Introduction
Pump shotguns are perhaps the backbone of the shotgun market.They offer reliable function for an affordable price while still taking on nearly every duty a shotgun might be charged with. Today we are taking a look at one of these affordable options, we will be reviewing the Savage Stevens 320 Field Combo. A combination shotgun that comes with both a 28-inch hunting barrel and an 18.5-inch security barrel.
Savage Arms has a long history with American firearm enthusiasts. A popular brand for affordable firearms, which was further broadened with the purchase of Stevens Firearms some time later. These days it appears that the Stevens name has been brought back by Savage as a discount brand with firearms manufactured overseas. This may or may not be a big selling point for some, but in today’s example it was reason enough for me to purchase this firearm.
The Stevens 320
The Stevens 320 action is a rotating-bolt pump-action, the bolt-carrier changes the linear motion of the pump into a rotating action where the bolt engages the breech of the barrel. The gun is fed from a tubular magazine that holds 5-rounds when the plug is removed.
While the 28-inch barrel has the traditional rib with a sight-bead at the front, the shorter 18.5-inch barrel has just a simple bead. The aluminum alloy receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting a sight rail to allow additional sight options.
The action is fed from a traditional tube magazine that gives the gun a total capacity of 5-rounds. This particular model is the Field Grade combo, that also includes an 18.5-inch security barrel. This gives you the option for a great 28-inch field gun for hunting upland game and waterfowl, as well as a compact choke-less barrel for investigating bumps-in-the-night.
The Stevens 320 uses simple and inexpensive polymer furniture, and also includes both a front and rear sling stud should you wish to install one. There is a safety at the front of the trigger-guard, and the bolt-release is just behind the trigger-guard. On top of the receiver, it is drilled and tapped for mounting a sight rail.
Stevens 320 Background
Savage has been around for quite some time in the American firearms market. The Stevens name comes from the late 19th century manufacturer that was later purchased by Savage. After the end of the Great War, Savage and Stevens continued making firearms as independent brands. In more recent times like the current century, Savage brought back the Stevens name, releasing several models branded so. It appears to at least the author that the Stevens name is being used to delineate between American made Savage products and foreign built Stevens models.
The Stevens model 320 copies much of the design from the very popular Winchester model 1300 shotgun. Using the same rotating bolt design and other features of the iconic Winchester who’s demise came a short few years before the Stevens 320 was released. I remember those dark times when Winchester died …
For now, the Stevens 320 shotguns are manufactured in China, and imported to the US by Savage for sale here. It’s a long way from Shandong Province to Westfield Massachusetts, but the popularity of this shotgun would suggest they are doing a good job there.
Into the Field
To give the Steven 320 Field Grade shotgun a good test, we took it for a round of hand-thrown clays. Together with a couple other shotguns for comparison, I figured it would be a great opportunity to get a feel for it.
We brought a couple cases of White Flyer clay targets, as well as an assortment of ammo. I had brought both Remington Gun Club as well as Winchester Target both with 1-1/8 ounce loads. The 320 came with a Modified choke from the factory, and since it uses the Win Choke system (.812″-32 tpi), there are plenty of options you can change it to. With the Modified choke we would be fine for now.
Shooting The Stevens 320
It didn’t take long to get the Stevens 320 warmed up, we would take turns throwing clays for each other and rotate shooters. Loading the tube magazine is straight-forward, and allows 2-rounds with the plug installed. We did notice that at first there was a touch of a challenge to get the shells past the retaining clip. But this went away with some use.
The sticky grip of the rubber recoil pad made it stay in place against your shoulder. And I found that I liked the angle of the grip area, giving great position for the trigger finger. The controls were simple and quick to operate, even the novice’s amongst us. Running the pump was smooth and easy, which only got better as the gun broke in a little bit.
Looking down the rib of the barrel to lead the clays reminded me of my early years of shooting my old Remington 870. The broad rib with the bead at the end makes a very familiar and clean sight picture.
Shootability
The Stevens 320 points very well, and I liked the stock angle and grip as mentioned. It shoots just like you would expect a classic pump-gun to shoot. The grip areas have texture and grooves to hold onto, the trigger feels fine, and its light weight make it an easy swing.
The added bonus barrel in the 18.5 Security barrel, gives you another option as well. The short barrel makes the gun even more portable and quick to get on target, both great features for a defense shotgun.
Reliability
We shot nearly half-a-case of ammo through the 320 that first trip. And we’ve shot easily another half through it since. Not once during our testing did the Stevens not function as expected. The simplicity of the pump-action manifests over and over, using a variety of ammunition of both 1-oz and various 1-⅛-oz loads.
Quality
Despite it’s low price, I found the 320 to have little to complain about. Perhaps the finish was a bit lower quality than I’d prefer, but it was fine. There were no obvious tool marks or flaws in the finish. And it was a touch sticky when it came to loading the mag for the first little bit. Not sure if we just figured it out or it broke in. As an entry level shotgun with an MSRP of $329, I was quite happy with the level of quality.
Value
This is where the Stevens 320 absolutely shines. With basically two shotguns in one, for a street price under $300, the Steven is an excellent buy. Despite being very inexpensive, this gun appears to be built just as well as the shotgun I bought 30 years ago. A shotgun that still performs perfectly today. The 320 offers a field shotgun for hunting birds and other game, as well as a home defense type shotgun. It does this with great reliability and comfortable performance.
Pros and Cons
If the great shooting, and economic price weren’t enough, the Stevens 320 also enjoys support from the aftermarket. With various stock configurations, magazine extensions, and other items. I’ve already mentioned it shoots well, and hasn’t malfunctioned a single time yet. It is affordable for even the most economically challenged amongst us, and it comes with some great features like the extra barrel. The drilled and tapped receiver allows you to mount a sight rail like this one from EGW, allowing installation of red dots or other optics. All this makes the 320 an easy choice for an inexpensive shotgun that you can customize to your needs.
As long as you keep in mind that this is an entry-level gun, and remember what you paid for it, I don’t think there will be many complaints. I do wish it came with a couple other chokes, but for those interested they can be had for under $25 on Optics Planet. The impression of an inexpensive shotgun manufactured beyond the reach of the health and safety department are fine with me. I don’t mind a little working around rough edges to save some money.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Shoots great
- Reliable function
- Extra barrel
- Drilled and tapped receiver
Cons
- Made in China
- Only comes with one choke