~$600 .223 without optics
- Thread starter Mammoth
- Start date
It depends. Using an aftermarket barrel is not a guarantee for better accuracy. Especially when one is limiting themselves with factory ammo. Regardless of brand preference, a stock rifle is potentially just as accurate under the circustances you've presented.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
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It's only a matter of time before he gets into handloading!
You can get a boyds stock for your stevens, and put an aftermarket barrel on one for not much more than your paying for the remington. How you could argue a stock Remington is a better option is beyond me?
ultimate_monkey
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- victoria BC
agreed BUT if he is a new shooter as he (OP) says factory ammo or handloaded the rifle will probably be able to shoot better then he can for the time being.. so its sort of a catch 22 regardless of what choice he goes with..
id put my vote in for the remmington (depending on what modle of the 700) simply because its ready to go, they are great shooters out of the box no waiting / paying for a gun smith to assemble.. basically add optics and go and if there is any problems with it its a simple (hope) factory warranty issue
- Location
- victoria bc
For simpicity go for the rem700, for something more exotic put a 1-8 twist AI barrel on the savage...
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Either rifle is good. See what feels good for now. Eventually you'll upgrade and they are both fairly easy to buy aftermarket parts for. If you do go with a savage, make sure you don't get the new ones with the rounded barrel nut. It makes it harder to remove if you get the smooth barrel nut. I don't think that will be a problem as the stevens 200 seems to still be using the notched barrel nut. You'll want to get into reloading though if you are going with a match grade barrel otherwise just stick with the stock barrel.
I have a feeling the 223 AI isn't exactly beginner friendly as he is buying factory ammo.
Dont forget an important part of an accurate target rifle.........The Trigger.
The stock trigger on a Remmy is much better than the stock trigger on the Stevens. Add another 150-200 for a Basix, or Timney on the Stevens.
The stock trigger on a Remmy is much better than the stock trigger on the Stevens. Add another 150-200 for a Basix, or Timney on the Stevens.
I always laugh when I see answers like this one. The OP is a novice shooter. He doesn't need to start swapping barrels, stocks, and triggers the day after he buys his first rifle. He needs experience, i.e. trigger time. If he learns to shoot and enjoys it, he will undoubtedly start reloading and tinkering.
Mammoth, either gun is fine for your purposes, and either one has lots of aftermarket goodies available later if you're so inclined. Buy the gun that fits you and feels comfortable when you handle it, shoot it a bunch, and enjoy yourself. When you want to get into it a bit deeper, probably the first thing to move into will be reloading, if only to lower your ammo costs.
Have fun.
John
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
I just feel that buying a Rem that you are gonna pay alot for, then just strip it to an action and start from scratch is a waste of money! You aint gonna use an SPS stock if you are gonna do a build, your gonna chuck the barrel anyways soon enough, and you are paying alot more for these parts with the Rem than the Stevens.
The other thing is if you want to shoot 1/2 MOA you need a rifle that is capable of doing that in the first place! If the Rem will only shoot MOA(which the Stevens does for 1/2 the price), and no better you are just gonna frustrate the #### out of yourself trying to do better.
If you buy the custom barreled Stevens you can never blame the gun, and it will force you to focus on other things!
- Location
- victoria bc
you can shoot factory ammo through a AI chamber...
You're right, of course. The OP is no doubt planning on stripping whatever he buys down to its component parts, and then swapping out half of those components before he fires a shot. It is critical that his gun be capable of 1/2MOA immediately, even if he is not. I've started off a couple of new shooters over the years, and none of them want to take the gun out of the box and shoot it right away. They all want to do a build first. All of them, from the first shot fired, are more accurate than their guns are.
Mammoth, you're faced here with two totally different ideas about what is best for you. Both ideas are worth what they cost you. Be prepared for the same kind of diverse answers when you ask about scopes, mounts, techniques, etc. Go with what feels right, and don't expect to always make the right choice. Making mistakes and learning to correct them is half the fun.
John
Mammoth, you're faced here with two totally different ideas about what is best for you. Both ideas are worth what they cost you. Be prepared for the same kind of diverse answers when you ask about scopes, mounts, techniques, etc. Go with what feels right, and don't expect to always make the right choice. Making mistakes and learning to correct them is half the fun.
John
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Savage w/ accutrigger and a HB with whatever stock floats your boat. If the goal is the upgrade stocks in the future, do it now. Aftermarket stocks are not always easy to get and can get real pricey. One of the few times, factory set up is cheaper in the long run.
Within your budget, the Savage 12FV (or whatever it is called now). BVSS is about $150 more but it will offer you SO MUCH more that is makes a worthy upgrade.
Accutrigger is one of the best triggers on the market out of the box and will serve you well for many years. many never 'upgrade'.
Rem X mark Pro is not exactly the most desired trigger group on the market.
223 9twist will shoot both factory and handloads very well. 1/2 min is not out of the questions with the factory barrel and handloads. 223 varmint ammo is some of the most accurate factory ammo you can buy. Win white box 40gr bulk stuff usually shoots sub MOA in most factory rifles.
When you start reloading, you can put in 75gr Amax or Bergers and shoot as far as you want.
Most important is get any factory rifle bedded properly.
The Savage will allow you to quickly and inexpensive change whatever part you want down the road. But if you get into handloading, you may find a 12 BVSS all you will ever want in a LR target rifle.
At least until you burn out the barrel 5000rds later.
Enjoy your quest....
Jerry
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
This is exactly what I did, and will see how the barrel works out. Hopefully I can dial in some loads and have fun with it for now, but in the end I know I will be adding a barrel, and possibly a trigger.
One thing with the Stevens is that stocks are harder to find, or need to be fitted if you get one for the older action.
But from what I have read, and just putting 20 rounds of cheap .223 through her, the Savage 12 BVSS is a bargain at $800.
Sell the barrel for $100, and add a Shillen for $400, and you have a pretty nice rifle for $1100!
Anyone want a Savage 12 BVSS takeoff? 26 inches, stainless, fluted, 1-9 twist. LOL
