Savage Mdl 72 (Stevens Crackshot) converted to 22Mag

[MEHavey]

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/review-savage-model-72/359213

I picked up a Savage Model-72 in Cabelas used-gun section last month, pristine metal/wood/bore with rail & scope added.
Barrel reads "Savage Model 72 22 Short, Long, or Long Rifle"

Took a bit of work to make it serviceable as the rail mounting was a classic, Bubba, the hammer was weak (and catching/slowing on falling), and the extractor was outright missing.
(How that happens in a fully-assembled rifle for sale is beyond me)

That said however, upon being shot with four different 22 LR ammunition types (CCI Std, Blazer, Aquila Extra, and HiVel-HP)
-- it rifle was all over the place at 25 yards.

It also immediately & significantly bulged and split cases . . . big time... every load/ammunition type.

This tells me the chamber is waaaay too big..... How is that posssible?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got home and grabbed a box of 22 Mag.



Purrrrfect fit on chambering.
But the Mag case is almost twice as long, and of a larger diameter.
It shouldn't even start to fit... but it does.

Now the 22LR and 22Mag have the same peak pressure (22-24ksi),
but the Mag has significantly more energy under curve.
The Mdl-72 action isn't 'weak,' but I've never heard of a 22Mag conversion.

Before I put this thing in an old tire and get out a long string . . .
Has ANYone ever heard of a Model-72/Crackshot converted to 22Mag ?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have one from 1913. I never tried to see if a 22 mag would fit. I only shoot 22 lr standard velocity in it. I broke the block from using shorts. Then going to lr. Gun smith who fixed it said it was carbon ed up from using the shorts.

 

[someguy2800]

I don't know how different they are but I have like a 2000's production stevens crackshot factory chambered in 22 magnum. I would not be concerned about action strength.

 

[tark]

They were made from 72 to 89. They were not made in the 2000s and I'm quite sure they were never chambered in 22 magnum. The OP probably has a bubbed gun. Since both cartridges have the same peak chamber pressures, Bubba probably though it would be a harmless conversion. It isn't that simple. The magnum reaches the same pressures as the L.R. , but it sustains it for a longer period of time, because it is burning more powder. This produces more bolt thrust, or in this case, thrust against the breech block. This means more strain on the gun. If you are gonna shoot magnums in that gun, a limited diet would probably be a good idea.

 

[PapaG]

And the bullet is .002" larger, I believe. If not, I'm converting my Savage 24.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The one i have is like this.

 

[someguy2800]

The ones made in the 2000’s which I have were called a Stevens model 30. They made them in 22lr, 22 mag, and 17hmr. It’s a slightly redesigned version but basically the same general design.

 

[tark]

The model 30 is a re-issue of the old Stevens Favorite. And I see they were chambered in 22 magnum. Have fun!

 

[Ascot500]

IIRC Frank DeHaas rechambered a Japanese 6.5 Arisaka to 30-06 but left the bore at .264
It held together
Just sayin'