Stock & Trigger Choice (Stevens 200)

[novega]

I'm getting ready to upgrade from the flimsy factory stock and gritty trigger of my Stevens 200 in .308.

I've done a fair bit of research and given some serious thought into how much I want to spend on this rifle. I have a rough idea of what I want to end up with, and I'm trying to be realistic with both my skill and expectations...

- I accept that I'm the weakest link...I'm not that great of a shot.
- I'm not planning on competing and don't think that I'm able to shoot itty bitty groups all day long. I just want to be able to have fun with friends and get some decent grouping.
- I'd be satisfied with 3-4" @ 200yds, although tighter is better

What's it going to take for me to get there? I've been practicing my fundamentals on my .22 and haven't really shot the Stevens much as I'd like to because the stock is REALLY flimsy and I feel like I'm wasting my time.

I was looking at Mystic's website and posts...I see he's carrying both the B&C Medallist and the Choate Tactical, both are around $300, both are the same "style", are there any major differences? One drastically better than the other? I've never had the chance the lay my hands on either model so I'm kinda unsure which would feel better, but anything has to be better than the factory stock.

As far as triggers go, is there a big difference between the Timney for $110 and a RB SAV-2 for almost $200? My gut tells me I won't notice the difference at my skill level. Thoughts?

Finally, later on down the road (maybe within the year) I'd like to get a different barrel. I find the little pencil thin barrel tends to heat up pretty quick. I'm thinking Shillen SelectMatch 308, 27", 1-10, #7 Contour, would work well for me.

Anyone have any input?

 

[justsomeguy]

Call Jerry at Mystic, he will give you the answers you seek......called today to give cc info to him for an email order and ended up talking to him for over half an hour!!!

Great guy.

 

[kmartel]

I have a fully customized Stevens 200 with a choate Custom tactical stock, timney trigger, shilen ss match barrel, savage 110ba bolt knob. It is a treat to shoot and very very accurate. The choate stocks are a great value IMO and the timney trigger is as well. I have been told by a few folks (jerry included) that the timney will serve the average shooter JUST fine and unless you are a very picky benchrest or competition shooter it will probably be great! The rifle basix from what I understand is just able to be tuned lighter than the timney (less than 1lb and the timney being 1.5lbs min) and a tad more "adjustable". I have a savage target accutrigger on my .223 that is tuned to 8oz at the moment, and honestly it IS nice, but nothing wrong with the crisp, repeatable and predictable performance of the timney on the stevens. As for the barrel, you will probably love the Shilen. For the money they are also a great value. If you want a very robust and affordable upgraded stock for that baby I could sell you a choate ultimate sniper fairly cheap... It's not everyone's cup of tea but it's miles ahead of that flimsy dinghy oar the stevens comes with
Good luck with your build, Jerry is an excellent source of information and products and highly regarded and supported by many of us in the sport and he will probably be happy to help you along.

 

[Crashman]

I can give you some insight on your stock and barrel choices from a beginner's perspective. I had a rifle built two years ago with very similar specs that you are talking about for your rifle. Mine was a Savage action with the hunting accu-trigger, with a Shilen Select Match Barrel, and a Choate tactical style stock. This rifle was a real shooter, I don't consider myself anything other than a complete green horn when it comes to long range shooting, but that rifle made me look good!

The Shilen barrel was very easy to work with, very forgiving of my beginner level reloading knowledge and it shot everything I shoved down it well. It was also easy to clean, those barrels are hand lapped and they take a while to get to the point that requires cleaning and when they do, I found it almost effortless to bring it back to a crystal clean state.

The Choate stock was quite comfortable too, mine did not have all the adjustability built into it so I had to add a cheek piece to it to get my pumpkin head in the right spot behind my optics. My rifle had the factory Savage DM, but I wanted to upgrade to CDI bottom metal but found the stock needed to be milled to get the bottom metal to fit properly. I am not a machinist, and there was no one around here to help me so I left it with the factory set up. I found the material a little puzzling too, it is made of some type of roto-molded plastic, or maybe injection molding. It is not a hand laid fiber glass stock, but, it had great ergonomics for me and was more than stiff enough to work very well.

I hope this helps a little, and good luck with your new project!

 

[tranman]

I went with the Choate custom tactical and a Rifle basix Sav-2 trigger. That trigger is amazing, thats all I can say.

 

[cptchaos]

Email Mystic (Jerry) and you will find him to be a wealth of knowledge. He just built a .223 for me based on a Stevens action and it is very good. This was a very reasonable build and I got every dollar's worth. Jerry can point you in the right direction.

I'm getting ready to upgrade from the flimsy factory stock and gritty trigger of my Stevens 200 in .308.

I've done a fair bit of research and given some serious thought into how much I want to spend on this rifle. I have a rough idea of what I want to end up with, and I'm trying to be realistic with both my skill and expectations...

- I accept that I'm the weakest link...I'm not that great of a shot.
- I'm not planning on competing and don't think that I'm able to shoot itty bitty groups all day long. I just want to be able to have fun with friends and get some decent grouping.
- I'd be satisfied with 3-4" @ 200yds, although tighter is better

What's it going to take for me to get there? I've been practicing my fundamentals on my .22 and haven't really shot the Stevens much as I'd like to because the stock is REALLY flimsy and I feel like I'm wasting my time.

I was looking at Mystic's website and posts...I see he's carrying both the B&C Medallist and the Choate Tactical, both are around $300, both are the same "style", are there any major differences? One drastically better than the other? I've never had the chance the lay my hands on either model so I'm kinda unsure which would feel better, but anything has to be better than the factory stock.

As far as triggers go, is there a big difference between the Timney for $110 and a RB SAV-2 for almost $200? My gut tells me I won't notice the difference at my skill level. Thoughts?

Finally, later on down the road (maybe within the year) I'd like to get a different barrel. I find the little pencil thin barrel tends to heat up pretty quick. I'm thinking Shillen SelectMatch 308, 27", 1-10, #7 Contour, would work well for me.

Anyone have any input?

 

[warrenb]

Novega,

I would start reloading and shooting that stevens more. If you swap out the trigger and use it to practice bedding, then 3 and 4 inch groups at 200 yards are not only possible but quite likely. I know my original stevens 223 would put 20 shots (fired slowly)into 4 inches at 300 yards. This was with 69 SMKs (handloads). I think just reloading and shooting more you will learn alot.


Its been upgraded with another stock and a shilen barrel and is my most comfortable and acurate rifle to shoot at the bench and tends to keep multiple shots below 3/4 MOA at 300 yards (in even fairly poor conditions). I think I'm a 3/4 MOA shooter consistantly lol!. I have the timney on it and it works, but is way over priced for what it is in my oppinion.

 

[PEI ROB]

The Timney is just the trigger piece, it is not a complete trigger assembly. I would not pay $10 for a Timney trigger let alone $110. Kind of like changing the steering wheel of a Camaro and expecting it to handle like a Ferrari. The SSS comp and the Rifle Basix Sav 2 triggers are worth the money. Your skill level will increase extremely fast if you put a little effort into it and you will appreciate a better trigger. If your handy, a cheap laminate stock fit properly is equal to the most expensive stock you can buy. Significant weight increase with most varmit or target stocks and the barrel channel would most likely be for a heavy barrel. Don't dismiss the idea of buying a used rifle and selling yours.

Have fun regardless.

 

[redshooter]

So the Timney may be a little overpriced for what it is. It does what it's ment to do though. If your on a budget and you want to have the ability to adjust your trigger it's the least expensive way to do it that I'm aware of. It works plain and simple. I'm happy with it. My Choate stock as well, it's crude but well built. You could prob throw your rifle out the window going down the highway and it would be all that survived in a working state. If you have money to burn there are plenty of options that are better and will cost accordingly. I like to shoot and I'm not swimming in cash. Granted some stuff that is cheap is junk. If your more worried about the name on the side or how Tac cool it looks maybe a Timney trigger and Choate stock aren't for you. If you want to shoot something that will give great groups but not cost a bundle then I'd say good choice. I don't sit at home and stare at my rifle and (well, not often ). I need the money I save for gas to get to the range.

 

[flyinlead]

Get the RB sav 2 trigger, it is the best you can buy for the savage. Its only an extra 60-80 bucks all said and done.
I decided if I was going to get a trigger, do it right the first time.

(Wish I had learned this for scopes, I'm on my third now and finally happy with 32X magnification.. just need side focus.)

I don't regret getting the sav-2 one bit, sure beats the 2.5 lb accu trigger I had.

P.S. Careful, this precision stuff is very addictive!!!

 

[Gunslingr]

I want to do the exact same thing as the OP with my stevens .223, definitely tagged for interest and I hope Jerry from mystic precision comes in here soon with some input.

 

[Mystic Precision]

I want to do the exact same thing as the OP with my stevens .223, definitely tagged for interest and I hope Jerry from mystic precision comes in here soon with some input.

Happy to help answer any questions you have for the build.

As to the trigger option, decide if you want 1 to 1.5lbs or 6oz and higher.

That will determine if you go Timney/RB1 or RB2.

Bell and Carlson Medalist tactical stock - Other colours are possible too. I have the olive w/ black spiderwebs on my 223 Tactical.

Choate tactical or custom tactical

Beyond that, pick your stock, barrel, accessories and have at it.

Jerry