Stevens 200 .243

O

OldSox

New member
Wanted to buy an economical rifle to pull double duty for calling and a deer round for my daughter. After reading all of the good stuff about accuracy with the Stevens guns I decided to buy one in .243 caliber. Is there something special that you can do to the gun barring extra $$$$ to shrink my 3-4 inch groups? I am shooting Core lokt 100 grn. factory bullets right now but will be loading some shortly. Should I try lighter bullets? I guess I was hoping for one of these cheap tack drivers that I have constantly read about. Any help will be appreciated!
 
Made sure everything was tight and shooting off of sandbags. Everything feels stable when I pull the trigger. I think that some consistent loads will dial it in a little better, at least I hope so. Thanks
 
OldSox

Pull the scope off and reset it. Using Red Locktite on the screws. I do not install a scope on any of my rifles without it. DO NOT ever use GREEN. Might as well weld the mounts together. Also, try using around 80-90 grain bullets. I am using 85 Hornady Soft Points in mine and it shoots 1/2 @ 100 yrds..
 
My god, did you even try other ammo?

After you've tried 10-15 different loads, get back to us.
Did you really just expect to buy the gun, pick up whatever box of ammo caught your eye, then shoot 1 hole groups... Chances are good a $3000 GAP wouldn't stand up to that.

Good luck on load development, give the gun a shot before you decide to throw negative press out.
 
Try some Sierra 85 gr BTHP loads. If those won't shoot, something is wrong with the gun/scope. 100 gr. have been problematic for me with my .243 which has a 1/10 twist.
 
Savage/Stevens rifles are generally great shooters out of the box and .243's are usually not a finicky caliber. I've got 2 Savages, a Winchester, and Encore in .243 and they seem to like anytingform 80 - 100 gr. Your's should shoot any 100 gr. factory load better than that. No reason to have to go to a lighter bullet to get accuracy. I agree with others that the scope or mount or contact between the barrel is more likely the culprit. Or it could be a bad fit up front with the barrel and stock.
 
Try the federal blue box ammo with 80gr Speer hot-core bullets. 75gr Hornady Hp's or 100gr Hornady SP's also work great for me!

The 80gr federal ammo is about .5-MOA or a bit less maybe out of my factory Rem 788. And, the other stuff is around MOA or so. Haven't really shot anything else for groups much.
 
I have the same rifle. I replaced the trigger when I had money for it. RB Sav-2.

OoTB it shot 100grn Fed red box soft points at a hair over 1" at 100yds. You should be fine to shoot 100grn with the 1 in 9.25" twist.

New trigger and Hornady factory ammo is just under an inch, sometimes .750.

Just try different factory ammo. Winchester Silver Ballistic tip ammo is offered in 95grn I think.

Good luck!
 
Back the trigger off to 3 pounds +or-. Use a trigger pull gauge. Shoot a few boxes through it and see what happens. Mine doesn't like a clean barrel. Might take a few rounds for yours to settle in. Do you reload? Reloads tailored to the specific rifle will make a huge difference. Hornady and Sierra are both great bullets for the .243.

Tony
 
I have the same rifle but have not gotten the chance to shoot it yet.
When I dont feel like loading anything or dont have time, I have had good luck with Federal 80 gr soft points in my Rem 700.

My decent group (.65") reloads are 87gr Hornady HPBT with Varget.

It's been said before but tune the trigger if you feel comfortable doing it. there is a pile of information on do-it-yourself trigger job for the Stevens on this forum. Then get a few different flavors of factory stuff and see what it will do.
Reloading just opens the door for more variety and finer resolution if you want it.

Good luck
 
Originally Posted By: OldSoxWanted to buy an economical rifle to pull double duty for calling and a deer round for my daughter. After reading all of the good stuff about accuracy with the Stevens guns I decided to buy one in .243 caliber. Is there something special that you can do to the gun barring extra $$$$ to shrink my 3-4 inch groups? I am shooting Core lokt 100 grn. factory bullets right now but will be loading some shortly. Should I try lighter bullets? I guess I was hoping for one of these cheap tack drivers that I have constantly read about. Any help will be appreciated!

I hope you have better luck than we have had,I've been trying to let people know. We tested three Savage guns from three different stores and 3" to 4" groups was pretty normal.

Let me know if you ever figure out how to get it to shoot, short of replacing the barrel and the mushy stock...and the trigger.
 
Did Cerebus buy out savage too?? I kid, I kid. I've never owned a savage that wouldn't shoot better than my ability would allow; was this recently zombie?
 
I know mine is 223 instead of 243 but it's a tack driver. Easily shoots MOA out to 400.

I'm sure you'll figure out a load that works for your gun. Keep at it.
 
If I saw 3 savages shoot bad at the range in a row I'd question the scope/rings/shooter not the gun. All with same scope?
 
Last edited:
I have a Steven's. Like you said in. 243 and it is a tack driver. All I Did was replace the trigger with a Rifle Basis and came up with a good load it liked.!
 
Originally Posted By: cyoteklerOldSox

Pull the scope off and reset it. Using Red Locktite on the screws. I do not install a scope on any of my rifles without it. DO NOT ever use GREEN. Might as well weld the mounts together. Also, try using around 80-90 grain bullets. I am using 85 Hornady Soft Points in mine and it shoots 1/2 @ 100 yrds..

I use the Blue locktite, I never use red unless I want it permanently welded in place.
 
Personally Ive never had a savage that didnt shoot moa or better. I would have to agree that it is more than likely a scope/mount problem and not the rifle itself. Ive had two Stevens in .223 and both shot well under an inch at 100 yards and the one I still have continues to do so. I also have a Model 12 .204 and Axis in .22-250 and both will shoot under an inch as well.
 
Back
Top