Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Stevens 325C project (30-30 for accuracy)

Just picked up a Stevens 325C, it has no other markings so can't be sure of when it was made.

Bolt action 30-30 with iron sights, the bore is bright and clear, action is smooth. Cosmetically it could use some work but I'm really not worried about that.

Want to see what kind of accuracy I can pull out of an old rifle with iron sights.

What can I do to get the most out of this old rifle? Any and all suggestions welcome, Matt.

Not sure how yours relates to my Savage 340 30-30. I have had good groups with Sierra 150g FN bullets, 32g Varget, CCI 200 primers. I plan on trying more combos later with a different pep sight.

Post pics of your Stevens if available.

Well they say and I use a 125gr pointed bullet they work great on deer so do the 30-30 ammo plus the 150 gr pointed just start useing it ok Mine is a 840 they were made in 1955-85

The 325 was a late '40s/early '50s post war offering. Kind of a club but very accurate with that short barrel. I shot my first deer with my big brother's 325 in 1958. I saw him drop a running coyote at nearly 200 yards with it. One of those flukes I suppose but the family still talks about it.

Welcome to the forum, Matt! I'd first just try it out, those bolt actions tend to not be the prettiest gun out there, but the ones I've shot and seen fired have all been plenty accurate. Got a 30-30 and a 22 Hornet so far.

Thanks for the replies, I'll post pics asap.

The gun isn't a looker by any means. The stock is solid but needs to be refinished, the blueing is very worn. Bought it as kind of a winter project.

Prob won't hunt with it, I have a .270 that works too well to leave at home.

Really just want to see what I can wring out of an old beat up rifle, something to help pass the cold months here.

Accuracy may surprise you. Not the cutest pup in the litter but they get the job done.

I never shot a deer with Pop's 340 .30/30 before passing it down to my nephew, but Lightfoot's story of a running coyote at 200 yds. reminded me of the time I was carrying Pop's gun on for nostalgia reasons and a running fox at a little less than 100 yds. presented itself, in an open field. First shot hit way behind him and caused him to shift into overdrive. I swung through like I was shooting at a speeding duck, and slapped the trigger for the second shot as the front sight swept past his head. The bullet caught him through the right eye! That was 17 years ago and I'm still tying flies with the pink urine-stained fur from his belly.

That's some pretty good shooting!

I'll start loading with whatever decent bullets I can find around here, just to get used to the cartridge, the gun etc.

The .22-like sights will stay for now, if I can find a decent peep down the road all the better.

If I can manage 1" @ 75 yards I'll be thrilled. 1.5- 2" @100 would make my day.

Eventually I'd like to look into casting some bullets, make it as home-grown an affair as possible.

Really looking forward to this project, please keep the replies and suggestions coming, Matt.

Lyman made a receiver sight for the 340. They can be found with a bit of searching. Be careful though, the same sight was made for the old Savage M40 Sporter and Super Sporter, with the same part number as for the 340. There is a slight difference in the two. A good sight man (Mad Dog?) can probably clarify that.

Think Williams still lists a 5D sight for these rifles.

My 325C likes the 130 TSX and a dose of Re 7. For youth and others who hate loud noises and hefty recoil, this is a perfect load for deer out to 150 yards or so. It's as accurate as the awful sights allow.

Wayne

Williams still makes the FP also.

1302 FP-340 For Stevens Savage 322-325-340-342. $72.95

Prolly get one on ebay cheaper if you have patience and patronize the anti gun wackos...

What about the WFC Co. No 175 sight? Might require a higher front sight but these were Savage's proprietary sights for these rifles in the '50's. Has anyone had any experience with them? In a 50's parts catalog they say they came with a hooded front sight.

Also has anyone ever found out just what 'WFC Co.' was?

Be carefull the sight isn't a mix of No. 150 and No.175 parts - saw one like that on eBay, it was a 150 in a 175 marked base, bases on both look the same and appear to have the same hole spacing.

I'll check out the info on the sight, hopefully be able to put something together.

Anyone know how these bolts come apart?

Dies haven't arrived yet so I picked up a box or Remington Core-Loct 150grns and went up to the range.

This is about a 1.5" group at 80 yards. Not great but somewhere to start.

1.5" at 80 yards with open sights?

That's impressive regardless.

Thanks Calhoun,

Still waiting on the dies to arrive so I picked up a box of Hornady Leverevolution 160grns and headed up to the range this morning.

Perfect conditions, if a little on the cold side.

After a couple sighters at 80 went out to 100.

Should note that the two inside the lower portion of the bull are from a previous group.