Author Topic: Stevens or Savage -- Ever have a BAD experience?? (Read 792 times)

DavOh · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 07:26:25 AM »

Has anyone here ever had a BAD experience with a Stevens or Savage?

I'm talking about overall function and accuracy. I know they're not much to look at, and the stock is crap(on the stevens) but all I hear about are how great they shoot.

Anyone have a problem getting one to shoot MOA or better? Especially in .243, .308, .25-06, and maybe .270. Those are the cal's I'm really lookin into.

Thanks.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 08:19:36 AM »

my .243 was minute-of-angle and betterwith a couple different ammos i tried.

it liked the lighter weights better though, i got close to a half inch from 75 grain hollow points.

i had one in .270 and sold it because the barrel bluing really turned me off...kinda cloudy and cheap looking.

my stevens .243 was a glossy barrel and really looked nice.

-Matt

Norseman112 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 04:40:33 PM »

Oh I have some rifles that I payed bunch more than the stevens .223 I bought for sure. I shoot at least once a week and I did shoot the stevens two weeks ago. The rifle performs fine and is still shoots some tiny groups :grin: .

John

poncaguy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:18:27 PM »

My Stevens 200 7-08, will shoot 1", the 25-06, 1 1/2"..............

Jason · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2006, 07:17:07 PM »

Haven't had one with the Stevens brand on it, but have had a few Savages over the last few years.. in .223, .270, and think the other was 30-06. The two .223s shot great (.5" c2c 3-shot groups with my hanloads), and I still have the heavy barrel one. The .270 averaged .72 or so with my loads. The 30-06 didn't fit me and kicked the snot out of me. I owned it for less than two weeks. It shot right at an inch, but that could have been me flinching.

Ahab · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2006, 06:46:02 AM »

In answer to your question, yes. Bought a new 111 in 7x57several years ago. Would not do better than 2MOA. Tried all sorts of handloads. Had a smith look at it with a bore scope and he said it had an extremely rough barrel. The rifling near the muzzle had deep machine gouges. He suggested cutting back the barrel 1 1/2" and recrowning. Had this done along with fire lapping, glass bedding and trigger work. Now does .5MOA.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2006, 10:53:03 AM »

Have a Savage model 110 in .243, bought it NIB in 1960 and to this day it shoots like a champ! One of the best shooting guns i`ve ever owned.
Plus it`s lite as a feather.
Fit and finish on this gun is excellent..........to this day.

Slamfire · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2006, 01:40:37 PM »

I once found a Savage Model 20 chambered for .250 Savage. When I looked in my wallet, I was a bit short. I went to an atm down the street and picked up some money, but upon my return to the gunshop, the rifle was going out the door in the hands of a youngster with a huge grin on his face. :roll: That's my worst.
My old 110 .243 eventually lost its interest in shootin' 80 grain bullets and I had to make a .260 out of it. Only took me 30 years to wear that barrel out. :wink:

kudzu · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2006, 03:05:16 PM »

Stevens 200 25-06, dime size groups at 100 with fac. fed 117 gr speer hot-cores. Only thing Iv'e done to gun was adjust trigger.

bja105 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2006, 05:29:56 PM »

I have 5 Savage Rifles, and I love them. My 12FV in .223 is the most accurate rifle I have ever shot.

BUT, there are some problems.

Number one problem, poor feeding and extraction. My 12FV and both 110's will sometimes fail to pick up a cartrige from the magazine, It almost cost me a deer. The 12fv will not feed hollow points. It also fails to eject clear of the action sometimes. All of these problems could possibly be fixed with a scrubbing, new magazine spring, and bolt head springs, but that is how they came from the factory, and these complaints are common.
If you expect flawless feeding, extraction, and ejection, Get a Win m70 classic, a Ruger 77, or a mauser or springfield sporter. I'm growing less fond of push feed.

Rough barrels, sometimes. One of my .270 barrels and the 25-06 barrel are very rough, radial machine marks, Both love copper and are hard to get perfectly clean. However, both shoot well fouled.

Don't let me scare you off. Savage rifles are fine shooters. There are lots of aftermarket parts available, Triggers, stocks, barrels. No other bolt action is so easy to rebarrel at home, really, less than an hour for the first time.

lilabner · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2006, 03:12:12 AM »

I recently bought a .243 stainless. I think the stainless may have advantages over the carbon steel that aren't apparent. Some complain that the Savage action is rough and the bores are rough. The action on my .243 is silky smooth and after a 40 shot breakin, the bore doesn't collect copper any faster than my other rifles. It shoots into a half inch if I let the barrel cool between shots. My next rifle will be a .223 and it will be a Savage.

tbmaker · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2006, 03:55:55 PM »

I've own several Savages, currently a left hand 25-06 for the wife and a 7mm STW weather warrior.
The STW is the only one to give me a hiccup.
First 2 rounds shot blew out the primers from factory ammo.
Sent it back to Savage, had it back in my hands 2 weeks later.
Never looked back. Shoots every load I've tried into an inch or less, Federal, Winchester and Remington.
All have shot great and the new Accu Trigger is sweet.