Questions about Stevens 200

[Ethan Givan]

I just bought a Stevens model 200 in .308 a couple weeks ago and I was just wondering what you guys think about this rifle. Is it fairly accurate? I love the way it shoots but I havnt put it on the bench yet to really see what it can do. Another question I have is about the .308 caliber. I noticed when I was shooting the other day that to hit relativley close at 100 yards I had to hit about an inch and a half low at 50. What will the trajectory be out to 150 yards? I really dont know how to sight in because where I deer hunt I could have shots from 40 yards all the way to 200. I was shooting 180 grain bullets. Can anybody give me some advice?

[Rem308]

Nice caliber, I'm not familiar with the Stevens model 200. I hear they're very similiar to a Savage model.

As for the accuracy, I'd say you need to spend some time at the range. I have had a .308 for years and years now, and it really seems to like the 150 grain bullets the best...shoots very flat with them, and that really helps if you misjudge distance on a deer. Also (IMO) the 150 grains are excellent size for deer, it does it's job if you do yours. In fact, about 8 years ago I was peeling an orange at the edge of a field on the last day of doe season...not paying much attention to anything but that orange! Well I glanced up and the field was just full of deer, where they came from or how long they'd been there I don't know. In excitement, I picked a good looking doe, raised the rifle and squeezed the round. She buckled and I retrieved her. As I stepped it off, I reallized I had just aimed normal behind the shoulder (as if it was at 100 yards where I was sighted in at). I stepped off 225 yards to the deer. I had hit low on the deer, but luckily had just destroyed the heart.

I would get a few boxes of shells, different grain and test. It's always fun to shoot a good bit and practice...plus, you'll learn what your rifle likes and where it shoots at different yardages.

I'm in the process of doing this exact same thing with a new .308 I just picked up, so let me know what you find with yours. Good luck.

[oldksnarc]

Like I said on this related thread, I own several rifles including 3 Savages. I bought a Stevens 200 in 22-250 and will be unlikely to buy anything else from now on.

http://www.realtree.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74013

Here's a link to a forum about the Stevens which is what influenced my Stevens decision. There are some pics of groupings by different people - mine is on page 10.

http://forums.handloads.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9809&PN=1&TPN=1

Like Rem308 said - shoot. Different loads, different brands - find what works best in yours. Here's an interactive ballistic chart from Federal that you can download and play with. Some of the other ammo makers have ballistic charts but they aren't interactive.

http://www.federalpremium.com/resources/ballistics_application.aspx

In my Savage .308 I personally shoot Remington 168 gr bthp Match Grade ammo. The gun likes it, there isn't much price difference, and there is better round-to-round consistency. I figure -- match grade vs off-the-shelf sporting grade.

[johnf]

If my longest shot is going to be 200 yards I would sight in at 1.5" high at 100. That should get you 1-2" low at 200. You would be hard pressed to notice the difference in your shot placement in a hunting situation.

[Ethan Givan]

If my longest shot is going to be 200 yards I would sight in at 1.5" high at 100. That should get you 1-2" low at 200. You would be hard pressed to notice the difference in your shot placement in a hunting situation.

OK, sounds like that might work but where would I be hitting at say 50 yards? Where I hunt I could have a deer at 20 yards or 200 yards and everywhere in between, so I would like to be a ble to shoot all those distances and know where Im gonna hit.

[johnf]

Shoot behind the shoulder about 1/3 up from the bottom and you won't have to worry about "exactly" where it's hitting. You could aim at that spot anywhere from 10-250 yards with good results.