hi I'm new here and love all the info. I want to purchase a rifle for my son to start hunting with. I hunt with a Remington 700 Mountain, chambered for the 30-06, magna-ported and topped with a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm. I really don't want to spend that kind of money on a starter rifle but I do want to spend a little more for a good quality scope. I was thinking about the Stevens model 200 chambered for the 243, I know it's not the best looking rifle but if it does the trick, if it shoots good then why not. The way we hunt, a clip is not a necessity. My only concern about the Stevens is the trigger. I know it doesn't have the Accutrigger but is it worth spending the extra few hundred dollars to get it? How is the trigger on the Stevens? I also would like to top this rifle with a Leupold VX-I 3-9 x40mm. I could have a decent rifle for about $700. What are your thoughts??
Stevens model 200
- Thread starter DRL
- Start date
Just got a new model Stevens 200 in .243 myself.... Although, not the new accu-trigger, I thought it was okay right outta the box. A good range session will tell for sure, though. But they are a decent rifle & shooter for the price, though....
The Stevens trigger actually is adjustable for pull weight, but I didn't like the design much. A $100 Cdn Rifle Basix fixed it right up - I don't think the Accutrigger is worth the difference in price. RB will ship right to your door, and though I prefer the Timney I couldn't find one here. Works great and in the 7-08 shoots great, terrific first gun for anybody. I still believe the .243 is a shooter's rifle, not a learner's. Shot placement is way more critical and shots I'll make easily with the 7mm-08 I might not even try with my .243. Recoil is pretty much the same. The Stevens is light, but scoped is a piece of cake to shoot. Problem eventually becomes that once you buy a 7-08 for a young hunter you spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to get it back - for yourself.
604shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Neither here nor there.
Cheap (price-wise) and accurate. What's not to like? The factory trigger is easy to adjust and is decent once done. A rifle basix can also be installed for a little over a hundred. A used Bushnell Elite 3200 can be found on EE for about 150. 300 (gun) + 150 (scope) + 70 (rings & bases) and you've got yourself a decent gun for well under your 700 budget.
Stevens
What 604 said.
Have 2 ( 243 & 223) , trigger is easily set up to decent weight/pull. I think the 243 works fine, espec. for a young shooter. Niece whacked 2 deer with 1 shot each last 2 years (first deer) nephew got his first deer this year with mine (Stevens 243) nice mule buck @ 196 yards.
Last year my (wife's) grandaughter smacked a very nice mule deer with a 243 at 200 + yards, heart shot the Winchester PP did exactly what it was supposed to. A week later I shot a good mule buck , very comparable size, 15 yards closer , same placement. Damage inside was identical, deer traveled the same distance - about 5 yards. I used 30/06 with standard 180 grain . Deer didn't seem to know the difference
Can't go wrong - you might also look at the Burris FFII scope, reasonable price, good quality , perhaps slightly larger than the Leupold
Cheers
What 604 said.
Have 2 ( 243 & 223) , trigger is easily set up to decent weight/pull. I think the 243 works fine, espec. for a young shooter. Niece whacked 2 deer with 1 shot each last 2 years (first deer) nephew got his first deer this year with mine (Stevens 243) nice mule buck @ 196 yards.
Last year my (wife's) grandaughter smacked a very nice mule deer with a 243 at 200 + yards, heart shot the Winchester PP did exactly what it was supposed to. A week later I shot a good mule buck , very comparable size, 15 yards closer , same placement. Damage inside was identical, deer traveled the same distance - about 5 yards. I used 30/06 with standard 180 grain . Deer didn't seem to know the difference
Can't go wrong - you might also look at the Burris FFII scope, reasonable price, good quality , perhaps slightly larger than the Leupold
Cheers
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I can supply Timney triggers for the Stevens.
Really like the rifle and they usually shoot great. I do suggest that the action be bedded for best performance.
The factory trigger can be tuned to 3 to 3.5lbs. If that is light enough, then an aftermarket is not necessary.
Sounds like a great rifle and might just surprise with how well it shoots.
Jerry
Really like the rifle and they usually shoot great. I do suggest that the action be bedded for best performance.
The factory trigger can be tuned to 3 to 3.5lbs. If that is light enough, then an aftermarket is not necessary.
Sounds like a great rifle and might just surprise with how well it shoots.
Jerry
if it can be set to 3.5 lbs with the factory trigger, that would be great
Stevens 200 + a Burris Fullfield II + a Rifle Basix trigger + a set of weaver bases and Burris rings would go well under $700. If you had the stock replaced with a Boyds later that gun would be a keeper. Heck I'm trying to figure out why I don't have one in 22-250 right now.........
Think about a 7mm-08 for the young fella though. You can shoot all the way up to Moose with that cartridge, and for deer and such a good low recoil load can be made with a 120 Barnes TSX or a Nosler B-Tip. He'll kill with it 'til you are on to the next world's meadows.
Think about a 7mm-08 for the young fella though. You can shoot all the way up to Moose with that cartridge, and for deer and such a good low recoil load can be made with a 120 Barnes TSX or a Nosler B-Tip. He'll kill with it 'til you are on to the next world's meadows.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I have one in 30-06 and it shoots great (sub MOA). The trigger is adjusted (found instructions online) and is nice and crisp now. I'd buy another.
I would go with a 7mm-08 if I was you. I'm not a fan of the 243 as a beginner's deer rifle. To me, the 243 for deer is more like a 410 shotgun is on grouse - perfectly adequate, but best reserved for a specialist's. The 7mm0-08 or 308 are better choices.
I would go with a 7mm-08 if I was you. I'm not a fan of the 243 as a beginner's deer rifle. To me, the 243 for deer is more like a 410 shotgun is on grouse - perfectly adequate, but best reserved for a specialist's. The 7mm0-08 or 308 are better choices.
My Stevens in .30-06 also shoots sub moa. They are nothin to right home about as far as looks or keepin up with the jones's or the gun snobs but you can't go wrong with the price or the performance when good glass is mounted.
I just bought one in .223 Rem. It grouped around 1" at 100 yds out of the box. The trigger was just under 5lbs , turned it down to around 3lbs . Will see if it gets better groups next time out. I put a Bushnell Elite 3200 4x12 x 40 on it .
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Anyone care to point me in the right direction for the trigger tuning on the Stevens??
604shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Neither here nor there.
Here you go (key 1 doesn't exist on the newer Stevens):
The Stevens 200 stock is one of the things most often complained about. Mine had a very flexible fore end - you could hold the forestock in your left hand and very easily twist it or bend it left/right. I'd never try to use a sling to support it because the stock would definitly press on the barrel.
However, after searching here and elsewhere on-line, this was tremendously easy to fix. I used my dremel to cut out parts of the cross wise stiffening channels in the forestock. I then took a heavy walled aluminium arrow, cut it in two and to length with the dremel, trimmed out a space near the front end of the arrow pieces to fit over the nut for the front end swivel, set the two pieces into the forestock, and filled the entire space with 2 part Lepages epoxy. I could use that stock to pry open a car door it is that stiff now.
If you're interested, I can e-mail or post photos.
I love my Stevens (in .308 Win). It's a great basic rifle to start with and shoot all you want and add to it as you want.
Cheers,
However, after searching here and elsewhere on-line, this was tremendously easy to fix. I used my dremel to cut out parts of the cross wise stiffening channels in the forestock. I then took a heavy walled aluminium arrow, cut it in two and to length with the dremel, trimmed out a space near the front end of the arrow pieces to fit over the nut for the front end swivel, set the two pieces into the forestock, and filled the entire space with 2 part Lepages epoxy. I could use that stock to pry open a car door it is that stiff now.
If you're interested, I can e-mail or post photos.
I love my Stevens (in .308 Win). It's a great basic rifle to start with and shoot all you want and add to it as you want.
Cheers,
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Here you go (key 1 doesn't exist on the newer Stevens):
Thanks 604shooter!
- Location
- Lloydminster
We've got them in both .270 and .30/06. Very impressed with them. Much nice stock than the stevens. Haven't heard much from ther guys that bought them on accuracy yet.
