Picked up a Stevens 200 for a song on the used rack in .308! I've been planning on buying one for a while now to turn into a p-dog rig and seeing one for under 200$ gave me the push. That 150$ saved over a new one will go a logn ways into building this rifle.

What I need some help on, is choosing a barrel! McGowen, Shilen, Douglas (through SharpShooterSupply.com) and Pac-Nor all make drop-in prefit barrels. I didn't see much on the first 3 as far as the options. Pac-nor however, lists about 8 different twist rates, and half a dozen grooves. Contour will be heavy varmint. I plan on using this rifle on the south eastern plains of CO, at 200-500 yards. Varminting is pretty new to me. Whats going to be my best combo, and whats going to be the best bullet weight for the corresponding twist/groove? Really don't have a need for the heavy weight .224 bullets, as I have another rifle for the really long stuff.

Thanks guys!

any of the barrel makers you mentioned will provide a varmint worthy barrel. Pick your contour in 1-14" or 1-12" twist and a fine 55 grain bullet and go shooting.

FYI ! I have three Shaw barrels that are mounted on mod. 200s and all have proven to be MOA with the proper loads. These barrels were screwed on just as I received them; no chamber touch up. I believed I paid $135.00 each. They are ; 250-3000, 6.5x55 and a 7.62x41.I think Mid Way still sells AB barrels for something less.I have a mod 200 in 22-250 with the Stevens barrel and it shoots as good but not really much better.

You could put more money into a really premium barrel but it wouldn't be long before you'd be looking to do something with that Tupper Ware stock and some what stiff trigger. If you can live with MOA Plus or minus a little look into the Shaw barrels.

Silk purse sows ear principal might apply here. roger

I'm reading nothing but good things about Shaw barrels for the last four years. If I were in your shoes, I would have Shaw at the top of the list.

Don

E.R.Shaw uses a disclaimer saying their barrels are not "match grade". However I had them do a varmint weight 220Swift for a Savage 12. It was screw-in ready. After 50 rounds of break-in it shoots half MOA at 200yds consistently using IMR4064 and Sierra 53gr HPBT. This load chronographs 3845 avg. for 5 shots. For me Shaw is a great performer at a great price. The only draw back is 6 to 8 weeks delivery.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

jigger,

Good to hear your experience with Shaw barrels. I have never owned one, but John Barsness who is writing for several of the gun magazines said that Shaw upgraded their machinery a few years ago, and they're now making excellent barrels. He has at least one rifle I know about with a Shaw barrel, and he says it shoots just like yours, very well. Not everyone wants to spring for a $300+ barrel, (not to mention a 3 or 4 month wait for it) so Shaw would be a good bet for those guys.

Don

oh i already have plans for a new trigger, stock and bolt handle! i just couldnt pass up a stevens 200 for 199.99 lol

i will check into shaw, sounds like a helluva deal right there and i like the lack of 3-4 month wait for a barrel

From my experiences, you're gonna have to get up early and run fast to beat a Douglas barrel. They don't claim to make a "bench rest" barrel but you see a lot of stool shooters using them.

I've used Douglas since 1972. I didn't mean to imply that Shaw was better or as good. However Shaw is an excellent choice for a "budget" rifle.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

Milehigh:
Pac-Nor can't be beat. Their service is excellent, and so is the quality.

Now as to ER Shaw, their prices are very good, but there is a caveot. Some are very good shooters, some are not, in my experience. I had them build me a 700 Rem 35 Whelen and I couldn't be more pleased, 1" or less groups are the norm.

Now the caveot, I was so pleased with the Whelen I couldn't wait to have them barrel another rifle for me. This project was a 6.5-06 on an 1903 Remington Modified action. I wasn't pleased, it copper fouled easily, wouldn't shoot any bullet under 1", and the throat was cut so long, I couldn't reach the rifling so as to set up my oal. I had Larry Komach up in Rawlings Wyoming rechamber the barrel, and now it is a good shooter. Not great mind you, but good. I believe you get what you pay for!! I would use Shaw again for a hunting rifle, but not for a varmint rig, or anything I had to depend on to shoot bug hole groups.

Regards

Jerry

Have you looked at the Shilen barrels that MidwayUSA is selling for $280+/-?

I bought 1 of the varmint weight/contour stainless Shilens in 260 and screwed in onto a Savage 11 action. It shoots great and since it is stainless, rather than CM, I didn't need to spend any additional $$ to blue the barrel. My experience with Shaw barrels has been hot and cold, but only hot with Shilen.

If you buy a 1 in 8" twist Shilen 22-250 barrel, you could shoot 60 grain BTs at coyotes and 60 grain Partitions for deer/antelope.

Jeff