The Little Stevens that might...
- Thread starter Hotwheels81
- Start date
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
We actually take turns...
She gets mad and quits when all the bullets don't go thru the same hole
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
If I get time tonite i will pull'er out of the stock and get you some pics.
Sounds like you are having yourself some serious fun there! I spotted a couple of Steven 200s at my local shop, one in 243 and one in 308, I think he has a 223 out back too.
Keep up the great work, very interesting to see your results!
Keep up the great work, very interesting to see your results!
The more I see these rifles performance the more I'm convinced I must have one.
Even with the work required (which in fairness appears to be pretty minor and cheap) they still pull at me.
"Buy my cousin in .308"
"Shoot me lots and lots and lots"
"Learn to reload so you can afford to put multiple bullets into ragged holes at far distances"
It's a sickness. I don't think the cure is more cowbell.
Even with the work required (which in fairness appears to be pretty minor and cheap) they still pull at me.
"Buy my cousin in .308"
"Shoot me lots and lots and lots"
"Learn to reload so you can afford to put multiple bullets into ragged holes at far distances"
It's a sickness. I don't think the cure is more cowbell.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Anyone want to play "guess what's in the box"?
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
anyone want to play "guess what's in the box"?
new stock!!!??
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
2 of em actually
Choate on the right is for my next project...
The Bell&Carlson on the left is for the Stevens project
Choate on the right is for my next project...
The Bell&Carlson on the left is for the Stevens project
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Some have requested pics of my old stock JB weld bedding job... It was neither "professional" nor "pretty" but given my materials used and time schedule I was pleased with the results! Fliers stopped and groups shrunk with factory ammo a measurable ammount...
Now I strongly advise you to use a better release agent then I did AND prep the stock first by roughing it up with some 80grit... After the JB had dried the action was TIGHT in the stock... It took a lot of coaxing to get it out and an equal ammount to get it back in... Exactly how I wanted it... TIGHT!... But not permanently glued in
Here is the rear of the action, I easily doubled the contact surface area simply by building around what the factory started with... Keeping the putty out of the bolt release was quite easy but it does require close attention!
The front lug area was a piece of cake (however see above where I speak of sanding and release agent).
Here is where some kiwi polish and sand paper would have helped... The stock is too slippery for the JB to stick and the cooking spray I used on the action diddent work as well as I hoped but that was actually a good thing as the JB adhered well enough to the lug and action to keep it all tight!...
An ugly mess I know but hey it served its purpose!
With a bit more ambition I would have simply stripped off the JB from the action and sanded the stock a little and reapplied to get a "perfect" bedding job but it's not neccesary... If the gaps are taken up and the action can't move in the stock the rest is all a matter of esthetics.
I spent 10min scratching the JB off the lug and action tonite with a brass scraper before I slipped it into the B&C... JB (and most epoxy) is not as "permanent" as the label would insist but I would never have done something so half assed on an expensive rifle without at least a proper release agent and real bedding compound... But JB does work and once you bolt the action down nobody will ever know but you... And several thousand gunnutz
Now I strongly advise you to use a better release agent then I did AND prep the stock first by roughing it up with some 80grit... After the JB had dried the action was TIGHT in the stock... It took a lot of coaxing to get it out and an equal ammount to get it back in... Exactly how I wanted it... TIGHT!... But not permanently glued in
Here is the rear of the action, I easily doubled the contact surface area simply by building around what the factory started with... Keeping the putty out of the bolt release was quite easy but it does require close attention!
The front lug area was a piece of cake (however see above where I speak of sanding and release agent).
Here is where some kiwi polish and sand paper would have helped... The stock is too slippery for the JB to stick and the cooking spray I used on the action diddent work as well as I hoped but that was actually a good thing as the JB adhered well enough to the lug and action to keep it all tight!...
An ugly mess I know but hey it served its purpose!
With a bit more ambition I would have simply stripped off the JB from the action and sanded the stock a little and reapplied to get a "perfect" bedding job but it's not neccesary... If the gaps are taken up and the action can't move in the stock the rest is all a matter of esthetics.
I spent 10min scratching the JB off the lug and action tonite with a brass scraper before I slipped it into the B&C... JB (and most epoxy) is not as "permanent" as the label would insist but I would never have done something so half assed on an expensive rifle without at least a proper release agent and real bedding compound... But JB does work and once you bolt the action down nobody will ever know but you... And several thousand gunnutz
Steve.30-06
Member
- Location
- Duncan, B.C.
Reading this makes me both jealous and happy at the same time, I went into Wholesale sports with the intent to buy one gun, a .22LR, instead I bought 2 guns a Savage Mk II FV in .22LR and a Savage Axis in .223Rem. If they would've had a Stevens 200 in .223 I would have bought it, instead of the Axis, but.... after reading your first couple of post on it accuracy out of the box I am kinda glad I got the Axis. I am however jealous of the fact that you can get a Bell&Carlson stock for it and it will fit no major modification required, I hate the look and feel of the Axis bendable plastic factory stock. I am looking forward too reading your next posts thanks Hotwheels81 for sharing these great pics and info.
- Location
- Halifax, NS
Now let's look at the rear bedding area...
At a quick glance you see a flat metal surface in the center, looks nice and firm!... Too bad the action doesn't touch it!?!? No.. You see the 2 plastic ribs on either side? That's where the action comes to rest! Once again scotch tape reveals all... If you crank the rear bolt down hard enough it will touch that strip of metal in the middle BUT the savage action is round and that tab is flat so not a secure mating surface by any stretch...
Once again I highlited the actual contact areas for clarity.
I had trhe same problem with my Savage 12 VLP; the pillars didnt make contact with the action. (link)
Front Pillar, notice how it sits below stock material. Also, is much thinner than pic shows:
Rear Pillar. Nothing to brag about:
Notice the small amount of stock area to bed near the rear action screw:
Also, I tested the 75gn AMAX and 69gn Sierras in my 7 twist and had great results with the 75s. I think Hornady is a great choice for 223 but Berger will get my money. (link)
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
This is why proper bedding is so important. If you include ALL the surface area offered by the stock, there is plenty to support the receiver and lug.
Jerry
Jerry
elimsprint
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
I've been doing the same work with the tupperware from my Savage 111 in .243. On the action side I have the the Rifle Basix trigger, bolt timimg from Jerry@ Mystic (well worth the money, thanks Jerry), precision ground lug nut and an oversize knob
6mm carbon fibre tubes to stiffen it
JB bedding job. I sand blasted the stock to rough it up plus removed a lot of material to get enough JB in
Shortened the LOP and installed a LimbSaver GTF pad plus FAB cheek riser
Oversize knob
Whole gun, it will be wearing a Bushnell 4200 4-16x50 instead of the 40 in the pic, thus the cheek piece plus the stock will be bedlinered
6mm carbon fibre tubes to stiffen it
JB bedding job. I sand blasted the stock to rough it up plus removed a lot of material to get enough JB in
Shortened the LOP and installed a LimbSaver GTF pad plus FAB cheek riser
Oversize knob
Whole gun, it will be wearing a Bushnell 4200 4-16x50 instead of the 40 in the pic, thus the cheek piece plus the stock will be bedlinered
elimsprint
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
So far it loves 87gr V-Max over 49gr of 7828SSC @3250fps, .5" or less. I'm hoping for the same results with the Berger 87gr VLD hunting bullets. I haven't had much time to shoot it as I am trying to finish my shop and shooting range (90yds) before the snow flies. I also have to put some venison in the freezer if I want jerky next year
