TFB Review: Stevens 555 Over/Under Shotgun
Over/under shotguns have long occupied a unique position in the market – respected for their reliability and classic handling, but can often be priced out of reach for many shooters. Stevens, a division of Savage Arms, aims to solve this with their 555 series. While some might dismiss Turkish-made shotguns, the 555 and its variations have earned a reputation for delivering fundamental quality at an attainable price point. Let’s see how their standard 555 in 12 gauge performs where it counts.
Specifications: Stevens 555 Over/Under Shotgun
The Stevens 555 builds on traditional over/under design while incorporating modern manufacturing techniques to reduce weight. The aluminum receiver includes steel reinforcement at critical stress points, while chrome-lined carbon steel barrels provide durability. Turkish walnut furniture adds classic aesthetics without driving up the cost.
- Action: Over/Under
- Gauge: 12 (also available in 16, 20, 28, and .410)
- Barrel Length: 28 inches
- Overall Length: 45.28 inches
- Weight: 6.2 pounds
- Stock: Turkish Walnut
- Receiver: Aluminum with steel inserts
- Chokes: 5 included (F, IM, M, IC, C)
- Extractors: Manual
- Sights: Single brass bead
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At $769 MSRP, with real-world prices likely closer to $700, the 555 positions itself in an interesting market space. While not the cheapest over/under available, it provides a complete package including five choke tubes and fundamentally sound construction. Recent price increases reflect broader market trends, but the 555 still maintains its value proposition against significantly more expensive alternatives.
The aluminum receiver might raise eyebrows among traditionalists, but the steel reinforcement provides necessary strength while keeping the gun notably lightweight for field use. Chrome-lined barrels offer protection against the elements and extended service life, while the manual extractors keep things simple and reliable.
“Get world-class performance in an over-under at an affordable price. The 555 is light and handles fast, thanks to a lightweight aluminum receiver. It is also loaded with features, including a stylish Turkish walnut stock and chrome-lined, carbon steel barrels.”
First Impressions: Stevens 555 Over/Under Shotgun
The Stevens 555 arrives in a basic cardboard box with foam ear plugs, a manual, and a plastic case containing the choke tubes and wrench. While the packaging is utilitarian, the included accessories cover the essentials without adding cost to non-essential items.
Initial assembly reveals solid fundamentals. The forend removal system is simple but secure, with positive engagement when installing. Barrel-to-receiver fit shows good attention to detail – while initially requiring some familiarity to mount smoothly, the process becomes natural with practice. The wood quality exceeds expectations for this price point, showing decent grain and solid finishing, even if the checkering remains purely functional rather than decorative.
Range Time: Stevens 555 Over/Under Shotgun
Testing involved running 100 rounds of various trap loads through the gun, including ammunition from Winchester, Federal, Remington, and Fiocchi. The 555’s light weight makes it quick to mount and swing, though this same characteristic means you’ll notice more recoil than with heavier over/unders. It’s not punishing, but you’ll know you’re shooting it.
One notable characteristic emerged during testing: when the action is opened, there’s a specific quirk with the barrel assembly that affects loading. Normally, you’d expect the barrels to hang down enough when opened to easily drop shells into the chambers. However, with our test gun, the barrels had enough upward spring tension that they would bounce up slightly from their fully dropped position. This meant that to load shells, you had to actively hold the barrels down – typically by tucking the stock under your arm and using your other hand to press down on the barrels. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it does make loading more cumbersome than it should be, especially during clay sessions where quick reloading is beneficial. The tang safety and barrel selector performed without issue throughout testing.
The included choke system proves straightforward to use, with the supplied wrench making changes simple. I primarily ran modified and improved modified combinations, which proved suitable for both clay target and field scenarios. Pattern performance met expectations across various loads, demonstrating the basic effectiveness of the barrel/choke combination.
The Model 555 has field handling benefits, from the gun’s light weight, making it particularly suitable for walking hunts where every ounce matters. The single brass bead provides a clean sight picture that allows for quick target acquisition – exactly what you want in a field gun that might occasionally serve clay duty.
Manual extractors, while not as convenient as ejectors, perform their job reliably and help keep both mechanical complexity and cost down. For a gun that might see varying conditions in the field, this simplicity could be viewed as an advantage rather than a limitation.
Final Thoughts: Stevens 555 Over/Under Shotgun
The Stevens 555 succeeds in its primary mission: delivering a fundamentally sound over/under at an accessible price point. While it doesn’t compete with premium offerings in terms of fine finishing or sophisticated features, it absolutely delivers where it counts – reliable function, decent patterns, and handling characteristics that work for both field and casual clay use.
The light weight makes it particularly appealing as a field gun, though this same characteristic means you’ll want to choose loads carefully for extended clay sessions. That said, for a new shooter looking to enter the over/under market, or an experienced shooter seeking a practical field gun that can pull occasional clay duty, the 555 presents a compelling option.
No, it won’t make dedicated clay shooters forget their premium guns. But it wasn’t meant to. Instead, the Stevens 555 offers a genuine entry point into over/under ownership without compromising the fundamental qualities that have made this action type endure. Sometimes getting the basics right is enough, and that’s exactly what Stevens has accomplished here.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Savage for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out their Stevens 555 Over/Under. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think. Do you believe that this classy over/under is worth spending your money on? Would you take this out to the range? Would this be your go-to trap shooting gun? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
