Stevens 320 Question

[SOAB]

Hello all!

I've been looking into purchasing a Stevens 320 for several weeks now. I'm interested In purchasing the gun for a short review, and as another gun for Buckshot testing.

I am planning on purchasing the 320 with ghost ring sights, but there are none in my immediate area that come with a standard stock. I absolutely HATE the pistol gripped full stocks on guns like the 320, where It makes reaching the slide release very difficult. I just called Savage today, and they politely told me that they do not keep those parts on hand, since they import the shotgun as a whole from PRC.

So my question is, does anyone know where I might be able to find a standard straight stock for a 320?

Any answers will be much appreciated.

~PS,
I have checked through Numrich, as well as on Ebay with no such luck.

Have a great Day!
~Leo

 

[PapaG]

No ideas on how to answer your questions but I did buy a field model 20 gauge for my wife and, although a China gun, it is fine in every aspect for us. A little short in pull, perfect for she who must be obeyed. Shoots flat as proven on the trap field. Not a hangup yet after 300 rounds. Have fun in your testing.

 

[gotboostvr]

I had to fix one of those for a coworker, I seem to remember it being an Ithica 37 clone, maybe a stock from one of the Ithicas will work.

Edit: the 350 is the Ithica clone. Apparently the 320 is a Win 1300 clone, so maybe look into that.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I have the 320 with ghost rings and the pistol grip. If I remember correctly, the slide release is where the thumb is, which makes it pretty easy to hit without having to adjust the grip. I'll have to double check tough.

Regardless, you can always just order the shotgun you want online. That's probably your best bet. Stevens isn't really known for its aftermarket.

 

[kozak6]

It looks like the receiver is shaped differently than the 1300.

A quick google suggests that some people have modified 870 stocks to fit, but it looks like it might be a project.

Or you could just buy a Pardner or Hawk shotgun instead.

 

[expat_alaska]

That has got to be the longest fore-end on a pump gun I have ever seen, unless the forward section is the "rail".

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/stevens320pump

Back in the day (~1995) I used a field grade Remington 870 12 gauge 20" barrel cylinder bore and outfitted it with a Choate synthetic stock (like the one on the 320) and a Choate short synthetic fore-end (to accommodate a 6-shot Sidesaddle) and a Choate 2-shot mag extension, along with a JFS 3-point sling, and a black bolt and black slotted shell lifter from L.L. Baston (long gone now). It was the blackest 870 I ever saw.

I was pleased with the end product until I started shooting it a lot. I soon came to dislike it (I owned 3 AR-15's in various configs at the time and liked them) but preferred my wood-stocked 870 (with only a 2-1/2" drop at the heel where I could see the entire top of the barrel rib) with a 20" vent-rib barrel with the same mag extension.

Nice to see that someone else hates that stock. I sold it at a loss to a co-worker a few years later and he was ecstatic about it.

Good luck in your in your endeavor, sir.

Jim

 

[SOAB]

It looks like the receiver is shaped differently than the 1300.

A quick google suggests that some people have modified 870 stocks to fit, but it looks like it might be a project.

Or you could just buy a Pardner or Hawk shotgun instead.

My first pump shotgun was a pardner pump protector... it's wasn't a great experience, and I will probably not buy another.

As for the 870 stocks, that's what I've found and I'm hoping I may be able to buy one and make it work somewhat.

Well Folks, I decided to go ahead and buy one, for 201 dollars out the door(with a 10 dollar rewards credit, and 50 rounds of Fed Powershok free) I just had to. I talked with my local Field and Stream and they said, If i ordered the straight stocked version the sale didn't apply. At the end of the day my review will actually better reflect the average buyer, in the sense that they will not run into the version with ghost ring sights and a straight stock very often. I have about 250 rounds to put through this guy for the review(Sellier&Bellot 00 buck) so It'll get the full workout it needs. I do hope to this gun's review out soon, I've been sitting on my maverick 88 review because a few of my guns have been getting a good workout, and the more the merrier.

~ Leo

 

[SOAB]

That has got to be the longest fore-end on a pump gun I have ever seen, unless the forward section is the "rail".

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/stevens320pump
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nice to see that someone else hates that stock. I sold it at a loss to a co-worker a few years later and he was ecstatic about it.

Good luck in your in your endeavor, sir.

Jim

It is indeed a ridiculously long forend, and I will need to trim it down, to put a Winchester 1300 side saddle on. As for the stock, I'll have to bite the bullet, and hope to find a straight stock as I go.

 

[SOAB]

Today I would like to answer my own question, In the case anyone else happens upon this post with the same issue. Let me also preface this, that YMMV, I may have just gotten a friendly rep.

After I picked up my 320, I sent a very polite email off to Savage about the issue. They sent me an email back, stating that they don't keep many parts on hand, but if they had a field style stock the would send me one. I received an email yesterday saying that I would be expecting the stock in a few days. My thanks to Savage for the assistance, and i don't think I will do any part of the review with that M16 style stock attached. I just hate the fact that, for me, I can't reach the slide release without breaking my gun mount. I will include that part in the review as well.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Remington 1931 12 gauge cylinder choke riot gun from 1934:

Five round of Fiocchi 12 gauge reduced recoil 00 Buck (12LE00BK) at 6 yards:

 

[SOAB]

Uhh, Hey bushmaster... did you perhaps post these pictures in the wrong thread?