DJ, I'm not sure on the stainless rifle, I have seen a pic once, on the Sauer website that showed a stainless barrel on a blue action. I haven't seen that pic in several years, and have never seen an actual stainless barrel for one. One of my issues with the Sauers that I touched on is being able to get components here in the states for them. There is some really cool stuff on their website, but try and get it....

As to the lines on the synthetic stock, they're actually OK....slightly different from the wood though?????

I've had several Sakos and a host of Sauers. I've had a couple of Sauers that were very picky on ammunition and others that shot extremely well. I've had several 7 mag and 300 wbys that all shot 1/2" without doing anything to them. I currently have 2 270s in the lightweights and they both shoot factory ammo under 1" consistently. For rifles that weigh just over 6#s that's pretty good. I had a Sako 75 and it would barely shoot one load under an inch and was a pain to get it to do that. Have tried several older Sakos and was disappointed in all of them. Have a A7 that so far has been very disappointing. I suspect they're lying their butt off for that rifle to shoot 5 shots under 1". Best I've been able to get is 2 5 shot groups of 1.25", which isn't bad but not what they advertise. To tell you where the Sako stands, it's my loaner rifle if somebody wants to hunt and doesn't have a rifle! I won't loan any of my 202s to anybody - including my brother! I also have a 202 in 243 that shoots very well. For me the 202 lightweight with the built in Weavers is the best rifle ever built - bar none. Handles like a dream, great walking/stalking rifle, super accurate, not much left to want in a rifle.

As for the Stainless barrel, haven't seen one here at all and don't recall seeing one on their website. Germans have always been big on beautiful blued guns. In recent years Sauer introduced their llaflon coating which is very tough and withstands any weather conditions. They will be doing more guns with that finish. The stainless looking Polar is a silver llaflon coating, not stainless.

As for parts.. That's coming. With the new Blaser/Sauer/Mauser USA group in San Antonio they are scrambling to get things rolling for all these rifles. Blaser has always had parts here or could get them fairly fast. Sauer and Mauser are now all in the same group with new ownership here so we'll be able to get service and parts as needed down the road. They've said that it's a slow process getting everything together but they are working on it. I recently toured their offices here and can vouch for them putting things together. The 202s have suffered from lots of dealer/wholesaler issues over the years. Finally that will be taken care of and hopefully others will get to experience these rifles first hand.