Hey guys,
Tomorrow is my son's 13th birthday. What he really wants is a cell phone , but I think he'll be happy w/ what I've got him--a Stevens M200 in 223 Remington w/ a Simmons 44 Mag scope (6.5-20X, purchased new >5 years ago, but never mounted) and Burris Supreme Z rings . Cleaned barrel and shot the gun for the first time today. Was on paper pretty quickly at 25 yds. Then moved target to 100 yards. Winchester 55 gr FMC ("white box" ammo) put 4 shots into 2.3" (last 3 shots 1.5" w/ 2 touching); this ammo has never shot very well for me . Was given to me by a non-shooting friend so I shoot when sighting in a gun. Also tried 2 handloads, both developed for my 223 Rem Contender. 50 gr TNT/R-P brass/H322/Rem 7 1/2 primers put 3 shots into 1.35" (w/ 2 nearly touching); 50 gr NBT/R-P brass/H322/Rem 7 1/2 primers put 3 shots into a nice 0.94" clover-leaf. Pressures looked ok w/ all loads. Was pushed for time, so only cleaned between each group. I feel really good that the gun has great promise , especially after I touch up the trigger (breaks at 6 1/2-7 1/2#). I had really wanted to get him a Savage w/ Accu-Trigger, but could not find one anywhere (N. LA/S. AR/E. TX). Now if I can just find us a pd hunt! Gary T.

Way to go Gary!
That rifle will last a hell of a lot longer than a cellphone, and for years to come it will be a much greater joy to get it out and mess with it, beats a phone any day!

Bought a 200 a few months ago, part of a relatives business deal gone sour. He needed to move it, so I paid even less than the rediculously low regular price. Added a Bushnell Trophy in 3X9X40 and it shoots very straight. No complaints.

there the best deal going in a new bolt action. The Stevens 200 owns the budget rifle market. I have a few and there all shooters.

I am taking my Stevens 200 in 25-06 to Alaska on a Caribou hunt. Topped it off with a VX-III 3.5-10. The scope costs twice as much as the rifle did. It might not be pretty but they are all shooters. I have a feeling your son will have a realize very quickly that this Stevens tops a cell phone any day.

Gary, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR SON!! And yes, the rifle will be a part of his life for a long time after the cell phone has lost it's glow!! Try some of the "white box" Winchester USA 45 grain loads in it! Usually available at Wal-Marts but may be in short supply now!! I have yet to see a .223 that didn't shot them decently!
M.Howard............your 25-06 in Stevens 200. Load you up some 117 grain SIERRA SPBT or 120 Hornady HP ahead of either 49.0 grains of IMR 4350 or H4831sc and test it! Bet your rifle will like those loads!! For S&G, try 49.5 grains of VARGET and the 75 grain VMAXS in your Stevens! You may be amazed at how it will shoot that little pill! Wouldn't recommend that load for caribou though!! GHD

My Stevens 200 in 223 loves 26.2 grains of varget under a 60 grain vmax seated out to 2.29 oal. really nices grups with it at 100

Hi Gary,
I just bought a Stevens 200 in a .223. Put a Bushnell 5X15 Legend Series scope on it. Cleaned the hell out of the barrel and broke it in and sighted it in. I'm shooting 55 gr Sierra spitzers on top of 25 gr of w748. I'm telling you man, what a shooter. 3 out of 4 at 100 yardsin a nickel sized group. I jerked # 3 shot and knew it imediately. Not the guns fault. What a sweet rifle. I've got about 700$ tied up in mine. That is out the door price. I've put about 4 differant round through it and I can't see a hell of a lot of difference in accuracy.

If you are reloading for it i've found that 3.00 inches is maximum length for the round using a Stoney Point O.A.L Guage. Any longer than that you will have a chambering problem.

I hope you and your son get alot of enjoyment out of it.

YOTES AND SQUIRRELS BEWARE

Tony