 1/2 actions, but I like the 44 action also. I've heard great things about the CPA guns! How do you like your's after having it for awhile?

F: The more I shoot this rifle, the better Ilike it.

At long range, shooting powerful loads it just shoots and shoots, day in, day out.

At 50 feet doing the 100 Shot Offhand in 22RF I have been able to imporve my scores by 60 points, just because of the ease of shooting it.

M: Is it as accurate as I've heard?

F: Well, I don't know what you've heard, but this rifle is very accurate with both barrels. Very competitive!

M: Whose barrels are they using on their guns, or do they do their own?

F: They'll barrel up anybody's barrel, at your request. I use Montana Rifleman barrels. They favor the usual Badger, Green Mntn, Douglas and so forth, never having heard of Montana until I ordered one. My RF barrel is a Douglas air-gaged match, built to meet the same weight and balance as my 44 barrel.

M: I waited so long to get my Stevens 44 1/2 schuetzen rifle, that I came very close to buying a CPA repro. I'm still interested, just because they seem like a lot of gun for the money.

F: The semi-finished stocks they provide do need a fair amount of work before they're usable. Otherwise I have no complaints at all.

Good morning,
Forrest

marlinman93 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:40:50 PM »

Thanks Forrest! Seems like I'm encountering more and more shooters who prefer the Stevens action in either original or repro guns!