I love the smoothness of the Sauer rifle actions, but would be very hesitant at buying one that has the barrel embedded into the receiver using the thermal technique. I believe the thermal method freezes the barrel and heats the receiver, thereby shrinking the barrel and expanding the receiver's barrel hole so that the barrel can be inserted and when temperatures stabilize, the two pieces of metal are nearly impossible to separate. Only problem with that is the receiver will probably never be usable as-is for re-barreling by any ordinary gunsmith.

The common model 202 has quick change able barrels with locking lugs in the barrel.

I would suggest not trying to "unscrew" it at all costs. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member
Soon to be DSC Member

Just another cost cutting measure as most gun owners never shoot enough or consider barreling.

I most likely will not buy one but for the average Joe it doesn't matter.

Yep the 101 uses a press in barrel with the locking lugs in the barrel..not really fond of that...now the 202 is another story. I love that system.

Ed

The SAUER 101 is a "budget" rifle designed to compete with the SAKO model 85.

Both the SAUER 101 and the Mauser M12 share the same barrel setup with bolting directly to the breach end of the barrel. Both are deemed low end rifles in their respective line ups.

Both are extremely accurate though, more so than most off the shelf American offerings.

At similar price it looks like sako 85 is a good choise.

Steyr with their Mannlicher rifles have used a press fit for many years. They can be rebarreled but it involves cutting a thread in the receiver. But realistically how many rifles are actually shot out in normal unting use. Sauer 101 and Mauser M12 are offering a good solid accurate hunting rifle for a reasonable price. Shooting 100 rounds a year that's a good 30 years before 3,000 rounds have gone down the barrel. Save for dedicated target shooters, varminters or professional stalkers with big culls how many hunting rifles shoot 100 rds a year.

If you are an inveterate tinkerer or what a custom rifle there are better and more affordable options out there.

i re barreled one of the pressed on units once.we froze the barrel with freon and heated the action ring to about 180 and the thing came loose. put it back together again the same way & it did work fine. there was a glass hard pin involved that did break and was replaced with a piece of drill rod

I'm not familiar with the 101 but do appreciate the bbl. changing feature in the Sauer 202 (bbl. shank not threaded either, fixed with 2 bolts at 7 Nm). I've switched bbls. between my .30-06 and 7x64 several times. It takes only a few minutes and accuracy is not affected in the least. However and contrary to the Blaser R93 with the scope on the bbl., the scope sits on the Sauer's receiver and scope zero has to corrected.