My evaluation of the Stevens Model 200 bolt-action rifle corresponded with my buying a new truck. If you haven't been new truck shopping lately, it's hard to find one that isn't essentially a luxury vehicle that has a bed on the back.

Standard equipment on some models these days includes such things as multiple zone automatic climate controls, XM radio, satellite electronics, and heated mirrors. All I wanted was a truck--something strong and well built that a muddy, wet bird dog could get in without me freaking about damaging Corinthian leather. I didn't need a status symbol to take the weekly garbage to the dump or haul deer out of the woods.

I had given up in frustration and was ready to consider restoring a classic truck when the Stevens blew in here like a breath of fresh air and renewed my faith in manufacturing sanity. Here was a rifle that was what I was looking for in a truck: a no-frills tool--plain and simple. There's no wood to warp, no delicate finish to scratch. It's a rifle.

SPECS Stevens Model 200 .30-06 Bolt-Action Rifle
Manufacturer:
Model:	200
Operation:	Bolt-action repeater
Caliber:	.30-06 Springfield
Barrel Length:	22 inches
Overall Length:	42.75 inches
Length of Pull:	13 inches
Weight, empty	6.5 pounds
Safety:	Three position
Sights:	None; drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Stock:	Synthetic
Rifiling:	1:10-inch twist
Finish:	Blued steel; gray stock
Price:	$316

It obtains its performance heights in terms of function first and foremost. That it uses the time-tested Savage Model 110 action assured me it was strong, and free-floated, button-rifled Savage barrels have always provided me with accuracy that belies their moderate price tags, so I was confident about its accuracy. I was also floored to see that the Stevens 200 retails for only $316 even though skilled union workers in a New England state known for high taxes and operating costs made it.

To get the price tag down without sacrificing quality, Savage (Dept. ST, 118 Mountain Rd., Suffield, CT 06078; 413-568-7001; www.savagearms.com) did exactly what auto manufacturers do--offer a base product that's essentially the same under the hood as the higher end models and then let the higher end models with the extra bells and whistles carry the margin. In terms of automobiles, then, the Stevens 200 can be thought of as the base, with the Savage-brand being the upgrade thus carrying more options such as left-hand, different finishes, wood stocks, and muzzle porting.

A No-Frills Work Gun
That's not to say the Steven's is a cheap gun. In fact, if you turn the calendar back a few years to when Savage offered a more limited selection of rifles, the Stevens is essentially the basic blued and synthetic Savage rifle. It's different from the past guns, though, because it offers advanced features, such as dual pillar bedding, long- and short-action lengths, and even magnum chamberings. Distinguishing it from the current Savage line are features such as a matte metal finish obtained by hand-polishing in contrast to the high-polish (and more expensive) finish on Savage rifles derived from "tumbling" the parts in huge vibratory polishers.