A question to the old timers here on Gunnutz about the Stevens 200

W

Win94

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 93.6%
87   6   1
Location
Spruce Grove Alberta
Fellas, i was wondering if their was an economy rifle that was sold during the middle 80's or the 70's that offered the same accuracy with the same economy that the Stevens 200 offers my generation. In relation to salaries and the current economy, i would think back in the 80's and 70's it would be a 70.00 rifle or thereabouts. Was there anything like that back then???
 
remington 788,plain beechwood stock, no chequering.I bought two of them,a 243 ''carbine''model and a 308-still have them too.I forget what I paid for them but they were on the clearout rack at Woolco
 
Last edited:
I never thought of the 788. But in relation to inflation and whatnot, it would have to be sold at 100.00 or under i would think unless my economics are off?? Was it sold that cheaply????
 
What i am getting at is i don't think there ever was a model of rifle offered at anytime so cheaply with good accuracy and in a variety of calibers?? Correct me if i am wrong??
 
You have several variables in play here. First, wood stocks are more costly to produce than plastic stocks. Time is money, and you need to realize that from the moment a tree is felled, the price goes up. Modern manufacturing techniques also cut costs. Back 20-30 years ago, there was more hands on assembly. The Stevens 200 is an exceptional value, no two ways about it. But in my opinion, we owe it soely to the age we live in. A Winchester Model 70 Ranger is a good example of quality for the day. It used the standard action of the model 70 rifle, (Savage 10. 110) and slapped on a cheap, uncheckered stock with a blind mag. Given todays technology, these companies could have produced marvelous rifles for peanuts.
 
Last edited:
Savage 110....plastic or birch stock, blind mag, all cartridges built on the long action......sold for about $175-$200 20 years ago.....had a better trigger than the Stevens 200..had a sear adjustment screw. There's no reason why they would have been any less acurate then a Stevens 200
 
Dan, i am thinking all those were around 200.00 at the time??? I guess with the wood stocks it would be hard to trim the price down anymore. Plastics have sure helped with the pricing i guess.
 
between a Mossberg Maverick 12 guage[$180], a Stevens 200[$300] and a .22 Marlin 795[$130] you could outfit yourself to hunt pretty much everything with brand new equipment for $610 plus tax ands shipping-not bad value for the buck[SIR prices]
 
Last edited:
"...would have to be sold at 100.00 or under..." Nope. MSRP on a 788 in 1976 was $124.95US. A Savage 110 listed at $145.00US in standard calibres. $159.85 for magnums.
"...don't think there ever was a..." Yep. In the 70's, aside from the Savage 110, Winchester Ranger and Rem 788, you could buy a Cooey centrefire. They'd still cost you about two weeks pay.
 
Cheap rifles

1966 GEM Store (Government Employee Members) No 4 Mk1 unissued packed in grease in a wooden box - $25.00 It would shoot a 4" group at 100 yds. And at that time a first year plumbing apprentice would make $42.00 a week before deductions.
 
I bought a Stevens 223 when they first came out- $295.00

If you were a dishwasher working for me, you could pay for one by working for about 2.5 shifts...(before tax)
 
I got my parker hale 22-250 with scope for $135.00(used) from a gun dealer in 1976. It was considered expensive then but what they are worth now is exceptional. mine is operated now by my son and a grandson. hundreds of rounds or so down the tube.... but still as good today as when I bought it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom