I must say that I really like the fact that you generally focus on the "budget friendly" set ups. When I was little, I could, and did, look at the guns in the Sears, Montgomary Wards, the Herterz catalogs. Even as a kid I wondered why some of the rifles were two or three times as expensive as some of the others. I figured there was no way they could be 3 times as accurate. After I got older, I found out I was right as a kid. Some of the less expensive rifles were very accurate, and some of the cheapest ammo worked the best out of my guns. Keep up the great work and keep those videos coming. I look forward to them everyday.
Sears and montgomary wards put direct large quantity orders cutting out the costs of distributors and such so were under than own brand names to sell guns at very reasonable prices. I recall the ted Williams brand. Even hardware stores like western auto had their own brand of ammo and maybe guns too.
@@MitchJones-r4g That sound rights. I think the spelling was different. ''Western Auto sold Federal-manufactured ammunition under the brand name Revelation. Western Auto also sold guns from manufacturers such as High Standard, Mossberg, and Savage'' I might even still have a box of shorts from them somewhere. Somebody that all of us locals knew, a retired naval commander would search for .22 single shot rifles that were sold by hardware stores years ago. She would get them repaired and give them to little boys.
Yes sir buddy. My first two rifles that I bought new were a Remington 22-250 and a Marlin 30.30. Back in the early 80’s. They were definitely inexpensive. I had to use the money I was saving to buy a truck. Hauled a lot of hay and cut a lot of firewood for that mulamula. I wanted something good but it had to be affordable.
Bang for the buck is what it's about for me. Love precision rigs but I agree. Most folks fundamentally can't outperform their setup. Field shots are even more difficult than a bench. I have preached this for years. Love fancy shiny and new!! In the end it's about bringing home the meat. You don't need a 1000 dollar setup. Keep doing your thing!! Always enjoy the content.
I have finally found my kind of TH-cam hunting/shooting channel. I see Remington Core-Lokt's (my favorite deer round), guns I don't have to mortgage my house to buy, and truly unbiased feedback. Well done sir. You have another sub from Alabama.
I bought one. When I first got it the trigger adjustment was like glued shut and not adjustable. But I figured out how to get around it and now I love it. My trigger pull 1.5lbs with no creep. and shooting 0.42-0.75 at 100 yards Like you I like to shoot budget friendly guns I hate when they say entry level How is it entry level when a $350 gun shoots the same bullet as a $5000 gun give me a break. I have Axis, Obsidian, Ruger American which are all great shooters and I love everyone I have But this Stevens 334 is the cheapest on the market and one of my most accurate. Simply an Awesome rifle Thanks for your video and knowledge
I am a tool snob but I use them all day, I do have Browning and Benelli but I love my Stevens 555 20ga for dragging threw the mud and snow. Good handling, feel good walking companion. I am impressed with the fit/finish. Yours has some nice wood too.
Next time you visit Tolliver's shop... find yourself a vintage Remington model 788. Old school, high value to cost, absolute tack drivers!!! You will have some really fun, and highly satisfying tack driving times at the range. .223 rem, .22-250 rem, .243 win, 6mm rem, .30-30 win (hard to find), .308 win, .44 rem mag (really hard to find). Every one of the 788 rifles I have or been around are all shooters! We'll have to get you up here to Alaska for one of my outfitted unguided do-it-yourself, fly-out rafting float hunt river trips for Moose.
I have a 788 in .22-250 with factory mounted Universal 4x scope that I bought new in 1974. It put 3or4 rounds of Remington 55gr sp in one ragged hole out of the box and still does. Took a lot of groundhogs in Pennsylvania and many coyotes after moving to Texas. Shoots like a laser to 400 yards.
Thanks for not stopping at the first good 3 shot group on the corelokts but following it up with several more. Shows how one 3 shot group doesn't really tell you much. Its very valuable to see more groups to have enough data to really know what a rifle / ammo combination is really capable of. Almost no gun reviewers are showing enough groups. See Hornady's podcast "your group sizes are too small" for reference.
It would be nice to see how these rifles handle non-lead bullets. Those Core Lokt Tipped rounds seem to always do nicely. Back in the 80's I had a Ruger Model 77 with a tang safety in 30-06 that wasn't great with anything but the bottom line Federal Power Shok.
I don't think people realize we live in a golden age of bolt actions, over a century of trial & error have produced an ability to make a precision instrument for a price anyone can afford. I hunted with the same savage model 111 .270 that came with a Simmons 8 point 3x9x40 for 21 year's & that thing is still a tac driver with core lokt 150's. This year (because of your video) I bought the brand new savage axis 2 xp 30-06 combo, took it to the range Monday & got a .4 inch group with the core lokt tipped 180 gn. So for less than $500 in 2024 I've got a tac driving rifle with a FINE trigger i might add that will last me decades to come. We are very fortunate & privileged to live in this golden age of affordable & truly remarkably performing firearms! God bless brother, have a safe & successful muzzleloader Season!
At first glance it really likes a cold bore. First video you could see your breath. The later video you first shot was the best. GREAT video!!! Love your stuff!!! Keep it up and God bless!!
Thanks for a great video. As a man that loves firearms and don't have a lot of extra money, your channel is just right for me. I have some great shooting budget rifles that gun snobs love to turn their noses up at. People really love to hate on my old Savage 110E in 7 Rem Mag. However, it is the one of the best shooting rifles I have ever owned. Bought it at a pawn shop for 200.00. Took it home, cleaned it up and absolutely love it. Thanks again amigo.
Such a budget friendly rifle that can shoot about everything you put in it with more than enough accuracy for 100 yd. hunting. It’s definitely a great choice for a first time rifle. It’s a keeper.
Looks like a good rifle, it shot it all good enough at 100. I prefer the front rest and rear bag over the sled. I've ruined a couple scopes in the sled.
Old guy with the belt buckle, here. I have the 334 in 243 win. and love it. It's not too picky with factory ammo and shoots about an inch on average. I am building hand loads at the moment with 75, 90, and 100 gr. The Stevens 334 in Canada goes for around $525. for synthetic and around $650. for wood. Love the rifle for the money. Trigger needs some TLC. 5lbs. and a little creepy. Great video as usual buddy.
Was looking this up on Al Flaherty's & the 6.5CM is going for $600CDN, with the scope. Consensus seems to be, to dump the scope & put your own on. Found the Stevens 334 in 243 for $500 on "Canadas Gun Store". Want one for some casual range time. How could I not risk $500 for this? Good advice here.
After you clean the bore and maybe borescope it, you should try oiling a budget barrel with something that "soaks into metal" like Zmax gun oil. Was amazing in my slant 6 years ago when they had all those funky tv commercials. Oil residues burn off after a couple shots, but prepping the barrel sets up the initial metal to foul with carbon or copper and determines how the build up starts. Same as anti spatter gel for welders.
I’m not sure what’s going on with hornedy precision hunter. I had old stock of that left in 308. Shot awesome. Bought a new box because I was too busy to make a load for the gun. Shot as bad as your results, and this isn’t a budget rifle, so I took the time to make a load and verify the load and yep, she shoots!! Killed a massive bison bull the next day!! 880 lbs dressed rail weight.
@@rickbremmer3838 Sad a major manufacturer that hypes the hades out of their "sent from the maker himself" products cannot secure a reliable component supplier. Not a fan myself.
I have one of these walnuts in .308 and I’m pretty new to rifles but I love it. So far, it’s been super accurate with even some of the cheaper cartridges.
For those old enough to remember the Remington 788. It was ugly as sin. Almost everyone made fun of it saying they would rather throw rocks than shot one. I don't remember what it cost in 1980 but with off the shelf .243 ammo it would shoot between .75" and 1" groups all day long with an inexpensive Weave K4. But when the word got out values sored. Savage's 334 may just do the same thing.
Yeah 6.5 Creedmoor is basically a modernised 6.5 Swedish (slightly smaller case but higher permissible pressures). I'm very impressed with it, especially with some of the VLD bullets available for it. I keep oscillating between it and a 270 winmag for my future game hunter. I'm sure the Stevens is great value for money and more than sufficient for most people, but I've seen much better (and more expensive) setups do those kinds of groups at 300 meters off the bench, and that's one of the reasons it got added to my wish list.
I have one in .243 Winchester I almost bought a Mossberg. The chamber in mine is tight and also the headspace. I have run into at least one brand of brass that won't chamber ( Fiocchi ) because of thick necks and a couple that contact the shoulder with new unsized brass which is not really a problem I would rather it be close than sloppy. Chasing loading manual max velocities has been futile with the short barrel but I can get close and not see any dangerous pressure signs. I have been staying under 100 grains for bullets it will shoot 95 grain Bergers fair but are just at the limit can't spin them quite fast enough. The 87 grain Bergers are acceptable the 75 grain VMax have been the most accurate and pretty good velocities I still have some room to go with them as far as maximum powder charges. I have shot several loads of 58 grain Barnes and VMax that are pretty zippy around 3500 fps can go more I'm trying to be conservative it will get there. I'm getting 3000fps plus a little with the Bergers but close to max on them. As far as the mechanics of the rifle it has been good, I couldn't get my trigger to adjust much lower messing with the single screw my scope base did have three stripped screws and the base finally started moving. At least the receiver threads weren't stripped I replaced the screws and torqued it down and it was fine. I bore scoped the barrel when I got it and twice since I have shot it fowling comes out easily and very few tool marks. The only thing I saw was where the rifling's start they look slightly uneven around the circumference like the reamer wasn't centered perfectly it's really hard to see sometimes it looks even then one spot looks different. Extra magazines are available it feeds and extracts perfectly worth every penny so far. The trigger is the biggest handicap for now.
I love your approach to finding quality firearms on a budget. Keep up the great work! I wish someone would take the same direction with a hunting program for those of us that can’t afford 6 to 10K on a hunt!
In the 1980’s Remington made a budget rifle called the 788. It was kind of loose, with a rear locking bolt. Didn’t look great. But it shot lights out. And they were cheap. I wish I had bought ten of them.
With a little bit of stock bedding/ barrel clearance, what would it do? Like anything budget friendly and production made, a little bit of tuning could go a long way. Never saw this rifle. Nice to see wood on a rifle at this price point. Thanks for the review WTH.
I had a axis I hated but after about 50 rounds seems to be doing a lot better maybe some of these rifles need to be seasoned like a cast iron skillet don’t know just saying
Cool to see an inexpensive slinger with a purdy wood stock. Still saving for a Ruger american or mini Howa while building a No1. May have to get a job lol!!
I picked up a used Marlin X7 in 30.06 for $250. Shaved down part of the stock that was making contact with the barrel and now it's shooting good. Haven't measured the grouping yet.
Bought a Rem 783 in 270win a couple years ago, under $199 with a mail in rebate. Put a vortex crossfire II on it that i got on a black Friday sale for $99 with some budget rings. Shoots under 1" with handloads. It's my backup rifle and I can trust it. I'm into to the whole setup for just over $300 after tax. Basically any budget rifle that uses a barrel nut can produce extremely good accuracy out of the box. Rem 783, savage axis, Stevens, Ruger American, etc. It's just a superior way to build an accurate rifle in a cost effective way.
That’s one beautiful gun , the stock is so nice . Cheap gun or not , that’s impressive I love the sound of it ! I can listen to that all day long . Cheers 🇨🇦
My 334 is a tack driver other than that my other favorite part is the 60 degree bolt throw I’m looking for a place to thread mine right now I bought 2 synthetic stock 334’s looking at another one for one of my daughters maybe in 6.5 need more I’ll see how she likes the 308 first
Cheap isn’t always bad. I have a buddy that hunts with a T/c compass and that thing shoots lights out. I myself have a savage 11 that shoots 180 federal power shok 308 routinely into .8ish 3shot groups. That ammo is 26$ at Wally World. Great video whotee.
Mine likes the Hornady American Whitetail 129gr. I also have the 334 in the other two calibers offered, and they all perform exceptionally well. I wish they would offer them in some more chamberings. Great video!
I have one in .308 and it shoots the federal fusion pretty well. Just sited it in a few days back in prep for deer season. Always enjoy your stuff WTW and thanks for the content.
Whiĺe Rons looks pretty many shooters will say that "pretty is as pretty does." When a Bing bang comes home for cheap, cleans up and goes under an inch at 100, that is pretty good.
I looked at one at BassPro. I liked everything about it but the trigger had too much take up and spongy. They also had a killer sale on xbolts. I spent the extra coin and got the xbolt. For the price of a Ruger Ranch 2 I got into a Browning XBolt. If I could adjust the Turkish trigger I think this Stevens 334 would be a great gun
As a shoot that as a few high end custom rifles . I saw the Ata Turqua (the rifle is marketed like this here in Europe) a about a year ago at shoot show . That cost was cheap but the quality is very high . Mine in at Pt model heavy barrel . Red laminate stock and take a.i aw mags .IAM STILL AMAZED BY HOW GOOD IT IS FOR THE PRICE . groups well honestly 3/4m.o.a from bench for ten shots .
I bought Rem Sportsman in 30/06 35 yrs ago for 200 beans over 35 yrs ago, dang thing will shoot a nickel size group at 100 yds with you guessed it, Rem coreloct150 gr, it's good hunting ammo in my book, so I'm not surprised you could do that with a 6.5 Creedmore. Thx for the vid
Excellent work. I love the ammo comparison videos. As I was watching I looked on Steven’s website hoping to find a 300winmag in that model 334. No dice. It comes in 308, 243, and 6.5creed. Maybe I need a 6.5 creedmore??? “Hello Santa, I tried to be a good boy!!!” Thanks again for the video Hoss.
Must be a different box of Core-Lokt than the 1st shooting of this rifle. That Norma Whitetail shoots real well out of my 6.5 as does the Hornady precision
Pretty damn awesome how far technology has come when they can produce a rifle at such a low cost with this kind of performance. Seems to like those lighter weight bullets in your gun. Perfect deer and antelope rig right there.
It's an ATA Turqua standard walnut brought into the states by Savagae. The actual Turquas are threaded with fully adjustable triggers. With that being said, I have the 334 in .308...LOVE IT!! Found the ammo it loves! Nothing to go higher sub 1 inch to just over 1 inch. It's right at the 1inch consistently! Love the rifle.
@@TODinWY yes they are made in Turkey and sold under brand name Stevens in US. In Europe they are sold under Brenner brand. Oddly enough they are starting to be sold directly under the ATA Turqua brand in Europe as well.
If you overlay all groups with the same aimingpoint what group will you get? As if you dump all ammo in the same box and in the dark to the hunt you grab 20 odd cartridges, will the group be enough to h7nt with within 150 yards?
The lead sled is probably the culprit for the inaccuracy in the regular core lokt ammo, and it comes down to harmonics. When you shoot in a lead sled all the recoil energy doesn’t have anywhere to go because it’s not being absorbed by your body and by you body slightly moving when it encounters the recoil, so that energy comes back in vibration into the stock and the action and the barrel. If I was a betting man I would say the you could get more consistent groups with all of your ammo if you shot without it.
I picked up a CVA Cascade after a lot of research and your recommendation. It didn't like that Hornady PH either. I got a 3/4 in group with Rem core lok tipped. I will admit I am a terrible bench shooter and am a much better situational shooter. Love that gun! Thank you for another really fun video!
What was the trigger like, creep and break if I may ask? IMO if you have a cheap rifle and an expensive rifle and they both perform equally,then probably it’s cosmetic and brand that separates them and of course thousands of dollars.👍
It looks heavy.... the Turkish Walnut looks good too... They're making some good firearms over in that country now.... At that price if I needed another rifle.... I'd consider it for sure.
I’ve got a Ruger American ranch rifle in 450 bushmaster and it shoots groups just like that. 2-7x32 Vortex on it, all 3 touch if I’m doing what I’m supposed to.
I love the walnut stock. Thinking of picking one up as my first bolt action deer gun and just to have a wood stock gun in the collection. Thought about .243 so I could pass it down to my son for his first deer gun one day. But still also torn between the 6.5 and .308 😅 awesome video as always!
How is the trigger on the rifle? Pull weight? Creep, clean break, etc.? Is it adjustable? I know my best rifle ever was an old Remington 700 with the 5r stainless heavy barrel. I got it for $600 on Gunbroker many years ago. That rifle would consistently shoot .35" with Federal 168grain match .308. Unfortunately, it was stolen in a house break-in. That broke my heart because now those sons of guns are $1200.00!
Just got a 334 in 6.5 last night. Went to the range this morning and got a couple of 1.125 groups at 100 yards.Remington core Lokt. Going to try some other stuff until i find something that shoots better. So far i really like it.
That is a very nice looking gun specially for the price you gave. If it shoot that well any one should be proud to have a gun like that in their possession regardless of how inexpensive or expensive it might be.
Seen several reviews on the Stevens 334. Overall it’s a VERY good rifle for the money. Biggest gripes are the trigger isn’t very adjustable (there is a hack), AND the rifle seems to rust easily. That aside I would still buy one.
Love seeing this and I have come to the conclusion that the 6.5 CM is the 7 iron of the bullet world. Seems like me and everyone shoots or makes a 6.5 remarkably well. the 7 iron being the main club in the bag that everyone hits best… kinda reminds me of each other
I think I once read somewhere that this kind of sled you used on the Steven’s is distorting results as it’s stoping the backward motion. That’s why I use the cheaper Caldwell Stinger. Do you think there is something to that?
I have one in 243. It’s a very accurate rifle, not just for the price. It’s not the lightest rifle or has the best trigger, but from what I read the trigger is adjustable. I also love how thick the barrel is. The 243 doesn’t kick much at all but I would imagine it would help with some of the recoil of the heavier cartridges. My only regret is I got it in 243 and not 308 but I just got my son into hunting and he wanted us to have the same caliber (as I do with my dad in 270). My son has a 243 Mossberg Patriot and the Stevens is way more accurate.
Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 Brother I've been watching your vids for a little while now and are finding myself going back and watching your older 1s. The information you put out is fantastic and has made me consider always looking at buget rifles instead of the more expensive one's. When generally most would go looking for second hand quality gun, but don't need to bother doing that when alot of the budget guns are so accurate for most shooting strait out if the box. Stay safe and on Target from Victoria in Australia 🇦🇺 👍
Do you think the Savage shoots better?...saw a Savage 243 for $417.00 at the gun store.., you convinced me on that one ..I'll buy myself one for Christmas.
I didn’t pay too close of attention to know if the .3” group was from sandbag or leadsled, but not being able to get the good groups after the fact with the leadsled did not surprise me. I had terrible luck with mine, and always found I could shoot better without the damn thing. Lmao as I type I’m getting to the point in the video you’re trying a new rest and the first group you shot was already a step in the right direction. I am a bit of a rifle snob, most of my hunting rifles are Winchester model 70s or tikka t3x, but I do appreciate you proving the cheap ones will do just as well. My longest range rifle setup is only a savage action/barrel in 300win, but it shoots so damn good I can’t get rid of it. If you don’t have the money to spend, buy the cheapest rifle you can afford, and a cheaper scope that still works for your eye, and you will fill the freezer and have some fun. If you have the money to blow and could appreciate the small fit and finish details of higher end rifles and optics, giver shit.
I've got a Puma .22LR it's a copy of a CZ I paid £270 All in here in the UK 🇬🇧 and it groups just as good as a CZ and a lot of other more expensive guns it's now my favourite rifle
Sir, What is the rifling twist rate in the 6.5 Creedmoor, Stevens Model 334? Were the action screws tight and torqued? TIA! Appreciate Your efforts and videos!
Great info on the different rounds. I buy cheaper guns because I’m rough on guns and gear. I don’t want to be butthurt when I mess something up. A rifle is only as good as the optics. So I thought until I watched this.. but I put a great scope on a cheap mossberg patriot and it’s solid… use what works for you.. great video..
Your groups changed to increase in distance each time the chain saws or whatever was running in the background. Noise causes vibrations in the air and the elements such as your bench rest etc. Whenever everything is quiet then usually everything is still and more resistant to change. In other words .3 to 1, .5 to 1.5, etc. And was noticing that your finger is high on the trigger instead of the fat part of the finger being centered but it obviously works for you.
Gun manufacturers have gotten good at giving gun buyers what they want, and what they want is accuracy. The market is there for those who want feature-rich guns as well, but the bar has been raised so that just about all guns off the shelf are more accurate than their owners (as you point out). 😄
Wondering if your heard or shot an ati or ata? I found a ati o/u 20ga for a decent price and didn’t know what you thought! It’s the ati cavalry waterfowl 28in barrel, i watch all your videos they help me a bunch love that you focus on budget friendly, think we will get a bottomland hat at some point?
Looking at the grouping and grain it looks like it like the lesser grains rounds does better with accuracy. I’d stick with the WIN deer season XP 125grn probably not going 135grn.
Years ago, I bought a custom flintlock rifle. I went to the rane with my muzzle loader mentor. I shot 2 shots touching and he spent the next ten minutes telling me not to screw up, that the thext shot told the story. I immeadiately bucked it down 4 inches. We can all do that.
After I shoot a new rifle, I go home , clean the barrel, then remove it from the stock and reassemble it an be certain the action screws are tight. Often these screws work themselves loose when new and retightening helps accuracy.
I must say that I really like the fact that you generally focus on the "budget friendly" set ups. When I was little, I could, and did, look at the guns in the Sears, Montgomary Wards, the Herterz catalogs. Even as a kid I wondered why some of the rifles were two or three times as expensive as some of the others. I figured there was no way they could be 3 times as accurate. After I got older, I found out I was right as a kid. Some of the less expensive rifles were very accurate, and some of the cheapest ammo worked the best out of my guns. Keep up the great work and keep those videos coming. I look forward to them everyday.
Sears and montgomary wards put direct large quantity orders cutting out the costs of distributors and such so were under than own brand names to sell guns at very reasonable prices. I recall the ted Williams brand. Even hardware stores like western auto had their own brand of ammo and maybe guns too.
@@loquat4440 The "Revolation" brand was made and sold for/by Western Auto hardware stores.
@@MitchJones-r4g That sound rights. I think the spelling was different.
''Western Auto sold Federal-manufactured ammunition under the brand name Revelation. Western Auto also sold guns from manufacturers such as High Standard, Mossberg, and Savage''
I might even still have a box of shorts from them somewhere. Somebody that all of us locals knew, a retired naval commander would search for .22 single shot rifles that were sold by hardware stores years ago. She would get them repaired and give them to little boys.
Yes sir buddy. My first two rifles that I bought new were a Remington 22-250 and a Marlin 30.30. Back in the early 80’s. They were definitely inexpensive. I had to use the money I was saving to buy a truck. Hauled a lot of hay and cut a lot of firewood for that mulamula. I wanted something good but it had to be affordable.
@@user-yu1zp2vu9x Well if you still have it, that JM marlin 30-30 is worth more now than it was then.
Love the real life honesty and straight to the point no BS videos .. facts are facts, results are results 👍
Exactly! Appreciate you watching
You're the go-to man for those of us that are into budget rifles. Thanks for making "really fun videos".
🙏🙏🙏 appreciate you watching
Right on! Especially in this economy, people don't have money to waste on junky deer catching rigs. Nobody likes getting ripped off.
That stevens is a savage. Pun intended
😂😂😂😂 SPOT ON M8!!!
Very clever Daniel-son
Bang for the buck is what it's about for me. Love precision rigs but I agree. Most folks fundamentally can't outperform their setup. Field shots are even more difficult than a bench. I have preached this for years. Love fancy shiny and new!! In the end it's about bringing home the meat. You don't need a 1000 dollar setup. Keep doing your thing!! Always enjoy the content.
I have finally found my kind of TH-cam hunting/shooting channel. I see Remington Core-Lokt's (my favorite deer round), guns I don't have to mortgage my house to buy, and truly unbiased feedback. Well done sir. You have another sub from Alabama.
Appreciate you watching! I have a new video every day
I bought one. When I first got it the trigger adjustment was like glued shut and not adjustable. But I figured out how to get around it and now I love it. My trigger pull 1.5lbs with no creep. and shooting 0.42-0.75 at 100 yards Like you I like to shoot budget friendly guns I hate when they say entry level How is it entry level when a $350 gun shoots the same bullet as a $5000 gun give me a break. I have Axis, Obsidian, Ruger American which are all great shooters and I love everyone I have But this Stevens 334 is the cheapest on the market and one of my most accurate. Simply an Awesome rifle Thanks for your video and knowledge
👍👍 I haven't tried to mess w the trigger on this one
Does that rig cycle well? Thanks for the info, great video as usual.
I am a tool snob but I use them all day, I do have Browning and Benelli but I love my Stevens 555 20ga for dragging threw the mud and snow. Good handling, feel good walking companion. I am impressed with the fit/finish. Yours has some nice wood too.
Ive got the 334 chambered in .243. I handload for all my rifles and it will shoot surprisingly well consistently.
Awesome
Awesome. A Savage Axis 243 got a aftermarket trigger and off the bench handloads shoots 70 and 100gr into half inch. Love that one.
@@kdean8129
Same here. It shoots about 1.5" consistently which I don't think is too bad for a budget rifle with a cheap scope.
Next time you visit Tolliver's shop... find yourself a vintage Remington model 788. Old school, high value to cost, absolute tack drivers!!! You will have some really fun, and highly satisfying tack driving times at the range. .223 rem, .22-250 rem, .243 win, 6mm rem, .30-30 win (hard to find), .308 win, .44 rem mag (really hard to find). Every one of the 788 rifles I have or been around are all shooters! We'll have to get you up here to Alaska for one of my outfitted unguided do-it-yourself, fly-out rafting float hunt river trips for Moose.
My brother had one in .308 in the mid 80s. I was pretty upset when he sold it to someone other than me.
You’re absolutely right the 788 is a fine rifle i currently have a 243 it shooots sub moa groups with any ammo
I have a 788 in .22-250 with factory mounted Universal 4x scope that I bought new in 1974. It put 3or4 rounds of Remington 55gr sp in one ragged hole out of the box and still does. Took a lot of groundhogs in Pennsylvania and many coyotes after moving to Texas. Shoots like a laser to 400 yards.
Have a 788 in triple duce. Love it but mag is only thing that bugs me
Buddy has one in 243 with an old redfield scope. Rifle is a tack driver
Thanks for not stopping at the first good 3 shot group on the corelokts but following it up with several more. Shows how one 3 shot group doesn't really tell you much. Its very valuable to see more groups to have enough data to really know what a rifle / ammo combination is really capable of. Almost no gun reviewers are showing enough groups. See Hornady's podcast "your group sizes are too small" for reference.
It would be nice to see how these rifles handle non-lead bullets. Those Core Lokt Tipped rounds seem to always do nicely. Back in the 80's I had a Ruger Model 77 with a tang safety in 30-06 that wasn't great with anything but the bottom line Federal Power Shok.
I don't think people realize we live in a golden age of bolt actions, over a century of trial & error have produced an ability to make a precision instrument for a price anyone can afford.
I hunted with the same savage model 111 .270 that came with a Simmons 8 point 3x9x40 for 21 year's & that thing is still a tac driver with core lokt 150's.
This year (because of your video) I bought the brand new savage axis 2 xp 30-06 combo, took it to the range Monday & got a .4 inch group with the core lokt tipped 180 gn.
So for less than $500 in 2024 I've got a tac driving rifle with a FINE trigger i might add that will last me decades to come. We are very fortunate & privileged to live in this golden age of affordable & truly remarkably performing firearms!
God bless brother, have a safe & successful muzzleloader Season!
At first glance it really likes a cold bore. First video you could see your breath. The later video you first shot was the best. GREAT video!!! Love your stuff!!! Keep it up and God bless!!
was going to say the same thing. think that cold weather helped a lot. Luckily, I rifle hunt when its cold
Accurate, nice looking and very affordable, it's a winner!
Thanks for a great video. As a man that loves firearms and don't have a lot of extra money, your channel is just right for me. I have some great shooting budget rifles that gun snobs love to turn their noses up at. People really love to hate on my old Savage 110E in 7 Rem Mag. However, it is the one of the best shooting rifles I have ever owned. Bought it at a pawn shop for 200.00. Took it home, cleaned it up and absolutely love it. Thanks again amigo.
Awesome. I appreciate you watching
Such a budget friendly rifle that can shoot about everything you put in it with more than enough accuracy for 100 yd. hunting. It’s definitely a great choice for a first time rifle. It’s a keeper.
As always I'm all about your content on budget rifles👍🏼.
Wish it came in more calibers though.
same.3 different calibers just isnt nearly enough.I just looked for it online and the most common caliber i found was .243 and .308
@peacemaker-du4hz yep. I wish it was in 30-06, .270 or one of the 7mm's.
@jmc041071 ill take 30-06 all day long
@@jmc041071 Bud's has them in 30-06 for just over $400
You did an honest straight forward test on rifle and ammo! Excellent 👍👍👍
Looks like a good rifle, it shot it all good enough at 100. I prefer the front rest and rear bag over the sled. I've ruined a couple scopes in the sled.
Glad you finally tried a rest that’s far superior to the lead sled!👍
Old guy with the belt buckle, here. I have the 334 in 243 win. and love it. It's not too picky with factory ammo and shoots about an inch on average. I am building hand loads at the moment with 75, 90, and 100 gr.
The Stevens 334 in Canada goes for around $525. for synthetic and around $650. for wood.
Love the rifle for the money. Trigger needs some TLC. 5lbs. and a little creepy.
Great video as usual buddy.
Thanks for watching. It's definately a good rifle for the money.
Was looking this up on Al Flaherty's & the 6.5CM is going for $600CDN, with the scope. Consensus seems to be, to dump the scope & put your own on. Found the Stevens 334 in 243 for $500 on "Canadas Gun Store". Want one for some casual range time. How could I not risk $500 for this? Good advice here.
I appreciate you giving honest reviews of budget friendly options. There comes a point where people have more money than brains
After you clean the bore and maybe borescope it, you should try oiling a budget barrel with something that "soaks into metal" like Zmax gun oil. Was amazing in my slant 6 years ago when they had all those funky tv commercials. Oil residues burn off after a couple shots, but prepping the barrel sets up the initial metal to foul with carbon or copper and determines how the build up starts. Same as anti spatter gel for welders.
I just got one in 308. I absolutely love it. The wood is gorgeous and to me it doesn't feel like a "cheap" rifle at all.
Hornaday black 168gr!!
Federal Premium 168gr!!
I have the 308 and these two are golden!
Good budget rifle that shoots well with quality factory ammo is most all your average deer hunter needs.
I’m not sure what’s going on with hornedy precision hunter. I had old stock of that left in 308. Shot awesome. Bought a new box because I was too busy to make a load for the gun. Shot as bad as your results, and this isn’t a budget rifle, so I took the time to make a load and verify the load and yep, she shoots!! Killed a massive bison bull the next day!! 880 lbs dressed rail weight.
I heard rumor they may have changed powders due to shortages.
@@usafret4709 at $80 a box, you’d figure they would warn people, double the price of the old box and 2.25 moa worse.
@@rickbremmer3838 Sad a major manufacturer that hypes the hades out of their "sent from the maker himself" products cannot secure a reliable component supplier. Not a fan myself.
good you had a chance to load for your favorite rig. Congrats on the bison. Yum!!
The Stevens 200 was a very accurate budget rifle.
Yep I’ve got a stevens 200 in 308 and 270 very accurate
I have a 200 in 270 and it’s stupid accurate and I got it at a pawnshop with a bushnell scope for 200 bucks out the door
and a follow on question...can you measure to get the deviation from the center of the bullseye or from the 1st round only and show us the results?
I have one of these walnuts in .308 and I’m pretty new to rifles but I love it. So far, it’s been super accurate with even some of the cheaper cartridges.
For those old enough to remember the Remington 788. It was ugly as sin. Almost everyone made fun of it saying they would rather throw rocks than shot one. I don't remember what it cost in 1980 but with off the shelf .243 ammo it would shoot between .75" and 1" groups all day long with an inexpensive Weave K4. But when the word got out values sored. Savage's 334 may just do the same thing.
I had one in 30-30 it was a tackdriver. Unfortunately I had to let it go
@@paulbuckner9820 have one in 6mm most accurate gun i have
Had one in 243, took a deer around 250 yards and it dropped in its tracks.
@@paulbuckner9820 Darn sad when that happens. Hopefully went to a good hunter.
And the 783 has taken it's place.
Its always fun when budget friendly shoots that well.
Another well done and thoughtful video…I enjoy the down to earth quality of your show.
Appreciate you watching
Yeah 6.5 Creedmoor is basically a modernised 6.5 Swedish (slightly smaller case but higher permissible pressures). I'm very impressed with it, especially with some of the VLD bullets available for it. I keep oscillating between it and a 270 winmag for my future game hunter. I'm sure the Stevens is great value for money and more than sufficient for most people, but I've seen much better (and more expensive) setups do those kinds of groups at 300 meters off the bench, and that's one of the reasons it got added to my wish list.
I have one in .243 Winchester I almost bought a Mossberg. The chamber in mine is tight and also the headspace. I have run into at least one brand of brass that won't chamber ( Fiocchi ) because of thick necks and a couple that contact the shoulder with new unsized brass which is not really a problem I would rather it be close than sloppy. Chasing loading manual max velocities has been futile with the short barrel but I can get close and not see any dangerous pressure signs. I have been staying under 100 grains for bullets it will shoot 95 grain Bergers fair but are just at the limit can't spin them quite fast enough. The 87 grain Bergers are acceptable the 75 grain VMax have been the most accurate and pretty good velocities I still have some room to go with them as far as maximum powder charges. I have shot several loads of 58 grain Barnes and VMax that are pretty zippy around 3500 fps can go more I'm trying to be conservative it will get there. I'm getting 3000fps plus a little with the Bergers but close to max on them. As far as the mechanics of the rifle it has been good, I couldn't get my trigger to adjust much lower messing with the single screw my scope base did have three stripped screws and the base finally started moving. At least the receiver threads weren't stripped I replaced the screws and torqued it down and it was fine. I bore scoped the barrel when I got it and twice since I have shot it fowling comes out easily and very few tool marks. The only thing I saw was where the rifling's start they look slightly uneven around the circumference like the reamer wasn't centered perfectly it's really hard to see sometimes it looks even then one spot looks different. Extra magazines are available it feeds and extracts perfectly worth every penny so far. The trigger is the biggest handicap for now.
I love your approach to finding quality firearms on a budget. Keep up the great work! I wish someone would take the same direction with a hunting program for those of us that can’t afford 6 to 10K on a hunt!
Stay tuned. I'm doing more hunting soon.
In the 1980’s Remington made a budget rifle called the 788. It was kind of loose, with a rear locking bolt. Didn’t look great. But it shot lights out. And they were cheap. I wish I had bought ten of them.
They had high quality remington barrels.
Love the 788, I have 2 of them .222 and .308. My buddy has a 6mm I'm trying to wrestle away from him.
@@Mr2eyedjack got a 222 and 7-08 788 and they just shoot! Have you saw the resale value of them lately? Pretty unreal!
With a little bit of stock bedding/ barrel clearance, what would it do? Like anything budget friendly and production made, a little bit of tuning could go a long way.
Never saw this rifle. Nice to see wood on a rifle at this price point. Thanks for the review WTH.
I have had mine out of the stock . It was factory epoxy bedded. And free floating .
My question is why mess with it if it’s that good as it sits?
I had a axis I hated but after about 50 rounds seems to be doing a lot better maybe some of these rifles need to be seasoned like a cast iron skillet don’t know just saying
Cool to see an inexpensive slinger with a purdy wood stock. Still saving for a Ruger american or mini Howa while building a No1. May have to get a job lol!!
Sako 85.
Thank me later mate.
Australia
I picked up a used Marlin X7 in 30.06 for $250.
Shaved down part of the stock that was making contact with the barrel and now it's shooting good.
Haven't measured the grouping yet.
Bought a Rem 783 in 270win a couple years ago, under $199 with a mail in rebate. Put a vortex crossfire II on it that i got on a black Friday sale for $99 with some budget rings. Shoots under 1" with handloads. It's my backup rifle and I can trust it. I'm into to the whole setup for just over $300 after tax.
Basically any budget rifle that uses a barrel nut can produce extremely good accuracy out of the box. Rem 783, savage axis, Stevens, Ruger American, etc. It's just a superior way to build an accurate rifle in a cost effective way.
That’s one beautiful gun , the stock is so nice . Cheap gun or not , that’s impressive I love the sound of it ! I can listen to that all day long . Cheers 🇨🇦
My 334 is a tack driver other than that my other favorite part is the 60 degree bolt throw I’m looking for a place to thread mine right now I bought 2 synthetic stock 334’s looking at another one for one of my daughters maybe in 6.5 need more I’ll see how she likes the 308 first
Silencer Central does threading. Hsd 2 CVA Scouts threaded and they did a great job.
@ thanks for the tip was hoping for local if I can’t find one I’ll look into it
Cheap isn’t always bad. I have a buddy that hunts with a T/c compass and that thing shoots lights out. I myself have a savage 11 that shoots 180 federal power shok 308 routinely into .8ish 3shot groups. That ammo is 26$ at Wally World. Great video whotee.
Mine likes the Hornady American Whitetail 129gr. I also have the 334 in the other two calibers offered, and they all perform exceptionally well. I wish they would offer them in some more chamberings. Great video!
I have one in .308 and it shoots the federal fusion pretty well. Just sited it in a few days back in prep for deer season. Always enjoy your stuff WTW and thanks for the content.
Awesome. Thanks for watching!
2 of my favorite rifles are Remington 788's one in 308, one in 22-250, budget rifles of their time and both of them still shoot cloverleafs at 100
It would out shoot Ron Spomer’s $10,000 Park West. 😂
Yup
@@WHOTEEWHOPoor Ron..
Whiĺe Rons looks pretty many shooters will say that "pretty is as pretty does." When a Bing bang comes home for cheap, cleans up and goes under an inch at 100, that is pretty good.
Ron’s gun is accurate and he wanted a beautiful custom rifle and that’s what he got Why the hate?
I looked at one at BassPro. I liked everything about it but the trigger had too much take up and spongy. They also had a killer sale on xbolts. I spent the extra coin and got the xbolt. For the price of a Ruger Ranch 2 I got into a Browning XBolt. If I could adjust the Turkish trigger I think this Stevens 334 would be a great gun
See the difference in temp. And humidity. The wood stock can do that easily.
As a shoot that as a few high end custom rifles . I saw the Ata Turqua (the rifle is marketed like this here in Europe) a about a year ago at shoot show . That cost was cheap but the quality is very high . Mine in at Pt model heavy barrel . Red laminate stock and take a.i aw mags .IAM STILL AMAZED BY HOW GOOD IT IS FOR THE PRICE . groups well honestly 3/4m.o.a from bench for ten shots .
Stevens 334 walnut stock. I just got the synthetic version in .243 while it was on sale at psa for .$249
Awesome
That's a killer deal!
I bought Rem Sportsman in 30/06 35 yrs ago for 200 beans over 35 yrs ago, dang thing will shoot a nickel size group at 100 yds with you guessed it, Rem coreloct150 gr, it's good hunting ammo in my book, so I'm not surprised you could do that with a 6.5 Creedmore. Thx for the vid
Excellent work. I love the ammo comparison videos. As I was watching I looked on Steven’s website hoping to find a 300winmag in that model 334. No dice. It comes in 308, 243, and 6.5creed. Maybe I need a 6.5 creedmore??? “Hello Santa, I tried to be a good boy!!!” Thanks again for the video Hoss.
Very interesting video. Thanks for doing what you do.
Must be a different box of Core-Lokt than the 1st shooting of this rifle. That Norma Whitetail shoots real well out of my 6.5 as does the Hornady precision
Pretty damn awesome how far technology has come when they can produce a rifle at such a low cost with this kind of performance. Seems to like those lighter weight bullets in your gun. Perfect deer and antelope rig right there.
Hey WTW, I picked up a Crimson Trace Scope and I expected average performance. It turned out to be a stellar piece of glass. Great video sir.
Awesome
I believe that any decent gun can be accurate if the ammo matches the barrel harmonics.
If you watch for a sale online these slingers can go for so low I won't even say what I've seen.. You'd call me a fibber..😂😂
Just got one for $249 from psa
@@AllThingsLoud_ how
@@AllThingsLoud_it’s crazy isn’t it , same price as 4 boxes of match ammo
It's an ATA Turqua standard walnut brought into the states by Savagae. The actual Turquas are threaded with fully adjustable triggers.
With that being said, I have the 334 in .308...LOVE IT!! Found the ammo it loves! Nothing to go higher sub 1 inch to just over 1 inch. It's right at the 1inch consistently! Love the rifle.
4 peaks is imporing the threaded ones for a little over 400, buds has them in stock
TURKEY?? I don't have a problem with that, just asking.
@@TODinWY yes they are made in Turkey and sold under brand name Stevens in US. In Europe they are sold under Brenner brand. Oddly enough they are starting to be sold directly under the ATA Turqua brand in Europe as well.
What ammo in 308 are you running through it?
168gr Hornaday Black-best
168gr Federal Premium gold-better
165gr Fiocchi- good
I have a Tasco 6-18×50 on top
I use Norma in a lot of my rifles. Seems to work well and at a reasonable price. I will be checking out some Steven’s in the future. Thanks man.
Nice looking wood stock, metal clip for places with winter, and a good price.
If you overlay all groups with the same aimingpoint what group will you get? As if you dump all ammo in the same box and in the dark to the hunt you grab 20 odd cartridges, will the group be enough to h7nt with within 150 yards?
The lead sled is probably the culprit for the inaccuracy in the regular core lokt ammo, and it comes down to harmonics. When you shoot in a lead sled all the recoil energy doesn’t have anywhere to go because it’s not being absorbed by your body and by you body slightly moving when it encounters the recoil, so that energy comes back in vibration into the stock and the action and the barrel. If I was a betting man I would say the you could get more consistent groups with all of your ammo if you shot without it.
I picked up a CVA Cascade after a lot of research and your recommendation. It didn't like that Hornady PH either. I got a 3/4 in group with Rem core lok tipped. I will admit I am a terrible bench shooter and am a much better situational shooter. Love that gun! Thank you for another really fun video!
Glad it worked out for you!
What was the trigger like, creep and break if I may ask? IMO if you have a cheap rifle and an expensive rifle and they both perform equally,then probably it’s cosmetic and brand that separates them and of course thousands of dollars.👍
Hmm. Honestly didn't pay much attention. For the price I don't really pick it apart
It looks heavy.... the Turkish Walnut looks good too...
They're making some good firearms over in that country now....
At that price if I needed another rifle.... I'd consider it for sure.
I’ve got a Ruger American ranch rifle in 450 bushmaster and it shoots groups just like that. 2-7x32 Vortex on it, all 3 touch if I’m doing what I’m supposed to.
I love the walnut stock. Thinking of picking one up as my first bolt action deer gun and just to have a wood stock gun in the collection. Thought about .243 so I could pass it down to my son for his first deer gun one day. But still also torn between the 6.5 and .308 😅 awesome video as always!
Appreciate you watching
How is the trigger on the rifle? Pull weight? Creep, clean break, etc.? Is it adjustable? I know my best rifle ever was an old Remington 700 with the 5r stainless heavy barrel. I got it for $600 on Gunbroker many years ago. That rifle would consistently shoot .35" with Federal 168grain match .308. Unfortunately, it was stolen in a house break-in. That broke my heart because now those sons of guns are $1200.00!
For the price I really don't pick it apart. Cheap and groups good. Haven't put a trigger gauge on it but probably 4 pounds or so
@@WHOTEEWHO I have a feeling that if someone makes a custom trigger for it, those groups would tighten up even more. Great rifle!
Great video, thanks
Just got a 334 in 6.5 last night. Went to the range this morning and got a couple of 1.125 groups at 100 yards.Remington core Lokt. Going to try some other stuff until i find something that shoots better. So far i really like it.
That is a very nice looking gun specially for the price you gave. If it shoot that well any one should be proud to have a gun like that in their possession regardless of how inexpensive or expensive it might be.
After the first shots did you check the bolts didn't start to loosen? I bet glass bedding makes it sub MOA again.
Seen several reviews on the Stevens 334. Overall it’s a VERY good rifle for the money. Biggest gripes are the trigger isn’t very adjustable (there is a hack), AND the rifle seems to rust easily. That aside I would still buy one.
Love seeing this and I have come to the conclusion that the 6.5 CM is the 7 iron of the bullet world. Seems like me and everyone shoots or makes a 6.5 remarkably well. the 7 iron being the main club in the bag that everyone hits best… kinda reminds me of each other
I think I once read somewhere that this kind of sled you used on the Steven’s is distorting results as it’s stoping the backward motion. That’s why I use the cheaper Caldwell Stinger. Do you think there is something to that?
No. That is fudd lore that has been disproven
@ ah, good to know. Thx
Fantastic video as always. I recon stick to the rear back setup, doesn’t look like that rifle sled isn’t doing you any favours.
I have one in 243. It’s a very accurate rifle, not just for the price. It’s not the lightest rifle or has the best trigger, but from what I read the trigger is adjustable. I also love how thick the barrel is. The 243 doesn’t kick much at all but I would imagine it would help with some of the recoil of the heavier cartridges. My only regret is I got it in 243 and not 308 but I just got my son into hunting and he wanted us to have the same caliber (as I do with my dad in 270). My son has a 243 Mossberg Patriot and the Stevens is way more accurate.
Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 Brother I've been watching your vids for a little while now and are finding myself going back and watching your older 1s.
The information you put out is fantastic and has made me consider always looking at buget rifles instead of the more expensive one's.
When generally most would go looking for second hand quality gun, but don't need to bother doing that when alot of the budget guns are so accurate for most shooting strait out if the box.
Stay safe and on Target from Victoria in Australia 🇦🇺
👍
Appreciate you watching and thanks for the support from Australia!
Do you think the Savage shoots better?...saw a Savage 243 for $417.00 at the gun store.., you convinced me on that one ..I'll buy myself one for Christmas.
I'm sure both can do just as good
Im happy Stevens even has rifle out there that can be a good buy, wasn't aware they were still available.
I didn’t pay too close of attention to know if the .3” group was from sandbag or leadsled, but not being able to get the good groups after the fact with the leadsled did not surprise me. I had terrible luck with mine, and always found I could shoot better without the damn thing.
Lmao as I type I’m getting to the point in the video you’re trying a new rest and the first group you shot was already a step in the right direction. I am a bit of a rifle snob, most of my hunting rifles are Winchester model 70s or tikka t3x, but I do appreciate you proving the cheap ones will do just as well. My longest range rifle setup is only a savage action/barrel in 300win, but it shoots so damn good I can’t get rid of it.
If you don’t have the money to spend, buy the cheapest rifle you can afford, and a cheaper scope that still works for your eye, and you will fill the freezer and have some fun.
If you have the money to blow and could appreciate the small fit and finish details of higher end rifles and optics, giver shit.
I've got a Puma .22LR it's a copy of a CZ I paid £270 All in here in the UK 🇬🇧 and it groups just as good as a CZ and a lot of other more expensive guns it's now my favourite rifle
Sir, What is the rifling twist rate in the 6.5 Creedmoor, Stevens Model 334? Were the action screws tight and torqued? TIA! Appreciate Your efforts and videos!
Not sure on thr rifling
Great info on the different rounds. I buy cheaper guns because I’m rough on guns and gear. I don’t want to be butthurt when I mess something up. A rifle is only as good as the optics. So I thought until I watched this.. but I put a great scope on a cheap mossberg patriot and it’s solid… use what works for you.. great video..
what is the trigger pull like? Most deer hunters would do very well with those groups out to 300 yards.
Your groups changed to increase in distance each time the chain saws or whatever was running in the background. Noise causes vibrations in the air and the elements such as your bench rest etc. Whenever everything is quiet then usually everything is still and more resistant to change. In other words .3 to 1, .5 to 1.5, etc. And was noticing that your finger is high on the trigger instead of the fat part of the finger being centered but it obviously works for you.
Gun manufacturers have gotten good at giving gun buyers what they want, and what they want is accuracy. The market is there for those who want feature-rich guns as well, but the bar has been raised so that just about all guns off the shelf are more accurate than their owners (as you point out). 😄
Love the look and feel of a wood stock. (Assuming that is real wood) now if that is common in that model you have my attention.
Wondering if your heard or shot an ati or ata? I found a ati o/u 20ga for a decent price and didn’t know what you thought! It’s the ati cavalry waterfowl 28in barrel, i watch all your videos they help me a bunch love that you focus on budget friendly, think we will get a bottomland hat at some point?
Never tried those b4
I've been following the 334 and the 110. Good work Whotee.
Thanks for watching
Looking at the grouping and grain it looks like it like the lesser grains rounds does better with accuracy. I’d stick with the WIN deer season XP 125grn probably not going 135grn.
Do you think the scope has something to do with it on the Steven's? Love your show Dan
Nah. Appreciate you watching
I would love to give one a try... still on my search for a reasonably priced Left Hand bolt action.
Years ago, I bought a custom flintlock rifle. I went to the rane with my muzzle loader mentor. I shot 2 shots touching and he spent the next ten minutes telling me not to screw up, that the thext shot told the story. I immeadiately bucked it down 4 inches.
We can all do that.
The 140-grain Norma and 125-grain Winchester loads all shot well in my three 6.5 CM rifles.
After I shoot a new rifle, I go home , clean the barrel, then remove it from the stock and reassemble it an be certain the action screws are tight. Often these screws work themselves loose when new and retightening helps accuracy.