A Little Stevens 200

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12-10-2013, 03:57 AM
jbjh

A Little Stevens 200

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone here for all of their knowledge, help and advice on this project. It's been a hoot, and you guys made it a hell of a lot easier, and a lot more fun.

This gun started as a Stevens 200 SA in .308. It came in a laminate stock with a RifleBasix trigger
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/y...pswdune9xo.jpg

All in all, a decent gun, but not what I wanted.

This is more like it
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2ee9f28e.jpg

CBI Light Varmint 1:10 twist .308, cut and crowned to 16.5"
NSS lug and barrel nut
RifleBasix trigger
CDI bottom metal
EGW scope rail (mounted backwards so I don't have to take it off to spin the barrel nut)
Leupold QD rings (low)
Burris MTAC 1-4x24 Illuminated
Manners EH4 with pillars

I got the rifle in late Feb 2013, and while trying to decide on a stock, came upon a Manners Group buy on Snipershide. After a long wait, I finally got the stock back from Manners about a month ago, my fault as I neglected to inform them about the thicker recoil lug. Tom Manners fixed it himself and shipped it back. The stock is amazing! I've fondled lots of custom stocks, but this is a cut above. The folks at Manners are top notch, and will likely be the reason I end up living in a cardboard box with a lot a really pretty guns.

As this is supposed to be a ~400 yard hunting gun, I thought I would try out a lower powered variable scope. I figured that if it didn't work on this gun, I'd put it on my AR-15.

Blah, blah, blah, this is what it can do
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/y...pstd4qvllm.jpg
Remington 165gr Accutip BT
The reason there are only four shots in the group is that as I was touching the fifth round off, a piece of brass from the next bench over went right down my shirt collar! I kept the shot on paper, but didn't measure it as part of the grouping.

The MTAC works just as I had hoped, with the reticle allowing me to ring steel out to 400yds without a lot of fuss.

Blast is a bit abrupt, nothing brutal, but I'm probably going to put a brake on it, and then finish it off with some color, and a 6 or 6.5mm barrel is probably not too far into the future.

Now, do I do a .223 chassis build with another Savage, or try my hand at a Tikka?

Much peace
Jimmy
12-10-2013, 04:39 AM
Mach2

Looks like the laminate stock had Velcro strips on the forearm and grip. What caliber was that one? I always like the model 200 because they are the same action and bolt the Savage uses. Stevens uses a 2 position safety and Savage uses a 3 position safety. I hope they never phase out the model 200.
12-10-2013, 05:09 AM
stangfish

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mach2

Stevens uses a 2 position safety and Savage uses a 3 position safety.

Wow. All of the Stevens 200's I have seen were 3 position safety. Where did you get yours?
12-10-2013, 07:48 AM
pdog06

very nice build..

I have to ask, how much does it weigh? Figuring with the Manners and a short barrel its gotta be pretty light.
12-10-2013, 12:09 PM
jbjh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mach2

Looks like the laminate stock had Velcro strips on the forearm and grip. What caliber was that one? I always like the model 200 because they are the same action and bolt the Savage uses. Stevens uses a 2 position safety and Savage uses a 3 position safety. I hope they never phase out the model 200.

Not Velcro, but grip tape. They actually worked out quite nice but were a little hard on the hands. The rifle started as a .308 and I kept it that way (edited post to reflect that).
12-11-2013, 03:23 AM
jbjh

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdog06

very nice build..

I have to ask, how much does it weigh? Figuring with the Manners and a short barrel its gotta be pretty light.

I wish I knew! I'm so busy with work right now, getting a gun to meet a scale seems out of control. Hopefully I'll find out this week.
12-11-2013, 04:20 AM
Hotolds442

You'll really like that little flamethrower right at dusk, and forget about a follow-up shot!
My Model 600 in 338/08 sports an 18" barrel, and it's the same way.
I wouldn't trade it for anything though.
nice job on your build.
12-11-2013, 11:21 AM
big honkin jeep

Great Googledy Moogledy ,That is Sweet. Much higher end components than the factory modified parts I built my lefty carbine with. Does the comb line your eye up with the scope well? I used a very similar base and rings on my carbine build with a modified factory stock and wound up with a small problem. I couldn't get it to pass the close your eyes, shoulder the rifle, open your eyes test. (should be looking down the center of the scope without moving your head) The scope was sitting just a little too high. That's the only part I don't like about picatinny rails on a rifle with drop at the comb, the ones I've tried on Savages just seem to put the scope up so high. I wound up making an adjustable Karstan style riser for mine and now all is right with the world.
You have a very nice setup indeed
I wonder if any of the deer are gonna ask questions about the accuracy and velocity with "such a short barrel " :rolleyes:
12-13-2013, 10:29 AM
jbjh

Quote:

Originally Posted by big honkin jeep

Great Googledy Moogledy ,That is Sweet. Much higher end components than the factory modified parts I built my lefty carbine with. Does the comb line your eye up with the scope well? I used a very similar base and rings on my carbine build with a modified factory stock and wound up with a small problem. I couldn't get it to pass the close your eyes, shoulder the rifle, open your eyes test. (should be looking down the center of the scope without moving your head) The scope was sitting just a little too high. That's the only part I don't like about picatinny rails on a rifle with drop at the comb, the ones I've tried on Savages just seem to put the scope up so high. I wound up making an adjustable Karstan style riser for mine and now all is right with the world.
You have a very nice setup indeed
I wonder if any of the deer are gonna ask questions about the accuracy and velocity with "such a short barrel " :rolleyes:

The base is a little higher than I'd like, but not by much, and the Manners has a higher comb by design. A stock pack would probably fix it, but I'm looking into two-piece bases to lower the scope. For it's intended use as a hunting gun, I'd like the MPBR to be as true to the bore as possible.

As far as accuracy, considering that off-the-shelf Remington gave me +/- MOA without really trying any load development, I'm pretty sure yummy animals won't get much of a chance to discuss any reductions in velocity :)
12-13-2013, 10:18 PM
ShawneeB

Nice work Jimmy. I like it both ways!
12-14-2013, 02:36 AM
jbjh

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdog06

how much does weigh?

Finally got it on a scale
http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/y...psrurvglgy.jpg
Thats with a VTAC sling on it.

Not too light, not too heavy.
12-14-2013, 02:41 AM
jbjh

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShawneeB

Nice work Jimmy. I like it both ways!

Thanks Shawnee. I did like the original, but had this in mind and wanted to follow thru.
12-15-2013, 11:39 AM
ShawneeB

Nothing wrong with following up, only thing better would be both of them! That sure does look handy.