Savage Stevens 200 in a .223

[GrimReaper85]

I've been hearing nothing but good things about these stevens 200's. They shoot tight groups and there lightweight. I live in northeast PA and just got into coyote hunting about a year ago and I was going out with a Remington 700 in a 22-250. The noise and the recoil was just to much for a coyote and coon gun. I only have one thing I've heard bad about these stevens. I've been reading these forums and I need to know more about the floating berrel. I picked up a savage at wal-mart and there was a one inch gap between the berrel and the point of the stock. I could squeeze it with one hand and twist it. I was wondering if the stevens is the same way. I'm waiting for Wednesday for the .223's to get to my local shop. And also how will spray paint hold up on those stocks?

[mountainview]

Floating barrels are a good thing in most any gun and some shooters will actually remove some of the barrel channel on the stock to obtain a free floating barrel if it does not come that way from the factory. Floating eliminate pressure points which can degrade accuracy.

[MGMorden]

As mentioned, a floated barrel helps accuracy.  Basic rule I was told by a gunsmith I know is that if you can't slide a dollar bill between the barrel and the stock, you've got some more sanding to do :wink:.

In the reverse, you want as much consistent contact as possible between the action and the stock.  This is what bedding does.  Basically an epoxy is poured in the the action area (which is inletted out a bit before starting) and the action then pressed in, which eliminates any gaps in contact.

[5.56er]

yeah I am going to put mine into a laminated boyds stock and the bigger the caliber the worse a free floated sporter barrel is in that stock, say if the stevens was chambered in a 17 hmr for example you would'nt no the difference mine is 7mm/08 tha tis what  I call a recycled milk jug for a stock, you want even distribution in the harmonics of the barrel and the bullet,or it will just sling the bullets wherever it wants. mine shoots anywhere it want to with 120 grain 4 inch groups  , but it shoots 140 grains a little better right now If the wood stock doesn't help it is hitting the road for a good deal.