rechambering a stevens visible loader to .22 mag

[plainsbilly]

Before I get flamed for destroying an antique this one is a former barn gun and is at less than 10% condition. I would like to rechamber to .22 mag because of a heavily rusted chamber that prevents extraction without pliers. If you guys think its possible let me know or if you have any ideas for fixing int besides sleeving the chamber. FWIW I decided on .22mag because it is the mildest large diameter rimfire I could think of.

 

[Maverick223]

If it is in that poor of condition the bore likely is as well, but if you just want something that will shoot, the .22WMR wouldn't be a bad choice.

 

[plainsbilly]

the bore is pitted but still has strongly visible rifling. I was also thinking about using valve grinding compound on a barrel mop to kind of polish the chamber but was worried about getting the chamber oversize and out of round

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Don't do it. When I was a boy, a friend of mine had a Stevens "Miserable Loader" and with high velocity .22 LR it would automatically eject the case. With higher pressure .22 Mag, you may wreck the gun. And remember also, the .22 Mag bullet is larger than the .22 LR bore, so you increase pressure even more by firing .22 Mag in a .22 LR bore.

It will probably be just as cheap to re-line the bore. Brownells sells everything you need and has an excellent instruction pamphlet on how to do it.

Go here: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=10974/Product/_22_CALIBER_RIMFIRE_BARREL_LINERS

 

[Maverick223]

And remember also, the .22 Mag bullet is larger than the .22 LR bore, so you increase pressure even more by firing .22 Mag in a .22 LR bore.

Ehh, there is only a thousandth of an inch difference...probably less if you actually mic. it. There's likely just as much difference with various manufacture .22LR bullets as that.

One thing that I would do is scrub the chamber (and bore) really well and like Vern said try a few types of HV ammo (Aguila SuperMaximum, et al) before modifying anything.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The "Miserable Loader" is not well designed to deal with high pressures -- and a small difference in bore diameter can result in disaster. Ross Seifried wrote an article on a .270 Weatherby blown up when someone fired a 7mm Remington Magnum in it.

I would not want to fire .22 WMR in a Stevens Visible Loader. If I had such a rifle, I would re-line it for .22 LR, which wouldn't cost much more than rechambering.

You might also ask, will a cartridge as long as the .22 WMR feed in a Visible Loader?

 

[rcmodel]

You will also find the old Stevens has the wrong rifling twist to shoot either .22 WRF or .22 WMR.

That, plus the other action mods necessary to get it to feed the much longer .22 Mag would certainly make relining it for .22RF a much more sensible thing to do.
Most of them didn't work all that great with the .22RF they were designed for.

http://redmansrifling.com/relining_prices.htm

rc

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd prefer to do it myself -- a variable speed drill, a long bit and a chambering reamer are all the tools you need.

 

[Maverick223]

If you go with a bbl liner, you could even chamber it for a nifty .17HM2 which would give you more bbl (on the liner) and likely be more accurate as a result. Drawback would be the expensive ammunition for said cartridge (about $8/50).

 

[NCsmitty]

I refurbished a visible loader for a friend, a year or two ago, and there is no way that the magazine will feed a 22 mag. The best idea is to reline the barrel to 22LR and use standard velocity or sub, but that's not exactly cheap.

The pic shows a Super Colibri in position to chamber in the visible loader.




NCsmitty