Stevens 200?
- Thread starter Power Pill
- Start date
I did search...
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stevens 200
I can't answer about beginner precision rifles but I can give you my take on the 200 as an accurate beginner rifle for shooting targets.
In my oppinion the stevens 200 makes an especially good beginner rifle. They tend to be pretty acurrate out of the box. Theres a good chance they'l be around MOA (give or take a little) for 5 shots @ 100 yards with the right ammo.
If you bed them, strengthen the fore end, swap out the trigger, then do some load development, its not impossible that you could be regularly shooting around half MOA @ 100.
They are not without their faults however. The stock is cheap, the trigger is heavy and the bolt lift is also heavy. Also the skinny stock fore end is not conducive to consistent bag position in my opp.
But due to the fact that the gun is so cheap in the first place, you don't have to be so worried about learning how to do your own mods. It is in this respect that I think they are great for a beginner who wants to learn this stuff.
I had never owned a bolt action rifle until I bought my stevens 200. Although the bolt action appears simple compared to semis and pumps, I found there is an awful lot to learn about them if you want to get the most out of your shooting.
Later you can spin on a barrel and maybe switch out the stock and you have your own home built semi custom rifle.
But there are also a lot of reasons to buy a Remmy, higher end Savage, Tikka etc as an alternate choice. In the end, you spend money here or you spend money there but you spend money.
BTW, after waiting over 9 months for my stock, if I was doing this again I would buy a Savage BVSS with a suitable bolt face.
I can't answer about beginner precision rifles but I can give you my take on the 200 as an accurate beginner rifle for shooting targets.
In my oppinion the stevens 200 makes an especially good beginner rifle. They tend to be pretty acurrate out of the box. Theres a good chance they'l be around MOA (give or take a little) for 5 shots @ 100 yards with the right ammo.
If you bed them, strengthen the fore end, swap out the trigger, then do some load development, its not impossible that you could be regularly shooting around half MOA @ 100.
They are not without their faults however. The stock is cheap, the trigger is heavy and the bolt lift is also heavy. Also the skinny stock fore end is not conducive to consistent bag position in my opp.
But due to the fact that the gun is so cheap in the first place, you don't have to be so worried about learning how to do your own mods. It is in this respect that I think they are great for a beginner who wants to learn this stuff.
I had never owned a bolt action rifle until I bought my stevens 200. Although the bolt action appears simple compared to semis and pumps, I found there is an awful lot to learn about them if you want to get the most out of your shooting.
Later you can spin on a barrel and maybe switch out the stock and you have your own home built semi custom rifle.
But there are also a lot of reasons to buy a Remmy, higher end Savage, Tikka etc as an alternate choice. In the end, you spend money here or you spend money there but you spend money.
BTW, after waiting over 9 months for my stock, if I was doing this again I would buy a Savage BVSS with a suitable bolt face.
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300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
Or, take the Diabolus Advocatus approach, and we can answer the OP with a new and fresh perspective. 
I think the Stevens 200 would make a great beginner's rifle, and would serve well for the experienced rifle shooter too. They're known for their accuracy, and with the relatively low cost, they can be had in multiple calibers in one's gun safe: .223 for target shooting, .243 for varminting, and .308 for the moose hunt.
I think the Stevens 200 would make a great beginner's rifle, and would serve well for the experienced rifle shooter too. They're known for their accuracy, and with the relatively low cost, they can be had in multiple calibers in one's gun safe: .223 for target shooting, .243 for varminting, and .308 for the moose hunt.
angrysoldier
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- under your bed
great little rifles, there is lots of tinkering you can do with them
I have one in .223. It is was accurate right out of the box. I will agree the stock is not that great. I didn't find the trigger all that heavy but I don't have a whole lot of experience with precision triggers which I realize the 200 does not have. Mysticplayer has some experience tinkering with the 200 and he has good things to say. There is an article on his website in the tech info section about building a F class rifle on a budget using a 200 to start with.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
Best 2 groups I have ever shot! MOA out of the box is to be expected even with factory ammo. These were with my handloads 24.5 grains of H335 behind Hornady 55 grain FMJBT.
I did search and didn't find what I was looking for. thanks for your contribution!
Here's my Stevens 200
is that a factory stock?
True, I guess a zillion dollar scope is still required whether you have a $300 gun or a $800
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
That is all I have based my project rifles on over the last 4yrs. They work superbly.
The factory sales also show that many shooters are finding Savage as their pick for a rifle. The aftermarket has blossomed to offer lots of stuff. Alot we in Canada cannot get which is a royal pain so if you see a factory rig with the stock and features you want for a donor, get it.
If you visit my website, you can find articles in Rifle Tech on the builds I have made. There are more but have no time to update.
I presently compete in F Open with a Savage/Stevens based rifle. 6mmBR.com gun of the week #75.
They shoot very well when a good barrel is installed for alot less money then other brands. So much can be done at home by yourself that they are the tinkers choice.
For optics, you need to spend some money but there are now top performing products for way less then some have paid in the recent past.
If you search the internet and this forum, you will see many many other project rifles based on these actions.
They work very well...
Jerry
The factory sales also show that many shooters are finding Savage as their pick for a rifle. The aftermarket has blossomed to offer lots of stuff. Alot we in Canada cannot get which is a royal pain so if you see a factory rig with the stock and features you want for a donor, get it.
If you visit my website, you can find articles in Rifle Tech on the builds I have made. There are more but have no time to update.
I presently compete in F Open with a Savage/Stevens based rifle. 6mmBR.com gun of the week #75.
They shoot very well when a good barrel is installed for alot less money then other brands. So much can be done at home by yourself that they are the tinkers choice.
For optics, you need to spend some money but there are now top performing products for way less then some have paid in the recent past.
If you search the internet and this forum, you will see many many other project rifles based on these actions.
They work very well...
Jerry
Yes its a factory B&C that came on some Savage long action Heavy Barrel rifles this one came off a .300wm.....I had to convert it from stagger feed to center feed.
You can read more on my build here http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=511755
sorry i dont know what that means
Different magazine types. Stagger feed means the rounds feed from alternating sides (like the typical Mauser box mag), center feed means the rounds feed from the center every time (like most semi auto handgun mags). The two types are not the same size/shape and a stock made for one will not work with the other without modification.
Mark
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Its not all that difficult to convert from a stagger feed stock to a center feed only requires buying the appropriate mag box for the cartridge your shooting some shimming and bedding. On the other hand converting a stock from center feed to stagger feed is a lot more work (re: bottom metal) also a stagger feed action will not work with a center feed mag box.
