A Blast From The Past

[SandHill]

Last night I was finally able to pick from the FFL a long lost family heirloom, my father's circa 1925 Stevens Crack Shot 26:

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When I went to the FFL to start the DROS, it was the firs time I had seen this gun in about 40 years. My Dad gave it to me when I was in second grade. I learned to shoot on it and cycled untold thousands of rounds through it, one at a time, when I was a kid. We used to set up targets in the garage when we weren't able to go anywhere ( don't try that in urban CA!) and my Mom still has some bullets in the wall that went through our backstop. I plan to have my kids take their first shots with it soon.

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo. The rifle is really not in bad shape. Some surface rust, very dirty inside and out, and a pretty well worn stock. But after a good scrub with Hoppe's, the bore looks pretty good, with surprisingly sharp rifling, the action and springs appear functional, and I think it will clean up pretty good. I do not intend to refinish metal or wood, just clean it up and make sure everything is safe and operational. Its very simple single shot falling block action, not too much to go wrong.

Along these lines, does anyone have a suggestion for cleaning the wood? I don't want to take off any more of the finish than is already gone. I am afraid that both alcohol and mineral spirits will strip the finish, depending on what the original finish is.

Also, I would like to break it in with softest ammo I can find. If anyone has some Aguila Super Colibri to spare, I would trade Mini-Mags one for one for a couple hundred rounds.

Can't wait to shoot this puppy!

[Tank 57]

Why did you have to DROS it?

[uxo2]

Why did you have to DROS it?

I was thinking the same thing.

Its a 22.

Shoot it

[SandHill]

I suppose I didn't, but it was coming from out of state and my brother was nervous about just mailing it. My FFL gave me a two for one on the FFL fee when I was buying a different gun online, and it went on the same DROS, so it didn't cost me anything.

[Garv]

Maybe some CCI Quiet?
710 FPS, maybe not as light as Colibri, but possibly easier to find.

I looked up Colibri to check velocity and the data sheet said:

WARNING: These rounds are powered by the rimfire primer only. They must only be fired in handguns. If fired in rifles, the bullet may remain lodged in the barrel.
Will not cycle the slide of semi-automatic handguns
Aguila packages these as Long Rifle ammunition, but they are in fact slightly shorter than a 22 Long cartridge

['ol shooter]

There is a lot of good information on wood care on Rim Fire central, in the Stock Forum. There is a resident expert there that makes and restores heirloom furniture, goes by the name noremf (George). Mineral Spirits is what he recommends, using a soft cloth dampened with it, rubbing gently. It will remove dirt, oil, and wax without disturbing any finish that is still on the wood. Good on the metal too.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=275

[Garand1911]

Why do you need to break it in? Its been already broke in, by you, when you shot thousands of rounds through it as a kid.
Never heard of soft shooting 22lrs, just get regular velocity. Although I doubt high velocity stuff would hurt it, as long as it chambers ok.
The rifling is still sharp, cuz 22s don't wear it out so much.

[SandHill]

There is a lot of good information on wood care on Rim Fire central, in the Stock Forum. There is a resident expert there that makes and restores heirloom furniture, goes by the name noremf (George). Mineral Spirits is what he recommends, using a soft cloth dampened with it, rubbing gently. It will remove dirt, oil, and wax without disturbing any finish that is still on the wood. Good on the metal too.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...play.php?f=275

Thanks, Bob!

[SandHill]

Why do you need to break it in? Its been already broke in, by you, when you shot thousands of rounds through it as a kid.

Of course! What was I thinking, 40 years would make any difference! It must be exactly like it was the last time I saw it. Thanks for the insight.

[sealocan]

Very kool.

I understand you wanting to take it easy with such a great heirloom but if you can't find any CCI quiet or aguila Calibri or super Colibri.
(I think that one of them, the super Colibri, is ok for rifles but be cautious and check their warning labels before using.)
personally I would try and go with the CCI for a little more velocity,

but here's a quick link to information with stated velocity of a lot of different brands of 22 ammunition.

http://www.flat5.net/22LR_velocities.html

that way even if you can't find anything low-powered you could check your current. 22 ammo stock and find the lowest velocity one listed.

the one that I'd go with for being gentle on an older firearm is CCI Blazer rated at 1070 feet per second.

(but I really do like CCI ammo. and the blazer is usually a "bargain" no matter where you find it.)

[AR22]

I would never shoot more than standard velocity in it (1070 FPS

I used to collect Stevens but sold them all off about 20 years ago.

I did find my Bultaco 350 Motorcycle after giving it away 20 years before.

[Tessitori]

Very cool that there are going to be 3 generations that have shot that rifle! Would love to see a picture after you clean off the wooden stock.

[shakyshoot]

We used to set up targets in the garage when we weren't able to go anywhere ( don't try that in urban CA!) and my Mom still has some bullets in the wall that went through our backstop.

We used to shoot in our basement when I was a kid. Dad built a big backstop with wood front and back and gravel filling. But after it was full of holes the gravel tended to trickle out, and bullets went through the higher part. I recently attended an open house at the old place. Everything had been totally changed, looked nothing like the old house. But those .22 pings were still in the cinder blocks of the basement wall.

Walmarts have been getting some CCI Quiets lately.

[TAS]

Love the history and the fact that you're going to continue using it w/ your kids. Memories are a lot more valuable than anything monetary.

BTW - where are you located? I'm sure I don't have any Colibri but I may have some CCI Quiet.

[SandHill]

Love the history and the fact that you're going to continue using it w/ your kids. Memories are a lot more valuable than anything monetary.

BTW - where are you located? I'm sure I don't have any Colibri but I may have some CCI Quiet.

I live in Menlo Park. Would like to get my hands on some CCI Quiet. Right now the slowest I have is CCI Standard at 1070 FPS. I just looked up the Quiet and it is 710 FPS, big improvement for present purposes.

I could get down to San Jose, can trade other 22 or pay cash.