Steven Favorite 1894

[Tabequache]

I recently had the opportunity to purchase a Stevens Favorite Model 1894 chambered in Steven 25 Rimfire. It's in great shape for it's age, and I've dated it's manufacture to around 1900 (which is only an approximation since dating these models is somewhat difficult for the early pieces). The bore still have rifling and is mostly clear although there is some pitting from uncleaned black powder in the past. I am just wondering where the sources of 25 Rimfire cartridges are? I've found a few sites online that offer some Canadian rounds made in the 70s but they are awfully expensive. I got the Favorite at a good price and it's worth more than I paid for it, but having a few display rounds for it would make it more attractive to some buyer in the future, I think. If anyone knows of sources for this historic cartridge (other than at gun shows), I'd appreciate a lead. And if others own Favorites, please chime in with their experiences. Thanks

 

[tark]

Right now , at this time, there are two sources. Rare collector grade ammo at a couple hundred bucks (or more) a box ( but it's a PRETTY box )....or the replicator on the Starship Enterprise. Nobody has loaded it for decades. Sorry Too bad, too. looks like a perfect small game round.

I have ONE round, which I will GIVE to you so you can at least have SOMETHING to display with the gun. Shoot me a personal message with an address and I'll pay the postage. It will be the smallest Christmas present I have ever Given!

 

[Tabequache]

Right now , at this time, there are two sources. Rare collector grade ammo at a couple hundred bucks (or more) a box ( but it's a PRETTY box )....or the replicator on the Starship Enterprise. Nobody has loaded it for decades. Sorry Too bad, too. looks like a perfect small game round.

I have ONE round, which I will GIVE to you so you can at least have SOMETHING to display with the gun. Shoot me a personal message with an address and I'll pay the postage. It will be the smallest Christmas present I have ever Given!

It may be small but I appreciate the kindness.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

I have ONE round, which I will GIVE to you so you can at least have SOMETHING to display with the gun. Shoot me a personal message with an address and I'll pay the postage. It will be the smallest Christmas present I have ever Given!

Well done sir... very well done! In the best tradition of THR!

 

[tark]

Round on the way tomorrow, next day.

 

[Gordon]

when I was a kid we shot Canadian .25 Stevens ammo and I thought it was a great round, better than .22 WRF in the Favorite. I had one in the 80s tha some gunsmith skillfullu converted to .25acp CENTERFIRE and sold it for triple what I was into it in 1993. It can be done, I think Dale Storey did the one I had.

 

[Gordon]

I still have a Favorite in .32 S&W long converted from .32 Long rimfire that dale Storey did, I do NOT want to sell it, too much fun !

 

[Gordon]

Bottom is the .32 S&W Long Favorite

 

[sean m]

Bottom is the .32 S&W Long Favorite
View attachment 771331

That is a nice collection.
I've been jonesing for 32 S&W rifle for some time....
How does the converted 32 perform? Accuracy and velocity wise. are you shooting any particular load?

 

[Gordon]

Factory loads or less only. My favorite load in it is a .32 S&W (short) with a 115 grain Lyman SWC seated out to near where throat is in the short case 1 grain of Bullseye sounds like a .22 CB and it has about 600 fps in my rifle at 10 feet. that load takes the biggest raccoon down with authority at 75 feet or less , probably up to 25 yards. MUCH more smack than a .22LR and equally on a par or greater than a .22 WRF with half the noise or less. Just so nobody has to ask :#1 the Favorite is a 1915 late model and Dale Storey up grades the screw and bolts with modern hi tensile ones when he did conversions. The rifles top to bottom in the picture are a Ruger 7 rem mag with a swamped octagon barrel , a Martini Cadet .17 Remington , A Martini Cadet .22 K hornet. , a Browning B78 .22-250 Imp. and the bottom .32 S&W long Favorite .

 

[someguy2800]

That is a very nice collection of single shots. I would very much like to find a rolling block someday in something like 32 rimfire to rebore and convert to fire 38 special.