Savage Stevens 200 223

[TRguy]

Stevens 200 in 223

I bought a Stevens 200 in 223 back in February.

Started out like this

Started to work on stiffening the barrel channel and filling some surface areas, spraying with primer and ultimately painting the stock....

Since then I did some trigger work took the action and barrel to him, he cut the barrel and re-crowned, mounted the scope mount and scope, bore sighted....

Now we get to take it to the range today and see how she shoots....

Worst day of shooting beats the best day at work.
Well here are some from the cell phone, sorry for the poor quality of pics. The Rifle looks great....groups were a little wide. Hopefully after some break in they tighten up. Chamber was a bit rough cause some bolt lock up but that too is loosening up. I am still loving the rifle.



Trimmed two inches off the barrel and recrowned. I like the looks of the shorter barrel.





Mine is the grey stock with mods

Bedded a piece of aluminum u-channel in the stock to stiffen it up, used a belt sander to fit the u-channel to the contour of the stock and allow for barrel free float, once u-channel was in I fixed it in place using JB weld, used an exacto knife to cut out the checkering, filled the checkering areas with epoxy filler, sanded and painted the stock.

Barrel is still free floated.

Its about 1/4 from the recoil lug. But the u channel allows for stiffening both on the horizontal and vertical axis. If you try it you will be amazed at the amount of stability you will get out of your stock

I used this to cut the channels for the u-channel

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=Multi-Max+MM40

Pics of the u channel in the stock




Added a large oversized bolt handle and a Timney Trigger.

 

[Texaszach]

How do you like the oversize bolt handle?
What's your primary purpose for the rifle? Target or hunting? I'm just curious.

Looks good

 

[TRguy]

Well I wanted it under 6lbs with the scope, which it is about 3ozs over currently, so if I am out all day the weight won't become a burden.

I wanted it for 200 yds and in coyote hunting, plinking, inexpensive to shoot, and to carry on the Honda ATV.

The over-sized bolt handle helps with the notorious Savage bolt lift. The bolt lift to cock the firing pin is 22lbs from the factory.

I added a bolt lift kit from Kevin Rayhill (Kevin Rayhill @ Stockade Stocks. $7.50 plus USPS priority shipping for his bolt lift kit) and the oversized handle, lapped the locking lugs, the bolt lift is now around 14 - 15 lbs. Hard to measure but definitely noticeable.

http://www.stockadegunstocks.com/

Other than that I just like Savage rifles, The everyman rifle and easy to work on. So Just add it to the collection of Savages currently setting up residence at my house.

 

[Texaszach]

Awesome, I was curious about the bolt lift kit and have also considered the oversized bolt handle.
I have a Stevens as well but in 270 with a rifle basix trigger installed. My stock is actually similar in that it is tan like yours. I'll probably get around to tinkering with the fore end eventually but it shoots fine as is. I also had to do some sanding to get a better floating job. It was actually touching on the left side from the factory.

I just installed a redfield 3-9 and can't wait for deer season.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I got one in 7mm-08, took the ugly gray stock off and replaced with a Boyds walnut stock and it is a beautiful tackdriver. It is a low priced rifle, but when I go to the deer lease it goes along with some really nice more expensive rifles, at least 3 when I go. great rifle for the price.

 

[TRguy]

I got one in 7mm-08, ....

My favorite Caliber

 

[Big_E]

Very nice. I wish more shops around here carried Stevens 200's. I want one in the .308 family to eventually turn into a long range gun. But everyone stocks the Axis/Edge now.

What did you recrown to? 45 degrees?

 

[TRguy]

recrowned at 11 degrees