Considering a Steven's Favorite

[woodchukhntr]

I found a .22 Steven's Favorite in pretty good condition that I'm considering for $150.  The finish is pretty much gone, but the metal and the stocks are in good shape and the rifling is good.  Everything works OK and the trigger pull is good.  The sights seem original, but the rear sight ladder is missing.  Unfortunately the buttplate is missing.  It is an old takedown model, not current production.  Is it a good value?  I've never had one, but currently have a Crackshot that is a real shooter.  I shot one 5/16" group at 50 yd. (with a clamped-on scope) and it will stay under 1" @ 50 yd. consistantly

[tacklebury]

Congrats man.  I love my Steven's Favorite.  You can buy the original buttplates and replacement stocks at Gunstocks INC.  That is a great value in my opinion.  They are going for over $300 now. 
 
http://www.gunstocksinc.com/web_pages/Plate-pics/Stevens-stocks/stevens-favorite.htm

[Ex 49'er]

Sounds like a good deal to me. Go for it and good luck!!

[woodchukhntr]

I picked it up today.  It is a model 1915.  I pulled a bullet from a round and tried it in the cellar.  The firing pin strikes hard and the ejected works well.  Maybe by this weekend I can clamp a scope on the barrel and try it for grouping ability, then sight it in with the iron sights.

[Bugflipper]

The ladder will be easy enough to find. It's the same as a 94 winchester or 39 marlin.


Midway also has the newer SF and older style  buttplate with S.

[Rex in OTZ]

I dont have a Favorite just a Model 30 in .22mag, had her out last night for plinking/hunt ended up skunked hunting so shot it a few times, I found the accuracy was better shooting .22Lr's than the .22Mags.
The first LR hung up a little in the chamber the rest the Lr's after that poped right out the Gun onto the ground, the Magnum spent cases are so long they have to be plucked from the chamber while retracting the hammer some at same time.

[woodchukhntr]

Rex in OTZ,
STOP!
It is unsafe to shoot .22 LR ammo in a .22 magnum chamber!!!  The case is smaller in diameter than the .22 mag case and you will split cases sooner or later.  When this happens you will get hot gas and brass particles blow back in your face potentially damaging your eyes!!!!
 
So what if you have the inconvenience of having to manually extract cases, blindness is more inconvenient!

[Keith L]

Rex in OTZ,
STOP!
It is unsafe to shoot .22 LR ammo in a .22 magnum chamber!!!  The case is smaller in diameter than the .22 mag case and you will split cases sooner or later.  When this happens you will get hot gas and brass particles blow back in your face potentially damaging your eyes!!!!
 
So what if you have the inconvenience of having to manually extract cases, blindness is more inconvenient!

+1

[woodchukhntr]

Range Report
I took the rifle to the range with a 2X pistol scope clamped to the barrel. With old Remington HS solid point ammo I was able to keep the shots into a sub-1" group at 50 yd.  Using the iron sights was not too successful due to my having trouble seeing the sights.  Even though I was handicapped by my eyesight and the sights, I was able to hit a 2" swinging target with 3 out of 6 shots at 50 yd.  I actually did better than a young shooter with a Marlin semi-suto with a scope.  He was impressed, and so was I!  It looks like a keeper.  Now I need to part with the Crackshot at the Syracuse gun show next week.

[jlwilliams]

.....  Now I need to part with the Crackshot at the Syracuse gun show next week.

  Why?  I understand that the Crackshot and the Favorite fill the same niche and that the Favorite is nicer; but if they are both good shooters, why get rid of the Crackshot?  Why not just clean it, grease it for long storage and set it aside.

[Duke0313]

Rex in OTZ,
STOP!
It is unsafe to shoot .22 LR ammo in a .22 magnum chamber!!!  The case is smaller in diameter than the .22 mag case and you will split cases sooner or later.  When this happens you will get hot gas and brass particles blow back in your face potentially damaging your eyes!!!!
 
So what if you have the inconvenience of having to manually extract cases, blindness is more inconvenient!

+1 again!

[ratherbefishin]

I'm still kicking myself I didn't buy a VARNER when they first came out-they were much finer finished than the Favourite.The company went under and that was that.Don't even see them for sale anywhere.