Stevens 200 in 223

[TRguy]

Yesterday was the day

I bought a Stevens 200 in 223 back in February.

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.

[TRguy]

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.



[img width=459 height=768]http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p563/RedSoloCup/IMAG0847.jpg[/img]

[devildogandboy]

interesting, i have same rifle in the grey stock. would like to see how it shoots. i bought some 60grn Hornadys i would like to try. keep us posted!

[jonbearman]

Try some 40 grainers to my favorite which is the hornady 53 flat base match bullets using blc-2 or h335. Cant be beat.

[TRguy]

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.

[airaddict]

I wouldnt mind a nice stevens like that for 223 plinking. I only fing the reg blued ones and not the matte blue. The gun show is this weekend so we will see what i find.

Brian

[Hersh5317]

Looks good. Did you take the u-channel as far as the recoil lug? In the Savage stocks I've handled, the worst of the flex starts there.

[TRguy]

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/Pa...Multi-Max+MM40

[powderburn]

I have one in std factory dress and it is so much fun to shoot. The components are cheap and mine shoots very well in it's std unaltered form. The only alteration I would like to make is to trade a black stock I picked up for it to a tan or camo as I like to change up the looks a bit. Good luck with yours.

[Hersh5317]

Powderburn, wipe the stock down with alcohol, tape where the action an lug sit, attack it with Krylon Fusion. After it cures for a day, put a coat or two of satin finish clear on it to reduce the likelyhood of scratching the base coat. I have done several stocks like this. It holds up well and is easy to retouch if it gets scratched.

[rjsixgun]

Did you shoot it before cutting the barrel?? If so did your groups change???

[TRguy]

I didn't shoot the rifle before cutting the barrel, honestly at first string of shots at the range the groups were wide at about 1 1/4 moa. The more I shot the more it has tightened up. I have right at 27 rounds through the barrel at this point and is shooting moa at this point. I am getting a good star on the muzzle showing a square and properly crowned muzzle.

I have been requested to take some pictures and post of the u-channel in the stock. I am traveling at the moment, once I get back I will shoot some photos of the stock and how the u-channel is laid in the stock.

[powderburn]

Hersh 5317 thanks on the pointers. I have been thinking about doing just that if I don't find a trade soon. I just figured that given the # of people that remove the original stocks one of the tan or camo ones may be easy to come across. While they aren't a $500 ti stock I find the tupperware stocks on both of my 200's are plenty serviceable and both rifles shoot very well. Sure if you grab the forend and twist and shove on it you can see some minor flex but it takes some pressure & I don't do that while handling or shooting my rifle.

[rjsixgun]

Same here, I have 2 200s both in factory stocks and they shoot fine, single hole groups at 100 yards. I am going to be changeing 1 to a laminate but only because I like the look.

Why not just paint your gray stock tan???

[jonbearman]

Seriously,try the flat base 53 grain hornady match bullets with h335,blc-2,or the best is benchmark.

[Con]

The more I shot the more it has tightened up. I have right at 27 rounds through the barrel at this point and is shooting moa at this point.

I had a Stevens 200 in 223Rem rechambered to 22-204 at about 50-60 shots as a factory chamber ... its done exactly the same ... more you shoot the better it shoots. Bore-scoping the barrel would make a gunsmith cry (mine just about did), but it shoots and that's all that there is to it.
Cheers...
Con

[TRguy]

Pics of the u channel in the stock

[TRguy]

Added a large oversized bolt handle and a Timney Trigger.

[TRguy]

Managed to get some great shooting in this weekend. she shoots great and was a great afternoon of paper punching.