Stevens-Savage Model 258B B/A Question

[machappe]

I am new to this forum but not to Firearms. I was at a recent gun show near my town and came across a Stevens-Savage Model 258B B/A for $55. The firearm works well but has a few minor hitches with it. It's not exactly what I was looking for but I am satisfied with what I have.

My questions are:

1. The barrel is in need of work. Re-bluing or possibly having it sent off to be dipped in camo. Which do you think would be better?

2. I has looking for a strictly slug gun and the barrel of the 258B is not rifled. Can I have the barrel rifled and who should I look for to have this done?

3. The stock is unfinished. Do you think that I would be better off to have it finished or dipped along with the barrel??

I appreciate any help that anyone can give me.

 

[machappe]

Here are a few pics of my project. I have the butt plate, new mags, and new safety screws on order.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Up in the stickies is one about "The Ugliest Gun In Howard County" that deal with a similar gun and what I did with it.

I camoed that one with two cans of bow paint. Worked for me.

If memory serves, I was getting sub 3" groups at 50 yards with that one after a little tweaking. With modern slugs being so diverse, that could probably be cut in half today.

HTH....

 

[machappe]

Dave, I did read that story and wondered about that. Thanks for the tips!! I will try that out.

 

[Pictures]

Sorry to bump up an old topic, but I'm looking to restore my dad's 258B and I'm a little stumped about the magazine retainer part. Here's what I'm looking at. When I look at other people's gun, it looks like the magazine retainer part sticks out lower than the stock. Mine don't. Am I missing parts? I don't have a magazine with me at the moment to test it out, but my father claims that the magazine doesn't stay in, it just falls out, which makes sense since the two metal pieces you see there are pretty much straight and wouldn't retain anything. I hope somebody can help.