cheap rifle shoots like crazy

[pistolchamp]

We have a grandson turning 9 next week and decided to get him his first deer rifle. The kid is responsible and very safe handling guns.

Because there is little doubt that he will drop it... we went cheap. A Stevens model 200 in 243 with an Optronics 3x9 scope.

Okay, I am not a fan of cheap rifles and especially not of cheap scopes, but, here's the deal. I loaded up 19 rounds (all the brass I had) with 75 grain Hornady hollow point over 41 grains of H414 and went to the range.

First four shots cleaning between each shot went into 1 1/4". WOW! Somewhat off center, but, just bore sighted.

Adjusted the scope and the second five shots without cleaning between did .998"

Cleaned it.

Minor scope adjustment and the third five shots went into .992" just about an inch high at 100 yards.

Cleaned it.

and

the final five shots blasted a ragged hole measuring .790"... I might buy one of these for me.

Savage rifles have always shot well and I often recommend them to clients who can't spend a fortune and want a good shooter... but, this is amazing and what a deal for a new hunter.

I just loaded another 19 rounds using the 90 grain Barnes "X" bullet. Hope they shoot as well.

[Lycanthrope]

In my experience the gun will continue to tighten up for about the first 50-100 rounds as you smooth the bore. After that I don't clean as much as it can change my POI. If you play with the powder charge in .3 grain increments I bet you can get that gun to .5 MOA or below.

Barnes X bullets can like to be seated a bit longer in some guns. The X bullet is longer than a bullet of the same weight in lead/copper.

[Trapper7]

I have a cheap Savage in a bolt 30-06. I'm really impressed by its accuracy too. I have several Remingtons & Brownings that don't shoot any better. For the money, Savage is a great buy,IMO.

[Swift]

Glad to hear the little man has a Pappy who is passing down the spirit of the hunt!

Oh and yup them Savage rifles are usually good shooters.

[Adirondacks]

"Cheap is as cheap does."
I've had great luck with my NEF single shot.
It groups perfect and stands up to being lugged around
for several seasons of rain and snow and general rugged treatment.

[SD Handgunner]

Last Christmas I bought myself a Stevens Model 200 .223. I picked up a used 3x9x40mm Nikon Buckmaster Rifle Scope to mount on it. I mounted the Scope in Warne Rings and Bases.

Before I ever shot the gun I searched the net for instructions on how to tune the Stevens (ala Savage Pre AccuTrigger) Trigger. In about a half hours time I had a really nice and crisp 2 3/4 pound trigger pull.

I then thoroughly cleaned the bore and followed this with hand lapping the bore with Flitz Bore Polish. Once done with the Flitz Bore Polish I then totally recleaned the bore. Now I was ready for the range.

At the range I did my usual Shoot-n-Clean Barrel Break in with 50 rounds of Ultra Max Commercial Reloads that were loaded with 55gr. Winchester Pointed Soft Point Bullets. After initial zeroing at 30 yards I moved the target stand back to 100 yards.

Throughout this barrel break in period I was shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yards from the bench with a Bench Rest Harris Bypod and a Sand Bag under the butt. Most 5 shot groups were in the 1/2" to 3/4" range with the largest group coming in at exactly 1".

Try as I may I never did come up with a Handload (I was using 50gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with Hodgdon's Benchmark) that shot quite as good as the Ultra Max Commercial Reloads.

There was a high school student that is an aspiring Coyote Hunter. He kept drooling over getting a .223, and I ended up selling this kids father the Stevens .223. I just talked the the kid the other day and asked about the rifle. I then asked the kid if he would consider selling it back to me and I got a frim NO, that is one shootin Rifle he said.

I really miss that Stevens .223, and may have to pick myself up another one in the not to distant future.

Larry

[jon lynn]

Cheap is as cheap hunts:D Ive been using Savage for quite a while now, and I can't whine. You have stumbled on a little gem, the 200 series, tis just a 10 or 110 with a pre accu trigger.

I have stood for Savage for a long time, and have taken a few lumps, but we all know Savage is an awsome 'lean mean deer smakin' machine'..dah do ron-ron-da-do ron-ron.

I am so basic I use Savage rifles, and Weaver bases and rings, but I couldn't be happier...................jon

[Cossack]

Be sure to have that barrel squeeky clean when you shoot the Barnes bullets and keep them some .05 off the lands to start. If they shoot, you just made a real deer terminator out of your find.

[Oleman]

Isn't that the way it works. Bought a little second hand Winchester Model 670 carbine and 5 boxes of shells back in the late 70's for $115. That rifle was one of the best shooting guns I've ever bought. Out of the box it would shoot 5 shot groups you could cover with a dime. Sometimes you get more than you pay for.

[SD Handgunner]

Originally posted by Oleman
Isn't that the way it works. Bought a little second hand Winchester Model 670 carbine and 5 boxes of shells back in the late 70's for $115. That rifle was one of the best shooting guns I've ever bought. Out of the box it would shoot 5 shot groups you could cover with a dime. Sometimes you get more than you pay for.

I have hunted with quite a few guys over the years that used Winchester Model 670's. Most were in .30-06, and the were sure shooters. In fact I have a couple buddies that bought 670's new in the 70's that are still shooting them to this day.

In a little home town gunshop this fall I saw a Rifle in the used rack and thought that it looked familiar. I picked it up and low and behold it was a blonde stocked Winchester Model 670 in .30-06. It looked almost like NEW if you can believe that. The price tag said $275.00. I told the gunshop owner that that was about twice what those rifles sold for new and he said YEP that was about right.

Larry

[Riposte1]

My first "serious" varmint gun was a Savage 340 in .222. I forget what I paid for it, used, but it was less than $50 I am sure.

Only later did I discover that it was all wrong according to the experts. 1 screw to hold the action to the stock, non-floated barrel, barrel band, slow lock time, etc.

Apparently the gun could not read as it shot 1 MOA no matter what you could do to it! All my ammo was loaded on an original Lee Loader hand tool.

The only bad point was that the previous owner had shot hot handloads in it and buggered the extractor and I had to punch each case out with a cleaning rod until I made my own extractor out of a coat hanger (they didn't last too long being soft but they were easy to make and cheap).

Most of the Savage bolt guns I see these days shoot just fine. I don't know why I dont own one.

I truly wish I had not traded off that gun.

Riposte.