stevens/savage 350 ,quality?
- Thread starter bobdbldr
- Start date
- Location
- Airdrie, Alberta
They had them on for 169 at my local shop, I wanted to pick one up just as a cheap shotgun to have around, I handled the Stevens, it felt ok, a little gritty, I would have bought it but then the guy at the shop told me not too, he said if u want a 12 gauge for under 200 bucks, go with the mossberg maverick 88, he said I would be much happier. I went with the 88, I'm glad I did, I really like it. And at 199 I think it was worth the 30bucks.
Thanks very much, thats the kind of info I was looking for, my first choice was a mossy 500 combo, and I think I will stick with that, cheers!
I picked up the Savage Stevens in the security field combo for 220 on special from a non supporting store. Other than it really really disliking cheap walmart ammo (it was sunday and I really learned my lesson) it's been reliable as hell. In regards to that I was having shells jam in the barrel due to expansion. When fit testing them they don't seat nearly as well as the target loads I picked up at my local store (they were even cheaper than walmart and also through about 200 of them I haven't had a single sticky eject, fail to fire, fail to load or anything other than butter and bang).
Complaints I've had are the safety is easy to slightly engage for a lefty causing the trigger pull to be gargantuan. It's too bad as the design would be perfect for a lefty otherwise. It likes to spit spent shells in a somewhat neat pile ahead of my feet instead of on the guy beside me.
Now the best part about it is the ridiculously quick barrel changes. Instead of removing the magazine cap and fighting with the spring, the magazine cap screws in to disengage from a stud on the barrel. In other words you tighten the cap and then rotate the barrel 1/4 turn and it's out. It takes me longer to remove my strap. It's a darn good thing it's so easy as my safe is a little short in height and it won't fit with the field barrel and my shelves.
Now the other bad is this is a tactical forum and it's not a great tactical shotgun. You cannot do a tactical load through the feedport, there are darn near no aftermarket accessories that are made for it other than the odd Ithica 37 stock and you cannot extend the magazine tube.
I've written a hell of a novel now, but hey, buy what feels good and speaks to you in a chuck chuck sorta way. I love my savage stevens to bits for being kinda quirky and going boom every time I pull the trigger.
Oh and I almost forgot, my savage is all metal other than the stock and fore end. There is no composite trigger guard or safety, the receiver isn't aluminum, it's steel and the choke for the field barrel is removable and is readily available as it's a standard pattern, but chokes aren't very tactical.
Complaints I've had are the safety is easy to slightly engage for a lefty causing the trigger pull to be gargantuan. It's too bad as the design would be perfect for a lefty otherwise. It likes to spit spent shells in a somewhat neat pile ahead of my feet instead of on the guy beside me.
Now the best part about it is the ridiculously quick barrel changes. Instead of removing the magazine cap and fighting with the spring, the magazine cap screws in to disengage from a stud on the barrel. In other words you tighten the cap and then rotate the barrel 1/4 turn and it's out. It takes me longer to remove my strap. It's a darn good thing it's so easy as my safe is a little short in height and it won't fit with the field barrel and my shelves.
Now the other bad is this is a tactical forum and it's not a great tactical shotgun. You cannot do a tactical load through the feedport, there are darn near no aftermarket accessories that are made for it other than the odd Ithica 37 stock and you cannot extend the magazine tube.
I've written a hell of a novel now, but hey, buy what feels good and speaks to you in a chuck chuck sorta way. I love my savage stevens to bits for being kinda quirky and going boom every time I pull the trigger.
Oh and I almost forgot, my savage is all metal other than the stock and fore end. There is no composite trigger guard or safety, the receiver isn't aluminum, it's steel and the choke for the field barrel is removable and is readily available as it's a standard pattern, but chokes aren't very tactical.
I got a stevens 350 about a year ago, i paid $200 at a gun show which i felt was a good deal, some local stores have it listed between $289-$369. It has about 200 rounds down the pipe with not an issue. I like that its bottom eject but the finish is real poor. After the second time out the stock started to blister and peel. I have never shot the mossberg 500 so I couldnt compare. I would rate it a tad better than my grizzly though.
It's an economically priced hunting gun. The finish isn't on par with a Rem 870 but it holds up just fine. I've sold a lot to left handed people due to the bottom eject. I've never had one come back. The only thing I will say is that it is a bit heavier that some guns but that is mainly due to the stock.
Ryan
Ryan
- Location
- Lethbridge
Choate makes a nice folding/pistol grip stock for the Ithaca 37 that the Stevens is based on, and it works well with only a little fitting required. a2z outdoors will ship the Choate stocks into Canada.
Chemist, can you get these stocks too?
Chemist, can you get these stocks too?
Thanks for adding that bit about stocks, I'd forgotten which brand made them. I haven't had any issues with my finish, in fact it seems to be on par with many "American" budgets shotguns (quotations because not all are made in the US. I considered a Winchester 1300 that is made in Turkey).
Oh yeah and I should add that the weight may in fact be due to everything being steel. Even the bloody follower in the magazine is steel. The stock is synthetic, and not overly thick. It actually has closed cell foam jammed in it to dampen vibration because it's such a big hollow piece. I stripped mine down to nothing one day and even after more than a few hundred rounds it was pretty darn clean.
Buy whatever feels good as it probably won't be your last shotgun.
Oh yeah and I should add that the weight may in fact be due to everything being steel. Even the bloody follower in the magazine is steel. The stock is synthetic, and not overly thick. It actually has closed cell foam jammed in it to dampen vibration because it's such a big hollow piece. I stripped mine down to nothing one day and even after more than a few hundred rounds it was pretty darn clean.
Buy whatever feels good as it probably won't be your last shotgun.
- Location
- East ontario
Its a very well made Chinese made shotgun, I'd put it on par with the norinco hp9-1.
The choate buttstock fitsm but the forend may need work as the 350 has to action bars not 1
The choate buttstock fitsm but the forend may need work as the 350 has to action bars not 1
My take (long):
I have a Stevens 350. I've had several problems with mine since I bought it new in December 2010. I had purchased the firearm brand new from Lebaron in Ottawa. Two days later, I took it to the range for it's maiden voyage. Put 4 shells in the mag tube, pump the action, pull the trigger, and BOOM. Quite a kick to it! But then ... I could not for the life of me eject the spent shell from the chamber. This happened with various loads of buckshot, slugs, & target loads. I pulled as hard as I could on the action only to pull the action back and discover that the shell was still lodged in the chamber. I had to use a cleaning rod to remove the shell (every time).
I brought it to the local gun smith, and he told me that the barrel was rusty. It seems to me that the barrel had a rusty chamber from the get go.
So, after manually plucking the shell out time & time again I began to notice that the stock was deforming where it meets the receiver. This was after about 200 shells down the pipe. It seems the recoil was deforming the synthetic stock. Check out the images below:
http://imageshack.us/f/846/img0043nm.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/f/571/img0044jl.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/f/40/img0045rx.jpg/
Frustrated, I contacted Savage customer service. I was told to ship my firearm to a gunsmith in Ontario responsible for Savage warranties. So off it went.
4 months later (you read that right), I had my firearm back. That was this past Wednesday. According to the gunsmith, the stock was replaced and the chamber was polished. Savage claimed that it was "user error" and a lack or "proper maintenance". However, the firearm never functioned properly right out of the box. They did end up fixing it "as a courtesy" after I complained to Savage customer service. At this point, it was also still under warranty.
I must also mention that the receiver and trigger group have become quite rusty. I wipe the gun down with rem-oil after each use, and use a bore snake and Hoppes to clean the barrel but the sucker still rusts like a MOFO.
Anyways, sorry for the long post. It does seem like a good majority of the 350s out there function well. However, if you need customer service (atleast in Canada) prepare for a big hassle. I can't wait to pass this on to a buddy (who knows the history) for $50 (a huge loss since I bought it new for $300). Or use it as a boat anchor. I'll be taking it out on Sunday at the local range to see if the problems have been fixed.
If I were you guys, I would pay alittle more for something that is better made. That's my take.
I have a Stevens 350. I've had several problems with mine since I bought it new in December 2010. I had purchased the firearm brand new from Lebaron in Ottawa. Two days later, I took it to the range for it's maiden voyage. Put 4 shells in the mag tube, pump the action, pull the trigger, and BOOM. Quite a kick to it! But then ... I could not for the life of me eject the spent shell from the chamber. This happened with various loads of buckshot, slugs, & target loads. I pulled as hard as I could on the action only to pull the action back and discover that the shell was still lodged in the chamber. I had to use a cleaning rod to remove the shell (every time).
I brought it to the local gun smith, and he told me that the barrel was rusty. It seems to me that the barrel had a rusty chamber from the get go.
So, after manually plucking the shell out time & time again I began to notice that the stock was deforming where it meets the receiver. This was after about 200 shells down the pipe. It seems the recoil was deforming the synthetic stock. Check out the images below:
http://imageshack.us/f/846/img0043nm.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/f/571/img0044jl.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/f/40/img0045rx.jpg/
Frustrated, I contacted Savage customer service. I was told to ship my firearm to a gunsmith in Ontario responsible for Savage warranties. So off it went.
4 months later (you read that right), I had my firearm back. That was this past Wednesday. According to the gunsmith, the stock was replaced and the chamber was polished. Savage claimed that it was "user error" and a lack or "proper maintenance". However, the firearm never functioned properly right out of the box. They did end up fixing it "as a courtesy" after I complained to Savage customer service. At this point, it was also still under warranty.
I must also mention that the receiver and trigger group have become quite rusty. I wipe the gun down with rem-oil after each use, and use a bore snake and Hoppes to clean the barrel but the sucker still rusts like a MOFO.
Anyways, sorry for the long post. It does seem like a good majority of the 350s out there function well. However, if you need customer service (atleast in Canada) prepare for a big hassle. I can't wait to pass this on to a buddy (who knows the history) for $50 (a huge loss since I bought it new for $300). Or use it as a boat anchor. I'll be taking it out on Sunday at the local range to see if the problems have been fixed.
If I were you guys, I would pay alittle more for something that is better made. That's my take.
Heck, I'd give you 50 bucks for it. Is it the field security combo or something with sights? I haven't had any issues with mine other than it having a similar fail to extract issue with crappy wal mart ammo. Sounds like you got hit with a lemon which is really too bad.
I picked one up a bit ago from my local gun shop in Victoria and immediately a couple of things were evident.
The good: First, its heavy as s^&*, which i love when buying anything cheap. Second, its ergonomics are great, its modeled exactly like the Ithica 37s. Third, the finish isn't great as many members have said- but- it was fine and it was only like 200 bucks so i wouldn't expect much. Finally, and most importantly, it shoots AMAZING. I have not only never had a jam, misfire etc, but it just feels perfect when it goes off. Plus the bottom eject is sweet.
The bad: it is nearly impossible to find any sort of custom accessories and with a bottom eject theres really no way to quick load.
Aside from that i can say i was substantially impressed, and the savage/stevens brand just continues to amaze.
The good: First, its heavy as s^&*, which i love when buying anything cheap. Second, its ergonomics are great, its modeled exactly like the Ithica 37s. Third, the finish isn't great as many members have said- but- it was fine and it was only like 200 bucks so i wouldn't expect much. Finally, and most importantly, it shoots AMAZING. I have not only never had a jam, misfire etc, but it just feels perfect when it goes off. Plus the bottom eject is sweet.
The bad: it is nearly impossible to find any sort of custom accessories and with a bottom eject theres really no way to quick load.
Aside from that i can say i was substantially impressed, and the savage/stevens brand just continues to amaze.
I have been shooting a 18" 350 with ghost ring sights for about a year now.
Mine is not picky about ammo. Loves the Winchester and Federal cheapo shells. Slugs and other heavy shot with out an issue. Mines seen 500+ rounds with out any issues.
As others have said you can't load threw the port so that slows reload times. Also no slam firing.
I have a Ithaca M37 featherweight. It is nicer to shoot the real thing. Fit and finish is nicer. I would like to pick up a Ithaca 8 shot m37.
Mine is not picky about ammo. Loves the Winchester and Federal cheapo shells. Slugs and other heavy shot with out an issue. Mines seen 500+ rounds with out any issues.
As others have said you can't load threw the port so that slows reload times. Also no slam firing.
I have a Ithaca M37 featherweight. It is nicer to shoot the real thing. Fit and finish is nicer. I would like to pick up a Ithaca 8 shot m37.
It's the security version with ghost ring sights.
I still have it but never shoot it since it just doesn't work. I'll be selling it to my buddy for $50 once he gets his licence. Savage is of no help in regards to waranty. I'll avoid them in the future.
I'm still looking for a shotgun. I'll probably get a Winchester SXP Defender.
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Friends don't let friends buy junk Chinese guns!
For God's sake, you can buy an Ithaca 37 for like $200. A real, quality, American made gun.
Friends don't let friends buy junk Chinese guns!
For God's sake, you can buy an Ithaca 37 for like $200. A real, quality, American made gun.
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I loved mine right up until the day it crapped out on me. I've got the 350 security with ghost ring sights. I had the occasional failure to eject like sig fan, almost exclusively with 2 3/4" birdshot. It loved buck or slugs.
One day, a few rounds into a shooting session, I ejected a spent shell, loaded another and after pulling the trigger, nothing...trigger moves, but nothing happens, not even a click on dry firing. I have to use the slide release after racking the slide like normal, but that's it.
The only thing I can see is when looking through the load/ejection port, it looks like there is a space behind the bolt where there shouldn't be.
At $275, I thought it was too good to be true, and sure enough...I would spend a little more and get something that isn't a piece of sh!t. Think I'll just take mine out into the bush, shoot it to pieces with the garand and bury it in the shallow grave it deserves. My .02
One day, a few rounds into a shooting session, I ejected a spent shell, loaded another and after pulling the trigger, nothing...trigger moves, but nothing happens, not even a click on dry firing. I have to use the slide release after racking the slide like normal, but that's it.
The only thing I can see is when looking through the load/ejection port, it looks like there is a space behind the bolt where there shouldn't be.
At $275, I thought it was too good to be true, and sure enough...I would spend a little more and get something that isn't a piece of sh!t. Think I'll just take mine out into the bush, shoot it to pieces with the garand and bury it in the shallow grave it deserves. My .02
I've had one with the rifle sights on the barrel for a couple years. MANY rounds thru and ZERO malfunctions so far. Solid as a mack truck and as accurate with cheap federal slugs as i could hope for, about 2.5" 3 shot groups at 75 yds with the rifle sights. It pretty much lives in my truck, as i take it to work at the golf course quite often during goose season.
Fit and finish are what i'd expect for $200, if not a 'lil better. All around a STEAL of a deal for a reliable and accurate beater. The best part is i dont flinch when it gets a little scratch or a ding on the mag tube. Who cares, i bought it to beat and it's taking it VERY well.
I'll also add, my hunting buddy uses a maverick 88 and it's a POS in comparison. Even he is willing to admit it.
Fit and finish are what i'd expect for $200, if not a 'lil better. All around a STEAL of a deal for a reliable and accurate beater. The best part is i dont flinch when it gets a little scratch or a ding on the mag tube. Who cares, i bought it to beat and it's taking it VERY well.
I'll also add, my hunting buddy uses a maverick 88 and it's a POS in comparison. Even he is willing to admit it.
