Stevens 44 in 22lr.

[dwh]

I recently acquired a 44 in 22lr. It seems the stock as been refinish but has the original h sight set. Which is a Lyman combination front and a Lyman #1 tang sight. As you can see from the target it has the potential to shoot great. I seem to gathering quite a few single shot 22's.

 

[50 target]

Dwh, nice looking smoke pole. I have three Stevens 44 models, a 22lr, 25-20ss and a 38-55. For the basic model version of that model they are exceptional guns in my opinion. I have never handled one that did not have a very good trigger. My 22lr and 25-20ss are set up with the same sight combo that you have. I believe the front is called a Lyman 5A. DO NOT shoot high velocity in it. You could Crack the block and it will most definitely stress the pins and shoot "loose" in short order causing lever droop. 22"s are finicky on ammo and J have some amazing 50 yd groups with RWS RIFLE TARGET & ELEY. I mounted a 6x Lyman Targetspot scope as my 78 yr old eyes have never been great. Try different brands to see what it likes. I was unhappy with my 22 bore and had the Seller adjust the cost but could never get happy with it. I had John Taylor put a liner in it and all is good. It is one of my favorites. Enjoy.

 

[jimmyj]

Memory Flash:
In the 1960s I traded into a Hopkins and Allen drop block .22 RF. It was one of the most accurate .22 Rifles I ever own.

 

[dwh]

I would love to find a centerfire block and a 25-20ss or 32-20 barrel. I know that you can get barrels from CPA. At 7.5lb is definitely not your average squirrel rifle. It is a pleasure to shoot, sights barely move on the target.

My shooting buddy and hold an informal 22lr charcoal briquette shoot at 50-100 yards. Once I find the right ammo this maybe my go to iron sight gun.

 

[H Richard]

On those vintage guns, take a close look at the end of the barrel, "rifling". Those I have seen, seem to always have always been cleaned from the muzzle, which can detract from accuracy. Having the muzzle cleaned up with a reamer for that purpose can really help the accuracy.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

My 44 in 32-20 is a delight to shoot. Barrel is original and shows some wear but it can still do sub moa at 100 yards with my reloads using 115 gr home cast bullets.
I did own two 44s in 22 long rifle. Bought one of them simply for the sights. The other was a 414 Armory model with beautiful case hard receiver but a barrel that was tapped multiple times for scope mounts. Bouth shot ok but I sold them off to finance other projects.
Stevens made wonderfully accurate barrels and were relatively inexpensive rifles in their time.
They did chamber 44s in 32-40 and 38-55 but dropped both because the action was not strong enough to hold up to prolonged use with either cartridge.

John

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I love single shot rifles. I have various bolt guns, Martini's, Champlain, Rolling Blocks, Sharp's, and 1885's. I was looking at a good Stevens 44 in 22LR about 2 weeks ago, but price exceeded condition!

Years ago, a friend had a tip-up Stevens in 25-20 SS. I didn't know how to make ammo for it, or I would have it now.

Ivan

 

[2152hq]

Beautiful rifle.
Love the Stevens single shots (and many of their other early products as well)

Looks like the Lyman #5 combination front sight on it.

The Breech combination front sight is basicly the same sight but the Breech uses a solid pin as an axel for the combination sight blade to pivot on.
The Lyman product used a small V-tipped screw at each outboard end of the assembly as a pivot point.

The Beech was made first and patented in the 1860's.
When the pat. ran out in the 1890's, Lyman began making the sight. The small change(s) for production were made and Lyman called it the Lyman #5 sight.


I have a Stevens Model 45,,,it's the Model 44 upgraded a bit.
It was made with Double Set Triggers and a Small Swiss style ButtPlate.

.22LR, 1/2oct bbl. A 'Stevens' 6x (?) scope in Stevens mts on it.
Straight stock of plain AmWalnut.

The bore was so-so. It shot as such.
I kept it for a while, shot it once in a while.
Eventually took the vintage scope apart to get at a dent in the tube and re-rust blue the tube.
Then at a gunshow I ran accross a table full of reloading supplys. A sell off of someones estate it looked like.
I picked through a lot of stuff and bought a lot.

One thing I did find was a large box of Stevens 28-30-120 reloading supplies.
No one showed any interest, not even any knowledge in what the things were.
Dies (RCBS w/SH), brass (new and orig Rem), bullets(cast),
$100 bought it all.

My Stevens Mod 45 went in for a conversion the 28-30-120.
John Taylor did the work needed. Not many would have the correct chambering reamer around.

That's done, I'm now in the process of converting the orig straight grip DST to the Stevens scheutzen style pistol grip and restocking with a piece of English walnut.
The Forend is done!
The final look will be much like a Stevens Model 49.
(Yea, I should have just bought a Model 49, but projects are to my liking)

About as odd a cartridge as I could fall into I guess.