just bought a Stevens 87B

[kevin.303]

i got a thing for old guns and i went to SIR this morning to buy a Cooey 60 with scope off of the used rack. beside it was a Stevens 87B in mint condition, same price and it's semi auto so i choose it over the Cooey. can anyone tell me a little bit about them? what is their mag capacity? do they have any quirks i should know about?

[jh45gun]

To be honest with you see if you can take it back! I just dumped one at a gun show that I had bought. They have a reputation of going full auto and or being a jamomatic. My gun did both it would jam on just about every other shot or go full auto and then jam like after 3 shots full auto. Or the gun would fire one then you would have to take the next round out as it would not move the bolt evidenty enough to cock the action just enough to chamber the round. I hate to bust your bubble and your gun may work fine but they do have these problems and my gunsmith told me he would have advised me not to buy it for them reasons. A gunsmith guide by JB Woods I found out after I bought the gun advises the gun has the same problems due to the complicated spring system. The springs get weak and then make the whole action go out of wack. Replaceing the springs is not really a option because due to the age of the gun if you could get them they would be used too. I know some folks have them and they still work but it would not be a gun I would be comfortable with. The one I had was not that accurate of a shooter either. Sorry for the horror report.  :oops: Jim

[kevin.303]

we'll see. this rifle looks brand new. not a scar or a ding on it, 100% bluing, no rust, the bolt is nice and shiny. i asked around on other sites and yours was the first negative feedback i got. i keep my guns fairly clean so it may not be a problem. only time will tell.

[jh45gun]

I hope so for your sake Kevin and if it is that clean looking maybe it was not used at all that much and it may be ok for you. I am being honest on the assessment of my gunsmith who is a dang good one and of the book from JB Woods. The book is called "Trouble Shooting your rifle and Shotgun" and the introduction says 1978. Let me quote a couple of passages for you if my scanner was working I would email you the whole article but it is shot and I have not replaced it. {"When all the attendant springs have proper tension, and the disconector and its step on the bolt is sharp the system works perfectly. the balance of spring tension though , is critical, and any variation of the spring and the strength of the bolt, striker, or disconector springs can cause several problems, not the least of which is full automatic fireing. There is no simple cure for this. Straightening out this rather weird system is a job for a competent gun smith. A weak lifter spring can cause a spectacular jam. That cartridge lifter is a other  frequent source of difficulty. if the lobes are worn on this it needs replacing. } there were several other difficulties mentioned but you get the picture. The last lines of the article kinda says it all about these guns. ["For reasons that will be obvious, most gunsmiths are thoroughy familular with this rifle"]  My gunsmith will not even work on them he considers them a waste of his time to try to fix them. Now if you look up this book the article was written on the Stevens Model 87-A all it is, is a variation of the same gun they were made under the Stevens name the Springfield name also the 187  and under Savage also though Savage had different number designations one was the Model 6A. They are for all intents and purposes the same gun. Now I cannot say your gun will have all these problems and heck it might last you for years. I am cautioning you though that is is a complicated system prone to problems. I hated to even bring it up but considering I had a bad one and my gunsmith said he will not work on them and told me if he knew I was going to buy it he would have told me not to and from what the book says I feel in good conscience I had to let you know it could be problematic. If you keep it I hope it works out for you. Not all of them I am sure have developed these problems I suppose depending on use but it seems from what I have heard these problems can develope.  If you keep it I hope it works out for you. Jim

[kevin.303]

i called up the guy at SIR who is in charge of consignment guns, he knows me quite well and is honest with me and said it was part of a collection. the guns they bought off of the collectors widow where all like new or unfired examples. mine has never been fired. it is basicly brand new, although it is probably at least 30 years old. it says your only supposed to use LR for automatic, but you said you used shorts as well. did that cause any problems? even as a straight pull bolt action it' still more useful then the worn out single shot it replaced. i probably won't get a chance to test it before Sunday, i should know more by then. it would be a shame if is as bad as you say, it's a neat little rifle and i still can't believe i only payed $100 for the condition it's in.

[jh45gun]

Well all I can say if it is in new condition it should give you no problems. Congrats for finding one in this condition as most have been well used. So go ahead and enjoy it. It should last for a while before or if any problems begin if they do at all. Used ones sell for 80 to 90 bucks U.S. from what I have seen at my local gun shop. This gun had several different variations some had slots cut on the opposite side of the reciever some did not. Some had 2 holes cut one to hold the bolt back in place ( the rear one) and the front locked the bolt so you could shoot shorts. Mine did not it was made to shoot LR long and Hi Speed shorts. For the money I had into it if it would have had the bolt lock I would have maybe kept it and used it as a single shot repeater and a cheap truck gun. It did not and with the full auto fire problems I did not want some one to report me with a full auto gun even though it did not do it all the time. Enjoy as it is new unfired shape it should work ok for you. As far as I know they have no collector value to speak of so you might as well use it and enjoy it. Jim

[kevin.303]

mine has the 2 holes and the slottedd reciever. what is the purpose of these slots?

[Charles/NM]

I have a Savage 6A that is the same rifle.  Mine is accurate enough that I have shot it in small bore iron sight silhouette matches.  Functions perfect. I have the book referred to in the above post.  The most serious wear point in this rifle is the cartridge lifter.  If you keep the bottom of the bolt well lubed with a good gun grease it will not be a problem.  My 6A is one 22 rifle that I will never part with.  I have seen and worked on a lot of Stevens 87 rifles for a local gun shop.  The most common problem I've seen is the action and firing pin gummed up with old poor quality gun oil and a few broken firing pins and cartridge guides spread too open that caused the firing pin problem. I have NEVER seen one go full auto.  It's highly unlikely that will happen because there is a second sear that catches the bolt during it's cycle that holds it until you release pressure on the trigger.  Firing 22 shorts must be done with the locked bolt function which is when you push the bolt handle in when the bolt is closed causing it to be used kinda like a straight pull bolt action rifle.  My 6A is one 22 rifle that I will never part with.  I love it.  congtatulations on finding one in that condition.  Mine is in NRA Excellent condition.

[Doc TH]

On Rimfirecentral there are a lot of folks who have written about how pleased they are with their model 87s.  So, I don't think that all or most are problems.  My wife's uncle had one many years ago, and I loved shooting it.  Never a malfunction with his.  So if you like it and the price is right, go for it!

[kevin.303]

even though i have neither scanner or digital camera i will try and post some pics. i sit here and hold it, just looking at it. i still can't believe the condition for the price. i'll give it a try on pop cans this sunday, and hopefully rabbits soon.

[jh45gun]

well just for the record guys I had one that would go full auto. I also have the book and my gunsmiths word that they can do that so I am not spreading bunk it can happen. I suppose it all depends on how much and how hard the gun was used. Since mine did that when I bought it used it was not my doing. Jim

[Sarge]

I've owned several 87A/6A rifles and most were reliable and very accurate. 2 of those many were not. One had feeding problems and the other would go full auto for 2 or 3 rounds. I would not hesitate to buy one in good condition, but jh45gun is right about the possiblilty of a bad one going full auto on you.

[shootrj2003]

Don't be to quick to dump that rifle,I 've  just bought one myself and it works like a charm,I've researched them on a few forums ,and ,while there are people who have had troubles ,there are many others who love 'em[including me]I've been waiting for a long time to find one and paid $100.00 for mine .It's pretty nice and at least 59 years old.200 rds. and no malfunctions the 1st day I had her!Remember,any semi-auto has the abilty to go auto from dirt,wear or any neglect and parts are available from many sources, fix it if it breaks,fix it right, with the right parts, and she'll rock and roll just like any other machine,maybe I'm more patient than gunsmiths but I fix guns that others have told me would n't ever work right .I think some Gunsmiths get hung on whats new and still in production ,because, parts are easily available and this makes the work quick,easy and more economical for them ,thus more money in thier pockets .You can't blame them, its  a business ,but guys like me ,do it for the fun, to keep and old firearm going . I can't tell you how many guns in my closet I got for next to nothing because they "don't work" -they do now,and safely, and, they look new when I'm done.Many times  I've offered to fix them for people and been told "NO,I just don't trust it"!So it goes home and a little solvent,oil, laquer,stain and sometimes parts and I've got a new gun!Most are guns that I did know anything about  before,so... I get an education too!Don't get me wrong either,there are times when I had a pile of parts and springs that I was not sure I could get together again- an old shotgun sits downstairs which is the only one I haven't got back together ,but ,I will !Don't worry it's a good .22.Shootrj2003

[kevin.303]

2 years later, she's seen some pretty hard use and is pretty beat up, but still shoots great.