The Savage Stevens 555 is an imported Turkish over-under shotgun. The over-under market is usually divided into two camps: the “B-Guns” (Beretta and Browning) that cost a mortgage payment, and the entry-level Turkish imports that can be hit-or-miss. The Stevens 555 sits firmly in the latter, but it carves out a specific niche for the hunter who prioritizes a light carry over all else.
Overview
The Stevens 555 is a Turkish-made (KOFS) over-under imported by Savage. It features a lightweight aluminum receiver reinforced with a steel insert across the breech face to handle the pressure of modern loads. While it looks like a traditional wood-and-blued-steel O/U, the design is clearly focused on weight reduction. It’s a “working man’s” gun—no fancy engraving, just a matte black finish and functional Turkish walnut.
Specifications
- Action: Over/Under, Break Action
- Receiver: Aluminum
- Barrel: 28 inch (typical for 12ga), Chrome-lined carbon steel
- Weight: 6.12 lbs (as tested/noted)
- Trigger: Single Selective Mechanical
- Chokes: Includes 5 interchangeable chokes (F, IM, M, IC, C)
- Stock: Turkish Walnut, oil finish
- Safety: Tang-mounted manual safety/barrel selector
- Price: $850-1000 CAD ($700-800 USD)
Usability
The Weight: At just over 6 lbs, this gun is a dream to carry all day. If you’re hiking through thick brush for ruffed grouse or trekking across a prairie for pheasants, you will appreciate the 555. However, there is no free lunch. That same light weight makes the recoil significant, especially with 3-inch magnum loads.
Controls: The tang safety also acts as the barrel selector. It’s intuitive, though mine was gritty out of the box. You get simple extractors, not ejectors.
Aftermarket and Potential Modifications
Since this is a budget-focused import, the aftermarket isn’t as vast as a Remington 870 or a Browning Citori.
- Chokes: It uses the Beretta/Benelli Mobil thread pattern which is very common for Turkish shotguns. That making it very easy to find aftermarket extended tubes from companies like Carlson’s or Briley.
- Recoil Pad: This is the most common modification. The factory pad is functional but thin. For high-volume shooting, a Limbsaver or Pachmayr Decelerator is highly recommended.
Competitors
- CZ Drake: Often considered the primary rival. It’s slightly heavier and uses a steel receiver, which some feel is more durable for high-volume clay shooting.
- Other Turk O/U shotguns like the JTS E60.2
- Mossberg International Silver Reserve: Another Turkish import. Usually offers similar features but the Stevens 555 generally gets higher marks for its trigger feel.
- Used Beretta/Browning: You’ll pay double (even used), but you get a gun that will last 100,000 rounds. The 555 is a “field gun” meant for hundreds of rounds a year, not thousands.
Conclusion
The Stevens 555 isn’t a “clays gun.” If you try to shoot 200 rounds of trap in a weekend with this, your shoulder will hate you and the aluminum receiver may show its limits sooner than you’d like.
But as an upland hunting gun, it is a fantastic value. It points naturally, weighs almost nothing in the hand, and the mechanical triggers give it a level of reliability you don’t always see at this price point. If you need a reliable O/U for the occasional hunt that won’t break the bank or your back, the 555 belongs on your shortlist.
