Well, after all the reading about budget rifles, I went with the Stevens 200, .223. I wanted something I could start off slow with and still be able to shoot until I changed out everything, like the trigger, stock and BBL. the one thing I am concerned with is replacing the stock, but I wasn't too worried knowing that the factory stock (although cheap!) is at least pillar bedded, or so I thought it was. After I took off the stock to check it out, I noticed that the front pillar is recessed below the stock and the rear pillar is nowhere near touching the receiver either. I will post a pic of this later tonight but to say I am disappointed is an understatement considering the lack of stocks I can get for the centerfeed rifles that Savage now makes. I had thought I did my research but I don't think I realized just how cheap these things are. The action seems to be good and I only read good things about how most are Sub MOA out of the box but I think I or anyone else would do better to go ahead and get the accutrigger and the accustock or even a wood stocked one at that, and come out cheaper in the long run. I also would be willing to bet that the Savage receivers are machined just a little smoother, the Stevens are quite rough. I like the rifle but the fact the the pillar bedding is not really pillar bedded, considering the receiver does not touch anything but plastic is pretty poor manufacturing to say the least. Anyone here had a similar experience with these stocks?
Got my new Stevens 200-NOT so happy
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I have two Stevens 200's both of the stocks are as you descibed with the pillars recessed, This did not bother me because I bought them just to use the actions for builds. I dont like the Stevens trigger myself and for the moment switched it out for a takeoff Savage 3 screw.
Look over at savageshooters.com, lots of good info over there, guys are bedding those stocks, I havent tried, but would think you could remove those factory pillars and install some new aluminum ones.
I was thinking Bell & Carlson had some stock options for the centerfeed, I like the medalist tactical, also have run into some laminates on sale at stocky's from time to time.
Look over at savageshooters.com, lots of good info over there, guys are bedding those stocks, I havent tried, but would think you could remove those factory pillars and install some new aluminum ones.
I was thinking Bell & Carlson had some stock options for the centerfeed, I like the medalist tactical, also have run into some laminates on sale at stocky's from time to time.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I have looked at the Stevens for possible donors and have not been impressed because in order to
bring them up to a reasonable level of quality you have to spend more than if you just bought a
better rifle that cost more in the beginning.
Savage makes some fine rifles but this is not one of them IMO.
By far the best bargain out there now is the $399.00 Vangaurd (Same as a Howa) . It has a good/
usable stock, decent trigger and appears to have a good barrel.
Some of my friends have bought them to build off of and they shot so well they have not done
anything to them.
I use a lot of Remingtons because of available parts to customize but the Accumark is a very good
start and can be upgraded if you want to.
I would try to sell it before you spend a lot of money and re-invest in something else.
Just my opinion.
J E CUSTOM
McKinneyMike
Well-Known Member
There is zero difference between a Stevens and Savage action other than the lack of an Accutrigger. Check with the Savage guys over on Savage Shooters forums. I have two Stevens actions that I used as donors and they are every bit the equal of my other Savage actions, less the trigger. Barrels are from the same stock as other Savage barrels too. No reason that a Stevens will not shoot as well as any stock Savage rifle IMO and experiences.
Since when are Stevens pillar bedded from the factory? All of my Stevens Tupperware stocks were not pillar bedded nor did they claim to be.
Since when are Stevens pillar bedded from the factory? All of my Stevens Tupperware stocks were not pillar bedded nor did they claim to be.
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McKinneyMike
Well-Known Member
I believe those spacers are there to keep the tupperware from collapsing when you torque the action down, not pillars in the sense that you are thinking. They are cheap throwaway stocks to allow them to meet a price point. Again as far as the action being rough neither of the two that I used were any different than my Savage actions. I have heard of many rough actions regardless of who made them though with regards to factory actions. It is just the luck of the draw these days from what I am seeing in the forums. Nothing a little shooting will not relieve though unless it is excessive and in the case I would return the rifle.
I have a couple of vanguards I use for hunting and I love them, but I wanted to able to switch barrels and this would be difficult with the Howa/Vanguards. Otherwise I would rather have one of those. I do like the floating bolt head in the Savage/Stevens and that was another reason I went with them, I think I could squeeze a little more accuracy out of them without having to to any "smithing" to it. But yes, It's going to cost the same or more by the time I switch everything out. I could sell the parts I switch out and make it a little more even. No biggie, I wanted a project and I got one! If I lose a little I will just chalk it up to experience!
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I think you are right on that, they are pillars made from steel so it's strange that they wouldn't just make them act like pillars and not just something to keep the stock from crushing. You get what you pay for.
You have your choice of McMillan, H.S. Precision, Bell and Carlson and Manners. I believe stockade does there stocks for both action lengths. Cant be sure as there site doesn't say but I think I have seen them on the 4.04". Also if you want laminate you have numerous options from SSS and stockys
so you have a few options
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ICANHITHIMMAN
Well-Known Member
Always glad to here positive things about the HOWA from people in the know. I love their rifles.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
I bought one really cheap and took the stock off to look at things. I think that you are correct in assuming that they are not pillars as such but spacers! Man, those stocks could be on a Mattel toy! ....Rich
Just for fun mark the top of the so called pillars and then install the stock.
Try and see if they are really spacers or if the stock does indeed compress / yield enough to allow the pillars to engage. They may actually be pillars afterall ....
The action screws on the Stevens I have bought were very tight.
This may be by design ... if you read the articles on the Savage Accustock you will find the action is torqued down into the stock in a similar fashion.
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to say these are high quality stocks.
Just for fun I have been shooting one of the Stevens 200 rifles in .270 caliber that I bedded in a Bell and Carlson sporter stock with the aluminim bedding block, a Rifle Basics SAV 1 triggger, and Savage BT bolt handle and man will that factory Stevens barrel shoot!
Try and see if they are really spacers or if the stock does indeed compress / yield enough to allow the pillars to engage. They may actually be pillars afterall ....
The action screws on the Stevens I have bought were very tight.
This may be by design ... if you read the articles on the Savage Accustock you will find the action is torqued down into the stock in a similar fashion.
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to say these are high quality stocks.
Just for fun I have been shooting one of the Stevens 200 rifles in .270 caliber that I bedded in a Bell and Carlson sporter stock with the aluminim bedding block, a Rifle Basics SAV 1 triggger, and Savage BT bolt handle and man will that factory Stevens barrel shoot!
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quackheadkiller
Member
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- Jan 29, 2009
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I bought a stevens. 243 for coyote hunting a couple years ago. I bought it knowing I was going to spray paint it white and grey. I was looking for a cheap rig. I read the same reports about how well they shot. Mine was all over the place. 6-7in groups at 100 yds. I free floated the barrel and the groups shrunk in half. It sounds funny but I didnt want to spend much money on the gun and I read a bedding article on the LRH homepage and I followed the directions and bedded the action. I did use JB weld instead though. My gun shoots about 3/8" at 100yd. all day long now with federal classic 100 gr. Im extremely happy with how the gun shoots. I topped it off with a Barska 6-24x. Whole rig was under 400 bucks. After all that it was a fun project but I doubt I would buy another stevens.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
Good job! Isn't it great when something works out
