Savage\Stevens Action

[Davemuzz]

I'm pondering whether I should buy this or not.

Well, here is the deal: I have a chance to buy a Stevens Model 12 Action Stainless Action Right Hand .473 Bolt Face with lite weight accu-trigger, new unfired for $310. Also, a new BVSS stock to fit the action with stainless trigger guard for $120. Grand total of $430 and that includes shipping.

Now, the Stevens actions don't require reaming when you install a barrel. They DO require installation with either a go-no go guage OR a field guage.

So, I can shop around and pick up a barrel in a caliber that I want ( I was thinking 7-08 ) and put this together all by myself...in my garage....with glue and rubberbands!



But seriously, since I currently have "all of my practical" calibers kind of covered for what I hunt\shoot, I thought this next "challenge" would be a serious and fun undertaking.

But...what do you think of the price? I know it's below (not by much, but some) market of some of the Stevens action dealers. But my thinking is I can put a quality aftermarket barrel on this, invest some of my time, and have a quality shooter that I put together for probably the same dollar cost as a factory....but with a non-factory barrel.

Thoughts?

Dave

[billy_56081]

Shaw makes savage barrels in some pretty neat calibers and in many different diameters and lengths. You will need a barrel wrench and you need to ask if the barrel nut is included with the action. Then you just screw your barrel down on the go guage, tighten the barrel not down with your barrel wrench and check that the bolt won't close with the no go. The price part I'm not sure of. I think the stainless shaw barrels run about 220 plus shipping.

[~Ace~]

It's not a Steal on the price, but it's a fair price. If your looking for a rewarding project, Go for it... I would  Allot of folks are selling the Savage barrels now, and many have them in stock. You might want to check with Northlander on the Savageshooters.com board he may have something factory in stock that would suit you. ~Ace~

[LaOtto222]

Dave...I am going nuts I would have bet my bottom dollar I answered this very post a day or two ago. Am I loosing it Dave, or am I clairvoyant? Any way It depends on the action. If it is the new single shot long range/varmint action, I think it is an excellent buy. I have seen these on sale some where on the Internet for $410. If it is this action, then I would like to know your source, I want one. If it is the regular SS action then I think it is a normal price. The stock/trigger guard is average too. You can buy an unfinished laminated target (a very nice stock I might add, I have one) or thumb hole stock through Boyd's for about $90. A SS trigger guard is about $25 or so. As the others have stated, there are numerous sources for barrels. E.R. Shaw, Midway, Shilen, Pac-Nor, Savage Shooters Supply (they also have many other goodies, that is where I bought my SS trigger guard and bolt handles) are a few of the places you can get pre threaded and chambered barrels. The price will range from about $60 for a factory take off with not much choice to $400 or so with lots of options. I have set barrels with a full length sized case. In fact I just did one a week ago. You would have about $450 + $150 to $400 in it, depending on what you want. You could have less money in it than a top of the line Savage with as good of a barrel as factory if you go with the cheaper barrels or with match grade barrel in the twist, contour, rifling configuration (e.g. polygon) that has been hand lapped you want for about the same price as a top of the line Savage with a better barrel. Do not forget the satisfaction of doing it your self. I have done a couple of Stevens actions and I really enjoyed it. In the end I had about as much money as a regular Savage rifle, but I also had a lot of fun doing it. Here is one of them I did. It has the Boyds target stock and is a SS Fluted barrel. I have about $600 in it including the cost of the Stevens 200. About the only thing I saved was the action and bolt. I got a steal on the barrel. $100 + wrench. Good Luck to you.

I still would like to know where I could get one of those actions for $310

[Davemuzz]

LaOtto,

You didn't have Dejavu all over again....I ask this in another post at another time. I've been wallfing back and fourth on buying this. My thoughts were to buy this, or just drop another $240 or so and get another barrel for my ProHunter. The ProHunter shoots really well....I mean it's a tack driver. I have 3 T\C frames and all my T\C barrels are excellent examples of how to make guns right. But sometimes I just get a bit "itchy 'n bored" (yeah...rough times) so I thought I'd give this "route" a try.

At first, I was really thinking of gluing on a 7-08 chambered barrel, but then it kind of struck me that I already have "all the stuff" for the 6.5 Swede caliber. I have a 1913 Swede that only see's paper at the range a few times a year. It's a real fun gun to shoot. Almost 100 years old and accurate as heck. I load low volume Varget powder rounds with Hornady SST bullets and whack the 200 yard 36" steel plate at our club's range. I love to see the bullet splatter lead 'n steel in a shower when it hits. Honestly, I'm like a little kid when I shoot this gun. I laugh out loud....I have to go when no one's around...they think I'm nutz....I dunno...maybe I am.

Anyway, I don't live far from E R Shaw Barrel Co. http://www.ershawbarrels.com/about.asp So, I was looking at their web site and I can get a barrel for this action in the Swede caliber. Actually, for $70, I can even have them install it...and for a few more bucks.....I can have them true up the bolt face.....and also for a few more bucks....I can have them lap the locking lugs......Oh...man.....tack driver city!!!!!

Yeah....I know this is a 180 degree from me doing the install myself.....but you know....when I start looking at what they can do....vs what I can do.

Oh man......it's "yes dear....honestly....this one is for when our son comes back home.....after all......he need something to shoot! "

Dave

[LaOtto222]

Is it the single shot action? If so, where can I get one E.R. Shaw makes good barrels. I do not think they are bench rest quality, but they definitely are better than factory barrels. I really do not think you need to lap the lugs on a Savage action. Maybe a Remington or a Mauser type action. The bolt head floats and will even the load on both sides. Lapping will not square the bolt head up. The action face is usually pretty square, just make sure you have a recoil lug that has been ground flat. Do not use the factory stamped one. They are horribly off, touching in places and in others not. Back to E.R. Shaw. I have priced barrels through those guys and they are in the $220 range. How are you getting one for $70? I would like to get in on some of that action, they are worth well more than $70 in my opinion. Do you get contour and twist options at that price?

The 6.5 Swede is an excellent round. With modern strong actions it can be loaded above factory stuff. It will match the 260 Remington or a little better. I do not own a 6.5mm, but I can see one in my future. It is excellent for antelope and deer. I think with proper bullets and careful shot placement it would due on elk and moose. I have read that the Swedes have used it for years on that size of game and had no problems. Of course there are better choices. It can also serve as a long range varmint round too.

[Davemuzz]

LaOtto,

You misunderstand my post. It was $70 to INSTALL the barrel.

The action that I am buying is new, but the individual selling it has only one to sell. He bot it new but has now decided to sell it to fund "other projects".

Dave.

[LaOtto222]

OK, I was going on there for a minute, all kinds of projects running through my head The $70 fee is worth it if you have to buy the wrench and action wrench, about the same cost. Of course once you bought them, you would be all set to do another one or re barrel the one you have. That was the route I took. I was able to set a SS Shilen barrel on a Remington 700 action with my setup (the Savage and Remington both take the same action wrench). Remington actions run about $500 new by the way. A lot of guys buy used ones and strip them down to get the action. Go, no-go gages are nice, but you really do not need them to set a Savage barrel. I use a full length sized case as a set Gage. I run mine down snug, then back it off just a little. I tighten it down and try it again to make sure it did not slip any. I then try some factory ammo if I have any to make sure I do not have it set too tight. When I set one they are on the short side of the spec not the long side. I do not have any case stretch or any other problems. I just have to make sure I do not get them too short and not be able to close the bolt. BTW I use anti-sieze on the barrel threads so it makes it easier to take off later. Good luck to you no matter which way you go. The Swede is a great cartridge.

[billy_56081]

I bought my barrel wrench through a dealers catalog at midway and made my action vice from the description on switchbarrel.com I think it was there anyway. I have several barrels and bolt heads for mine. I'm thinking my next 2 will be 1 6mm-284 and a 7mm WSM. It's kinda fun to play with these guns.