building a decent rifle on a stevens action?

[brian923]

hey guys, just wondering if anyone has built a nice accurate rifle on a stevens action before. i am looking into build a magnum sized cartridge, and i need it to be cheap. i have seen some stevens in 300 win mag at the local shops for around $200.00. i would probably replace the barrel, stock and trigger. rifle would be for target and hunting. thanks guys, brian

 

[jdfletch]

Brian,

Check out Gun of the Week #75. It's a .260 Ackley Improved derivative built on a Stevens action. I built my LR target rifle using a Savage action. They can be VERY accurate! Since you'll be using it for target and hunting, might I suggest a .284 Winchester platform. Moderate recoil compared to the traditional magnums, but excellent performance on game and paper with the great selection of bullets. There's not many loads that I know of that can compete with a .284 Win with a 180gr Berger VLD traveling with velocities of 2800-2850fps on long range targets! Winchester brass is good,or you could neck up 6.5x284 Lapua...) and dies are available. Not a lot of hassle for a great shooting round.

Shoot straight and good luck with your choice!

Doug

 

[cliffe]

i have a 6.5x284 and a 6mmbr on stevens action, both shoot good. have used shilen, brux, douglas and rock river barrels putting other 6.5x284's and 6mmbr together, all of them shot good. good for me is .3 to .4 five shot groups.have been using fred moreo triggers and recoil lugs. stocks have been choates, bell and carlson, fred moreo laminate. for a hunting rifle prob. use a bell and carlson and bed it.
the only problem building a hunting/target rifle is what makes a target rifle nice to shoot, heavy long barrel is a PITA to carry. good luck cliffe PS i would build a 7wsm .

 

[jdfletch]

Cliffe does make a very good point about the main difference in a target and hunting rifle... The barrel! For the price, you could have two barrels reamed at the same time with the same reamer. One for hunting,shorter, lighter) and one for target shooting,longer, heavier)...