Stevens 200: Good enough recommend for a friend?

[7x57mm]

A buddy is looking for a .223 Remington to pop some coyotes with near his home. He does not reload and he said his top dollar is $400 or less, not $400.01, but $400 or less. I recommended a new Stevens 200 and one of those Simmons 6.5x20x50 Whitetail Classics to go on top. So, with his limit set so damn low, and more than likely the whitebox Winchester stuff, is the Stevens 200 a good recommend, or a bad recommend. If bad, what would you recommend. Tom Purdom

[nasem]

I have one.... that same exact model.
I mostly shoot wolf 55 gr FMJ and can easily get 1" @ 100 yards

I used to shoot remington 55 PMC and got even better accuracy but I like paying 50% less for wolf (plinking ammo)...

I think the stevens 200 are the biggest secret in the market today, for under $300, they are the most accurate factory rifles.  I am planning on getting one in 7mm-08 also.

As far as price goes, I got my 223 from gunbroker for $236 (payed 20 for shiping and 25 for recieving) that gets it up to almost $280

[Cement Man]

Our local gunshop seems to sell quite a few of them in .223 and I only hear good reports.  I believe there is also an aftermarket adjustable trigger available, if one wants to go that route, and Midway (?) had those Simmons WTC's for $99 also.  I think for that kind of money, you'd have a very decent rig.

[mikedb]

One is on my short list.  I was thinking of getting a 17 HMR for target and varmint control.  But for the prices I have been seeing and what I have been reading now I am thinking the Stevens 223.  It costs about the same to shoot, I can take varmints out further, I can practice shooting further too.

[smokey262]

You would be giving your buddy excellent advice to get the Stevens 200.  Best price around here is $259 at Sportsmans Warehouse.

Add a minimum of about $25 for rings and bases, maybe a bit less if you can find them used.

I would consider steering him towards a different scope though.  I don't know what range you will be shooting out to, but the sweet spot for scope prices is the 3-9x40 models because there is so much competition.  For the same price as the Simmons WTC you could get an optically better 3-9x40

The Bushnell Legend 3-9x40 is a pretty nice scope and is longer than many other 3-9x40 scopes.  You will find that when you put your rings and bases on the rifle that the distance between the rings is kinda long.  Lots of guys use extension rings or bases so they can either mount the scope, or get it far enough back for proper eye positioning.

Here is a good deal on this scope, with free shipping too

http://www.durhamoutdoorsupply.com/brand/bushnell/riflescope/scope/75-3940m.html

If he is patient there are thousands of scopes on ebay.  That is going to be his best bet to get a scope with the remaining funds

[Dave in WV]

The Stevens 200 is the old Savage M110 pre accutrigger and the synthetic stock is molded with the old Savage stock molds. It's a great buy on a good rifle.

[poncaguy]

Your a good friend! I have 2, 25-06 and 7-08.

[victorcharlie]

Rifle suggestion is one I'd make.......Scope suggestion.....well.....there might be room for improvement in this area.....

[Cement Man]

Smokey and VC's comments got me to thinking about the scope too.  Smokey brought out a point that 3X9's are a sweet spot for value.  I agree whole-heartedly and that point seems not to be mentioned much.  A lot of times 3 X 9's are substantially cheaper than similar magnification ranges.  There are many handier, easier to mount, decent quality scopes in your price range.  I'm not bashing the Simmons WTC.  I have one and have no complaints, but not my first choice for a field, or multi-use scope. JMO......

[safetysheriff]

how do these Stevens' compare with the Mossberg ATR which can be had very reasonably with their Marinecoat finish?

anybody worked with an 'ATR'?

ss'   

[hunt127588]

My Stevens 200 .223 shoots like a house on fire. Best $260 I ever spent and the handi-rifles don't even comapre for the same price.

[7x57mm]

He may also do some pdog shooting in South Dakota or the western edge of this state and a nine power scope seems to just cover a pdog up with the crosshairs. I owned one of those Simmons classics and although it was butt ugly, the thing did work. I had it atop my CZ 527 and with that big 50mm objective lens on top of the rifle it looked like I went and mounted a television set on it. CZ 527 are petite little mini-mausers and it just didn't look right. Worked great. Even shot a pdog in Bonita Canyon in the Zuni Mountains in New Mexico one day that lasered out to 467 yards with it with one shot. The fellow who was with me kept saying that I had hit it and he couldn't believe it. Frankly, neither could I, but I didn't try any other pdogs out that far. One at 467 yards makes you a great shot. Trying a second at 467 yards with one shot just makes you lucky the first time. I now have one of the New Bushnell Elite 3200 in 7x21x40. It does well, but is way too costly for the friend. Tom P

[smokey262]

Is your buddy concerned about what others may think of his rig?  You know the type I mean, the kind that turn their noses up at low cost equipment.  If he is sensitive to this kind of crap you might want to steer him a different direction.

Pentax just came out with a line of scopes called the Gameseeker.  All of them are fully-multi coated and have lifetime warranties.  This 4-16x50 is $118.95.  Its a bit more than the WTC, but may also do the job.

http://www.riflescopes.com/products/89717/pentax_4-16x50_gameseeker_rifle_scope.htm

A lot of guys on Rimfire Central like the Bushnell Banner 6-18x50 which is also a hundred bucks or less.

Another scope to consider is the Mueller APV 4.5-14x40.  This scope is excellent for the money.  $115 shipped.  Fully multi-coated, AO, nice and clear, etc.  I have one and love it.  In fact, this is THE scope for that rig, usage, and price range.  The APV optics blows the WTC away

As to the Mossy ATR vs. the Stevens?  I like the Mossy, but it doesn't come in 223 yet.  I played with one at Walmart awhile ago and thought it was poretty darn nice for the money.  There is a guy that posts here named Evoc One who has a couple of them and they sound like a great deal.

Let us know how it turns out.

[7x57mm]

To be honest Smokey, I don't know if he is concerned about appearances. I'll check out your recommendations and show them to him the next time he is over here. Thanks for the heads-up. Tom Purdom

[Ranger J]

If he is looking for a good functional tool he will be pleased with the 200.  While I don’t have one in .223 (yet) I do have one in .308 and it is very accurate.  Pretty it isn’t, but functional it is.  Best buy for the money around now.
RJ

[poncaguy]

I have 3 of the Simmons scopes, they are great scopes, very clear, and $ 99 is hard to beat...........

[Norseman112]

I thought I would get one of these rifles in .223, I have a couple of custom rifles, that are pretty, shoot great ect ect.  Granted the stevens won't win any beauty contest, but so what  the .223 I bought will shoot some nice tiny groups if I do my part and as said before is functional. I would not be afraid to buy another one.

John