Author Topic: My lastest Stevens Project (Read 2646 times)

LaOtto222 · « **on:** January 17, 2009, 11:52:07 PM »

I am finishing my latest project. It is a 223 with a Stevens 200 action, Shilen Barrel, Choate "Ultimate Sniper" Stock, Rifle Basix trigger and Bushnell Elite 3200 10X scope. I added a SS BT style bolt handle and a SS recoil lug from Sharp Shooters Supply in for good measure.

Here is a pic of the whole rifle

Another pic with a rakish angle

Here is a pic of the scope - notice it is mounted low

Here is a pic of the muzzle - target crown

The Action was worked over by Sharp Shooters Supply. The Shillen barrel is a 26" Bull (1" muzzle diameter) 1-14" twist, ratchet rifled (4 lands), the chamber has a .246" neck and throated to my dummies loaded with 40 grain Hornady V-Max bullets.

I almost went with 1-16" twist, but I wanted to be able to shoot 50 - 52 grain bullets if the 40's did not work out. I am hoping for 3800 fps with 40 grain bullets.

I have just got it together and the weather out side is frightful, so I do not know when I am going to be able to get it on a bench to try it out. I have got 500 virgin LC 06 cases prepped for loading. This included turning necks down to .243" - they should be .244" once a bullet is seated.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:05:35 AM »

Great looking package. Well done.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:12:25 AM »

Thank You - I have high hopes for this one

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:22:35 AM »

LaOtto222,
Very Nice. Hopefully it shoots as good as it looks. Let us know.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:41:12 AM »

I will have a range report as soon as the weather out side is cooperative. It has been well below zero here or if the temp gets above 20, the wind is kicking up at 30mph making the wind chill way down there. That is the way it is in January; at least in our neck of the woods.

I am hoping the ratchet rifling (with 4 lands) at 1-14" twist will let me get a few more fps with out an over pressure situation. $:-\$

BTW it weighs in at 14.2 pounds on my digital bathroom scale. That ought to tame the muzzle lift.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:30:08 AM »

Not trying to hurt ya feelings and I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but..... That's got to be the UGLIEST stock I've EVER seen on a rifle. It hurt my eyes just looking at it.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2009, 08:57:40 AM »

There are definitely better looking stocks available, Bill. Not very handsome indeed. I am hoping that function trumps form.

I think they make them for Remington Model 7's. Maybe you could camo one for your 17 FireBall

This one looks a little better. It is another 223

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2009, 10:46:19 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on January 18, 2009, 05:30:08 AM

Not trying to hurt ya feelings and I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but..... That's got to be the UGLIEST stock I've EVER seen on a rifle. It hurt my eyes just looking at it.

Those Choate "ultimate" stocks certianlly aren't works of art and they may be overweight but they shure do work good. After all in the end all that matters are the bullet holes on the paper

LaOtto222 you pretty much built my rifle only in .223 and with more work on the action....I have confidence that you'll find the accuracy to be truely outstanding

dw06 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2009, 11:23:40 AM »

Very nice,hope it makes bug holes!!

trotterlg · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2009, 03:53:06 PM »

I do have to admit, that is the ugliest rifle I have seen built on purpose. I've seen some that just turned out bad, but they were accidents. I do hope it shoots well, and I hope you picked out your Wife using different criteria. I am a Savage fan, but you have done one up on the factory in the ugly arena. Larry

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2009, 11:32:52 PM »

Larry - I could have got it in black too, but I thought it would have looked too good if it was.

I do not want to say any thing bad about my wife. I will share this however - when a dog and her make eye contact, the dog turns and yips all the way back to where they came from.

Please do not mention this to her, she thinks that I have scared them off with my silent BB gun.

Since the stock has drawn some attention - There is an aluminum bedding rail running the length of the stock. The front is fitted with a scope rail so a bi-pod can slide front to back on the rail. It can even go beyond the end of the stock some. It should ride on the bags well too, in addition to the bi-pod rail; it has a wide flat fore end, has a built in screw/cap in the butt for elevation and it is heavy.

FW Conch · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2009, 04:09:28 AM »

LaOtto, I'm sure you don't need to be told " don't pay any attention to them" !

You are also very aware that "form follows function" ! Good Luck - Good Shooting ! Jim

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2009, 04:47:42 AM »

Thanks Jim; they are not going to dampen my enthusiasm

They are just having a little fun.

mountainview · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:17:04 AM »

L-Otto,
As long as you are happy with it, that is really all that matters at the end of the day. It is always interesting to see what others are doing and be exposed to new ideas.

trotterlg · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2009, 07:59:59 AM »

Glad you did not take too much offense, it was done without malice, you do have to admit that it is out there in the top 1% of ulgly however. Larry

Davemuzz · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 12:57:22 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on January 18, 2009, 05:30:08 AM

Not trying to hurt ya feelings and I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but..... That's got to be the UGLIEST stock I've EVER seen on a rifle. It hurt my eyes just looking at it.

Oh come on now Bill....tell us what you really think.

LA...nice gun. The H&R guys put those Chocote (sp) stocks that look like that on their "speedy" calibers (.223's, .22 mags, ect) It's a personal choice thing.

Now....if it were mine....I'd take that barreled action and slap it on a nice thumhole stock.....in Laminated candy RED!!!

Dave

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2009, 10:54:16 AM »

Here is an update:

Windy about 5 - 10 MPH right to left. Cold about 26 degrees. I was breaking in the barrel and trying to get some readings on some loads.

I was using Benchmark, new Military cases, Remington 7 1/2 primers seated out to just kiss the lands. I used the data in Nolser 5th edition. I started with 26.0 grains and some loaded up with 27.0 grains and then some with 28.0 grains of Benchmark.

I was not shooting well because of the cold and my rest was a little more unsteady than I like (watery eyes do not help either). I had a new set up for my range and haven't sorted it all out yet.

Here is the last group I shot with 28.0 grains

I know I pulled the one shot and like I said the rest was wobbly left to right (a lobed bag stacked on top of 3 sand bags just does not cut it). I also did not have any more loaded up. Only enough for 2 - 5 shot strings...Shows some promise.

Here is the last group of 5 with 26.0 grains

Not too bad either, but another flier.

I think I can tighten these up some more (the fliers); not too bad for a 10X scope and my first loads tried

Average for the 26.0 grains is 3575 fps (last five shots); for the 28.0 grains 3858 fps (last five shots). Just 2 fps slower than Noslers book value (3680 fps); I think I found my top load - will it be accurate enough?

BTW I was doing a lot of cleaning on the way to help break in the barrel. The last two groups (shown in order) were with 5 shots down the tube and no cleaning before or during the last 2 groups. The jury is still out if it will like a dirty barrel or a clean one; but it looks like a dirty barrel is going to prevail. I shot a total of 36 rounds today, just enough to get it some what zeroed and do some velocity/grouping testing.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2009, 12:21:16 PM »

Looks promising. Cold....even when your dressed for it, can cause some funny things to happen when your trying to get tight groups from a small caliber.

Your right though, load 'em up....get a warmer day...and see what you got. But right now...it's lookin good!!

Dave

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2009, 01:16:53 PM »

Thanks Dave - It does look promising. It is rare for me to get a first loading to shoot decently. I usually have to try different powders, bullets or mess with seating depth before I can get a gun to shoot decently. No lobed bag next time just sand bags. I think it will shoot pretty good; that sloped and flat fore end slides real nice on a flat surface. It may look ugly, but it is practical.

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2009, 06:01:43 AM »

sweet Hope my 22-250 does as well when I get her out

skwirl · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2009, 07:26:50 AM »

speaking of 22/250s this is from a factory action and stock Stevens 200

Davemuzz · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2009, 07:59:24 AM »

Quote from: skwirl on February 19, 2009, 07:26:50 AM

speaking of 22/250s this is from a factory action and stock Stevens 200

Just to clarify...do you mean this is from a "stock" Stevens 200? Or a Stevens 200 action...with some other barrel on it?

Dave

skwirl · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2009, 12:58:54 PM »

The $300.00 ones ya get out of the box

Davemuzz · « **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2009, 02:06:04 AM »

Quote from: skwirl on February 19, 2009, 12:58:54 PM

The $300.00 ones ya get out of the box

Yeah.....your target is pretty much "standard" as too what I've seen the Stevens 200's shoot. Cheap, accurate, and darn ugly stocks!!! I did a camo paint job on mine. Just to make it "less ugly"....but still a hunting rifle.

skwirl · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2009, 01:37:11 PM »

Yep butt ugly

Steamin · « **Reply #25 on:** February 20, 2009, 03:05:15 PM »

I just wonder how many yotes and other vermin have really been upset about that ugly stock at impact.

I recieved my ugly stock yesterday and was actually surprised how smooth and clean the stock is, no sharp edges whatsoever. But it is going to get some Krylon to help get a firmer grip.

Just gotta remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Steamin

Davemuzz · « **Reply #26 on:** February 20, 2009, 04:10:54 PM »

Quote from: Steamin on February 20, 2009, 03:05:15 PM

Just gotta remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

+1 on that!!

The other plus is....if you chew, you can spit on these stocks...and it doesn't effect accuracy....and it could possibly make your stock look custom...and even better!!!

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 20, 2009, 11:36:50 PM »

skwirl - Nice 4 shot group at 200 yards. Looks to be .5" or less; if those are 1" squares. Can you repeat that performance?

Dave - I could not get either of my Stevens in 223 to shoot that well or I would not have spent money on different barrels, triggers, action jobs and different stocks. I think a 4 shot group of .5" at 200 yards is extra ordinary for a box stock rifle of any kind, unless it was a fluke. Shooting a great group once does not make an accurate rifle in my book. It needs to be repeatable, but if it is repeatable, then I think it is truly extra ordinary - the exception, not the rule.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #28 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:18:48 AM »

LaO,

Ya know, I looked at that target and just looked at the grouping of the holes. I never even read the yardage info. I thought it was a 100 yard group.

But, if the rifle did this once at 200 yards, it should be able to do it again, and again. Bore cleaning for copper fouling and very careful reloading procedures, checking for OAL from the Ogive, brass size from the datum, bullet run out, and making sure your gun rest, both front and rear are solid.

And I agree with you 100%. If you do all of this and it doesn't do it again.....then it was just a fluke.

Dave