Stevens 200...how accurate

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willyqbc

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I acquired a savage/stevens 200 in .223 and did a bunch of different test loads for it. Best groups came in at .9 center to center. My question is with a gun in this price range is this about as good as its gonna get? Would i be wasting my time trying to improve on this....I have my doubts that this will ever be a 1/2" gun. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Chris
 
It's quite capable of 1/2"

I have two. My 308 tends to be quite picky about loads it likes, but with the right loads I can shoot dime-sized 3-shot groups, opening up to 1" or so 5-shot groups. The sporter barrel tends to heat up quickly. I actually prefer these triggers to the newer accutriggers (which are VERY good themselves) - they're adjustable for weight and overtravel. With a little tweaking and some polish, you can get a very solid trigger with nil overtravel, clean break at 2lbs or less.

Talk to mysticshooter, he builds benchrest 1000-yd guns out of these actions, and speaks highly of them.

It's a great value gun, and by far puts the remington 710 to shame. And, the 223 has a fast twist, which is actually a hard thing to find - especially in a value gun.
 
Hey Prosper, any tips on how to tune up the Stevens/Savage non-accutrigger?
I want to do some work on my Savage 11F, and I haven't found any good directions on the net.
 
I didn't really go by any guide. I just took it apart, looked at how it worked, and polished up all the working surfaces. I removed a little bit of material from the engaging face, and polished it all up in my brass tumbler overnight. This removed the bluing from the trigger, too.
There are 3 screws, one tensions the spring and trugger pull. One adjusts the safety engagement and one adjusts the overtravel. Adjust the overtravel right up until the point where the trigger won't release. Back it off ever so slightly, just enough to ensure reliable operation. Then apply a drop of nail polish or locktite to keep it in place. Next, lower the spring tension as much as possible. If you've polished the sear & taken it down to minimal travel, you'll probably get to a point where the trigger doesn't 'catch' when the bolt closes. Tighten it up a bit, and operate the bolt and trigger a few hundred times to make sure there are no accidental releases.

Lastly, put the safety on, and pull the trigger. It'll probably release. adjust the safety screw until it will not release when the safety is on, but will still release when the safety is off.

I fear I'm not explaining myself well, but it's really not that complicated. It's all quite visible, you can see how the mechanism works quite clearly - it just 'makes sense' what you need to do once you get it all apart.
 
No, that helps pretty well - I know which screw does what - but since I've got no tumbler, I was thinking polishing compound, a shotgun bore mop, and a hand drill - I'll probably start with that and some playing with the screws, without removing any metal. Mine breaks at around 4 1/2 pounds, and I'd like to take off at least one. I saw something somewhere about replacing the tension spring, and I was hoping I wouldn't have to.
 
oh don't get me wrong Scott, I'm not upset with it at all....was just wondering if it was worth the cost of components to try and tighten the groups a bit more or if that was about all the gun was capable of. Very interested in adjusting the trigger...would love to see some pics of what your talking about. I was able to do my Rem mod 700 very easily from a set of instructions...is this trigger adjustment as easy as the mod 700?

Thanks
Chris
 
scott_r said:
a gun that will shoot MOA everyday for $300 is pretty good. I would'nt be upset that you're not getting 1/2 inch groups.

Cheers!!
Click to expand...
See, that's what makes me mad.:mad:
The CAD$ is about USD$0.80, right?
The AUD$ is about USD$0.70.
But here they're charging the best part of $700 for the Stevens 200. :eek:
Now, even taking into account taxes, shipping, currency exchange, etc. can someone PLEASE tell me how we end up paying practically twice the price.:confused: :(
 
kombi1976 said:
See, that's what makes me mad.:mad:
The CAD$ is about USD$0.80, right?
The AUD$ is about USD$0.70.
But here they're charging the best part of $700 for the Stevens 200. :eek:
Now, even taking into account taxes, shipping, currency exchange, etc. can someone PLEASE tell me how we end up paying practically twice the price.:confused: :(
Click to expand...

that sucks man.
 
kombi1976 said:
See, that's what makes me mad.:mad:
The CAD$ is about USD$0.80, right?
The AUD$ is about USD$0.70.
But here they're charging the best part of $700 for the Stevens 200. :eek:
Now, even taking into account taxes, shipping, currency exchange, etc. can someone PLEASE tell me how we end up paying practically twice the price.:confused: :(
Click to expand...


What's it like for you to import firearms there? Would it make sense for you to have somebody from here ship one to you in Australia?
 
kombi1976 said:
See, that's what makes me mad.:mad:
The CAD$ is about USD$0.80, right?
The AUD$ is about USD$0.70.
But here they're charging the best part of $700 for the Stevens 200. :eek:
Now, even taking into account taxes, shipping, currency exchange, etc. can someone PLEASE tell me how we end up paying practically twice the price.:confused: :(
Click to expand...


700$.... WTF man!!!

was does a Tikka T3 retail for? a Remington 700 BDL? or a ruger 10/22?.... just curious?
 
Goose25 said:
700$.... WTF man!!!

was does a Tikka T3 retail for? a Remington 700 BDL? or a ruger 10/22?.... just curious?
Click to expand...
O.k., you asked for it.
A T3 Lite Stainless Synthetic is AUD$930.
A Rem BDL is $1250.
And Ruger 10/22s, as an semi-auto, are restricted so your average joe shooter like me can't own one.
Only rural producers(farmers) and pro shooters can own them.
I don't even want to think how much they'd cost.

bronco_mudder said:
What's it like for you to import firearms there? Would it make sense for you to have somebody from here ship one to you in Australia?
Click to expand...
Well, aint that the rub.
Why Not very kindly offered to do just that and in the past catnthehatt and I tried to work something out, but in mid January this year Australia Post, due to the machinations of a certain woman who's had no experience with firearms in her life, changed their regulations and refused to carry complete firearms, barrels, bolts, receivers and triggers anymore.
They didn't consult Customs, which pissed a whole lot of people off, and they've had big arguments with the Ministry of Trade and Customs and the firearms community.
So far Aust Post are being beligerent and although some ground has been gained the only way to ship stuff into the country these days is through a company like FedEx or DHL.
I don't have that sort of money.
In the end I pay about the same price and have a lot more paperwork.
So thankyou for you kind offers but unfortunately they have us by the balls.
 
kombi1976 said:
See, that's what makes me mad.:mad:
The CAD$ is about USD$0.80, right?
The AUD$ is about USD$0.70.
But here they're charging the best part of $700 for the Stevens 200. :eek:
Now, even taking into account taxes, shipping, currency exchange, etc. can someone PLEASE tell me how we end up paying practically twice the price.:confused: :(
Click to expand...

You guys have kangaroos, right?

It all evens out.



:p


:D
 
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