Wildcat barrel on Stevens Favorite???

R

RWGordner

Inactive
Hi: My wife inherited a Stevens Favorite and after watching eBay for 1 1/2 years I finally found a replacement hammer (original was broken). I installed the hammer and was going to fire a round and droped a 22 long rifle shell into it and the shell dropped out of sight. I dumped the shell out and rechecked the barrel and it is clearly marked 22 Long Rifle. Is it possible that this came from the factory in a 25 or 32 caliber barrel incorrectly stamped or is it more likely that it was bored oversize later and not stamped to show the wildcat caliber? Barrel is also marked "J. Stevens A & T CO Chicopee Falls MASS U.S.A. PAT APR 17, 94. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Last edited:
chamber cast it

I would advise you to do a chamber cast using cerosafe or sulphur and then measure it. Sounds like whoever modified the rifle forgot to mark the barrel with the correct chambering. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, take to your local smith and let him do it for you. It shouldn't cost very much and then you will be able to get the right ammo for it or have the barrel relined to 22LR if that is what you want to do as well.
 
Welcom to the forum

Didn't even notice from the post you made that you were new to the forum. Welcome and let us know what you come up with when you get it figured out.
 
Find out where the firing pin in that rifle's breechblock is located. These were sold with .25 rimfire and I think even .32 rimfire barrels, with the firing pin suitably offset away from center to contact the larger rims. If you have a .25, the pin may or may not make proper contact a .22 round. A 32 breechblock would not contact a .22 at all. A safe way to check will be to place a tight-fitting plug of hard wood in the chamber, flush with the end, then drop the hammer once or twice. Remove the barrel with the plug still in place, and you will be able to see the mark made by the pin, and to measure the offset from center. The center of the pin should be around .120 to .125 inches from bore centerline. I have altered a couple of Model 44 rimfire breechblocks to change the pin, but for a Favorite the easy way out, if you don't have a .22 breechblock, will simply be to buy one. They come up all the time in eBay. Good Luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top