Whack of Stevens 200 Questions

M

MadcapMagician

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Hey everyone. Just had a few questions for the CGN collective.

I've been shooting for a couple years now. Currently I have a Savage .17HMR and a Nylon 66. Within the last six months I've been dead set on buying and SKS. Cheap to buy, cheap to feed easy to maintain. Then I was deadset on buying a Savage 10FP to get into more precision which is what I enjoy the most. Except it's so expensive to buy it.

But now because I'm perpetually broke I'm leaning towards a Stevens 200 in .223. Its cheaper to buy and from what I read it still has great accuracy. I just have a couple questions about the Stevens. Is it really as accurate as everyone says? Some people have said Stevens rifles are just extra savage parts thrown together. Same actions/barrels etc. Is that true?

What sort of options for customization is there in the Stevens. I know you can put a new stock on it. Can you put on new barrels, mounts, rails, muzzlebreaks etc etc. I don't really know much of anything about rifle customization.

Anyone have pictures of dressed up Stevens? Suggestions on bullet weights? Barrel twists? Differences in barrel twists? Bullet types for long range shooting? What works best for you?

And finally the best place to get a Stevens. Cheapest, most reliable, best reputation. I know a few of our amaing sponsors have them.

Thanks for all your answers. Sorry for the huge post.

Cheers guys(and gals)
 
The moment you start modifying your Stevens 200 with a different barrel and stock you will spend more than what you would have spent on the 10FP (that comes with an accutrigger that can't be retro fitted to the Stevens). Most Stevens 200's are very good shooters and in most cases don't have to be modified. If you spend any significant money on the Stevens it would be difficult to recover the investment if you sold the gun. Phil.
 
Here is why I chose the Stevens 200.

You can buy an aftermarket trigger from timney or rifle basix for 100 dollars, then you can get a Shilen barrel for around 500 dollars. A stock from boyds is 140 after shipping and taxes. The shilen barrel will be better than the savage 10 fp, and shoot under 1/2 moa. This is my plan however there is a twist.

My Stevens 200 in .223 completely stock out of the box shoots like this!

5 shots
IMG00107-20100503-2206.jpg


3 shots
bestgroupyet.jpg


If you want to have some fun for cheap the Stevens is the way to go. You can upgrade parts slowly as you go and have a truly custom rifle without spending alot of cash. The 10 fp is an accurate gun but it is not a custome gun, and will not be half as cool as what you acn do with all the parts available for the stevens.
 
Those are some great groups mlehtovaara. What distance is tha at? 100 yards? Would you guys recommend just buying the Stevens, shooting the crap out of it and then moving up to something else more expensive, more customizable.

I'd also like to get into reloading. I figure I'll pretty much have to as soon as I start shooting anything other than a .22.

If I didn't go with a Stevens 200. Which I think I'm still going to. What other middle of the road options are there? What rifle (bolt action) is out there between the price of a 200 and 10FP that is a great shooter and can be customized?

The only thing that sucks right now is that with my current job and student loans price is a big issue. And the Stevens seems quite affordable.

Thanks for the replies guys.
 
303british is a great website, very informative. I remember reading this paragraph a while back and it made alot of sense to me.

"The Stevens 200 is not an entry level or woman's rifle - anyone that calls it that just doesn't get it. The Stevens 200 is a utility rifle. It is the Jeep of the bolt action world. If you want cute, you can buy any number of pretty, shiny or gold plated rifles that will have the urban gun club crowd oohing and ahhing. Those guys sure love pretty guns. Mine was not purchased to put on display, so the argument about it being ugly or made for beginners doesn't wash - not even a little."
 
Like I said if you buy a Stevens 200 adding a trigger and barrel for about 600 bucks would be a better option than buying a new 10 fp if you ask me! Same money spent but you will have a better chance at shooting 1/4 inch groups out of a custom barrel! Just buy the steves you won't regret it!
 
Mad... , I have bought and made lots of these and here is my take. They will shoot normally but the groups posted are not constant, they are the best it can do. Sure they might shoot great groups most of the time but for precision work you need a consistant performer. This applies to any rifle or accuracy claim. The basic Stevens 200 is an extremely good rifle for the money. It is a plain, no frills beater rifle that normally shoots way better than it should. However, the average guy can work on it to make it perform, of course this take a few dolars but here is the difference, it will shoot as good as another brand of rilfe that cost about twice as much when all said and done. A Stevens with a prefit barrel, Rifle basix Sav 2 trigger and a properly bedded Boyd`s laminate stock will cost around $1000. This is unmatched in accuracy per dollar.

HOWEVER, chances are a stock varmint rifle such as the 12BVSS or a Rem700P will be a good shooter and are readily available and ready to shoot.

I say if you can afford it, buy a 12bvss or a 10fp or a 700p or whatever you like with a heavy barrel. Use it and learn. If you get serious then you can spend some bucks on a real rifle. If not, then keep it and you not out a lot of coin or sell it.

If your strapped for extra cash, the basic Stevens 200 will get you shooting and normally the groups are small. It has a thin barrel so allow cool down time between shots.

Have fun regardless and don`t sweat it, rifles are bought and sold here every day. Don`t be affraid of a used rifle here, shop around.
 
Thats a great site The Pastry. It seems like everywhere everyone is saying that the Stevens is a great little gun for cheap. Which is pretty much what I had figured.

In the end I think I will likely go with it. Because money just seems to up and walk out of my wallet I wont be able to for a bit yet, but soon. If I were to buy a used on here on CGN s there anything I should look out for? Any red flags? No no's in buying used?

What sort of tools does it take to install a new barrel or trigger assembly? Just regualr tools? No welding involved or anything like that? Same with Bolt knobs. Hard job?

Thanks again
 
While the 223 is a great little round, it has a smaller bolt face diameter than most other cartridges. If your planning on swapping barrels, changing from a 223 to say a 308 would require a 308 bolt head and the mag asssembly. Its a dilemma because the 223 usually shoots so well even with the cheapest of ammo. The heavy barrels shoot well also and you can learn a lot using them. Resale value is solid so that is good.

Nothing out or the norm to watch out for, they are a solid rifle.

To remove a factory barrel, you need the SSS barrel nut wrench and a strong vise or press to hold the barrel using aluminum v blocks or bored inserts. Do a google search for barrel vise, you'll find pics.

Regular tools for the trigger and bolt handle etc.
 
PEI ROB said:
While the 223 is a great little round, it has a smaller bolt face diameter than most other cartridges. If your planning on swapping barrels, changing from a 223 to say a 308 would require a 308 bolt head and the mag asssembly. Its a dilemma because the 223 usually shoots so well even with the cheapest of ammo. The heavy barrels shoot well also and you can learn a lot using them. Resale value is solid so that is good.

Nothing out or the norm to watch out for, they are a solid rifle.

To remove a factory barrel, you need the SSS barrel nut wrench and a strong vise or press to hold the barrel using aluminum v blocks or bored inserts. Do a google search for barrel vise, you'll find pics.

Regular tools for the trigger and bolt handle etc.
Click to expand...

I likely won't be moving up to a .308 for a year or so. I'm still relatively new to shooting in general and I'd like to finish practicing all the elements of shooting for a while yet. Once I've got it all figured out I'll likely move up to a .308. By then hopefully I'll also have some reloading equipment and it would make it cheap enough to shoot a .308.

Once you've begun reloading how much per bullet is it usually for .223 and
.308? How much does it cost to get the initial rig, dies etc?

When you say bolt face, you literally mean just the last half inch or so on the bolt correct? How much would that cost in a Stevens approximately? As well how much would the bigger mag assembly cost?

Cheers
 
i just picked up a model 200 and a bushnell trophy scope as a cheap little coyote package. after everything the rifle, scope, mounts, ammo and rings i left the store about 650 dollars less in my wallet. is it a good deal? i dont care...its what i wanted. buy what you want, learn as much as you can and when you sell the rifle , you'll make someone else very happy.

cheers
tony
 
angrysoldier said:
i just picked up a model 200 and a bushnell trophy scope as a cheap little coyote package. after everything the rifle, scope, mounts, ammo and rings i left the store about 650 dollars less in my wallet. is it a good deal? i dont care...its what i wanted. buy what you want, learn as much as you can and when you sell the rifle , you'll make someone else very happy.

cheers
tony
Click to expand...

Amen. Have some fun then give it to someone else to enjoy. Good way to go about things.

Cheers
 
MadcapMagician said:
...

When you say bolt face, you literally mean just the last half inch or so on the bolt correct? How much would that cost in a Stevens approximately? As well how much would the bigger mag assembly cost?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Yes, $30 ish for the head and $20 for the mag box and follower. You may need a front baffle, depends if your front baffle is the stroke shortening baffle normally on a Savage 223, about $5-10.

Don't worry about this stuff, you have lots of time to learn all about it. Get your gun and have at it.
 
HA yeah it could have been done alot faster. Was just trying to get ahead, pay down student loans and what not. But I'm finally there!

Now I just need to find some money for a scope, rings and base. AND ammo.

curtmg said:
You should look into a more lucrative line of work. I'd bet you could hold up a sign on a corner saying you're hungry, and it wouldn't take a year to afford a stevens 200.
Click to expand...
 
PEI ROB said:
Mad... , I have bought and made lots of these and here is my take. They will shoot normally but the groups posted are not constant, they are the best it can do. Sure they might shoot great groups most of the time but for precision work you need a consistant performer. This applies to any rifle or accuracy claim. The basic Stevens 200 is an extremely good rifle for the money. It is a plain, no frills beater rifle that normally shoots way better than it should. However, the average guy can work on it to make it perform, of course this take a few dolars but here is the difference, it will shoot as good as another brand of rilfe that cost about twice as much when all said and done. A Stevens with a prefit barrel, Rifle basix Sav 2 trigger and a properly bedded Boyd`s laminate stock will cost around $1000. This is unmatched in accuracy per dollar.

HOWEVER, chances are a stock varmint rifle such as the 12BVSS or a Rem700P will be a good shooter and are readily available and ready to shoot.

I say if you can afford it, buy a 12bvss or a 10fp or a 700p or whatever you like with a heavy barrel. Use it and learn. If you get serious then you can spend some bucks on a real rifle. If not, then keep it and you not out a lot of coin or sell it.

If your strapped for extra cash, the basic Stevens 200 will get you shooting and normally the groups are small. It has a thin barrel so allow cool down time between shots.

Have fun regardless and don`t sweat it, rifles are bought and sold here every day. Don`t be affraid of a used rifle here, shop around.
Click to expand...


x2 excellent advice above
 
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