4 1/2 stevens

[bpcr shooter]

I have an opportunity to purchase a CPA in 40-70, it also has a 22LR barrel with wood. Question is what do these rifles sell for used??

Rifle has globe sights on both barrels and tang sight, wood looks really good, there is a small scratch on the lower receiver, barrel's look great.

Thanks Matt

[Kurt]

Matt,
I have three .44-1/2's and extra barrels chambered in the .40-65, .22, /.44-75 Ballard, .44-100 2.6 st .44-90BN 2-5/8/.45-90. All are chambered with my reamers except the .22.
The .22 is a very accurate rifle. It is chambered with Paul's reamer specs, it's tight and it works. The tractor gave me a problem when I first started shooting the rifle because it came back to far and it went past the rim before I learned that there was an adjustment that you can shorten the travel.
I personally would not sell any of them. I like the action, yes it's ugly but I like the caming the breach block has when you have a tight shell. It will cam a round in about .250". The action has several adjustments you can set for the hammer, extractor, breach block.
But one issue I have with the change barrels, they might not fit on a different action setup. I have one that does but others get tight before they are fully timed. But I think a little emery paper on the flat would solve this, but I'm fine the way they are.
I haven't seen any for sale so I cant say what a used one would go for.

[SSShooter]

Of course, you mean 44 1/2 rather than 4 1/2 Stevens.
Excellent, very strong action. Takes a bit of 'getting used to' like any rifle. As mentioned, the extractor may need a bit of adjustment as may the brass pin that controls the block position when its open, but once they are correctly set the rifle is a pleasure to shoot. And, Gail, and her father Paul, could not be easier to work with should you need their help.
As for accuracy, like any of our rifles, it depends. Depends on the shooter, the load and how well the barrel was chambered for the cartridge. The BPCR Nationals have been won several times by competitors shooting CPA rifles, as have any number of regional, state & local matches.
One of the nicest attributes of the Stevens 44 1/2 is the ability to switch barrels without affecting accuracy. I've got a Shilen rachtet-rifled .22LR, Bartlein 12" twist 38-40, Shilen 12" twist 38-55 & Grn Mtn 16" twist 40-65 barrel for mine. I find my .22LR barrel to be particularly accurate. But, any good quality barrel in most any cartridge should be fine.
As for price, a new CPA in silhouette clothing will run just under $3000. A .22LR barrel (which includes a rimfire block & firing pin) runs about $850. So, figure out from there what used should cost. They are excellent rifles.

[Coltsmoke]

What is the seller asking for?

[John Boy]

A used CPA should rub somewhere in the 75-85% of the retail value of the rifle & extra barrel
Look at CPA website and price out the used rifle based on retail prices for Rifle - Stock configurations and Barrel ... https://www.cparifles.com/
Used value based on configuration should be in the 80% range of new and compare to who the current owner wants for the rifle barrel
I presume the used one has a 22LR block, extractor and forearm included in what he wants
Let us know what he parted it for ...

If I told you what I paid for my 32-40 ... you would cry because it was a steal

[mdeland]

I'm going to catch a lot of flack for this opinion but feel it is a correct one. I've never liked switch barrel guns with out a torque collar that are used that way often because eventually the threads loosen up on anything that is repeatedly screwed on and off. Thread tightness on any rifle is a critical part of accuracy and eventually will show up as the barrel shank loosens up on the action thread torque.
I have a very good friend that found this out the hard way and eventually screwed on one barrel tightly and left it alone to maintain the rifles peak level performance.

[Woody]

I agree that the used value should be in the 75% range. I sold mine with three barrels and two stocks for $3,000 about four years ago. No sights. At the time, that was close to $5,000 in new value. I had bought it with two barrels and stocks used and then promptly sent it to Gail to have a .22 barrel fitted. After the newness to me wore off, the .22 barrel remained on it 99% percent of the time. I only sold it when my current Low Wall .22 was in it's final stage of completion. Wonderfully accurate rifle with all three barrels.

Woody

[SSShooter]

Interesting. Know lots of folks with CPAs over lots of years and have never heard that complaint. Not once. Sounds like your friend needs to learn to use a bit of oil on the threads of his barrel & action. Removes the chance of wear and makes the change much easier. Especially if using a stainless barrel (like my Bartlein) which could gall if not lubed well.

[mdeland]

Glenn, I believe it's really more about metal compress-ability and elasticity than wear. Good snug barrel threading will begin to slightly load at the first turn which spreads the load radially out over more of the shank length which is why ramped threads will work well. Typically the first three threads closest to the barrel shoulder carry 70 percent of the barrel shanks thread load. The elasticity in the barrel steel itself is causing this to occur.
When I thread a barrel and tighten it on with a action wrench it will need less torque to bring up to the initial index mark if it's been removed several times. What is happening is the metal of the action ( which is usually a good bit harder than the barrel) and the steel in the barrel are compression mating with each other. I like to cut a chamber to within ten thousands of final fit in the lathe then remove and index in the action and final hand ream the last ten thousands plus two. This method usually requires two or three barrel removals to get it as perfect as I can and chamfer the chamber mouth the way I prefer. If the head space remains the same after several proof loads you have done a good threading job.
This cannot happen if the threads are loose to begin with ,it can only get looser from shooting and continual muti-barrel replacement each with a slightly different fitting thread. One mans opinion and the reasoning behind it.

[bpcr shooter]

I will be going to look at it today, and will have an answer on the price......

I personally was at the 75-80% range myself, I just didnt want to come off as "cheap". I will post pictures after I visit with them today.

Thanks guys!!!!

Matt

[SSShooter]

When I thread a barrel and tighten it on with a action wrench..........

Part of the beauty of the 44 1/2 is there is no need for an action wrench. Hand-tight on the barrel is plenty. Tighten the set screw under the shank and done. Sometimes I do have to 'clamp' the stock between my legs and use both hands to loosen. But, never to tighten when changing barrels.

[mdeland]

Put your action in a good padded vice, remove the forearm and see if you can move the barrel in the action with light to moderate hand pressure with the lock screw loose , then tighten it and try it again. If it will flex in the action/barrel joint the gun will generally not be as accurate as if rigid.
What the 44 1/2 action depends on is the lock screw in the bottom of the action pushing the barrel upward in to the action V thread to tighten it up into the top arch of the action threads. The trouble with this is it unloads the bottom 1/2 -2/3rds of the barrel shank thread pressure with the potential of causing vertical inconsistency. I think this is often as not what explains vertical stringing at long range in the 44 1/2.

[mdeland]

I should have mentioned that the lock screw and it's seat are tapered so the lock screw does also have some cam pressure to push the barrel forward into the shoulder as well as upward at a single point where as a loaded thread centers the barrel shank in the action V thread and evenly pushes it foreword against the barrel shoulder.

[mdeland]

A "V" thread is some what self centering because of the taper to taper angle where as a square thread needs more attention to fit depth (major thread diameter) to get the barrel on center with the action so the firing pin will hit center of primer. You learn this very quickly when re-barreling Rollers.

[bpcr shooter]

it also came with 250pcs of brass, and some other misc stuff.

he was wanting $3200 for it all