The Savage Arms booth at SHOT Show 2023 was abuzz with new product launches. But interestingly, some of the most noteworthy offerings for price-conscious hunters came from Stevens. Known officially as “Stevens by Savage,” these pocketbook-friendly firearms are built in Turkey under Savage guidance. Savage has put considerable emphasis into expanding this arm of its firearms offerings.
While some buyers may be wary of foreign-production guns, Savage’s ownership and oversight means the customer service, warranty, and brand backing come directly from Savage Arms. Two new platforms have been announced in January 2023 – a Model 560 shotgun and a pair of Model 334 bolt-action rifles. We had the chance to get our hands on all variants at the show, and here’s a bit of what we learned.
Stevens by Savage Model 334
The Savage Stevens Model 334 is a bolt-action, centerfire hunting rifle with a low retail price tag yet surprisingly nice list of practical features. There’s a two-stage adjustable trigger. The bolt throw is shorter at 60 degrees, meaning faster cycling and greater scope clearance. The barrel is free floating and button rifled with an 11-degree target crown. The receiver is matte-black carbon steel with an integrated recoil lug.
There’s a three-position safety and a three-round drop-box magazine. The receiver is drilled and tapped with the standard Savage 110 spacing, opening up a full list of optics mounting solutions. In a thoughtful move, the company even includes a Picatinny rail for out-of-the-box optics readiness. Sling studs and a black rubber recoil pad come standard.
The Model 334 lists only three chamberings at the time of the launch – .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester. Depending on caliber, barrel lengths are either 20 or 22 inches. Though we haven’t officially seen an accuracy guarantee, company reps were quick to point out that the rifles have been shooting with MOA accuracy.
Buyers will have the choice of either matte-black synthetic stocks or checkered Turkish walnut, and we must say, we’re quite pleased to see a bargain-priced rifle with true hardwood furniture these days. The latter is dressed up a bit with a silver-finish bolt body and bolt handle.
Retail pricing is set at $389 for synthetic and $489 for walnut, meaning we’ll likely see more reasonable costs as the guns become more readily available. The interesting thing is that this pair of Stevens rifles marks the first rifles in the company’s current portfolio.
Stevens by Savage Model 560
Like the rifle, seeing the Stevens name alongside Savage on the shotgun means better buys for bargain hunters. The Model 560 Field is a 12-gauge, semi-automatic line of Turkish-built scatterguns. However, this is far from the first shotgun, with models like the 301 single-shots, 320 pumps, and 555 over-unders finding great success over the past few years.
The 3-inch chambered Model 560 repeaters are gas-driven and capable of chambering both 2.75 and 3-inch shells. Stocks are Turkish walnut fitted to a lightweight aluminum-alloy receiver. The oversized controls that have become common on hunting shotguns are found here on the 560 Field. There’s a standard trigger-guard safety.
All current variants pair a matte-black barrel and receiver finish along with silver-tone accents on the charging handle, trigger, and other controls. Buyers have a choice of two barrel lengths – 26 or 28 inches. The barrel is hard-chrome lined, dressed with a ventilated rib, and has a mid-bead rear sight matched with a fiber-optic front sight. The gun accepts interchangeable chokes and ships with three tubes in IC, IM, and Full.
Stevens covers a wider market by offering not only a standard but also a compact model. The compact version will be a welcome addition for smaller-framed or younger shooters with its 2-inch shorter length of pull. The guns hold 5+1 rounds. Retail price is set at $499 regardless of selection, making these affordable to a wide hunting and clay shooting market.
