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Does anyone have experience or knowledge of Steyr-Mannlicher rifles of current manufacture, especially in a big game hunting application? How are they in terms of functional reliability, accuracy and fit/finish? If this topic has been covered before, my apologies, and perhaps somebody could send me in the right direction. | ||
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...they are top notch (so is the price) - if a Mauser is a Mercedes then Steyr-Mannlicher is a BMW  - their site: Steyr | |||
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Excellent rifles. I have one of their MIII Professional models, with double set triggers. | |||
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Love mine.  | |||
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I love Steyr Mannlicher rifles. I have a Forester in 6.5x55 that is super accurate, and I used it to kill a very large mule deer a few years ago. Function in the way of feeding and ejection have been perfect (it feeds very, very smoothly) and accuracy is wonderful. The triggers are very nice and another plus is that the action is very strong. Fit and finish is good on the ones I have handled (though the matte finish seems to wear fairly easily). The Pro-Hunter is now offered in .223 and I think that I will need to have one. Great rifles. | |||
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My SM has cracked it's stock twice, the bow of the triggerguard has cracked and fallen off and recently the magazine came to pieces. It has seen a lot of use but so has my other rifles. | |||
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Gerard was it a "trommel" (drum) type magazine? | |||
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For me, the Steyr Mannlicher's are without any doubt the best bolt action rifle in the market. Sure, they are not as cheap as a Tikka, but they are worth every penny. The action ist stronger than any other action I know, the trigger is very good and the accuracy is outstanding. That's why I have 6 of the Steyr ProHunter's with reinforced fiberglass stock from .243 Win. to .376 Steyr.  | |||
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I just bought a Steyr-Mannlicher Classic Delux in .222rem. Absolutely gorgeous, fantastic wood, great trigger. Pretty expensive though, Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they are not out to get you.... | |||
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I passed, yes passed on the same 222 for about $850 a few years ago, don't know what I was thinking, but honestly don't know how much use it would have gotten either. NICE rifle. | |||
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My first centerfire was Steyr-Mannlicher 7x57 with 5-shot rotary magazine, a pleasure to carry and shoot. | |||
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Mouse93, The rifle has a rotary magazine and plastic bottom metal. (If that makes sense.) | |||
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hum - dunno but that thin plastic and temperatures down there with you dont mix well after longer period - I guess?... P.S. To my knowledge - those rotary 5 shot magazines were used only on the former L, M, S classic series, while you got a 3 shot metal magazine on the luxus series. | |||
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wooly ESS: Does anyone have experience or knowledge of Steyr-Mannlicher rifles of current manufacture, especially in a big game hunting application? How are they in terms of functional reliability, accuracy and fit/finish? QUOTE] Don't have any experience in big game hunting but I have 2 Steyrs. One is a heavy barrel "L" in 243WIN which I've had for over 20years (it cost me A$300 brand new without sights) and it still shoots sub-moa at 100 with handloads. The other is a Pro Hunter in 223Rem. When I was deciding to buy a new rifle in 223Rem I wasn't thinking Steyr because of the expense. But the store owner's son, who happens to collect Steyr full wood models, ask me why I was not considering the Pro Hunter. My reply was the sporter weight barrel; I thought I needed the heavy barrel. I bought the Pro Hunter on the condition that if it did not shoot as good as the "L" the store would accept it back and give me a full refund (their condition not mine). And the price wasn't as high as I thought it would be. Needless to say I've still got the rifle. If I get the opportunity to buy another rifle and I'm thinking 308, it will be a Steyr. Whilst I have nothing but praise for Steyr Mannlicher I do remember at the same time I bought the 243win another shooter at the range bought a 222Rem (if memory serves me well). He ended up selling it; reckoned it didn't shoot. I still think it was the shooter not the rifle. | |||
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Several years ago an outfit was clearing out the Steyrs for $449 and I bought a 6.5x55 and a 376 Steyr. Good choice. Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing. | |||
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Hi guys, Appears that we are talking about TWO different versions of Steyr-Mannlichers in this thread, the Steyr Sporter, made from 1968-1996, ie, the plastic gun with the detachable rotary magazine, AND the SBS-96, the current production rifle made since 1996 in assorted variations. The Sporter is superbly accurate, and has been plagued with tales of disentegrating magazines and floorplates. I have been a serious Sporter user since 1970, and have only seen two plastic failures which both appeared to be shop errors and not field failures. My .222 and .243 Sporters have downed so many Woodchucks that I lost count years ago, and I've used a 7x64mm as a back-up gun for 15 years in the USA and in Africa. The bad news for me came when arthritis hit me in the neck and killed my ability to handle recoil, and since Sporters have straight stocks, my 9.3x62s banged their way out of my working arsenal, as did even the .30-06. Now, the SBS-96 is also a fine rifle, although I only on a few of them. The SBS is probably the safest rifle on the market, as anyone who has fooled around with their unique safety can tell you, and the SBS is just as accurate as the Sporter. My .260 knocks deer over dead, period, and you can buy Pro-Hunters very inexpensively, I think many people are not taken by the efficient but ugly synthetic stocks. The wood stock SBS-96s are usually gorgeous, and far more expensive. I'd love to own one of the SBS Ultralights in 7mm-08, but I cannot justify the dollars when I already have too many 6.5-7mm class Steyrs. As for shooting, I've owned 25 assorted Steyr Sporters and SBS-96s, and every single one of them is/was a fine shooter. I'd class the Steyr product as the most accurate out of the box production rifle on the market, bar none. If a Steyr doesn't shoot, it's got to be the shooter, or possibly the ammunition (my .260 Rem is finicky on ammo, as long as the load is HOT the rifle is happy) then the .300 H&H shoots ANY ammo into an inch at 100 yards, then settles down to half inch with better handloads. I can go on and on praising Steyr rifles, but I think you get my drift. I didn't like them when they replaced the old Mannlicher-Schoenauers, but I learned to appreciate a rifle that really shoots!!! LLS Mannlicher Collector  | |||
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Wooly, The factory has taken to calling the rifles "Mannlichers". Here is a link to an article I wrote for African Hunter on a 2001 hunt I did in Zim with my ProHunter .376 Steyr. http://www.african-hunter.com/eland,_shangaan_hunters_and_the__376_steyr.htm (watch the wrap) I also have a Steyr Scout rifle in .308 Win that I have used since '98. I did a review of the SS for Sniper Country, and it is still there. The big problem with Steyr-Mannlicher is marketing is terribly weak. They don't support their products with information. jim if you're too busy to hunt,you're too busy. | |||
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Oh Boy, Hunter Jim has hit the nail on the head with the Steyr marketing problem. They seem to mess up everytime. I have a few examples of bum Steyr brochures that I keep just for curiosities. GunSouth did some pretty fine brochures when they had the distributership in the USA, but Steyr needed to fund and plan a really serious marketing effort, a la Kimber, Ruger, S&W, Winchester, if they ever meant to really penetrate the market. It is a shame too, because Steyr opened the way for todays "weather proof" guns back in 1968, and they have never taken the credit. Steyr (Austria) also appeared unwilling to support customer requests too, although they did come thru with increased deliveries of their 6.5x54mm 150th year commemorative rifles and carbines after great screams of rape for here in the USA. Still they need to get a serious marketing department. LLS | |||
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Agreed! When Steyr decided to drop the Mannlicher-Schoenauer, they engineered a more than worthy replacement. "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
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One of my friends had a SM in 30-06. The stock cracked after only 100-200 shots, was replaced by Steyer and cracked agian. I reload for another friends 7x64 and the cases split after 3 reloadings due to too much headspace. Also the plastic magazine is a bit fragile. Personally I would never trade my well used 20 year old Sauer 200 for a brand new Steyer. If you consider buying a continental rifle, buy a Sauer 202 and you won't regret. | |||
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Dutchgus, you are right on the Sauer 202, I have one in 270win. However, Sauer don't do a .222rem, so I bought the Steyr. Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they are not out to get you.... | |||
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...there has been (Sept. 4 th 2006) a report on a blown up Steyr luxus in 6,5x68 over at Lutz Moller site - German only: http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Waffen/Steyr-Luxus-Schrott.htm P.S. Description by Lutz on Sept. the 19 th may tell us more about a possible cause - I would not dare to translate it (my German is so-so) - and it would be nice if any of our German speaking friends would chime in: "...vom Hörensagene eines ehemaligenSteyr-Mitarbeiters, der jetzt Sauer verkauft, habe ich vernommen, daß vor längere Zeit Steyr auf Kundenwunsch die Auswurfenster vergrößert haben solle. Damit seien die Hülsen etwas dünn geworden und bei großen Patronen mit hohem Druck könnten die Hülsen dann auf Dauer schon mal überlastet werden, äußerte der. Dieser Fall hier würde das belegen. Daß Waffenhersteller von der lütten .222" bis zur großen und kräftigen 8x68S nur einSystem bauen, ist in meinen Augen Grund solcher Übel. Die Stoßbodenkräfte spreizen sich dabei doch zu sehr. Da müßten besser angepaßte Waffen her. Nicht ein System geht für alles. Die Kleinen werden so zu schwer und die Großen zu windig. Das kann, wie man sieht, auf Dauer schief gehen. " | |||
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Steyr Mannlicher rifles are top of the line where out of the box fit, and finish are concerned! Whether it is suitable for what you want it for depends what you call "BIG GAME"! If you mean large plains game, or Non dangerous game, then is a real nice , well made rifle that will last a life time, with proper care, and feeding! If,however,you are thinking of useing this rifle for large dangerous game, then the draw back is, it is a pushfeed action,and eventhough is is rotary magazine fed, and is as reliable as any PF rifle made anyplace! Still, IMO, PF actions are not well suited in a dangerous game rifle. The old Mannlicher Shoenauer rifles were CRF actions, and are well suited to that application! One of the new SAKO CRF rifles would be a better choice, but a TRUE CRF actioned rifle would be best, short of a good double rifle! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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Compliments of googles language tools: “… of hearing NSA genes of a ehemaligenSteyr coworker, who sells sour now, I heard that before longer time Steyr on customer's request is to have increased the Auswurfenster. Thus the cases became somewhat thin and with large cartridges with high pressure could be overloaded the cases then in the long term already times, expressed that. This case would occupy here. The fact that weapon manufacturers of the lütten,222†up to the large and strong 8x68S only in system build is in my eyes reason of such evils. The impact soil forces spread themselves thereby nevertheless too much. There better adapted weapons would have ago. Not a system goes for everything. The small ones become so too heavy and the large ones too windy. That can be able be done, as one sees, in the long term inclined. †....................DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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I do not have any big game expirence. I do own a Steyr-Mannlicher ProHunter in 308. It a great rifle,well made and more accurate than I am. By the way Dr.Duc got a heck of a deal you should have bought a dozen. P.S. they are making one in 450 marlin now: Check out the Mannlicher Prohunter Bigbore http://www.granitearms.com/Mannlicher-Prohunter.htm | |||
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Photo's of my new S-M .222Rem (first attempt at posting!)   I think Mannlicher still make pretty decent rifles!! Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they are not out to get you.... | |||
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Now that's a beauty! And I am sure it shoots lights out... What caliber did you choose? | |||
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What a nice stick of wood! Congrats on the find...........DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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awesome! | |||
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Sniper 66, it's a .222rem. It has been very windy here over the past week. I got the rifle zeroed on Saturday, best group was around an inch with 40gr win BST's. There was some horizontal stringing which I am putting down to the wind. Trigger is excellent, bolt is very smooth. It came with a test target in the .4's shot with a 50gr V-max Hornady factory load. I am sure I can duplicate that when I get around to loading for it. Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they are not out to get you.... | |||
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News from Steyr, they are now cataloging in the US, a 20 inch barrel Pro-Hunter in 9.3x62mm. One of my 9.3mm buddies has been lobbying for such a rifle for several years, so maybe Steyr heard him at last. It ought to be a nice rifle in the field, and ample for any critter in North America, much of Africa too. LLS Mannlicher Collector | |||
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Claret, That's a very nice rifle! Good luck with your load development. | |||
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Brian That is a beauty.. enjoy Rich | |||
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