+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Stevens 520-30??

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member nhetzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    01-14-2024 @ 10:38 PM
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    181
    Real Name
    Nick Hetzer
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:30 AM

    Stevens 520-30??

    Does anyone know if the Stevens 520-30 had a civilian equivalent? I saw a Sears Ranger something or other at a show recently that looked exactly like it. I'm looking for some parts and was wondering if they were interchangeable.
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last On
    11-27-2022 @ 11:10 AM
    Location
    Yuma , Arizona
    Posts
    1,402
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    04:30 AM
    All the old time military shotguns were derived from civilian models . About the only differences are applied markings and add ons like heat shields . So yes , except for the odd part , they are the same as a rule.
    Chris

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member nhetzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    01-14-2024 @ 10:38 PM
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    181
    Real Name
    Nick Hetzer
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:30 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks but it doesn't appear to be that simple. I know that is the case with, oh say EVERY other shotgun out there but this Stevens is proving to be a little more complicated. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. Here's what I know thus far:

    The Stevens 520 has two models within itself. One with a safety in front of the trigger (older model) and one push button safety (later model). Both models have a hump back receiver. Then there's the 520A, I have no idea what that is. That "may" be the civilian equivalent of the military version, which is the 520-30. I have never seen a 520-30 that was not military marked. The 520-30 is a squared off receiver but not the hump back and it also has a tang safety. The 620 then came along with a rounded receiver and went back to a push button safety. I have read that the receivers were different lengths as well between some of the models. As I stated before the only gun that I have ever seen that looked identicle the 520-30 was a Ranger (Sears) but I have no idea what the model number is.

    I'm looking for internals for one of my 520-30's and I refuse to cannibalize another military gun. I was hoping to find something else that the parts are interchangeable with. Basically what I have is a stripped receiver, the butt stock and everything forward of the receiver. It's a personal project for myself and I have to admit that this has come to a bit of a stalemate because this whole "which, witch is which?" situation has me afraid to spend any more money on the wrong parts.

  6. #4
    Advisory Panel

    jmoore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-09-2023 @ 04:20 AM
    Location
    US of A
    Posts
    7,066
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    07:30 AM
    Quite a few parts do interchange between the models including the 620s, HOWEVER not all parts of the exact same model, gauge, and vintage will interchange (even after fitting, sometimes).
    Kinda confusing/frustrating!

    Just what parts do you require?

  7. #5
    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last On
    11-27-2022 @ 11:10 AM
    Location
    Yuma , Arizona
    Posts
    1,402
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    04:30 AM

    No , it really is that simple.....kinda.

    The 520 was introduced in 1904 with the button safety. It was upgraded and at that time the safety was moved up to the tang. The upgrade is the 520-30 and all the shotguns bought by the US are 520-30s ( except for maybe a few commercial guns under the blanket order ) . The 520-30s had been obsoleted in 1932-ish , but was put back in production for the US.
    The 620 was produced starting in 1927 , and it too was improved and called the 620A. Again , all US bought guns are 620As , even though the later ones were stamped M620 rather than the earlier M620A stamping.
    Because these are civilian guns pressed into military service on a very small scale ( compared to 4 million Garands and 6-ish million carbines ) and from many different companies in even more different variations , interchangable parts was not a requirement as it was with the main line weapons . Hand fitting was and remains the rule for replacement parts. Also , all the US guns were 12 Ga. , so any parts specific to 16ga or 20ga or any other ga would be wrong as it would be on any other model.
    Also some models of shotguns used in WW2 were produced for years afterward , and any changes made in these later models would not be expected to fit or work or look right.
    HTH , Chris

  8. Thank You to emmagee1917 For This Useful Post:


  9. #6
    Legacy Member nhetzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    01-14-2024 @ 10:38 PM
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    181
    Real Name
    Nick Hetzer
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:30 AM
    Thread Starter
    jmoore, I responded to your inquiry regarding what parts I need but for some reason it didn't post. To recap: basically I have everything forward of the receiver, all the furniture, and a completely stripped receiver with the exception of the actual safety switch on the tang. So I would need the complete bolt assembly, complete trigger assembly including the housing, and all of the related screws, springs, and buttons (release). The problem is that I don't want to spend money on parts that are for a different "520" and not fit in my gun. I can find stuff for the old 520 all day long but have no idea if it will work in my 520-30. I don't believe so because from what I understand the older one had an elongated receiver. Maybe that didn't matter, I don't know. So that's where I'm at.
    I would like to try and find as much of the complete sets as possible instead of building them piece by piece. Like a "complete trigger group" and "complete bolt assembly". It just cuts down on the chance that the pieces won't quite work as well together. I have seen with older guns that due to wear, sometimes each assembly becomes its own little jigsaw puzzle with pieces that don't interchange very well, or at all, with the same parts from another gun. If anybody knows where I can find the correct parts for this gun I would be greatly appreciative if you could point me in the right direction. Thanks again everyone.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Stevens parts?
    By nhetzer in forum Military Shotguns
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 01-18-2012, 11:25 PM
  2. New Stevens 416
    By Calfed in forum .22 Smallbore
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-22-2010, 01:15 AM
  3. Stevens 416 bolt
    By na80 in forum Gunsmithing for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-18-2010, 08:48 AM
  4. stevens 77E
    By raburrows2001 in forum Military Shotguns
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-25-2010, 10:10 PM
  5. Stevens 620
    By coneten in forum Military Shotguns
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 08-22-2009, 12:27 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks