Idea for a Stevens 200

[DavOh]

Some of you may have known about the Rossi .308 I'm getting to share with my wife.  Well, I got the youth model to try and fit my wife's short arms better than the adult.  result is, I'm afraid I might get a few bumps to the forhead and since I wear glasses, I was able to convince her to tentatively ok me buying my own gun. 

My initial thoughts are a Stevens M200. Either a .25-06, .270, 7mm-08, or old standby .308.  Caliber is nearly a non-issue, as I tend to lean towards the .308, and the main reason for considering the other two is to have something different if not flatter shooting than my wife's rifle. 

I like nearly all I hear about this rifle, accept the stock. Since I'm not made of money(hence buying a Rossi and Stevens) and can't buy aftermarket stocks(yet) here's my plan for that...

Synthetic stocks for many many reasons don't appeal to me.  On the superficial level, is appearance.  the plastic on this rifle makes it look and feel like a toy. 

Removal of sharp edges with dremel and fine sandpaper and steel wool.

Removal of "checkering".  I cant remember if the  checkering is raised molded, or if its sunken.  If its raised, out comes the dremel. If its sunken, then I'll use some modeling epoxy to fill the checkering and sand smooth with the rest of the stock. Then with the addition of the paint and clear-coat, the stock will at least feel similar to wood to the basic touch.

Paint.   I'm thinking something in a dark brown.  If it's not gonna be wood, I'd like to make it look close.  Anyone know of something to simulate wood grain?
 
Weight -- Here's the touchy part.  I like a heavier rifle. It's generally easier to keep steady and soaks up recoil like a sponge.  My thought is to use some small bird shot and mix it in with some epoxy or resin of some sort.  By partially filling the butt-stock and a little bit in the forearm, and possibly even out the balance to my liking

What do you guys think?

[351 power]

i wouldn't plan on buying something i didn't like

[Mac11700]

i wouldn't plan on buying something i didn't like

I agree...I looked at a bunch of the 200's a little while ago...and didn't like the way they looked,felt,..or the way the bolt was on them nor the trigger...I lucked out..I found a super deal on a mod 10FP in 308...and like the balance to it..and am starting to like the Accu-trigger too...it's got the 24" heavy barrel on it...This might be the way to go for you...and you can always change out the tupper ware stock later on...

Mac

[DavOh]

Good advice guys. Good advice.

$ don't grow on trees, and good deal or not, I can't afford an FP.  I seriously doubt they exist(in fair condition) for what I'd have to spend.

Honestly, the stock is the only thing I really hate about the 200.  And if I can make it acceptable by putting some elbow grease into it, so be it.

[351 power]

i have a 200 and i enjoy it alot. the trigger has improved alot since about 200 rounds through it. a perfect rifle to not worry about scratches

[EVOC ONE]

How about a used 110 with a wood stock? 

Your not alone when it comes to keeping the cost down.  That's the sole reason I haunt local pawn shops as well as gun shops.  The example below was a pawn shop buy last Spring.  As is sits with a Simmons 3X9X32 is was $229 + tax.  I see 110's all the time between $225 - $300 and many with scopes.   This particular model is sold as a package through a couple local K-Mart's and retails new for just over $400. 




 

[Ricoh]

I have a Stevens 200 in 223 and it is deadly accurate. I also have an MLII w/accutrigger. Both stocks are crappy. I spent about 2 hrs on each with a 6" bastard file and some 220 grit paper and steel wool. They feel much better in the hand now. The checkering is low so don't fill it till you have smoothed out all the rough and sharp edges. I think you will be impressed. If you can paint then they will even look good. For what you want to spend they are by far the best buy out there and with a small amount of trigger work it will shoot great. Just my humble opinion.

Rick

[Three-08]

I really don't mind the stock on my Steven's 200 223 it is an awesome shooter, i do plan on taking some Krylon Fusion paint and performing a cammo finish to the gun using various leaf patterns, even with the stock being so plain out ugly it is a shooter and that's what counts the most for this 279.00 gun.

[LaOtto222]

I do not know if this post is too late for you or not, but here goes. I have 2 Stevens 200's that I bought in 223. Both have been highly modified. That is what I like to do. Long story short. One of them I used the plastic stock. I sanded down all of the parting lines and the raised spots around the "checkering". Some of it was so rough, I think it would have cut my hand under heavy recoil. I used rough sand paper and then a finer paper. I then masked off the Savage medallion on the pistol grip and removed the butt plate. I put on several coats of Krylon Fusion spray paint. I used semi-gloss black, but there are several colors to choose from. I have not had any trouble with paint chipping off or peeling. I had replaced the barrel with a heavy varmint barrel in 221 FB so I had to open the barrel channel before painting. You could skip this part if using the stock barrel of course. After painting, I used JB Weld to bed in the recoil lug. I just used some shoe polish for the release agent and put a big dab of JB in the lug area. I then torqued the action screws down good and tight and let it set up. The stock looked and felt a lot better after the mod. Still looks plastic, but feels as smooth as  any quality stock. I used this stock, because I was trying to save weight and I got it free . If you want to add weight, I would suggest filling in the butt stock with shot, but do not epoxy it in. Use a heavy foam that sticks above the line of the stock and highly compress it onto the shot when the butt plate is put back on. That way it will not rattle and can be removed or the amount of shot changed later. If you want to add weight to the fore end, I do not know a good way of doing it unless you epoxy it into place. Mix up the epoxy and then stir in as much shot as you can with it. Pour it into place among the ribs before it sets. Of course this would be a permanent modification that could not be changed later. Midway has barrels for these rifles at $130 and some come in heavy weight or magnum weight barrels. This would add weight to the gun also. Changing barrels is pretty easy if you have some of the right tools. I got a free barrel nut wrench and a 223 SS fluted barrel on sale for $100. That is how I got my tool. They have some odd camberings too. Like 221 Fire Ball, 358 WIN and 338 Federal Magnum along with some of the normal ones. Good Luck!

[Rangr44]

Go down to Home Cheapo, and - in the insulation section - pick up an aerosol can, or two, of the expanding foam, builders use to seal around window framing, etc.

Go slow, spraying a little at a time -because of the expansion factor. Cut off any overflow/excess with a single-edge razor blade.

It adds just a little weight, but more importantly, It does away with most of that hollow sound from raps and brush rubs.