Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Opinions on Stevens 520 & 620 shotguns?

I am looking for a good pump shotgun that has a useful takedown feature. The Stevens 620 looks good but I have no firsthand knowledge of it? Is it a reliable functioning gun that could be repaired if it breaks? Would I be better off spending more on a Winchester model 12?

Any advice is appreciated.

In the world of pump guns, you are always better off spending more for a Model 12, IMO. The Stevens were good reliable guns, but never developed the following that Winchesters, Remingtons, and Ithacas did. Kind of like comparing Ford Fiestas to Audi A4's. Both will get you from A to B reliably, but which would you rather own and drive? Shuck a Model 12 a couple times, then shuck a 520. You still see guys using M12's a lot, at club shooting and in the field. I can't remember the last time I saw a 520 being used. (Well, yes I can. My old man used one briefly back in the 80's, but even he, Mr. Savage/Stevens himself, went back to using an Ithaca.)

As for parts/repairs, any vintage pump gun is going to problematic in that respect no matter its pedigree, to one degree or another.

I don't remember the model number of the sawed off Savage 12 gauge I had when I was a wee lad. It was spectacular to behold having been chopped on both ends to minimum dimensions. And I don't mean minimum legal dimensions.

But, it slam fired once, which was a lot more exciting than I normally prefer my shotguns to be. I disposed of it when it shot thru the floorboards of my Toyota. No operator error there huh?

Oddly, my desire to own another Savage pump gun diminished considerably, at that exact moment, and has progressed rather consistently, completely unabated.

I have a legal minimum length Savage 64, and really like them in 20 gauge. However, dual action bars is a big plus. I had to remake the link between the pump and the bolt.