I'm doing a barrel change on my Stevens 200

[O.S.O.K.]

I ordered this:



From Brownells and I'm going to switch out the .270 Winchester barrel on my Stevens 200 for this one - 338-06.

I am just waiting for a barrel vice from Midway... I tried using some wood blocks in the shop vice - no go.

I'm going to have to do a little work on the stock too = this new barrel is referred to as "magnum contour" which means its a fat bitch. .730" at the muzzle. Pretty heavy really. But the gun is so light that a little more weight wouldn't hurt it...

This is what it's going on:



I have another, newer one of these in the same caliber, so I figure this makes sense - gives me a new caliber to play with - and I'll be ready to shoot a brown bear if the chance comes up

338-06 is a great caliber - 225 grain bullet at 2650 - 3500 ft. lbs. - .281 SD - deep penetration and no trick bullets needed - Hornady IL's will work fine. I can load 185 grain TSX's too - for an outstanding whitetail load - 2850 fps.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, got the stock opened up for the phat barrel - that was easy - just wrapped some coarse sand paper around the new barrle and used it as the form to sand the channel out so that it will free-float when the barrel is installed.

And I tried making a barrel block and using some rosin to make it sticky - but couldn't get it to hold.

I have a barrel block vice thing on the way from Midway - was hoping to avoid that purchase but I will use it again in the future...

[awp101]

this new barrel is referred to as "magnum contour" which means its a fat bitch. .730" at the muzzle. Pretty heavy really. But the gun is so light that a little more weight wouldn't hurt it...

Can we say "muzzle heavy"? I knew you could... As light as those Stevens are, you might want to consider some lead shot in the buttstock as well. How much more does a .338-06 recoil over a standard -06? You may not be able to get it heavy enough to tame the thump.

I have a barrel block vice thing on the way from Midway - was hoping to avoid that purchase but I will use it again in the future...

Good. If I ever get back to the point where I can play with projects again, I know who to PM...

[O.S.O.K.]

You can borrow it but you have to buy your own wood block inserts But they're cheap...

[Schuetzenman]

So the purpose of this is a ... bear gun?

[O.S.O.K.]

Purpose?

It can be anything from a whitetail on up to yes, a brown bear gun.

.338" is one of the "magic" diameters - like .264" IMHO.

I am just doing this because I can I guess.

I've always admired this cartridge.

[awp101]

I am just doing this because I can I guess.

You just described 99.5% of my accumulation...

[O.S.O.K.]

You just described 99.5% of my accumulation...

Seriously. What I NEED is something like an AK or AR, Bolt gun in .270 Win, .22 LR rifle of some kind, 12 guage Rem 970 Shotgun and handgun - 1911 45 or maybe a 44 Speical revolver. That's what I consider my needs.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, just got back from Mississippi = a long 10 hour drive - very tired. But, the barrel vice was waiting for me - wow, what a heavy mother. I'm going to put it to use tomorrow... too tired tonight.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, I got it done. The new barrel vice (Wheeler Engineering) worked like a charm. Well worth the $50... The install was very easy - just put the wrench in place, screw the nut on, then the recoil plate and insert the "go" gage - screw on the receiver with the bolt in place until you make solid contact. Tighten the barrel nut making sure the recoil plate is aligned correctly. Re-check the go gage, then put the "no-go" gage in and the bolt shouldn't be able to make it past half way - don't horse it down... mine barely moved to lock at all - recheck with the go gage - and once more with the no-go.

Set to go. I then re-installed the scope. Need to bore sight that now... (this is done by removing the bolt, setting the rifle in a solid rest and then looking down the barrel and centering something in the bore - then checking the scope - you adjust the scope (using reverse movements) and align the cross-hairs just under the sighting spot. This will get me on paper and usually within 6" of the bullseye at 100 yards.

The thing is muzzle heavy - look at the pic with the old, very svelt .270 barrel and you can clearly see why. But I find in holding this and sighting through the scope that it's very steady - much more so than with the light barrel.

Now, to finish the initial hand loads and get to the range - probably in a couple weeks - work schedule is full...

[JesterGrin_1]

Congrats great work. And you can not beat the Stevens 200 for $179.95 for a great action to build on. .

And I see you have the Hornady Die set which I feel is the best die set going right now.

Oh and by the way if you were thinking about a BOYD'S stock well you are kinda stuck with the Thumb Hole design as with the Mag contour barrel the other stocks do not have enough meat to them to fit the barrel in. Just a Heads UP.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks Jester - I did look at the Boyds classic...