First Look: Stevens 334 Rifle

Savage Arms has begun shipping its Stevens 334 rifle, which debuted earlier in 2023. This bolt-action comes in a Turkish Walnut stock with a silver bolt, or a black synthetic stock with a matte-black action to match. While the black follows more modern trends of economics and durability, the Turkish Walnut hearkens back to the look of a classic hunting rifle, and would make a gorgeous addition to anyone's collection. The rifle is offered with a 60-degree bolt lift to allow faster loading on follow-up shots, further making it a suitable option for any hunter or shooter.

Beyond these features, the rifle pairs an exceedingly crisp, two-stage adjustable trigger with a three-position safety, which allows the bolt to be locked when the rifle is carried through the woods. As every hunter knows, this can be quite useful when navigating dense woodlands, where you don't want your rifle unloading itself on a nearby tree. The action is fed by a detachable box magazine, holding three rounds of either .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor. While none of these pack a prodigious kick, a soft recoil pad on an ergonomic Sporter stock helps mitigate what force the rifle does produce. The carbon-steel receiver boasts an integrated recoil lug, and is drilled and taped with a Picatinny rail attached. The barrel, also of carbon steel, is free floated and button rifled, with an 11-degree target crown. The 11-degree crown provides optimal protection from damage to the muzzle, while the free-floating and button rifling allows for an incredible degree of precision. Finally, two sling swivel studs allow for the attachment of any standard sling.

More information on the new Stevens 334 rifles is available at savagearms.com. At just $389 for the black synthetic, and $489 for the Turkish Walnut, the gun is priced well not simply as a shooter, but for its elegant appearance as well.