Savage/Stevens bolt action 30-30 rifles?

MadDog said:
I think what you had there was either a model 40 (uncheckered) or a model 45 (checkered). They were only made in 30-06, 30-30, 250 Sav and 300 Sav. The 340's only came in one of those calibers (30-30).;)
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Then for sure Joe, you will be correct. I was only guessing at the model number.
Also, in that case it would be 40. Was that action as weak as it looked? It must have been strong enough, because my brother had some pretty stiff 200 grain Barnes bullets loaded up and I shot them in it.
 
Why not? said:
For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would want one of these rifles?

More than that, why would someone pay $300+ for a used one, when there are so many better choices out there for the same or very little more brand new?

For instance, why would you pay $300, used, for a 340 in 30-30, when you can buy a Stevens 200, new, in any caliber you want for $350.

And, yes, I have owned a 340, a 30-30, and shot two more, a 222 and a 225. :)

Fire away, my brothers!

Ted
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Nostalgia. Shot my first deer with a Stevens 325 borrowed from a friend.

$300 ! Yikes. I paid half that for my Model 325, and question the wisdom of it :)
 
SuperCub said:
A Savage 99 in 30/30 is pretty cool as well.
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Had one of those once, too. And you're right about them.... ;)

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
Kilo Charlie said:
One reason, Ted, is that some folks really, really want a .30-30 bolt rifle, not something newer or flatter-shooting. Myself, I'd rather have back the 340 I sold than to have a brand new cheap rifle in any other chambering. I am a huge .30-30 fan myself. And they may want to own a classic rifle, which, though homely, the .340 is.
I'd go close to 300 for a very good example with a decent scope. Unscoped, yup, about 200 bucks.
To go a little further into your original question about why anyone would want one?

.30-30 cartridge: Excellent balance of killing power and recoil, ammo cheap and available, easy to reload, pointy bullets available as components or ammo, easy on the shoulder, historic cartridge well proven.....

Rifle: greater range than bow or spear. Easy to learn to use.

Savage 340: Plain but serviceable. Mine was MOA accurate with handloads (using a 3-9X32 scope). Detachable mag for those who like them, myself included. Inexpensive when new, still generally cheap, though often overpriced IN THE EE.

As I said, I wish I had kept mine, happy though I am with the Marlin 336 I traded it towards.
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Well said, I also have a Savage 340 A (30-30). I picked it up for $80 to practice bluing. I have a buddy making a custom yew wood stock for it right now and I will probably start my son on it when he is old enough. I like the 30-30 and the small frame of this rifle.

Cheers,
 
wheelin_ca said:
340s came in 222, 223, 25 win, and 3030

variants also came in 22 hornet

I just got a 222 savage 340... seems like a decent little old rifle
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Actually, it was 225 Win. I played with one for a day, and took it back the next day. It was accurate enough for hunting chucks, but the roughest action I ever used.

Our neighbour across the street had one in 22 Hornet, and the accuracy was dismal with factory ammo.

senior said:
Well Ted we quite often disagree on things but you hit the nail right on the head with the Sav-Stevens bolt gun. I heard how wonderfull they were a few yrs back, what with beong able to use pointy bullets an all. I got a chance to aquire one of those fine machines & so I did.
Yes you can use pointy bullets in the 30-30 :):):):)
But you have to seat them so damm'd deep to go thru the mag the bullet is already tappering inside the case by the time it gets seated :mad::mad::mad:
The actions are rough, sticky, course, unfinished the only smooth spot on the rifle is the butt stock.
& accuracy proved no hell either....course some-one will jump in with a 2" group at a thousand yards or so, other people always get mini fraction groups while the rest of us are always wondering why we got such crappy guns :cool:

Yet all aside they would make a good first timer deer rifle, if they were priced right.

& the Model 340 ain't much better.
Bud showd me one day how well his .223 shot groups at 100yds.
Yes very nice...all would have hit a small pizza sized target :rolleyes:
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My experience, exactly.

The first big game rifle I ever bought was a Model 340 in 30-30. Got it in 1962 from Charlie Parkinson in London, Ontario. Used it on one hunt, and took it back. Traded it on a Savage 110 in 270 Win with a set of Williams "peep sights" :) on it. Boys, I was sure in the groove then.

Obviously there are enough guys around who like them, and some who really like them, to keep the price up there.

One last thing: the single locking lug is a complete turn off for me. Bolt action rifles should have two locking lugs! :cool:

Enjoy them fellas. They're just not my cup of tea.

Ted
 
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sgt.rock said:
I was unaware that the 340 came in .223??? Because I thought the bolt and action liked rimmed cartridges. (222,30-30,)
Was your friends gun scoped? Using ammo the gun liked? Is he visually impaired? Cause my 340 can group .90" using my lead sled and a burris scope. (3-9x40) ..............of course it will only do this with one type of ammo, EVERYTHING else I have fed it using factory ammo shot 2" or more.
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Rimmed cartridges like the .222 eh :cool:

I'm sure it was a 223 but possibly a 222.
Yes it was scoped, off a bench with bags.
My .280 has shot a couple 1/4" groups but I wouldn't call it a 1/4" shooter. If you shoot enough groups some will be small (which we tend to boast about) & some will be LARGE (boasting...not so much) ;)
 
I have a CIL 830 in .222 and it shoots very well but can't be hot rodded due to weak extraction design.Magazines can be hard to find $$$$$$$$and temperamental but it's a workhorse not a racehorse...................Harold
 
Hey there. I don't have a Savage 30/30. But a good friend passed away last year and left me a little Sporter 30-06 Sp. I really like the size and weight of the gun. Only problem, when the family collected the possessions for my friend, they missplaced the magazine for the rifle. I've contacted Western gun parts and they have no idea what I'm talking about. It is a Savage Stevens Super Sporter, bolt action. Spread the word, ask a few folks for me,please. Its nice to have a variety of rifles on hand. Weither its an Elk,or Moose, or the Cougar thats been raizing the dogs the last few nights. Thank you.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
Many years from now the Stevens 200 will be thought of by many as the cheapest piece of trash ever made....and the 340 will still be a very affordable classic.
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"Classic" and "340" should never be used in the same sentence.

Did you ever wonder why old Savage 99s command a premium and sell quickly, and old 340s, well, don't?

Now on the flip side, if they happen to turn your crank - more power to you. You should be able to a "collector" for not a lot of money. Kind of like the guy you see at every gun show with a whole table full of Cooey .22s.
 
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