Stevens 200 .223
- Thread starter chuckw2
- Start date
Forum Boss
Administrator
Chuck,
If you have the opportunity to "shop around" take a strong borelight and a lupe with you and inspect the barrels of the Stevens you are considering buying. Some of the Savage/Stevens barrels I've seen, including my original 260 barrel, show really awful machining machining marks. Beyond bad I'm saying--really outrageous tooling marks that make it look like the barrel is threaded. A barrel like that will make your life a living hell, cleaning wise, and won't hold accuracy more than a dozen rounds or so.
Also, take a dummy round, seated long. Stick it in the gun and close the bolt. Then remove the dummy round and check the engraving. On my original barrel, the lands did not end evenly in the throat--part of one land was missing at the tail end--hence it would not engrave correctly all around the bullet. With that barrel it would ONLY shoot decent jumped a far ways.
Conversely, some of the recent bbls I've seen on Savage BVSS aren't too bad.
For $300.00 you can't beat that deal you mention--so long as the barrel isn't a horror show that never should have left the factory. For $450 you might be able to find a used Savage Accutrigger and then put a Douglas on it from SharpShooter Supply. Wilson's actually making a pretty nice barrel now, but it's more money.
If you have the opportunity to "shop around" take a strong borelight and a lupe with you and inspect the barrels of the Stevens you are considering buying. Some of the Savage/Stevens barrels I've seen, including my original 260 barrel, show really awful machining machining marks. Beyond bad I'm saying--really outrageous tooling marks that make it look like the barrel is threaded. A barrel like that will make your life a living hell, cleaning wise, and won't hold accuracy more than a dozen rounds or so.
Also, take a dummy round, seated long. Stick it in the gun and close the bolt. Then remove the dummy round and check the engraving. On my original barrel, the lands did not end evenly in the throat--part of one land was missing at the tail end--hence it would not engrave correctly all around the bullet. With that barrel it would ONLY shoot decent jumped a far ways.
Conversely, some of the recent bbls I've seen on Savage BVSS aren't too bad.
For $300.00 you can't beat that deal you mention--so long as the barrel isn't a horror show that never should have left the factory. For $450 you might be able to find a used Savage Accutrigger and then put a Douglas on it from SharpShooter Supply. Wilson's actually making a pretty nice barrel now, but it's more money.
I have found them on sale for $259.99 locally. Your prices may vary of course.
I scrapped the barrel and the stock. Throwing on a LW .243 1-8 twist 28 inch stainless on my single shot and on the stevens is going a Numrich 1-8 twist 24 inch factory .260 barrel in varmint contour for $136.00.
The stock SUCKS! B&C Duramax is a big improvement. Not too much money, less than $100.00 and its alot better than the tupperware stock from the factory.
I also upgraded to a SSS comp trigger, tossed the saftey..I know I know...but its for targets and it makes the trigger function much better. Upgraded the recoil lug to a SSS stainless.
You can take some expoxy and some aluminum shafts and firm it up cheaply...might be the way to go until you have some more $$.
The factory BVSS stock is pretty nice and you usually find one used.
All depend on how much $$ you have and want to spend bro!
RHINOUT!
I scrapped the barrel and the stock. Throwing on a LW .243 1-8 twist 28 inch stainless on my single shot and on the stevens is going a Numrich 1-8 twist 24 inch factory .260 barrel in varmint contour for $136.00.
The stock SUCKS! B&C Duramax is a big improvement. Not too much money, less than $100.00 and its alot better than the tupperware stock from the factory.
I also upgraded to a SSS comp trigger, tossed the saftey..I know I know...but its for targets and it makes the trigger function much better. Upgraded the recoil lug to a SSS stainless.
You can take some expoxy and some aluminum shafts and firm it up cheaply...might be the way to go until you have some more $$.
The factory BVSS stock is pretty nice and you usually find one used.
All depend on how much $$ you have and want to spend bro!
RHINOUT!
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.