Is the new Stevens 200 in .223 and similar cartridges have a true short action, or is the magazine blocked like Howa does on its 1500 Lightning. I notice the literature on the weapons says it comes in a short action for the .308 family length cartridges and then the long action for the .30/06 family of cartridges. Like I said before, some makers simply block magazine. A buddy is very interested in one of these in .223 for a walking p-dog and varmit rifle. Thanks for any help. Tom Purdom

It looks like I got on the wrong forum for an answer to this question.

im thinking about the same gun.its the same as the savage short action so it is not a long action gun. jason

. . . but a .308 action is still significantly oversized for a .223. I think it's a shame that most manufacturers simply toss a .223 into an action that is both longer and heavier than necessary and has a blocked magazine to boot.

The Sako, Mini Mark X, and old Kimber 84 (along with perhaps a Krico and maybe an Anschutz) have been about the only true ".222"-sized actions available. Remington, Ruger, Winchester, Marlin, nor Savage has ever bothered to build a dedicated action for the .222-head cartridges. Savage started to chamber the .223 in their new Model 40, but the last I read they had backed off and are only offering it in .22 Hornet.

Wait a minute -- CZ has a small action, but it has its own problems with a backward safety, high bolt that interferes with low scope mounting, and a protruding single-stack magazine.

what?? high bolt lift problems?? if you use the right rings be it millet or CZ there are no problems whatsoever, and no the scope doesn't sit too far above the barrel, for the saftey just think of cocking a revolver

Not "high bolt LIFT", just "high bolt". The CZ is rather thick at the bolt handle root, meaning that the scope's occular lens will interfere with working the bolt if the scope is mounted too low. Combined with the fact that the stock comb on the CZ is on the low side to start with, this makes for an awkward (read "European") mounting of the scope which requires the shooter's face to lift off of firm contact with the comb in order for the eye to be aligned with the sight picture. Some shooters don't mind this lack of good "cheek weld", but it drives me crazy to have my head bobbing around in the air in order to see through the scope.

From my perspective, the low comb, high scope mounting, safety that operates exactly the opposite of the other 99% of rifles in the world, and protruding single stack magazine make for an action that can reasonably be described as "having problems of its own". Your perspective is obviuosly different; owners of the CZ's report excellent accuracy despite the glaring deficiencies in aesthetic and operational qualities.

the amercian models have a strait comb stock, like the rugers and remmys and all the others. I have a CZ carbine that has a stock with some drop in it, which I absolutly love it fits me like a glove and feels natural to me. stocks with a little drop in them are great for off hand shots I actually prefer them, that little CZ along with my old model 88 winchester come up on my shoulder better than any of my other rifles, with my other rifles I feel like I am having to lay my head over too much it just doesn't feel right to me, I think most would agree drop comb stocks make better off hand shooters, its just everyone has gotten used to the look of a strait stock

You are right about the .308-length action being a tad too long for the .223, but that is the way it is, I guess. As for the CZ 527, beauty and functionability is, indeed, in the eyes of the beholder. I own a CZ 527 in .223 Remington. It originally was a Lux Model, but I bought one of the fancy grade American Walnut after-market American-style stocks from CZ-USA, did a bit of minor inletting on the barrel channel and then pillar bedded the thing. With my relods, it is more than an exceptional shooter. The stock is really pretty. It looks like a piece of chocolate marble. Well, then I got a butt-ugly 6.5x20x50 Simmons Whitetail Classic scope to put top of it. The objective objective lens on top of that petite outfit looks like I mounted a television set up there. The point is, even though the scope is cheap, that outfit really sings and spits out 50 gr and 55 gr bullets that the p-dogs just hate. I got a different stock because I had trouble finding the scope in a hurry with the Lux stock(humpback). I switched to the American style and now have no problems. As far as the safety goes, I learned pretty fast when it is on safe and when it is on fire. It is not a problem for me at all, however, it scares the hell out of me that there might be people out there in the field, hunting, who may get confused by something as simple as a safety. Lastly, the magazine does hang down. I thought I was going to have a real problem with this feature, but after acquiring a second five-shot clip, while others are having to stop to reload, I am still shooting. I've gotten completely used to the magazine hanging down and it does not botber me at all. I'm the one shooting it, I like it and in the end, that's really all that counts. Tom Purdom

I took care of the high bolt on the 527 by grinding about half(well almost ) off righ at the root of the bolt, not the actual handle itself. Then I used a set of low Millet rings that fit Weaver type bases. A filler is needed as there is a gap to fill (.155) but that's no big deal and now the scope is down where it belongs. The clip and the safty I am learning to live with. The safty is what really bothers me. Pete

I too love the 223 size actions.
Thing is the Stevens price is very eye catching.
http://www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm
I have a 12-FV that shoots great. I have seen the price of the Stevens at $269 at a sporting
goods store.If it shoots as well as the FV-12
it would be a steal. Cheap for a walking varmint
rifle.Another thing . It makes one think what if. Take the 308 pull the barrel and cut it and rechamber it to 7.62X39???
Ohhh and being like a Savage you can rebarrel it yourself. Thats worth something.

quote:

Originally posted by Pedro in Idaho:
I took care of the high bolt on the 527 by grinding about half(well almost ) off righ at the root of the bolt, not the actual handle itself. Then I used a set of low Millet rings that fit Weaver type bases and now the scope is down where it belongs. Pete

I've wondered if that might work (and how badly it would damage the looks of the gun).

I was looking at a CZ this last weekend at a gunshow after participating in this thread and was reminded just how much too thick (a bunch) the root of the bolt handle is and how high it forces the scope to be mounted. What could they be thinking?

Years ago, I did the same thing (grind down the base of the bolt handle) on a German-made Herter's XK-3. It was a little less intimidating to do that since the Herter's had a bright bolt that didn't require rebluing, and after all, it was a "Herter's", meaning not much that you did to it was going to damage its value.

CZ altered the stock to better suit the American market. Now they need to go ahead and revise the safety and shave off half the metal on the bolt root. Ninety percent of shooters would probably prefer a double-stack box magazine while they're at it, either fixed with a floorplate or flush-fitting clip.