All the "J Stevens Arms & Tool" guns are pre WWI. During the war the company was taken over by Westinghouse for war production, then after the war it was bought by Savage. The guns were designed for black powder, and the early smokeless powders. (before the changes in smokeless powder during the 1920s) If in shootable mechanical condition, they fall into the category of "Vintage Shooters", with low pressure rounds similar to what they were originally designed for being appropriate. They basically fall into the same category as pattern-welded barrels, even if your barrels are fluid or decarbonized steel. Winchester AA Low-Noise, Low-Recoil shells, or the Polywad and RST low-pressure types would be appropriate..
Inspect the top of the stock head very carefully, as many of those types seem to develop cracks in the top, eventually leading to pieces of the stock, from the top of the action to along the tang to break off..(mine has that issue)..
Last edited by Ken61; 10/14/14 07:51 AM.
