I'm not naive enough to believe that cost has anything to do with accuracy in factory rifles...I've seen Sakos shoot bad groups too...and I hear that more than a few Kimbers are not stellar in the accuracy department...I just prefer the Rem 700 action to the Savage/Stevens....
Stevens 200
- Thread starter andycal
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Rembo, the attraction is that your Rem cost twice as much as the Stevens and shoots as well.
There was a time, only a few years back, that at very prominent premium bullet maker considered their hunting bullet to be within spec if it held 1.5min at 100yds. Not bad performance for 50cents a piece.
Most cheapie REM and WIN bulk hunting bullets were hovering in the MOA range. The better Nosler BT, Hornady interlocks 1/2Min or better in the same time period.
Today, most poly tipped hunting bullets will hold 1/2 MOA or better. All quality varmint bullets 1/4 min.
If you get a chance to play with the Stevens, 75gr Amax over Varget or Benchmark, CCI BR4 primers in Win brass. Seat the bullets out so they are just off the lands for max accuracy.
If the action is properly bedded, I bet you see your groups shrink. They certainly did with mine.
Jason Yuke, enjoy all the extra money you will have selling off your gear. It is an ongoing debate that those who don't own Stevens don't believe that they shoot so well. Or how poorly their high dollar rifles shoot.
Accuracy is all about barrels and bullets. If a $300 dollar rifle has an equal/better pipe then one costing much more, the cheapie will shoot better when fed what it likes.
All of the rifles you speak of are accurate and function very well. However, for me, no measureable difference.
O-60 in 6secs is the same whether done with a $20000 or $80000 car. Both will also likely get you to the grocery store and pub.
Most plastic stocks share the same issues whether from Rem, Tikka, Savage or Win.
Jerry
There was a time, only a few years back, that at very prominent premium bullet maker considered their hunting bullet to be within spec if it held 1.5min at 100yds. Not bad performance for 50cents a piece.
Most cheapie REM and WIN bulk hunting bullets were hovering in the MOA range. The better Nosler BT, Hornady interlocks 1/2Min or better in the same time period.
Today, most poly tipped hunting bullets will hold 1/2 MOA or better. All quality varmint bullets 1/4 min.
If you get a chance to play with the Stevens, 75gr Amax over Varget or Benchmark, CCI BR4 primers in Win brass. Seat the bullets out so they are just off the lands for max accuracy.
If the action is properly bedded, I bet you see your groups shrink. They certainly did with mine.
Jason Yuke, enjoy all the extra money you will have selling off your gear. It is an ongoing debate that those who don't own Stevens don't believe that they shoot so well. Or how poorly their high dollar rifles shoot.
Accuracy is all about barrels and bullets. If a $300 dollar rifle has an equal/better pipe then one costing much more, the cheapie will shoot better when fed what it likes.
All of the rifles you speak of are accurate and function very well. However, for me, no measureable difference.
O-60 in 6secs is the same whether done with a $20000 or $80000 car. Both will also likely get you to the grocery store and pub.
Most plastic stocks share the same issues whether from Rem, Tikka, Savage or Win.
Jerry
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I hear ya....there's a reason I don't have the entire collection of 200's in my gun safe instead of my few custom SS 700's.
Still fun to have a beater for under $300 though....
I hear ya Jerry....my Rem 223 cost three times as much as the Stevens, it's a stainless BDL action with a King fluted barrel in an LVSF stock....but I like it better so it's worth the extra $$ to me,...to others maybe the Stevens is all they want...that's fine.
and it is all about barrels and bullets......the Savage has a great button rifled barrel...and decent bedding with the steel pillars,...that and the floating bolt head is why they shoot well. I just prefer a floorplate and a better trigger on a varmint rifle.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
The only reason I buy Stevens is because I want the action and get rid of most everything else.
That 223 I was talking about shot 3/8min at 100yds and 1/2min at 200yds using the 75gr Amax loads. This was duplicated by other shooters. All with the factory pipe. It now has a rifle basix 2 trigger group, Choate Varminter stock properly bedded, Pac Nor 7 twist match barrel, and a bit of internal massaging. Waiting for an MOA scope base and new scope to play beyond 1000m.
Yes, the orig trigger is heavy for varmint/target work and easily swapped out. For varminting an SSS unit is very nice and can go 12ozs with no creep or overtravel. About 10min swap and setup. Roughly $100 to purchase.
For very light match pulls, the Rifle Basix 2 is approx $150/175 and works like a charm.
With the addition or either trigger group, you are still way below any Rem.
If a 1.5lbs trigger is all that is desired, get the Savage with Accutrigger and the heavy barrel. Pick the stock that fits your fancy and you have a superb shooter for way less then any factory rifle.
That floating bolt head is really what sets this action above all commercial actions. The normal out of whack QC/production in ALL production rifles is taken care off by that wobbly bolt head. Both lugs will ALWAYS contact the receiver.
The Savage/Stevens actions have a lock up as tight and true as any custom or tuned action. I have run enough toasty loads through a dozen actions of various styles and age of production to know this characteristics is consistent. The ejected cases show no bulging, bending or runout issues ie the cases come out concentric and square to the boreline.
How can you beat that for $150??????? (buy the rifle, sell off the parts, keep the bare action). Use the money to pick up some quality aftermarket parts and you have a dirt cheap tack driver.
As for demand, I see that your sale took 2 minutes by your account. I wonder how long it would take you to sell a Rem these days????
Jerry
That 223 I was talking about shot 3/8min at 100yds and 1/2min at 200yds using the 75gr Amax loads. This was duplicated by other shooters. All with the factory pipe. It now has a rifle basix 2 trigger group, Choate Varminter stock properly bedded, Pac Nor 7 twist match barrel, and a bit of internal massaging. Waiting for an MOA scope base and new scope to play beyond 1000m.
Yes, the orig trigger is heavy for varmint/target work and easily swapped out. For varminting an SSS unit is very nice and can go 12ozs with no creep or overtravel. About 10min swap and setup. Roughly $100 to purchase.
For very light match pulls, the Rifle Basix 2 is approx $150/175 and works like a charm.
With the addition or either trigger group, you are still way below any Rem.
If a 1.5lbs trigger is all that is desired, get the Savage with Accutrigger and the heavy barrel. Pick the stock that fits your fancy and you have a superb shooter for way less then any factory rifle.
That floating bolt head is really what sets this action above all commercial actions. The normal out of whack QC/production in ALL production rifles is taken care off by that wobbly bolt head. Both lugs will ALWAYS contact the receiver.
The Savage/Stevens actions have a lock up as tight and true as any custom or tuned action. I have run enough toasty loads through a dozen actions of various styles and age of production to know this characteristics is consistent. The ejected cases show no bulging, bending or runout issues ie the cases come out concentric and square to the boreline.
How can you beat that for $150??????? (buy the rifle, sell off the parts, keep the bare action). Use the money to pick up some quality aftermarket parts and you have a dirt cheap tack driver.
As for demand, I see that your sale took 2 minutes by your account. I wonder how long it would take you to sell a Rem these days????
Jerry
no one has the explain to me why they buy a Stevens...they are very good value......let's see how long it takes to sell a Remington.....
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ok. I'll be the first then. Here's a couple of pics of mine in 300WM
The scope is a Bushnell Banner dusk & dawn 4-16x40mm with an illuminated reticle. You can make the 200 even uglier than it comes out of the box by putting on one of those slip on recoil pads (see pic)
I wouldn't call what they put on there a butt "plate"...to me a plate would imply it's metal. The plastic one on the 200 is more like the hardness of a hockey puck frozen in liquid nitrogen I've found that 57 grains of IMR4064 under a 180 SPBT works really well. Overall, I'm very pleased with it.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1535.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1531.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1532.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1533.jpg
Yes. 300WM are pretty good at making stuff explode, rather than just punching holes. I've shot quite a few 1 gallon milk jugs full of water. I haven't tried frozen ones yet.
The scope is a Bushnell Banner dusk & dawn 4-16x40mm with an illuminated reticle. You can make the 200 even uglier than it comes out of the box by putting on one of those slip on recoil pads (see pic)
I wouldn't call what they put on there a butt "plate"...to me a plate would imply it's metal. The plastic one on the 200 is more like the hardness of a hockey puck frozen in liquid nitrogen I've found that 57 grains of IMR4064 under a 180 SPBT works really well. Overall, I'm very pleased with it.http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1535.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1531.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1532.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb93/blacksmithden/IMGP1533.jpg
Yes. 300WM are pretty good at making stuff explode, rather than just punching holes. I've shot quite a few 1 gallon milk jugs full of water. I haven't tried frozen ones yet.
Yeah, more pictures of a Stevens 200.
They are a great rifle for a 300 dollar beater, I have a few. However, they are not better built or more accurate than any of my other rifles. They are accurate for the price, but I prefer the Tikka, Vanguard or Remington for quality and I would say they are all worth the extra money.
But if you are looking for a 223 or 22-250 to burn out on gophers, then they are fine.
The most accurate rifle I have had so far, was a Winchester super shadow in 223 wssm. I sold it a couple of months ago and regret it now. It was shooting 1/4 to 1/2" groupings out of the box with factory ammo. None of the 5 stevens 200's even come close to comparing to it. Maybe 1" groupings on a good day, mostly closer to 1 1/2". That was with 5 different ones using handloads. I would not list the Stevens as a tackdriver by any means, but accurate enough for hunting big game. The super shadow was also only 200 bucks more than the stevens.....
They are a great rifle for a 300 dollar beater, I have a few. However, they are not better built or more accurate than any of my other rifles. They are accurate for the price, but I prefer the Tikka, Vanguard or Remington for quality and I would say they are all worth the extra money.
But if you are looking for a 223 or 22-250 to burn out on gophers, then they are fine.
The most accurate rifle I have had so far, was a Winchester super shadow in 223 wssm. I sold it a couple of months ago and regret it now. It was shooting 1/4 to 1/2" groupings out of the box with factory ammo. None of the 5 stevens 200's even come close to comparing to it. Maybe 1" groupings on a good day, mostly closer to 1 1/2". That was with 5 different ones using handloads. I would not list the Stevens as a tackdriver by any means, but accurate enough for hunting big game. The super shadow was also only 200 bucks more than the stevens.....
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Me too...just giving you the gears for selling the thing before the dust even collected on it
I MUCH prefer the Rem 700 trigger and action w/regards to fit, feel, and function and would not personally pick a Stevens 200 for my serious big game needs.
Having said all that, I do get a grin on my face everytime my little Stevens 200 in 223 Rem rings the 8"x8" 500yd gong w/cheap ammo...close to 1000 rounds of shooting, 1 half assed cleaning job, and still banging away with very decent accuracy.
They are what they are and in the end they're simply an entry level Savage.
While I'll not rush out to build a custom on one anytime soon, for $300 they still represent a smokin' value in todays firearms world.
Plus, I killed this lynx with mine the other day...it owes me nothing!
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I just got one in 7mm08 and it's great for the money....
Shoot's 120's and 150's at 1.5" at 100 yards....If you take the one flier out it's under 1"...With a little trigger work I'm sure the flier will go away.
Everybody should own at least one
Russ...
Shoot's 120's and 150's at 1.5" at 100 yards....If you take the one flier out it's under 1"...With a little trigger work I'm sure the flier will go away.
Everybody should own at least one
Russ...
funny how when these were called the Savage 110F...or whatever model name Savage stuck on thier lowest priced 110 they were considered a "cheap" rifle......but now with the Stevens name on them everybody wants one...marketing I guess......
