Stevens 520 update

[Barry the Bear]

I had a thread earlier last month about wanting to buy a model 520 take down, cut the barrel down and have it as a great truck gun. I have found a western field model 30 (basically a 520) made in the late 1920s that Im going to buy for about 200 bucks, The finish is almost gone though it still functions perfectly.My question is would this be a great candidate for cerakoting? Or should this old gal be worthy of reblueing ?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Montgomery Ward's store brand.

Probably not particularly collectible but with near all the attributes of a proper 520. The metalwork, fit and finish are certainly worthy of a nice polish and blue but there won't be any added value for the most part and you'll likely beat it as a truck gun.

Cerakote 'cause you want a truck gun? I guess if you keep it off the take-down ways.

Todd.

 

[Pyzon]

Over the past couple of years, these reliable all steel monsters have become "collector" items. I picked up a handful since 2010 for an average cost of maybe $120, 520's and 620/620a's. When you seem them now, they are priced from $250-300 (unless in 16 gauge).

Cerakoting or bluing will make them more resistant to "truck gun" conditions, but will not likely add any real value. Most purists think coating, bluing or cutting down the barrel is a sin, even when a dial-a-choke was installed, but I think it really makes them into a convenient tool for defense, at home or in a vehicle.

 

[cromlw]

Leave the finish as is,, here's a 620 I cut down and did a trench gun repo

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

Why pay $200 for a 90 year old gun that is not collectable when you can get a new one that is already the way you want it for less or just a few dollars more? I might go $50 or $60 for an old gun.

A friend is in financial trouble. He didn't have a shotgun to hunt with this deer season. He found a beat up Winchester Model 12 that functions well for $60. He wiped the gun down with Old English Scratch Remover and went hunting. Everyday he could find a free ride to the hunt he was driving deer.

I just did a gunwatcher search Academy has a Stevens 320 with a 18.5" barrel for $179. You can order a Stevens 320 for less but the FFL fee would eat up your savings. If you look around you can find a 320 with peep sights and all for $200.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I want a shotgun with takedown capability , none are currently manufactured so i have to do the oldies.

 

[cromlw]

Well 1st off Johnny B Goode your $200 Stevens 320 is loaded with stamped steel , mim and plastic and assembled by a machine,,where as the "90 year old" Stevens is machined from solid stock and hand fitted,you could throw the 320 on the ground and beat it into a pile of twisted metal with the 520 then pop a shell in the 520 and fire away,,,,And like Barry said,the modern guns dont do this

 

[Frostbite]

the modern guns dont do this

Why? I would be inclined to believe such a design would sell. Is it because of a law or something like that or is it just cheaper to make them like they are now, i.e. not takedown capable? Takedown rifles are still manufactured (I have some lever actions in mind right now), why not shotguns?

 

[cromlw]

The only thing i could see is,, with these guns in particular,, is the amount of machining ,,Its pretty extensive where the 2 pieces go together and would probably push the cost up quite a bit

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

The 320 is a knock off of the Winchester 1300, which is out of production. Neither the 1200 or the 1300 were very popular. Both were very handsome shotguns with walnut stocks. I would not count on Winchester 1300 parts and accessories fitting the 320. If you plan on buying two barrels for a Stevens 320 you need to buy a combo. Replacement barrels are hard to come by as are all accessories for the 320. The bottom line is the 320 is not modular. Buy the gun you want out of the box. Stevens makes at least 7 models of the 320. You should be able to find a 320 that suits your taste right out of the box. I would avoid the models with a pistol grip. Pistol grips may work well on semi auto rifles but a pistol grip is cumbersome at best on a pump shotgun. Hikock45 did a review on the 320, In the video Hikock45 points out the known issues with the 320.

I am not excited about the 520 at all. I have a case about the size of a standard pelican case for a rifle that will easily hold two pump shotguns with the barrels removed and 3 barrels. With a little creative packaging you could get 4 barrels in the case.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I had three seperate winchester 1300 defenders, all of them had problems double feeding "high brass" shells , only target loads were reliable , I sold all three of them and promptly bought my self a mossberg 590A1 and havent looked back. The purpose of the stevens 520 is for a compact shotgun that i could carry even in a tool bag.

 

[rbernie]

Are these shotguns 2-9/16" chambered?

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

I had three seperate winchester 1300 defenders, all of them had problems double feeding "high brass" shells , only target loads were reliable , I sold all three of them and promptly bought my self a mossberg 590A1 and havent looked back. The purpose of the stevens 520 is for a compact shotgun that i could carry even in a tool bag.

You have issues adjusting a shell stop and an interrupter? Come on man!

 

[Barry the Bear]

I would prefer the shotguns work like theyre supposed to , its not as simple as you make it out to be , Ive had it inspected and found out its not worth fixing, To me they are not great shotguns .

 

[Pyzon]

The bottom line is the 520/620 Stevens take-downs split into two halves that can fit in a violin case. Look at the pictures. The 320 and 870's and Mossbergs do not.

If a manufacturer today decided to duplicate this complicated design and made them out of solid steel like back then, would you pay $1000 for a 8 lb. HD gun from a design dated 1940 ?

 

[cromlw]

I would prefer the shotguns work like theyre supposed to , its not as simple as you make it out to be , Ive had it inspected and found out its not worth fixing, To me they are not great shotguns .

I see your point Barry,who would want a Shotgun trusted by the military and designed by John Browning, when you can have the "Made in China" cheapest shotgun Walmart sells

The whole point of the Topic is the OP wants a "Take down" shotgun,,the fact you can get a shotgun and 3 barrels in a pelican case is of no use to the OP and in itself is no great feat,,you can fit a Dozen 520's in a day backpack,,,heck i can tuck it in my waist band and with a hoodie on you'd never know it was there,

Comparing the 320 to a 520 is like comparing a new Plastic Tonka truck to a to one of the old all steel Tonka trucks

One will be broken in a week and the other will be passed down to you Grandkids

 

[rbernie]

Are these shotguns 2-9/16" chambered?

 

[steveno]

my dad's 620 has a 2 3/4 chamber

 

[cromlw]

520/620's are chambered in 2 3/4"

 

[rbernie]

Excellent - thanks!

 

[Fred Fuller]

The 520s (two hump receivers) were first introduced in 1904. The 520/30s (one hump receiver) and 620s (streamlined receiver) were mostly made between the wars, and a certain number of them saw service in WW2 as trench guns. As far as I know, they are all chambered in 2 3/4".

They are of course Browning designs, introduced not very long after the Win93/97, but IMHO they incorporate the best takedown design ever manufactured - at least since the Burgess Folding Police Shotgun, on which the takedown design was based.