Stevens 200 action.. New mauser?

[oerllikon]

Hey guys, Ive noticed increased stevens 200 popularity, and it seems many people are using this action as a base. It also makes sense because they are becoming seemingly more available than the mauser actions, and there isnt the guilt involved in modifying a piece of history (this is subjective). Ive been thinking more and more about a 200 in a strange caliber, or even a common caliber such as a NATO round. What are your thoughts on this?
Keep up the great forum, It is responsible for hours of lost time every week

 

[R.W.Dale]

Not only are they more readily avalible but the require a fraction of the work, money, tools, skills and time to build.

With a few basic tools and a little knowledge you can install a fully chambered barrel in the oddest most obsolete caliber you can Imagine in mere minutes. Also by virtue of the way they work 9 times in 10 even the most basic Stevens 200 rebarrel will shoot circles around all but the most worked over custom Mauser.

Custom mausers are like flathead V8's. Unless you just like the way they look or really want one just because there's really no point to building one.

 

[bobnob]

Why is it they enjoy such an advantage? What inherent qualities make this the case?
Never had any experience with the Stevens. You'd think with their popularity they'd keep making them.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Why is it they enjoy such an advantage? What inherent qualities make this the case?
Never had any experience with the Stevens. You'd think with their popularity they'd keep making them.

Largely it's due to the barrels relying on a jamb nut rather than a machined shoulder to control headspace as is the case with the mauser. This means headspace is adjustable vs cut into place as with the Mauser. What this means is you can buy fully chambered barrels that can be installed at home with no machining.

The Stevens/savage floating bolt head also comes into play in the accuracy dpt


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[snake284]

Stevens 200

I ordered one in .223 and it should be in by thursday. I also ordered a Nikon Buckmaster 6-18X40 to put on it. That should be in by Friday. When I go pick the gun up at Wally World I'll go across the street to Academy and get a set of Leupold Redfield style rings and a once piece base to put on it and a couple boxes of factory ammo to shoot in it so I can get some brass. Also since i don't have a .223 die set yet nor a box of small rifle primers, I won't load for it this week. But I have some IMR 3031 to load in it and I have some Speer 52 grain HPs. I'll order a die set and pick up some primers next week after my retirement check comes in.

Anyway, as for the 200 being the next Mauser, well I can see it popularity wise, although there's a little difference. The 200, while being a Savage 10 without accutrigger, is an accurate action, but does not get on the boat with a 98 Mauser in the asthetic and classic department. I love my Mausers and even thought the 200 is potentially more accurate, I wouldn't trade one Mauser for a truck load of 200s. Of course, 200 fans shouldn't feel bad because I wouldn't trade a good 98 Mauser for a truck load of most any other rifle actions, except a good 1903 or a Control Round Feed Model 70 Win.
Having said that, I am excited and can't wait for my Model 200 to come in so I can mount the scope and get to shooting small groups.

I'm also going to take mine to my Gun Smith and let him do his excellent magic on the trigger. He charges $35 and when he gets through, you have a nice safe crisp trigger with a 1.5-2 Pound pull.
Then I'm going to order a Boyd's walnut classic stock to put it in. I can't wait to get to work on it. This will be my first Savage of the Model 10-110 family and I want to experience the accuracy first hand.

The 200 may not be a Mauser, but it's pretty cool in its own right.

 

[snake284]

I personally wouldn't use the flat head V8 analogy on a Mauser. I would analogize the Mauser to a Small Block Chevy in 1963 327 vintage. It's old, but has a lot of potential. I love em, and have a safe full of em. Most of mine are Yugo 24/47s but they are all in excellent condition. Most of mine are still in Military form. One that I bought as a barreled action is at my gun smith's shop as we speak getting the bolt bent, drilled and tapped, a Timney Trigger and a 3 position Winshester Model 70 Style swing safety put on and rebarreled with a Shilen 26 inch Chrome Moly Barrel which he will reem to .257 Roberts Ackley Improved. I have a Boyd's pepper laminate stock here that I ordered for it which I'm currently finishing, that I will bed the rifle in. My gun smith also ordered me a Leupold VX-3L 4.5-14X56mm and a 30 mm tube with duplex reticle which he will put on it when he's finished. So, this rifle will be a good bit hotter than a flat head.

But you're right. You can have a really nice custom rifle on a 200 action a lot cheaper and easier than one you would build on a Mauser. You really have to love the Mauser, which i happen to do. There is just something classy about them. They're great actions.

 

[snake284]

You're spot on Mr. Dale. The Savage action is so easy to fit a barrel on. And this makes it easier to get a precise head space. That and the floating bolt head make for an out of the box accurate machine. If you are a really good machinist and have the time an patience, you can make a Remington 700 scary one hole accurate. The 700 action is also very strong, and if set up right can stand its ground or even surpass most other actions. But if you just want something that you don't have to spend a ment to make accurate, the Savage action is the ticket.

 

[mnhntr]

I have one stevens 200 in 223 and it is a 300 dollar tack driver. Best money I have spent on a rifle.

 

[bobnob]

Thanks for the info. The Stevens are popular down here too, but getting harder to get.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I personally wouldn't use the flat head V8 analogy on a Mauser. I would analogize the Mauser to a Small Block Chevy in 1963 327 vintage.

I disagree

The mauser is a flatty
the Rem700 is a SBC
and the savage based actions are the GM LS series, or in other words a more modern updated small block that's really for the most part taking over.

 

[Screamin'Eagle]

Anyone looking at the Stevens 200 might also want to look at the Savage Axis. Older models were called Savage Edge. I was able to find an Edge a few weeks ago. It's basically the same gun as a Stevens 200 but has a factory detachable mag.

 

[snake284]

I don't know, I've heard from reliable sources on another forum that the edge action has some fundamental differences from the model 10-110 family. They have taken some fundamental short cuts is what i've heard. I'll stick with the 200 and the more upscale Savage guns.

 

[snake284]

Well to each his own. I think a good 98 action is as solid as a bank safe. I love the way if feels when you open and close the bolt. No, it will never have the extreme accuracy of a Savage or Remmy or many newer designs, but for a hunter it's more than adequate. It has asthetic qualities that these others will never have. Only a Pre 64 Model 70 and a good clean 1903 can get in the boat with one. But we all have our opinions and that's what makes the world go round.

 

[X-Rap]

The 200 will never equal the strength of the Mauser design.

 

[jerkface11]

The 200 will never equal the strength of the Mauser design.

According to whom?

 

[Don357]

I have a Model 200 in .308Win, and really like the gun. Even with the Stevens trigger(read "Non-Accu-trigger"), it will easily shoot 1-2" groups at 100 yds with factory 150gr ammo and better with my handloads. I did some 150gr Hornady SST's in Privi brass and 44gr of Varget and got touching holes at 100yds. From a sandbag of course.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I have a model 200 in .223 and like it very much. It is accurate to a fault but is flat out ugly. I will never replace any of my Mauser 98 sporters. The Mauser is just plain sexy!

 

[X-Rap]

According to whom?

Me of course, I'm the one that counts.
I have had Stevens failure and have not had from any Mauser or copy, simple and enough proof for me.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The 200 will never equal the strength of the Mauser design.

A savage action can chamber any commercial chambering out there.

Try chambering a Mauser for a wsm and see how fast the lugs setback.

The savage also handles gas much better than a Mauser in the event of a ruptured case thanks to the baffle behind the bolt head


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[jerkface11]

Oh ok I'm sure you've tested a representative sample of both actions too. Not like there are Mausers out there with cast recivers.

 

[X-Rap]

The savage also handles gas much better than a Mauser in the event of a ruptured case thanks to the baffle behind the bolt head

A ruptured case is exactly what I am talking about.
Extractor was blown out and ejector stuck so hard that it required drilling.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A ruptured case is exactly what I am talking about.
Extractor was blown out and ejector stuck so hard that it required drilling.

Then you should write a letter thanking savage for designing such safety into their rifle.

Had this happened with a mauser there's a good chance you could have lost an eye.....like Paul Mauser

But I honestly fail to connect how bad ammo reflects poorly on the rifle. Do you really expect to be able to blow a case head on a high pressure rifle cartridge, open the bolt, eject what's left and continue blazing away???


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[X-Rap]

You brought up ruptured cases, I related my experience and opinion which is obviously different than yours.
I have an older Savage 223 heavy barrel that shoots very well and despite its clunky long action it serves well as a excellent prairie dog gun.
Aside from that gun and a 17 cal. I will not have another Savage/Stevens bolt gun. I do have quite a few 99 levers though.
My Mauser is of Argentinian persuasion in 25-06 plus I have a few Weatherby, Winchester and Ruger products that trace their lineage back to the Mauser so I guess I know what I like. I guess I'll just keep my glasses on, thanks for your concern.

 

[db_tanker]

I have a Savage 200 LA sitting in the closet right now waiting for the time she comes out and gets a fresh barrel...I am going with the 260 Remington and it is going to be primarily for my wife. The "tupperware" stock will be swapped for a laminated Savage take off and lastly will probably wind up with a rifle basix trigger.

I really like the LA with the short round as I can seat my bullets out to keep them out of my powder chamber. I have a custom Brno Mauser in 308 set up the same way...


As for the strength of actions....weelllll....you folks need to read some of PO Ackleys writings in his books...he does TTF on all kinds of actions in an article.

Hopefully the thread don't get locked.

 

[ElPasoCounty]

I've got a long action 200 thats going to be a .35 Whelen...I have everything to do it but I haven't had luck with the barrel nut. The barrel keeps turning in the blocks....

Who's got an el cheapo barrell vise education they can pass on to me?