Whats wrong with my Stevens 200 ?

[Country Boy]

I got the first one off the truck around here and have had problems. The flashung on the molded checkering is so sharp it cut my hands, when I sanded it down the finish didn't match so I painted it. The trigger was fine for me. BUT, I can't get this .243 to shoot at all ! I've tried many factory loads and a bunch of old reliable handloads from past .243's I owned.(never saw a .243 that didn't shoot reasonably well)
   But his one is all over the place.. I zeroed it for deer season had 3 touching at 100 yds and was able to shoot small coke cans at 200Took it hunting and killed a big buck with it, but didn't hit where I aimed. Went back to the range and now it doesn't even come close to the 1" target dot. It shoots from one corner of the paper to another. What do you think was wrong ? I sold the rifle.
  Could it have been a scope gone bad (Weaver k9 new out of the box)
    One more problem was I had to get a front reversable weaver extension base in order to mount the scope, it appears the short action isn't quite as short as other brands.

[Maryland Hunter]

Country Boy,
You said that "I can't get this .243 to shoot at all", but then you say that you were touching three at 100 and hitting a coke can at 200. Sounds like the gun is/was a shooter. My guess would be a loose scope base or ring. Maybe a bad scope, but probably the mounts.

[poncaguy]

My Stevens 7-08 shoots less than an inc h, 25-06 around 1 1/2 inches so far. Stock screws and scope & bases would be my guess on ur 243.

[mountainview]

Ditto on the scope mounting, bases/rings. Could have been the scope but most likely the mounting. Also when shooting groups, that barrel is on the thin side and if you didn't pace your shots, the heat build up will walk the bullets around like it does in my 7-08.

[mangulator]

Check your mounts and rings, like most are saying. Then look at your stock to see if the screws have come loose. The last thing it could be is your scope.  My 200 in 308 is a shooter....

[rangerruck]

i woudl heat up the rifle by shootingit, then check the stock, screws, free float, etc. first, then try the scope.

[sits in trees]

did you tell the guy you sold it to, that it shoots 16 inch groups at 100 yds.....

[LaOtto222]

I am with most of the other guys, I would suspect scope problems or a scope mounting problem. Make sure your action screws are good and tight, too. I did what you did, sanded down the stock and painted it on one that I have. The other one I put an after market laminated stock on. I also "bedded" the recoil lug with JB Weld. I used shoe Polish as a release agent. I think this helps keep the action from sliding around in the stock (it is cheap; $5 and easy to do). I just put a big daub right where the recoil lug sets in the stock and let it ooze in under the barrel area I also drilled and tapped the scope mount holes to 8 X 32 and used hex head cap screws (they are good and tight) on both of them. I have done this to 2 Stevens along with other mods. These changes I have mentioned are cheap and easy to do. I have a 223 and a 221 Fire Ball. They both shoot very well.

[Country Boy]

There is more to the story. I did check the scope and mounts, even put a new scope on it. The front lug was rurined with some factory loads, case head seperation had to send it back to the factory for refitting. Got it back and same problem with case head seperations. Bought a second one and had even worse problems again it blew the case heads with Factory loads ! Also put new mounts and another scope on the rifle. Sent it back for repair after both rifles were repaired. I took them to St. Louis and traded both for a Brownbing A-bolt hunter in .243 Mounted the  same scope and went to the range with my handloads and factory loads.  1/2 inch groups were the norn and some one holer's with handloads and factory loads. Killed 5 good bucks with the rifle last year. My gripe with the Browning is the forend is too short, the stud rests in the palm of my hand.
   I guess you get what you pay for, I had no luck with the Stevens 200, other Savages I've shot were very accurate. But I will never have another of anykind. Now I don't need the Browning and would like to trade it for an old Blr with steel reciever in .308 or something similar, even a .243 !