Stevens Pumps

[Woody_in_MN]

I know next to nothing about shotguns. I was thinking of picking up a used 12 gauge pump mainly for Home Defense. I stopped by my local used gun shop. They had tons of used Mossbergs (for reasons I can not explain I just don't care for Mossbergs), Remingtons, and Winchesters. But a used Stevens caught my eye. I did not look for the model number, but it may well be a 67 - as there seem to be a lot of those around. It was in good shape, good blueing, minimal scratches on the stock, and I liked the feel of it. It had a 28 inch barrel, but I expect I cut that back to 18 to 20 inches. They wanted around $150 for the gun. And I would not have to pay shipping, or a transfer fee.

What is the reliability of Stevens pumps? Are they OK?

- W

 

[ArmedBear]

I don't know, but I was checking out a rusty old one at the shop the other day, and MAN was it smooth. I was really surprised.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The older Stevens pumps- the Browning-designed 520 and 620- are excellent, if found in good mechanical condition. The newer ones (Savage/Stevens/Springfield Models 30, 67, 69, 77, 79 etc) I'd be sort of leery about. I sure wouldn't pay much more than $100 for one.

They have a couple of weak spots in the designs that bother me. Usually the stock attaches to an extension molded as part of the cast aluminum trigger plate- and they tend to break off pretty easily. There can be problems with action bars also. IMHO there are just too many good used examples of better designs available for just a little more money to bother with these.

JMHO, YMMV-

lpl/nc

 

[MAKster]

Those shotguns are quite old. A problem is they only have one slide bar. You can buy a used Remington 870 Express or Winchester 1300 in very good condition for less than $200.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Not a great shotgun. Get an 870 or something else.

 

[mnrivrat]

Pass on the later Stevens pumps - while some give good service they are not well designed or built. I do not consider them dependable enough for a self defense shotgun.

A good condition model 520 or 620 as mentioned are not bad at all - they are early guns built off the Browning pat.