A barrel nut permits quick and easy headspacing during assembly at the factory. The recoil lug is sandwiched between it and the receiver.

It didn't save any money at the manufacturing or retail level, but another thing Savage did with the Stevens line was instead of waiting to retire an on-line and fully functional Savage synthetic stock mold, the company bought a new mold for the Savage line and relegated the "hand-me-down" mold to the Stevens line.

(Top) Dual pillar bedding contributes to the excellent accuracy of the Model 200. (Bottom) The internal box magazine holds four rounds and utilizes a captive coil spring.

This is an effective use of equipment as it ages, and at Savage it isn't unique to the stocks. While visiting the factory a few years back I saw where barrels go through a multiple reaming process called "broaching." The oldest reamer in the series does the first cut, and when the barrel gets the final "broach," it's done by the newest reamer, resulting in the best possible finish.

Just like a base model truck may come standard with a bench seat with the next higher version having captain's chairs, the Stevens comes with the familiar Savage trigger. It's hand set at the factory to a reasonable pull weight and can be further adjusted by a competent gunsmith. The trigger upgrade, if you will, is the AccuTrigger. It has added safety features and is user adjustable down to about 11/2 pounds of pull, but you have to upgrade from the Stevens rifle to a Savage to get it.

(Left) The gray laminated stock is topped with a solid, rubber recoil pad that is effective at dampening some of the felt recoil. (Right) The most obvious difference between the Stevens Model 200 and the Savage Model 110 is that the Stevens does not have the AccuTrigger of the Savage brand.

While you can often get base model vehicles in a limited variety of colors, the Stevens Model 200 comes only with a gray synthetic stock and blued steel. Variety kicks in with calibers. You won't find base trucks with much in the way of engine choices, but in the Stevens Model 200 you'll find no less than five short-action chamberings from .223 Remington to .308 Winchester. Available long-action chamberings include .25-06, .270 Winchester, and .30-06 Springfield, you can also have 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum.

I received a long-action sample chambered in .30-06 Springfield to evaluate. It has everything a no-nonsense shopper could want in a basic rifle including sling swivel studs and an action already drilled and tapped for scope mounting. It was a simple matter to select a matching pair of Warne Maxima rings and bases for a perfect fit.

Scott Tested the Stevens Model 200 using a new Simmons ProSport scope and Warne rings and bases. Those choices went together so easily they seemed made for each other.

In them, one of the new-style Simmons ProSport 3-9X 40mm riflescopes drops right in without a glitch. For me, it was as though that ensemble was made to go together. I had a rifle with that "classic" American bolt-action look and the redesigned Simmons scope proportioned like a sporter riflescope should be instead of like a couple of beverage cans joined by a section of conduit as was the rage a few years back.

Possibly The Best Value In Bolt Actions
In the Stevens Model 200 I had found in a rifle what I continued to seek in a truck--a sturdy, well-made, task-specific tool. Of course, that task was launching well-aimed shots, and at the range well-aimed shots were rewarded with good groups. At my experience level as a shooter and hunter, I'd gladly tote a Stevens Model 200 into the woods, but I reasoned that most Stevens purchases will be made either by shooters on a tight budget or as entry-level guns.