stevens action

[aff11]

I was given a stevens model 200 in .243 is this a good action to start with on a tight budget. I would like a 600 yd pd and cyote gun. I would like to get a shilen replacement barrel for it. What do you think?

 

[82boy]

Welcome to the site.
A Stevens 200 action is an excellent start, and especially if your on a tight budget. The Stevens 200 is the same action as the Savage, the only difference is the trigger, and the extra machining steps for the accu-trigger. All of the parts for a Savage will work on a Stevens. May people have done just what your looking at.

You may want to come on over and look at www.savageshooters.com web site. There is a welth of information there on your gun.

 

[Thorbird]

The Stevens is a great start. Look at something like a 6BR in an 8 twist for long barrel life and wind bucking at 600. Shilen would be a good choice as would a number of others.

 

[mattri]

Welcome to the site. Lots of great information here and people are pretty good about giving straight answers.

I'm very interested in your post because I just bought a Stevens 200 in .243 for the same purpose. Going to see what it will do stock and modify it bit by bit.

Really look forward to hearing how this project goes for you. Good luck, Matt.

 

[KaiserNorton]

I, too, would go with the 6mm BR, 8 twist barrel. I'd also replace the trigger with Sharp Shooter Supply's replacement - put one on my Savage and it is super sweet. The stock has got to go - I bought a Bell & Carlson and it is far from a "drop-in fit". I'd look elsewhere....

 

[normmatzen]

And,,,when you get ready for a better barrel, pre-fit barrels are available from a number of barrel makers.
The really nice thing is, you can change your own barrel!

I jazzed up my old '57-'58 Savage 110 30-06 by adding a Rifle Basiks SAV-2 trigger, pillar bedding and skim bedding. Then, I bought a Savage precision target action, a Shilen 243 WIN pre-fit and a used BVSS stock. I had to modify the stock to accept the newer, single shot short action, but after buying a "GO" and "NO-GO" headspace guage, as well as using a new, unfired Lapua case, I installed the barrel myself. I made my own barrel clamp and action wrench. I am now practicing for my clubs April 600 yd bench rest shoot!

 

[1000yardstare]

An F Class buddy of mine had a Stevens 200 (7-08) made over into a 6BR, MacLennon barrel, MacMillan stock, Basix trigger. Over the past ten years, he has won F(O) at the Ontario Fullbore Champs a few times with this rifle. He also uses it in the Ontario Benchrest League and won a 100, 200 Agg last Summer with the rifle.

So the 200 action is a good start. Unlike a Rem 700, it does not have to be trued up. The pinned bolt head swivels enough to be always square to the case head.

 

[jraney]

where do you get just the action?

 

[jo191145]

where do you get just the action?

Best bet is just buy the whole rifle. Sell the barrel for 50-75 bucks. Stock 20-30 bucks.

 

[jraney]

ok where do i find the rifle? can i get it at the savage website?

 

[jo191145]

You could order direct from Savage. You'll pay the full MSRP of $404 though. Not a good idea.

Just took a quick peek at gunbroker.com. for Stevens 200. Saw a few at the buy now price of $287.
Thats a darn good deal!

Save yourself a few bucks and make sure you get one with the correct bolthead for whichever cartridge you plan on switching to. Boltheads can be bought from Midway if you need to.

I once read Stevens 243Win barrels are the easiest to sell. Don't hold me to that tho

 

[tiny68]

Excellent choice. I built my first Savage on a Stevens a few years back. I never have attempted any gunsmith work before this. Started off at a Stevens 200 270. Put on a SSS comp trigger. Got a Boyd's Thumbhole Varminter stock and had it pillar bedded and bedded to the action. This was made as a coyote rig. My favorite varmint round was the 6 Rem. I got a Shilen blank and had my gunsmith chamber it to a 6mm Rem with a match reamer. With what I sold off in the factory barrel and stock, I have less than $700 invested in it including the rings. I now have a several Savage actions and more barrels than my wife needs to know about. The ability to buy a pre-fit custom barrel and swap them out myself on top of the inherit accuracy of the Savage platform make it a win-win in my book.

When I build my boys a similar rig, I will definite go with a 22BR or a 6BR. Absolutely a wonderful cartridge. Only downside is you need to reload youself. BTW - You can buy a Shilen prefit from Northland Shooter Supply for less than $300. Get a replacement recoil lug when you get a barrel.

Luck, Tim

 

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

I have a Stevens in 22-250, it is an excellent shooter, darn good gun for the price, I bought mine for a truck gun, and I think I use it more on yotes and rabbits then any of my custom's. one day when the barrel burns out ill change it up a bit. but like the others said, its a good budget gun to start with, and many of the Savage parts are interchangeable.

 

[jraney]

i to was wanting a 6mm rem, i see you biult yours with a long action, why not a short action, or am i mistaken that it is a short action caliber. just wondering so i have no problems when i try to biuld 1.

 

[nhm16]

i to was wanting a 6mm rem, i see you biult yours with a long action, why not a short action, or am i mistaken that it is a short action caliber. just wondering so i have no problems when i try to biuld 1.

I have a Savage long action in 6mm Rem. Bought it used off this very site. I don't think you really need a long action unless you shoot 105/107grm bullets. Savage "short" actions are longer than Remingtons. My 75gr V-Max rounds loaded out to touch the lands will handily fit in a Savage short action detachable box magazine.

 

[jraney]

ok, so what caliber of rifle would have the closest bolt face to the 6mm. and will any savage or stevens model work,1 more ? and i will be done are there any barrels that are made of something other than steel so the gun will not be so heavy, i want the entire gun to be around 40 inches overall with a bull barrel i know there are probably better methods but i really like the look of a short heavy barreled rifle, so any info would be great.

thanks

 

[RJinTexas]

If your wanting this rifle for a dedicated p-dog/yote rifle I truly believe you would be much better served with a 12tw instead of the 8tw barrel. The 12tw will stabalize up to 80gr bullets and there are so many great varmint bullets between 55gr to 80gr that will work for your intended purpose. The 8tw are fine for the long range target shooting game but the 95gr through 108gr target match bullets don't expand and fail to impress on varmints. I know and I've heard and read all the claims that the faster twist barrel will shoot the lighter bullet, that's true but not nearly as well as the slower twist barrel do, I state this from person experience as I've own everything from 14tw to 8tw barrels in most every popular 6mm caliber. All I know is that when I take both my 8tw and 12tw 6mmBR rifles on a p-dog shoot I alway end up shooting three times as much ammo through my 12tw rifle. Good luck with whatever you choose to build on your reliable Stevens action.

Regards
RJ

 

[tiny68]

i to was wanting a 6mm rem, i see you biult yours with a long action, why not a short action, or am i mistaken that it is a short action caliber. just wondering so i have no problems when i try to biuld 1.

This 6 Rem is a 1:12 twist. I usually shoot the 75 VMax in for varmints. With the match reamer, these rounds have a short enough COAL that they will cycle in a short action Savage or Remington. That was not true when I tried to reach the lands with the 100-107s in my factory Rem M700 6Rem. In fact, they wouldn't even go in the magazine. I choose a LA for my first build because I wanted the flexibility to swap barrels to a LA calibers. You see..... I am barrel swapper. I like the idea of getting a stock you are really comfortable with and as good of glass as you can afford with the trigger you know the feel of.... and buying a butt load of barrels for it. You can only shoot one barrel at a time. This particular rifle has been a 223, 22-250, 22-250AI, 6mm Rem, 6mm Rem AI, 308, 260, 6BR, and a 30BR. I still have all the barrels but the 260. I can't afford a bunch of custom rifles, but with the Savage platform I can drop $300 on a custom pre-fit barrel and have something that shoots as good as my customized Remmies. If I would have never wondered off into the Savage land a few years ago I still would be a 2 caliber kind of a guy and would have never got to play with Ackleys or the 6BR case.

If you are building a slow twist 6mm Rem for 75 gr and lighter bullets and have no intensions of needing a long action, then a SA action will fit you bill. And you will save several ounces in weight.

Luck in your choice, Tim

 

[jraney]

what tools are needed to remove and replace the barrels, and can you get a heavy fluted barrel.

 

[tiny68]

what tools are needed to remove and replace the barrels, and can you get a heavy fluted barrel.

You need an action wrench, barrel nut wrench, and the appropriate go-/no-go gauge. I have a Wheeler action that I use on factory barrels. They are sometimes really tight. These run about $40-50. I made a rear entry action wrench for the actions I have done swaps on that allow me to swap barrels without pulling the scope. I have a Shaw barrel nut wrench. Several makers of these available, $30-40. I only use a go-gauge, but if you are uncertain get both. They are about $20 each new.

With a custom barrel, you can get any profile you want as long as the barrel nut will slide on it.

Luck, Tim