jnyork's new toy

[jnyork]

Bought this old jewel a couple of weeks ago from a friend at the range. Have been wanting one for about 20 years or so but the opportunity did not arise until now.

This is a Stevens
Model 417 Walnut Hill .22 target rifle. Heavy barrel 28" , weighs about 10 1/2 pounds. All original, Lyman 48L rear sight and 17A front. Original scope blocks and sling swivels. Shows the years in a few ways but action is nice and tight, ejector very snappy, really nice crisp trigger at about 2 lbs. Wood and steel on this rifle are about 90% or better average condition, metal has some flecks or little pits in places from long ago dampness. Metal retains almost all of the original blue and case hardening, wood is mostly free of any sort of battle scars. Bore is nlce and shiney. Rifle was built some where in the 1930's . serial number is 20xx.

Took it to the range after a thorough cleaning and lubing. With SK Standard+ it would hold the 10 ring in the A23 50 yard target, but would throw a flyer out in the 9 ring every so often. I suspect I might have to recrown the barrel.

I am happy with my new toy and wanted to share with my friends here on the board.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Beautiful rifle. I love 22's. Now you'll need the period scope ... maybe snag a Unertl.

[jnyork]

Beautiful rifle. I love 22's. Now you'll need the period scope ... maybe snag a Unertl.

Thanks, I have a Lyman but I'm in Arizona and it's in Wyoming, will have to wait 'till spring.

[Oldncrusty]

That's a looker for sure. Congrats on adding that checkmark.

[Shasta]

Congratulations on scoring a very fine rifle!

One showed up here at a local shop a couple years ago priced at $1,700. Mr. Flat Pockets here could not swing that, but the rifle still sold very quickly.

I have a friend with one that is traditionally scoped (I believe it was a Lyman Target Spot), and he let me shoot his rifle at one of our local club's .22 Long Range Silhouette matches where the targets are 3/8 scale Chickens shot offhand at 50 meters, and 100 meter Pigs, 150 meter Turkeys, and 200 meter Rams shot from cross-sticks. Using CCI Standard Velocity ammo, I was able to shoot 29/40, a Master score for the discipline. They are indeed a very high quality target rifle!

Shasta

[CowboyTutt]

That's pretty neat! Thanks for sharing!!! -Tutt

[Griff]

Congrats on scoring a fine rifle!

[earlmck]

A couple fellows have been shooting (and scoring very well) with Stevens 44's at our vintage/lever match. But theirs do no't have such a fine heavy barrel as that one. Very very nice!

[piller]

Very nice. Hope you figure out those flyers.

[CowboyTutt]

Its been a very long time, but I think it was in one of McPherson's books (Accurizing the Factory Rifle, I suspect) that he wrote about recrowning a barrel with a marble and some polishing compound of some sort. My gun books are all packed up right now. If I find the book again, I will look it up and see what I find. It probably would not work on some applications depending on crown shape. Regards, -Tutt

[2ndovc]

That's really a nice looking .22!

Have fun!

jb

[Grizz]

Its been a very long time, but I think it was in one of McPherson's books (Accurizing the Factory Rifle, I suspect) that he wrote about recrowning a barrel with a marble and some polishing compound of some sort. My gun books are all packed up right now. If I find the book again, I will look it up and see what I find. It probably would not work on some applications depending on crown shape. Regards, -Tutt

along those lines i've seen articles on using the roller ball from a mouse, old school, when mice had rollers, and maybe valve grinding compound for crowning barrel after cutting it. seems like a countersink would help to cut the square edge back first . . . †

[Pitchy]

Cool beans pard thanks for sharing.

[Nath]

That looks as new. Awesome find.
What's the trigger like ? Light and crisp?

[jnyork]

That looks as new. Awesome find.
What's the trigger like ? Light and crisp?

Yeah, very nice and crisp, no more that 2 pounds.