The STEYR MANNLICHER Classic 'Mountain' rifle looks like a nice unit.

Is it a proven system? How about the polymer mag(any feed issues). Any flaws? Your thoughts please.


Cheers

The safe-bolt rifles don't feed as smoothly as a well tuned M-70 or a Sako M75/85 but they aren't too bad, they work.
The triggers can be a little funky to adjust (mine were unsafe until I got the actual instructions and redid them) but can be made into good if not great triggers.
Typically they shoot extremely well.

If you can find one at an affordable price I'd go for it.................DJ

I have three Steyr-Mannlichers at the moment. All are fine, accurate rifles in the field.

I DO prefer the models just before the new SBS (safe bolt system). I find the safe bolt safety a pain for me to use. Not because it doesn't work, but because it is different from all my other rifles...which makes me have to stop and think about it before I apply it or deactivate it...the older safety systems are pretty much used instinctively, without stopping for conscious thought.

The rifles are light, handy, and very accurate though. And the plastic magazines work okay too. One of my Steyr-Mannlichers was made in 1979. I bought two extra mags just in case, but have never had any problems with the original one.

I had a Steyr Forester SBS in 300 Win Mag. It was a great gun that shot sub moa. Mine had a terrific trigger. Steyrs are known to be very accurate. I sold mine when I downsized to a 308 win. It was a nice rifle. I sold it mainly for the caliber. I wanted something smaller and lighter. The Steyr mountain should be a nice little rifle.

I have a full size in 6.5 swede. It is a fine rifle.

I have three SBS Steyrs. All are very accurate. I personally like the tang, three position safety. They are typically my "go to" rifles these days.

One thing I forgot to post in my first reply....

When I first got my 8x57 Steyr-Mannlicher (1990) it was not very smooth...at least nowhere near as smooth as my old original Mannlicher Schoenauers. So, after thinking it over, I decided to "wear it in". For 4 or 5 nights in a row, I sat watching TV, and worked the bolt through complete cycles...200 cycles per evening.

Just to get some benefit from that exercize in addition to any smoothing of the rifle action it might do, I also aimed at whatever live object was depicted on the TV screen, and dry fired at it.

Began a count from 1 to 6 each cycle, and if I didn't have the shot off by "6", would cycle it again and start the count again. Did all the cycling with the rifle at my shoulder.

Net result was that after 800-to-1,000 cycles, the action was so smooth it would close itself if I just pointed the muzzle down and pulled the trigger (empty rifle, of course). And it would do that even if the bolt was all the way back and the action all the way open when I pulled the trigger. None of my Mauser-type actions will do that (possibly partly because of follower pressure).

Plus I got to where I could get a well-aimed dry-fire shot off in usually about 3 seconds, AND could operate the bolt easily and smoothly without ever removing the buttplate from my shoulder. Sort of a win-win-win situation for hunting use.

Does this Answer your question?....this is my go to African safari rifle for plains game, and have shot a few animals at just under 600 yards, this one is chambered in 300 win Mag.

My M3 Professional was a fabulous rifle.

Can't beat a Steyr. I've had the SSG 69, Model S, Prohunters, and just picked up one of the new Ultralights in 308. I bought a Prohunter in 308 as my first, and it would shoot .279 with Hornady 150gr Interbonds at about 3,000 fps (Lt Mag)...from a $550 stock rifle. I was sold, and haven't been disappointed since. One of my SSG 69s is now used as a training rifle at a sniper school somewhere in Texas. I think even Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles could have gotten 1/2" groups with that rifle!!!

I been shooting a Steyr Mannlicher Mod M Pro since I bought it in 1976. No issues with the magazines or accuracy. Its my rain gun. Its been warm and pouring rain today here in CT. Its deer season.