.308 Stevens 200?
- Thread starter nelly
- Start date
Wild_Thing
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- In the thick of it!
Last year's go to rifle. This year it's the Marlin XL7. Nothing wrong with either of them. Buy one in your favorite calibre. If you end up hating it, you can always flog it off on the EE.
DragonFire
CGN Regular
- Location
- mid Canada
Stick with the Savage or Steven's, the clones are not nearly as safe. The Marlin XL7 needs either a front gas baffle or a Rem extractor and 3 rings of steel. Run away from the Mossberg 4x4.
Lots of people have experience with the magnum Stevens, great design but no frills just like people asked for. Perfect basis for a precision rifle on a budget. I made a .338 Lapua out of one with a detachable mag, perhaps the next one I make will be in .338 Edge since I have a 338 Edge reamer.
Lots of people have experience with the magnum Stevens, great design but no frills just like people asked for. Perfect basis for a precision rifle on a budget. I made a .338 Lapua out of one with a detachable mag, perhaps the next one I make will be in .338 Edge since I have a 338 Edge reamer.
I have to say that the Stevens is probably one of the best buys out there. The biggest complaints are the following.
Finish & seam lines of the factory stock is CRAP. Trim and sand it to get rid of the mold lines.
Stiffen the forestock! If you plan on bench shooting or bipoding this rifle, stiffen the forestock. Off hand is fine.
Finish & seam lines of the factory stock is CRAP. Trim and sand it to get rid of the mold lines.
Stiffen the forestock! If you plan on bench shooting or bipoding this rifle, stiffen the forestock. Off hand is fine.
heavyBullet
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just off the island of MTL
Why is that ??
Heavybullet,
In the event of any type of case or primer failure, hot gases and particles are going to travel down those wide open raceways. The Savage has a front baffle and a huge rear baffle to stop and deflect gas and works extremely well. The Rem has a complete ring around the case that is countersunk into the barrel which works very well, especially when there is a total failure of the case. Although the Rem shroud and bolt handle are very similar to the XL7, when bad things happen to the Rem, all gas must fit through the tiny space between the bolt ring and the barrel countersink. Same tiny space with the front baffle on the Savage, this has a tremendous dampening effect and acts as the first stage of potection so to speak. The XL7 has nothing but the small shroud which does not cover the left raceway opening competely. Gas flowing past the boltface of the XL7 is not slowed down at all and not entirely redirected on the left side either.
In the event of any type of case or primer failure, hot gases and particles are going to travel down those wide open raceways. The Savage has a front baffle and a huge rear baffle to stop and deflect gas and works extremely well. The Rem has a complete ring around the case that is countersunk into the barrel which works very well, especially when there is a total failure of the case. Although the Rem shroud and bolt handle are very similar to the XL7, when bad things happen to the Rem, all gas must fit through the tiny space between the bolt ring and the barrel countersink. Same tiny space with the front baffle on the Savage, this has a tremendous dampening effect and acts as the first stage of potection so to speak. The XL7 has nothing but the small shroud which does not cover the left raceway opening competely. Gas flowing past the boltface of the XL7 is not slowed down at all and not entirely redirected on the left side either.
I got one in 7-08 a while back and it shot well right out of the box.
Didn't like the trigger so eventually replaced it with a RifleBasix trigger.
The stock is ugly as sin but works. She'll need a paint job in due time.
I would recommend the rifle. Just one thing to consider: look at the price difference to a Savage 111 with an AccuTrigger. If you end up replacing the trigger some day the Savage may be a better deal. That also depends on what calibre is available for the Savage. I ahve one in a bigger calibre but couldn't find one in 7-08 or 243 when I was shopping around at the time.
I've seen 243s now but am not sure if they even make 7-08.
Didn't like the trigger so eventually replaced it with a RifleBasix trigger.
The stock is ugly as sin but works. She'll need a paint job in due time.
I would recommend the rifle. Just one thing to consider: look at the price difference to a Savage 111 with an AccuTrigger. If you end up replacing the trigger some day the Savage may be a better deal. That also depends on what calibre is available for the Savage. I ahve one in a bigger calibre but couldn't find one in 7-08 or 243 when I was shopping around at the time.
I've seen 243s now but am not sure if they even make 7-08.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
got a stevens in 22-250 great little rifle, I also have a Savage 111 in 300WM with mag but no accutrigger that I use as my moose gun. Bother are good rifles.
Really? You should tell Marlin about this! I'm sure their lawyers will appreciate knowing.
Ted
My choice is a combination of "Works fine out of the box - Just add optics." and "Okay, but you get what you pay for.".
The stock is crap. The trigger is junk, too. The action is strong and reliable, and Savage knows how to cut a nice barrel for the price. The trigger and stock won't matter on a hunting gun very much, so I would suggest spending the money saved on the rifle in optics and good mounts, and then shoot it yourself to decide if the trigger is going to be a problem for you or if you're fine with it as-is. They're good no-frills hunting guns.
The stock is crap. The trigger is junk, too. The action is strong and reliable, and Savage knows how to cut a nice barrel for the price. The trigger and stock won't matter on a hunting gun very much, so I would suggest spending the money saved on the rifle in optics and good mounts, and then shoot it yourself to decide if the trigger is going to be a problem for you or if you're fine with it as-is. They're good no-frills hunting guns.
