Savage Stevens accuracy??

[saskgunowner101]

Just bought a Stevens in 223 recently. Just wondering what acceptable accuracy would be for one of these, around 300 meters.

I'm shooting Remington umc 55 grain MC ammo, off an old (mostly stable) table, and a bipod. Scope is Tasco 6x-24x Varmint.

So far I've put about 60 shots down range, and the groups are about 3.5 to 5 inches. I already think the scope is the weak link here, but with an improved scope, what could I expect??

For what its worth, I was just happy to be hitting the target, as I usually shoot rimfire out to 100 m max, centerfire not much further.

I also had to deal with a crosswind, not too strong, but a dead on hold had the group over about 8 inches.

Anyways, thoughts and opinions welcomed.

Weather conditions +30, sunny, mix of 3 and 5 shot groups. Cooling between groups, not between shots, if this matters.

 

[Barracuda]

if its the rifle shooting that and not you (no offense) then it should go back. I have never heard of a stevens shooting that sloppy

 

[CeeZer]

Savage's (and Stevens') strongest point is their barrels. AFAIK, most if not all of them shoot damn good. Your scope, mount, light bullets and wind may be part of the problem. If it's a new rifle, put another 100rds and see...

 

[Thad]

Not exactly a precision rifle here or like you said your Tasco scope could be improved. Spend some more on the scope and a few more rounds and see what happens, but I do believe you get what you pay for... I agree with CeeZer heavier bullets may help.

 

[Barracuda]

Not exactly a precision rifle here or like you said your Tasco scope could be improved. Spend some more on the scope and a few more rounds and see what happens, but I do believe you get what you pay for... I agree with CeeZer heavier bullets may help.

"A fool and his money is soon parted " LOL!

if what you were saying were true then there would be no good prices, smart investments and quality products, houseing, meals or anything that is bought and sold by mankind be it tagible or intangible unless the price was higher then the Joneses .
I truely hope that you dont work the market or count on investments for your earnings.

you stick to that ideology cause we need one born every minute

 

[maynard]

I would be taking a closer look at the ammo before putting blame on the scope. Some good handloads with 69 gr SMK's, 75 gr. Hornady AMax's or even some 80 gr SMK's will shrink those groups considerably.
If you are shooting in the wind it will blow those light bullets 8 inches or more at 300m, that's what the knobs on the side of the scope are for. More important than horizontal dispersion (when shooting in the wind), is what you are getting for vertical dispersion.. Learning to read the wind isn't as easy as some people think.

 

[PEI ROB]

Drop to 200 yards and try match ammo or winchester white box 45gr varmit. Wind can really push those little bullets around, even a little wind.

 

[gth]

300m and UMC ammo. I would consider 3-4" groups superb performance from a stock stevens.

I run a Neck sized only reload in a bone stock stevens 200 (.223rem) and a busnell 3200 (3-9x40) and I wouldnt expect much better than 3"@ 300m. Actually I would be pretty happy with it.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

300M and a wind that blows the bullets 8" off course, I don't think that's a bad grouping. Wait for more favorable conditions and try again. Too early to judge and perhaps not the best conditions.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Properly bedded and fed ammo it likes, sub MOA should be doable at 300m.

Definitely look into handloading. Shooting bulk ammo with crappy bullets is no way to find precision accuracy. Compound that with wobbly rests and conditions, and I would be thrilled with your results.

75gr Amax is the best LR bullet for that barrel. Use Varget, CCI 450 in Lee Collet sized Win brass. You can seat the OAL to feed out of the mag. go up in 1 tenth increments starting at 24gr and working up to 25gr. Yes, barrels can be that picky in such a small case.

Odds are you find a 1/2 min load somewhere in there.

Watch barrel heat as much over hand warm is going to cause the pipe to spray. From cool, I figure you have 5 to 8rds before your groups open way up given the hot ambient temps. Get a cooler with ice cold water and rags. Wrap the barrel to cool quickly. Keep an eye on accuracy vs rd count vs ambient temp.

The factory pipes are very accurate but not stress relieved well so they will walk when they get hot.

Better optics will always improve your shooting because you can't hit what you can't see. For low buck performance, the Elite 3200 10X is a mainstay. The variables from Elite 3200 and Nikon Buckmaster will serve you well.

next up are the Nikon Monarchs and Elite 4200. for what you are doing, this is going to give you performance better then the rifle can shoot.

You will need some Burris Sig rings w/inserts to shim for longer distances. The 223 needs all the up your scope can provide.
Jerry

 

[saskgunowner101]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm not blaming the rifle at all, think its the guy behind it. At 100 meters, I get 1-1.5 inch groups( -.22), but I can obviously see the target well.

But on the bright side of things, my youngest son was impressed! Wow!! Dad shot a target so far away, we had to take a quad ride to go see it!

A little more practice, different ammo, time will tell.

 

[mikeelliot]

yikes, i have shot consistent .3-.5 inch (3 shot 100yd) groups with my Stevens...its glass bedded and trigger tweeked down a little, Bushnell 3200 10X in Burris rings.

Varget and 69gr SMK work amazing in mine.

 

[Silverado]

If you don't reload, try getting your hands on some Federal Gold Medal Match ammo with the 69gr SMK. It's pricey, but it will give you a fair idea of what your rifle will do.

 

[Obtunded]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm not blaming the rifle at all, think its the guy behind it. At 100 meters, I get 1-1.5 inch groups( -.22), but I can obviously see the target well.

But on the bright side of things, my youngest son was impressed! Wow!! Dad shot a target so far away, we had to take a quad ride to go see it!

A little more practice, different ammo, time will tell.

This is a completely acceptable and predictable group with a $350 factory gun shooting factory ammo. It is a hunting rifle, not a precision target rifle.

 

[svt-40]

Just bought a Stevens in 223 recently. Just wondering what acceptable accuracy would be for one of these, around 300 meters.

I'm shooting Remington umc 55 grain MC ammo, off an old (mostly stable) table, and a bipod. Scope is Tasco 6x-24x Varmint.

So far I've put about 60 shots down range, and the groups are about 3.5 to 5 inches.

This is what I have. The base is a one piece Leupold with Leupold medium rings.
You are doing just fine considering what I bolded in your post. Get into reloading and your groups will shrink to a couple inches.