Which is better? Stevens 200 or t3?

[BC Bigbore]

Which do you think is better and why? They both have plastic furniture, both are accurate but the t3 is twice the price. Debate away...

 

[stubblejumper]

I personally prefer the t-3 because the ones that I have fired had excellent triggers and were very accurate.On the other hand,I was not as impressed with the savage/stevens triggers and the rifles that I fired weren't quite as accurate as the t-3 rifles that I fired.

 

[prosper]

t3 has a better trigger, and a slightly better stock. Though the 'one size fits all' long action really bugs me, so I wouldn't bother with another one in a short action chambering. The trigger is really good, though if you invest an hour's work, the steven's trigger can be made almost as good.

Both are known to be very accurate, and both have very smooth actions.

I think that the t3 is a slightly 'better' gun, but not 'twice-the-price' better, so overall, I'd say the 200 wins.

better still, though, if you have $650 or so to spend on a tikka is to hit the EE and grab a used ruger 77, cz, model 70, or similar

 

[scott_r]

The fit and finish is waay nicer on the T3's, trigger is 100x's better on the T3 it comes w/ a clip and the bolt is really smooth.
The Stevens is cheaper in cost but has one terrible stock, trigger blows, has a blind mag , overall is pretty rough and has a rough cycle (at least mine did)
Ive owned both and booth shoot pretty good and would give the accuracy to the Stevens, mind you I owned a .223 in the Stevens and a 22-250 in the T3 so its not an exact comparison.

 

[Gatehouse]

Stevens is quite honestly the least expensive way to get a decent hunting rifle.

I would take the T3, but the Stevens is the better "bargain."

 

[mikeelliot]

I would only buy a Stevens if it came in 375 ruger

 

[604shooter]

The T3 is a little more refined in terms of finnish (no pun intended), but the Stevens is hard to beat price wise. Both are accurate out of the box.

 

[NAA]

Don't get me wrong.... I love the Tikkas... but I suppose for almost the same price a guy could get two Stevens 200's.....

 

[Why not?]

Exactly!

 

[todbartell]

better is in the eye of the beholder

personally I would much rather have the Tikka although for the same $ Id rather have an SPS 700

 

[jdman]

really, im glad i saw this i thought stevens was synonomis with crappy.... i might just have to pick one up.

 

[crazy_davey]

I think that the t3 is a slightly 'better' gun, but not 'twice-the-price' better, so overall, I'd say the 200 wins.

Exactly. If I was buying either of these(I likely never would) I would take the 200. I would do some work to the stock and trigger myself and then spend the extra cash on good quality rings, bases and optics.

With the money saved, I would go hunting.

 

[johnnyreb65]

I had the same dilemma a few weeks ago,,,I got the Tikka T3,, more money but a better rifle,,you do get what you pay for.

 

[crazy_davey]

I had the same dilemma a few weeks ago,,,I got the Tikka T3,, more money but a better rifle,,you do get what you pay for.

So what did you get from your new T3 that you wouldn't have from a 200? Why is it a better rifle?

 

[mr00jimbo]

So what did you get from your new T3 that you wouldn't have from a 200? Why is it a better rifle?

Well "better" could be subjective. Perhaps though the accuracy guarantee, detach magazine, build quality, trigger feel, play a part.

 

[Why not?]

So what did you get from your new T3 that you wouldn't have from a 200? Why is it a better rifle?

Yes, having owned both Tikka and Stevens, I am interested in the answer as well.

Ted

 

[crazy_davey]

Perhaps though the accuracy guarantee, detach magazine, build quality, trigger feel, play a part.

Both of these rifles are accurate enough for hunting, it has been proven and documented many times, here and many other places. A detachable magazine does not make a rifle better, just appeals to some people more than others. The trigger on both rifles is easily cleaned up to make a nice, crisp trigger. Trigger travel and pull does not make one rifle better than another. There are more expensive rifles that have the same trigger issues.

 

[CeeZer]

Savage bought Stevens awhile back and is now marketed as budget Savage. Check Savage's web site and company's history on that site.

 

[pharaoh2]

Savage bought Stevens awhile back and is now marketed as budget Savage. Check Savage's web site and company's history on that site.

Awhile back?

The Steven's 200 is without a doubt, the single best value in a quality rifle you can find. Mossberg builds both the atr and 4x4, and they are below the 200. My only complaint with the Stevens rifle is the blind box is abit akward to load. Other than that, there is nothing wrong with them. I vote for it. The T3 offers me nothing the Steven's does, minus a plastic $110 clip. Lose the clip, and it's minus another $110!

 

[Republic of Alberta]

These 2 rifles are not in the same class in any way, shape or form and thus cannot be compared.