Stevens 200 .243

I had one .Sold it due to a divorce. I put 2 3/8 in steel rods (cold rolleed steel) in the forearm amd marine epoxyed them in.I also made sure the entire forearm was filled in with the epoxy. You can get the rods and epoxy from home depot.I also filled the buttstock with electricians duct seal. Also from home depot. Between that and adding a shim to the trigger to shorten the creep and pull weight the gun shot fantastic. They are great shooters you just need to tweak them a little. I also made sure the barrel was free floated after the epoxy job. Between these things and shooting 58 gr v max it should shoot better than 3/4 in.
Daryl P.
 
Thanks for the help everyone, I have a few different bullets to load up starting next week. Not going to give up on it this early, was just expecting a little better than what it showed me. I am going to take the scope and bases back off and start from scratch. Again, thanks
 
Nobody mentioned this in any of the above posts , but did you "break" the barrel in before you started experimenting with your hunting ammo ? Some guys believe in the "break in period" and some dont . I just recently bought an Axis in 223. myself , and after every other shot for the first box of ammo I cleaned the barrel . After that first box and alot of cleaning in between shots , then I tried the Hornady v-max 55gr. and they were a fuzz under an inch with a 3 shot group at 100yds.
 
Originally Posted By: ZombieMax
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.

Must be a Remmy fan huh????

To the OP like stated get some rounds down the tube before you start to shoot groups! Most Savages I have seen and been around like dirty barrels more then clean.
 
You will be fine. Relax and try some different ammo. If you reload, you can do a lot better. Here is what I can get out of mine with hand loads. I am sure a real shooter could do better, but I am satisfied with the results for a $300 stock rifle. This is 5 shots at 100 yards.
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I know this is the E-Net, but believe it or not, more rifles shoot groups bigger than an inch, than less, IMO.
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The group above is not a bad "real world" group, even in the land of E-Net 1/4" groups all day long, etc...

I have noticed that the Savages I have bought and shot with factory barrels did shoot better after about 100-200 rounds through them.

I also am a strong believer that the factory Tupperware stocks are junk and should be replace ASAP. Almost any wood stock is better IMO. Accutriggers are definitely a step up from that POS on the Stevens rifles. I prefer a SharpShooterSupply or rifle Basix over the Accutrigger too.
 
I cleaned the barrel real good when I got it home. It is amazing how dirty they are from the factory. I shot two rounds and cleaned it, then cleaned it after every third shot for a box of shells. I started in on the next box and have shot three more out of it. Do I need to keep cleaning it like this or am I good to go? I dont mind gettin help if I need it!!
 
I picked up a Stevens 200 in .243 last year. I used Rem. core-lokt 100g for break in and got about two inch groups(100yd). My break in was to clean after each shot for ten shots then every five for a while. I did this only because I thought I should do SOMETHING,not because I know better. At round count 60,I started reloading 65g Vmax and H4895 and the groups are less than quarter size. I have no doubt they could be smaller if I had more than a 12 power scope on it.Only trigger work was to loosen the spring a bit,stock is stock and I actually like the plastic one it comes with as is-( blasphemy here, I know).I am definely getting another 200 soon. Keep at it, you'll like it.
 
Great news!!!! My 200 is a tack driver after all!! I found some bullets that I loaded up a couple of years ago and tried them out today. The 58 grain vmax with Varget shot a three shot group at right under an inch while the 70 grain Sierra hollowpoints had all three bullets touching!!!! I have a bunch of Vmax bullets to load up so I will shoot them for a while then get me some more of the Sierras. I am good with how they shoot, actually I am really good with it!! Thanks fellas!
 
Glad to hear that you got it to be a tack driver..You WILL like it even more..Like I have said before. Not to many .243's like the heavier pills much more then 80 grains. Atleast the ones I have been around..IMO
 
Originally Posted By: Rem700WYTry an 87 grain hand load in it. Your twist might not be able to stabilize a 100 grain
i disagree. any good barrel in a 9 or 10 twist will shoot 100 grainers fine. my sako .243 made in 1967 kept 100 grain bullets easily less than .75 for 5 shots with 100 grain hornadys until got up around 2500 rounds.
 
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