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Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 6th, 2018, 7:30 pm
by hawglips
I bought a new-to-me Stevens 220A 20 ga (2-3/4" chamber) with a 28" fixed full barrel a few weeks back. The muzzle mics in at .581. It's as light as my Yildiz .410 and carries around real nice. I decided to put sling swivel studs on it so I could sling, but since the forearm snaps off, I wrapped camo tape around the forearm and barrel in hopes that will keep it on tight. If I'm going to take it hunting, I'd like to sling it because I often cover a lot of ground and like my hands free to work calls.

Anyway, with the new Gualandi wads out I wanted to see how they shoot, and so worked up a couple 2-3/4" loads with the shorter wad. And I wanted to see how the fixed choke shoots, and decide whether I wanted to get it cut and choked.

Here's how the new 2-3/4" loads shot through the Stevens:

40 yds, 10" and 20" circles

2-3/4" 1-5/8 oz #9s - 1078 fps, 11448 psi
Image


2-3/4" 1-3/4 oz #9s - 1181 fps, 10182 psi
Image


2-3/4" 1-7/8 oz #9s - 1146 fps, 11548 psi
Image

I was pretty pleased with how the fixed full choke shoots them, though I'm certain we'll be seeing some more impressive numbers with proper turkey chokes. But I think I'm going to leave the Stevens alone and shoot it as is.

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 6th, 2018, 8:11 pm
by coconut
9’s?

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 5:11 am
by GLS
For hunting, I don't see how re-choking would make an appreciable difference. All the patterns look fine. There doesn't appear to a be significant difference in counts in any of the patterns. It's just how much your shoulder is willing to take among the load choices. You might quibble with the 10-20 in the lightest load having a fist sized hole at 11:00, but whose to say what the next shot would do in any of the patterns? Book'em,Dano. Gil
PS: Howse POA/POI?

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 7:36 am
by Spuriosity
Looking good. If it's as light as the Yildiz, I don't think I'd want to shoot more than 1&5/8s oz. So I assume you like the new wads?

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 8:07 am
by el diablo
Nice work Hal! 1 7/8oz probably made you feel alive when ya touched it off. lol

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:00 am
by hawglips
coconut wrote: September 6th, 2018, 8:11 pm9’s?
Sorry, yes, 9s.

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:03 am
by hawglips
GLS wrote: September 7th, 2018, 5:11 am For hunting, I don't see how re-choking would make an appreciable difference. All the patterns look fine. There doesn't appear to a be significant difference in counts in any of the patterns. It's just how much your shoulder is willing to take among the load choices. You might quibble with the 10-20 in the lightest load having a fist sized hole at 11:00, but whose to say what the next shot would do in any of the patterns? Book'em,Dano. Gil
PS: Howse POA/POI?
I'm consistently shooting a bit low and right, but the trigger is a bit stiff. I will shoot it some more and get used to the bead placement it likes before I worry about the trigger...

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:04 am
by hawglips
el diablo wrote: September 7th, 2018, 8:07 am Nice work Hal! 1 7/8oz probably made you feel alive when ya touched it off. lol
Yeah, that's a fact...

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:08 am
by hawglips
Spuriosity wrote: September 7th, 2018, 7:36 am Looking good. If it's as light as the Yildiz, I don't think I'd want to shoot more than 1&5/8s oz. So I assume you like the new wads?
I may slip down to 1-7/16 oz...

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:22 am
by GLS
Hal, I posted patterns in my factory full 220A over 4 years ago shooting the Kyle Smith 1 oz. and your 1 5/16 oz. loads. They looked good enough for hunting. The trigger is smooth and light. POA/POI off the bead--eh.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7616&p=77874&hilit=Savage#p77874

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 7th, 2018, 10:20 pm
by 2Shooter
Hey Hal get with Gun Docc in Toccoa, Ga he can fix that forearm where it will stay on with a sling!!!

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 8th, 2018, 9:40 am
by GLS
Apparently Savage made several design changes during the time it made the break action 220. On my 220A, the forend is attached to the barrel with a screw and it has a larger trigger guard than on my .410 220B and 16 ga. 220D. The 220 is truly hammerless; it's not just an internal hammer striking a transfer bar. It has a firing pin propelled by a coil spring. The design is far more complex than what superficially meets the eye. Gil

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: September 8th, 2018, 10:39 am
by hawglips
GLS wrote: September 7th, 2018, 10:22 am Hal, I posted patterns in my factory full 220A over 4 years ago shooting the Kyle Smith 1 oz. and your 1 5/16 oz. loads. They looked good enough for hunting. The trigger is smooth and light. POA/POI off the bead--eh.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7616&p=77874&hilit=Savage#p77874
I remember that thread. Thanks for the reminder...

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: October 25th, 2018, 11:12 pm
by crow
I shot your 1 5/8oz of load of #9's out of an old 220 LE the other day, it's a side lever with 28" barrel.
it had 248 in the 10" at 40yds with a nice even pattern in the 10

POA to POI is not bad with the factory bead, it shot 1 1/2" left of the center of the 10" and just need to see one bead of barrel under the bead for elevation (or just put the bead under his head for good head/neck coverage)

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: October 26th, 2018, 9:18 am
by hawglips
I'm going to take the 220A out tomorrow for a field test if the creek don't rise. Loaded up the StubbyXLG load for it and gonna shoot it with just the bead.

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: October 26th, 2018, 11:02 am
by crow
The above load was with the big 20 stubby nc

it is .588 at the muzzle and weighs 6lbs, a little heavy for a single but still nice to carry

good success tomorrow, I'm glad this storm isn't' snow

Re: Stevens 220A 20 ga, 2-3/4", 28" fixed full, new loads

Posted: October 26th, 2018, 5:43 pm
by GLS
Even at 6 lbs, your LE as you say is a good carry. I like the way a single-shot sits on the knee without rattling and its slenderness makes for a good single hand carry.