The barrel and fore was re listed a few times before I got an offer I couldn’t refuse. I thought I might know what I was buying, but was wrong in as much as the chambering is based on the 32-20 family of cases and not a rimmed version of the 222 family. Other than it makes obtaining brass considerably easier, it didn’t make much difference. I suppose had it been a rimmed 17 Javelina that stumbling on a size die would be more likely, but still not highly likely.
Having a size die for 17 A&M Bee burned isn’t that big of a deal, it’s a bit cheaper than having PTG grind a die reamer and cutting a die, but not much. Either way, I need a few fired cases for them to work off of.
I have been focused on another project the last few days, but maybe this week I can see if the barrel will headspace up on my action that has a 218 Bee extractor in it. If it does it’s just a matter of loading up a few 17 Ackley Bee cases and fire forming them to get the ball rolling.
If that works as planned then I’ll get a pistol grip DST tang and mainspring headed this way and change that action over from straight grip and figure out something regarding a lever. The DST triggers are not going to fit under the lever that is in it. Maybe it can be reshaped. If not I’ll order a ball and spur lever from CPA. The CPA lever is for their action, not an original Stevens 44 1/2, but it’s supposedly close enough that it just needs minor modifications.
