Stevens Single Shot .25 RF
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Here's a unique rifle for you -- the Stevens Single Shot .25 Rimfire! I have two examples of this rifle in .25 rimfire today. This is a very interesting rifle especially in how the action works. Join me for a good look at these collector pieces. After the video don't forget to check out the following links for more USOG content, and to support this channel. Thanks for watching! / usog
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I’m amazed how some of these have accrued in value. I also thank you for emphasizing these classic firearms.
This new generation needs to realize there’s beautiful firearms & not just fast food guns of plastic & stamped scrap!
Hi Dane - I'm with you. Now these new guns are showing up with cracked trigger guards - and whatever polymer they use is like nylon or something - epoxy doesn't stick - actually nothing sticks, and other cracks and twists. They are hard to scratch though - but once scratched there is nothing but sanding and black paint - I've seen a few of those; they look bad. Some people go for powder coating and other coatings - seems to be a circus to me. They look best when they are new in the box, which is where they should stay - on the store shelf. IMHO : )
Thanks Uncle Remus - for sure these guns last. Ages old and they still shoot, work and are accurate. Quality means something.
I have several of these old guns. A handful of original ammunition as well. I'm only mid 30s. You older folks need to learn weapons systems have improved. While there is a place for these old beauty's, in common use is not it.
To learn the history it's amazing but the conversation it's the best ,I always enjoy the time I spent in this channel 100% .
Thanks Ted!
My dad grew up on a farm south of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Grandpa had two side by side double 12 gauges exposed hammer guns, a Stevens .22 of the Favorite type, and a Stevens .32 rimfire of the same type. We always called them "falling blocks". Dad said that the .32 had become quite worn to the point where they mostly shot crimped birdshot in it. Ammo got hard to find in the 1950's, but dad said whenever anyone from the community visited Canada, Grandpa had a standing order for some .32 rimfire shotshells, which were apparently still available there. Dad shot a lot of rabbits, squirrels, rats and crows with that .32, but the breechblock was so worn it gave him a powder burn every time he pulled the trigger, thus he developed a flinch.
Beautiful, elegant little rifles. Their simplicity speaks volumes about their inventor. I once learned that the fewer moving parts needed to accomplish the purpose of the item, be it a tool or a firearm (or whatever) the better the reliability and ease of maintenance. In my mind simplicity = sophistication.
Perfect truth. Simplicity in all things IMHO
I wish Savage would reissue these in an appropriate chambering... 22Hornet or something like that.
Stevens made these in 22lr until a few years ago and then dropped them from production. I've seen the recently produced models at local gun shows and they're fetching some higher prices than you'd think they would.
Single shot rifles are for people who've put in their range time, for sure. Great video!
@Canadian Metis Man Yeah, but a 22 Hornet would be cool though.
My son has a newer model Crackshot which he got new about 35 years ago. It shot incredibly bad. I took it in and the gunsmith said that the muzzle was cut at an angle. It was so bad that you could see it easily. I wonder if that's why they disappeared. Got the thing recut and crowned and it shot great.
I have a 1915 j t Stevens favorite 22
My grandfather bought new to teach my father. Now at 71 my son and granddaughter are using it. Accurate at over 100 yards
Hi Mark - Not many things last like that; actually I can't think of any. Great rifle!
This host needs to be the new chairman of the NRA. His gentle persona would serve our community well.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
The way Mike shoulders a rifle and looks down the sights makes me happy. You can just tell he is a true riflelman, and a supurb shot, just by watching him do that. A man who loves his job! A true professional!
Wow ! They are works of art to me . Thank you so much for sharing . i love the old firearms like this.
I have a Savage 30G Stevens Favorite in 22LR so was really excited to see you share these.
I recently got another Favorite as part of a deal on a Belgian pin fire revolver. It is currently in non-operable condition, may just need a breechblock pivot screw. But the really interesting thing about it is that it is chambered in 44-40 shot shell caliber. Overall condition is rather rough but except for that screw it seems to be all there. Nice thing about it being a smooth bore is that I can hone the bore a bit and make it presentable. I happen to have a full box of vintage 44-40 shot shells, but at $250 for the box I won't be shooting any of that. I may never shoot the little thing but it is an interesting variant.
I have three of them in 25 rimfire. Or i should say they were 25 rimfire. One is now a 22 rimfire . One is now a 25 Hornet. A 22 Hornet necked up to 25 hornet Modified to centerfire. Shooting cast bullet with black powder.
I have a Favorite .25 rimfire hanging on the wall in my kitchen. Beautiful antique patina to it. It's the only gun I own I've never shot and I have no bullets for, but that's okay with me. It's just a cool piece of history/art on display in my home.
Load the bullets from the .25acp in it-make sure that you push it all the way out of the chamber into rifling, and then behind it just put a .27 caliber nail gun blank!It is literally that easy!And since the chamber on .25 Stevens rimfire should measure at exactly .270-those nail gun blanks fit perfectly and fire with no issues!I have an antique single shot break action Stevens pistol in this caliber that has a 6" long barrel and I really love it!By the way when I load it with the standard 50 grain FMJ bullets from .25acp and the long purple blanks(the most powerful on the market right now)-I get the really huge muzzle velocity from it:it averages at a whopping 2850 fps even from such a short barrel that is just 6"!Must definitely get over one kilometer per second from a rifle length barrel!
Navy Arms used to import Brazilian made obsolete rimfire ammo calibers, I contacted them a while back about getting more in calibers from .25 on up, I got a response but so far no action. There are so many old firearms languishing for lack of ammo. There was a Canadian company making old calibers but that was swallowed up by a large corporation and no longer produce ammo of any sort. There is a market, I have a couple of rifles in .32RF, I have some ammo, but it is so expensive to shoot.
Hi Michael - you know all and more than I do. Dominion in Canada exited stage left years ago, Aguilla in Mexico could manufacture .25 and .32 rimfire but would have to be persuaded there is a market. They make 5mm Remington Magnum - which is pretty amazing. I think Aguilla should go ahead and try ....but that is just me.
Fortunately I have saved my 30-40 Krag brass and found some dies
USOG My 1st Rifle Was a Stevens Crackshot 22Long Caliber 😮😮😀 Looks Identical To The Smaller One You Have With The Ringed Take Down Screw 😊😊😊 Great Memories
Until now, I have only seen one similar in a book. I always enjoy your videos, and really appreciate you sharing the rare, old, and particularly antique guns. Thank you
Stevens favorite on my favorite firearms channel. Outstanding! And having Oliver Stone's doppelgänger present to us is just a bonus.
I've seen a few of these at a local shop but didn't jump on them. My loss.
And that Sako Deluxe. I had one of them in left hand 416 Rem cal and stupidly I sold it. Those are amazing rifles built with high grade materials, namely steel and wood. A lot better than the current cheap materials seen today. Around the early to mid 90's that rifle only cost around $1100 new. Today they want almost that for a Rem 700 BDL. I'd much rather have the Sako deluxe.
Awesome channel as always.
Thanks Aaron - such fine rifles. A few people wrote me and say a modernized version is in the works at Savage. I hope they use steel. Thanks for writing.
I have a Favorite in .22. Just today 100 rounds of Stevens .25 long and about a dozen rounds of .25 short rimfire was delivered. I know of a shop that may have some rifles in .25 rimfire, I'll go see about that before too long, after all I now have ammo. There are so many good old firearms chambered in obsolete RF calibers, there would be a market for the ammo if someone would step up and make it. Canuck in Canada used to make it but that company is long gone. Navy Arms used to import the ammo from Brazil, that ammo was not regarded very highly though.
These Type of lovely rifles are what keeps me interested in Firearms. Thanks Mike.
Hi Stephen - me too : ) thanks for being here.
I own several of those myself. A Favorite and three or four of the Crackshots. All in 22lr. I picked one up in 44 shot shell recently. These are fascinating little rifles. Thanks for the great video.
Hi Brian - you have the gems - those .22 Crackshots used to be so inexpensive - now hard to find and not so cheap.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns You are correct. They are definitely not as inexpensive as they once were. I've fired all of my 22s including a little 22 Remington rolling block. They all still shoot very well. I haven't had a chance to shoot the little garden gun yet as I haven't got around to loading any shot shells. I've read that you can load them from 44/40 brass and that they will also fire the old gamegetter round ball cartridge. I once wrote you about making a video on these guns so I was excited to see the new video.
Thanks again
Brian
Thank you Brian!
The model 16 had the side levar making it easier to load and unload. I have a Frankensteined .22lr that makes a good pack rifle.
...and again, your impeccable taste shines through. I have a No. 44 in wonderful condition EXCEPT for the bore which was chewed to bits by early .22 rimfire loads that were rather corrosive. Oddly the previous owner took excellent care of every single part of the gun....except the bore. Very strange. Thank God for barrel liners!!!! I hope and pray that someone of good repute such as Pedersoli will someday clone these gorgeous rifles (affordably)....both the No. 44 and the original Favorite.
Hello noman - Yes - for sure : barrel liners! : ) You have a gem - but you know that. I think someone wrote me that they are coming from Italy soon; I couldn't find anything about that though. Thanks for writing.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thank you for sharing your wonderful collection and your opinions!! I am going to try to get my No.44 lined by Christmas....but it's getting late in the year. We shall see. I am off to scour my Italian contacts for new on a No 44 repro!!!!
I recently inherited the 22LR Favorite model made after Savage acquired the Stevens Co. around 1926.Mine has the Savage cartouche in the left side of the receiver. They stopped making the model by 1935. I replaced the cracked trigger spring and need to replace the worn trigger when I can find one online. The action comes apart fairly easily but putting it back together and getting the four receiver screws to align is like a Chinese puzzle because of springs and cams in the action. Mine is in good shape otherwise.
The Favorite is a gem - for those that know it is one of the best ever. I'm glad you have one; although I'm sorry for your loss as well.
Very cool!
As always great videos. I find my older guns in several pawn shops in the Northwest. I get great deals when the pawn shop does not know what caliber a rifle is. I have picked up many Mauser sporters that are unmarked. Usually a 8x57 converted to 30.06,. or a 7 Rem mag. I am just a older rifle addict.
That's a good addiction; these are becoming more and more scarce - always something interesting in those Mausers.
Wow I seen one on the internet for sale around here in 243 single shot. Was a beautiful looking rifle . Im going to own a single shot rifle in the future.
Hi Dalan - I hope you get one - remarkably simple and reliable - and fun and fine to shoot.
Great video as always
I have a couple in 22, very simple actions with very few moving parts...... ultimate survival rifles... for SHTF. I think one day 1 favorite in 22, with 500 rnds of ammo will barterable for 5 acres of land
I miss my .25 Stevens, beautiful little trapper's gun. Ammo is nigh unto impossible to find. A friend had my rifle's sister chambered in. 22LR but refused to part with it! Damned shame, would've been nice to have the set on my wall. Thanks for this video, nice walk down memory lane.
Hi Dean - I've approached Aguilla more than once to make production runs of some of the vintage rimfire ammo - nothing yet but they made th 5mm Remington - so maybe the others as well one day.
I love that action, never seen that before, thanks!
I recently bought 50 rounds each of .25 RF short and long. I have no firearm to shoot them in, I might check out a shop that has a good likelihood of having some. A shame that caliber was dropped, it looks like it could have potential when necked down to .22. All those obsolete rim fire calibers are very expensive when found, there is an opportunity, in my opinion, for a manufacturer willing to produce some of those calibers. There are so many very nice firearms gathering dust for lack of ammunition.
I sent a letter to Aguila - no answer yet - but they could make a run of .25 and .32 and a bunch of others.
I have a 44 1/2 stevens and it is .22/3000 was my Dads been looking for brass but no luck as of yet, someone told me its based on the 25/20 not sure. thanks Chris
I have that same Stevens .25, also missing the rear sight. I also have a box of 49 original shells for it too. Never shot it, I just have it. Tho I suspect the 50th shell was spent by the last man to have it.
They're so well made - I like "The 50th Shell" - good title for a book or movie. I have ammo now and will get to shooting soon. All the best.
I have 2 of these rifles one in .22rf and one in .32rf, I also managed to get my hand on a very old box of c.i.l bullets
You've got all the luck! So great but so hard to find ammo. I wrote Aguilla again to please make a run of the old rimfires.
Hello Sir i just bought a Stevens Favorite model 1915 .22lr, t has a octagon barrel out to the end of the fore end stock, then its round the rest of the way, but my rear sight is dove tailed in, its not the ramp style. My take down knob is snapped off in it, so i may dremmel a flat head cut in it to remove it and find a new one or just use it like that once i cut it, i want to keep it with all the original hardware so thats probably what ill do, and it will look just like you 25RF one
Always liked these. An update in .32 Long would be neat although to have any chance of sales it’d have to be a.327.
Thanks - I didn't know.
I have a 22 long just like this it was my great grandpa's
I got a 44 1/2 in 22 I want to replace the barrel. Gun got some history from 1943.sead to ben on gun book in 43.
You have a beautiful collection
Thank you - I'm working on the other channel as I write this.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns awesome!
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns do you have another channel?
Coming soon : )
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns awesome!
I've noticed that Winchester .22 Auto rimfire ammo has about the same rim dimension as .25 Auto centerfire ammo. I don't have a .25 RF firearm, only a couple of .32 RF firearms. Which makes me wonder if the bullets could be pulled from the .22 Auto RF ammo, cases sized, and proper sized .25 RF bullets could be loaded.
I saw your message to my alter ego about Dominion, I did some searching a while back on that, a shame. But maybe Navy Arms could get something going with the Brazilian rimfire manufacturer, those obsolete calibers seemed to hold on longer down there. But Aguila made the Winchester .22 Auto RF ammo, perhaps they could do a run of other obsolete RF calibers. Everything from .22 to .44 would resurrect thousands of fine firearms that are just wall hangers now.
My subscribers tell me the .17 WSM cartridge can be shortened and used as a base case for the .25 RF. Even better would be the new manufacture of the old rim fires as you suggest. Maybe it will happen.
A half round, half octagon barrel is called a Creedmore barrel.
Thank you - I had no idea.
i have a stevens 25 cal rimfire and cant find ammo
I just got mine converted to .22lr
make a video on how to make the .25 rimfire
Hi - I guess I'm not allowed to do that. In short though - people are cutting off the .22 wsm, adjusting the powder charge and placing a .25 cal. bullet - lead is best.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns The correct cartridge is 17 WSM. With a bit of tooling, this can be loaded quite easily. No need to cut up a good rifle or rebore it. A friend fired several rounds of my concept ammo safely in his Stevens. I don't have the equipment to make a video, but anyone experienced in the nuances of handloading can easily figure it out.
Very nice, have you heard of King Nitro or Shapleighs ? I've got a falling block 22lr unfortunately it is not restorable, so I will clean it up and hang it above the reloading bench
Hello MCK - I'll have to look those up!
I don’t know how I missed this video, but I did lol! Is there a manufacturer that build these now a days(Chiapas maybe) ?
I have my great grandfathers 25 rim fire stevens favorite. Sadly I have no ammo for it. What should I do as I would love to fire it from time to time. Thanks
Great video! My late grandfather passed along his grandfather's Stevens Favorite to me a few years before he died, and I've always wanted to shoot it. Odd thing is, it's marked 25 Stevens, but lacks the R.F. marking that your rifle has in the video. My grandfather always insisted it was centerfire as well. However, the firing pin seems like it would hit the rim of a cartridge in the chamber. I'm curious to try out the 17 WSM reload technique, but need to find a better guide through it. Can you point me in the right direction?
Hi Ryan - try inserting a dowel in the chamber or paper or tape - and see if you can make an imprint of where the firing pin hits. It could be 25-20? maybe a re-chamber. If not - the 17 bullet can be pulled and the case cut off and 25 cal bullet inserted after powder change or reduction - I'll try to find the video on line that shows how and the details.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thanks a lot for the reply, I'll try the dowel method and see what I can find out.
I'm still looking for 25 rim fire amo. I have a Marlin pump action . Any idea where I could get the amo?
I just bought a R Murdock in 32 rimfire. I am going through it this week and restoring it. The lever was loosely opening, the front post is missing, and rear adjustment for the rear sight. I just filed out all the dings and removed the rust from the receiver. I did a faux case hardening look. On it it today. It turned out beautiful. The barrel I blued. I will do the wood furniture this weekend. I will keep looking for a wood hand guard for the octagon barrel as it’s missing wood on both side. The buttstock is just fine. Any idea where I can get some 32 rimfire ammo to try out my new toy?
I have a number of .32 rimfire revolvers myself and to be honest there is no other chambering in existence-yes,including .22 that would have been cheaper and/or easier to find and unlimited in supply than that!So what I do is I make a set of adapters-one for each chamber in the cylinder in my case,that are fitting tightly in those chambers after a few shots that are basically fire forming them,and the inside of each of them as soon as they fully fire formed,does measure at .270.Also each of them has the rim that I make either crude(like for Forehand and Wadsworth revolvers that are unbelievably tough and indestructible to the point where you can not blow them up even deliberately!And I mean I had them running fine at the pressure twice as high as was in the round that blew up my friend's modern .327 magnum and still had no issues with my F&W!),or somewhat more precise depending on the exact model of the gun I am building those for.Anyway, the length of each adapter in my case has to be 18mm or .700" and they are obviously reusable and can be used countless times.. And what they are for is the plain, simple and ridiculously cheap and common .27 caliber nail gun blanks!And the bullets in my case are simply loaded from the other side of the cylinder and they fit tightly enough to just hold into the chamber just by the means of friction but other than that they are technically lose inside the chamber and usually don't even reach the front end of the adapter! And this method works perfectly for me and I have employed it already a few years and a few dozens of thousands of rounds ago and it never failed me!
Also the other advantage in addition to the cost and availability is a large selection of power levels that you have and there are actually 12 of them from the ridiculously futile and anemic short white #1 load that usually just makes a squibb or spits the bullet slower than you can literally throw it with your hand-I am talking under 100 fps with a 100 grain bullet and from this pathetic stuff all the way to the most powerful of them-long purple #12 loads that have more than twice as much power as your factory loaded 9mm Luger or .45 ACP!Although in your local Home Depot you will find only levels #2-#5 and if you want to buy anything higher than that-you can buy them in bulk from ebay for cheaper than dirt:I keep buying #12 in orders of 5 packages×400 rounds per package and it costs under 150 dollars with shipping included!
As for the numbers and chronograph results that I get in my case is obviously for much shorter barrel lengths than that of a rifle but it will give you some perspective of what you will be getting.So the bullets that I use nearly all the time are hard cast 100 grain LRN bullets-and the muzzle velocity that I measured is going to be for 2.5" barrel and 6" barrel.So with the short #5 red power level blanks they come at an average of 1120 fps from the 2.5" barrel and 1260 fps from the 6"; with short #6 purple power level that is about 1250 fps with a 2.5" and 1380 fps with 6" barrel.Than with the long #12(actually marked as #6-2 but I will call them #12) I am getting a really good oomph out of those suckers: the same 100 grain LRN bullet comes out of the 2.5" revolver at a whopping 1760 fps while out of the 6" revolver it goes 2000 fps on average which is actually enough for me to take my 6" F&W "Terror" revolver loaded with those #12 power level behind 100 grain LRN bullets when I go elk hunting!And that is not like I have it as a backup gun in this case:that is actually the gun that I drop them with at shorter distances up to 100 yards;when I spot them from further away I will obviously switch to my .338 M-98 but otherwise I just use the old 6-shot little sucker!
By the way you may rightfully say that the Forehand and Wadsworth "Terror" revolver had never been offered and/or manufactured with that barrel length and you will be right:the vast majority of them are either 2.5" or 3" while the longest and insanely rare specimens can be found with 4" and 4.5" barrels!And in my case it came with a standard 2.5" barrel as well but I had to replace the original one because it came with a completely decayed and barely visible rifling and was pitted like c-rap!So I took a chrome lined 6" long barrel blank that the same exact bore diameter as a .32 rimfire that I had laying around and ended up fitting it to the rest of the gun so that's how I ended up with a 6" F&W "Terror" revolver!
@Eyeontheprize think I'm going to throw it up on GB. As cool of a gun that it is I will never end up shooting it.
Single shots have always been very attractive due to their simplicity and economy. Unfortunately for us pedestrians with humble means those "poor man's rifles" are far out of reach these days, and making your own might be a less painful endeavor. You alluded to being able to shoot the 25 rimfire. Please do elaborate. I know that there is a video out there by Mr Potterfield where he does a barrel relining on one of these to convert to 22LR as well as one where the block is modified to relocate the firing pin to allow the use of centerfire cartridges. Please do elaborate as inquiring minds want to know.
My viewers are telling me the .17 WSM can be shortened and used as a base case for the .25 RF.
I need a butt stock for a 1941 6 25 cal. rim fire octigon barrel. Do anybody have a clue where to get or size for making one.
I have a chance to buy one of these today. Has there been any luck in converting these to 22lr? I may buy it regardless. It is a beautiful rifle.
Conversion is always possible with .22 liners from Brownells - but no inexpensive. I still buy them though - hoping for Aguila .25 rimfire ammo run.
can you shoot both the .25 short and .25 long out of a .25 ??
Hi John, Yes, both work. What a great rifle and round. Got a big rat the other day. Perfect....with the short.
I have 2 boxes of ammo for these, but no rifle. came in a big box of random ammo I inherited.
Pretty amazing James!
i have a 25 rim fire favorite but no amo
Hi Nick - I'm trying to get Aguilla to make a run of the old rimfires once a year....there are thousands of beautiful and functional rifles in the bigger rimfires - sleeping in vaults and in fine condition - waiting for ammo. You've got a great rifle!
Remington Rolling Block, best design ever?
Hi Alistair - for a lot of people that would be true. I know one fellow that shoots nothing else.
Hello, my name is Jessie, I have J Stevens A. & T CO.
When I took off the wooden section from the barrel it has the stamp, 22. LR and 3900. The barrel is round and hexagon shape and where the barrel connect to the chamber is a no. 45 stamp and again the 3900 next to the trigger. I had a J Steven model 1915 22. caliber but I can tell this one is not a 22 caliber. I inserted a 22 shell and it went straight down the barrel. any ideas?
Hi Jessie - sorry I'm slow in responding. I would guess that the 3900 is the serial number and the cal. may be .32 rimfire. I'm not sure why it is stamped .22 LR - but sometimes the .22s were completely shot out or corroded - so people bored them out to .32 Rimfire - or had a liner installed. Seems like a lot of work and expense for a rimfire - but one never knows what people are willing to do to keep a rifle going. I wonder if it has rifling. Sorry I can't help more.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thank you!
How accurate is a 25rf from a rifle? Similar accuracy as a .22 rifle?
About the same - I use 60 gr bullets and out to 75 yards - groups are like a .22 LR
O you have any single shots in 25\20, or 25\35 ?
Hi Douglas! I had a Winchester single shot in 25/35 - an incredibly accurate rifle. Naturally, I foolishly sold it. I'd buy another in a heartbeat - but I can't find one.
why don't give it a disassembley
Okay Green tangle - I'll get to it. Good idea.
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