Barrel swap

[shortfuse]

I have a Stevens model 200 in .223 can someone tell me what my options are to swap out the barrel only ( using the 223 Bolt) into a .17 or 20 Caliber Don't want a 17 Rem I already have one and if this is possible where to source a Barrel

[Hotshot]

Any savage small shank barrel will screw onto your action. Bolt heads are easily changed as well. You can find savage pre fit barrels from many sources. Check Northland shooters supply, midwayusa, Brownells to start. Bunches of info on the internet to show barrel replacement procedure.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Once you do one barrel swap, you're hooked!! I've got them from 17 VHA all the way up to 6.8 SPC and a BUNCH in between.
20 VT, 17 Fireball and there's a LONG list.

[GrocMax]

Anything based off a full length 223, 222, 222M, 204R case should feed OK with some tweaks. Stuff based off the 221FB might take further tweaking to feed good. Add in a 40 deg shoulder I'd recommend a single stack AICS style 223 mag conversion. All the above plus 20/22 Nosler work with the 223 bolt head.

What won't work-

PPC, Grendel, 6.8SPC. Need a PPC .440" bolt head.

I'm thinking a full bull 9 twist 3 groove 20 Practical prefit from X-Caliber. Go full bull you get about zero recoil. Zero changes to 223 mag setup to feed 100%. If you already have 223 bushing dies its a no-brainer. 17/20 decapping setup and a couple of bushings.

[squirrel_slayer]

one thing to add to nor cal mikie's post is with the savage action you have to say with a pretty much full length .223 case if you want it to feed from a magazine and for it to properly eject from the action. you can run short cases but you'll need to help them sometimes to find their way into the barrel sometimes as well as removing the ejector and hand plucking the case off the bolt.

so that being said some good options in 20 are the 20 practical and for a factory option 204 ruger (take off barrels can be found for $50-120 often)

in 17 cal you could do something like the 17 tactical, 17 predator, or if you want a real scorcher a 17-204.

I haven't tried it but i'd assume you could also get away with cat's based off the 222 case with good results. but I do know fireball sized cases can be problematic as a repeater. some say if you run them fast they'll work but if you cycle the bolt at normal speeds they'll often fall into the action and you'll have to fish out the fired case.

[Bill K]

You might also check out "Ragged Hole barrels" out of Sparks, NV. they have some really good prices on the Wilson pre-fit Savage barrel.
They also have the barrel nuts, good price also.
They also can have that all chambered in say 20 Practical, and it will drop right onto your present action/barrel swap project. Bill K

[GrocMax]

One trick many find works for them on 221 FB shorty's is to take some ejector spring tension and/or ejector length away. Case is short enough that a full strength and length ejector will kick the case fully sideways into the cavity for bolt head lug rotation and it pops off the extractor claw, why rapid bolt stroking works vs. slow. The shortys can be problematic.

[dungheap]

Originally Posted by shortfuse

I have a Stevens model 200 in .223 can someone tell me what my options are to swap out the barrel only ( using the 223 Bolt) into a .17 or 20 Caliber Don't want a 17 Rem I already have one and if this is possible where to source a Barrel

My .20 Vartarg was done on a Savage 200 action, with a Savage .204 Ruger barrel rechambered. Replaced trigger with a Rifle Basix, made it into a dedicated single shot. My .22 TCM is a Stevens 200 .223 barrel shortened and rechambered. Both work just fine.

To address your question: .17 Fireball, any .17 .222 head size wildcat, .204 Ruger, any .20 caliber .222 head size wildcat. Where you get a Savage pre-fit barrel from will depend on what you want to spend and whether the barrel maker you choose chambers the round you want. I've had good results with Douglas, Shilen and McGowan barrels

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Issues with anything short like the Fireball or VT case will be a PITA as far as feeding. Feeding, not so much. It's the extraction where the problem starts showing up. Shorter case (Fireball, etc.) will pop off the bolt head before it gets to the loading port then you have to get it out of the action.
Go single shot and no feeding/extraction issues. Fired case stays on the bolt head till you pick it off. Problem solved!!

[shortfuse]

There's a 204 Takeoff Barrel Varmint contour On another site for 100 Bucks it's off a Savage model 12 fv Small Shank would that fit on a Stevens model 200