Do you own it or have used it? What do you think of it? How smooth is the bolt action, how accurate, and how about the build quality? Thanks

I have one..fit and finish is what you would expect from Blaser, Mauser and similar Euro guns in that price range. The bolt is as smooth as silk and build quality is top notch. Barrels interchange easily and it breaks down into a very compact sleek case. I can't give you an accuracy report..mine is still in the case unfired. I expect it to be the same as my Blaser which is superb.

I would recommend it to anyone interested..give EuroOptic a call they are great to deal with and very knowledgeable about these guns.

I have read before that the Sauer rifle are a suspect with the big magnums - lug set back or similar.

Not sure if this is true. Anyone with experience?

quote:

Originally posted by Heym 450/400:

Thank you. Looking forward to hearing more after you shoot it

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
I have read before that the Sauer rifle are a suspect with the big magnums - lug set back or similar.

Not sure if this is true. Anyone with experience?

Now that's something I need to hear more about. Looking at a magnum caliber indeed, and don't want to regret spending that much..

I tried one at the French Shooting Show in April with ammunition on running boar range. Five shots. Soilogne 7x64 redu ced range cartridhes.

Fairly slow passes so should have been an easy second shot IF the bolt had not "bound" each time trying to cycle it still in the shoulder.

As if I was trying to push it into the left hand wall of the receiver it felt instead of straight forward towards the rear of the barrel.

Mine, or the one I tried, had a bolt that would not cycle quickly with the rifle in the shoulder (such as I could get a second shot off) on the boar.

I tried five shots, same calibre, same ammunition, with a Sauer 101 and had no problem at all. A second shot was easy.

So my advice if you are thinking of buying is take some drill cartridges with you and see. It may just have been that rifle...or it may be an issue with the design.

I didn't like it for that reason.

Could this have had something to do wit the alloy receiver? With an alloy receiver the bolt slides on aluminium, and it locks into the barrel because the receiver is too weak for a safe lock. The 101 is steel.

I don't know. As in the two metals don't really glide the one over the other? Certainly it was smooth if I loaded it out of the shouder, but not in the shoulder. So my guess is that, for me, the ergonomics of it weren't well matched.

Sauer 404:

Is it accurate ( precision) ? Wickedly so ! Out the box likely one of the most accurate ( precision) standard production rifles out there and with factory ammo to boot.

All the inherent issues regarding precision are addressed ! Bolting directly to the barrel so head spacing is a non issue.
Scope mounting: Positive return to position mounts for take off. Rail mount that docks into a patent dovetail. Much like the Blaser though the Blaser mounts to the barrel the 404 Still mounts on the action body.

Trigger: Precision trigger with variable position and settings. I love the Euro set trigger !

Is it innovative ? absolutely ! In a world where travel with guns for hunting has become onerous this rifle offers some neat solutions.

Bolt lug setback ? No way ! 6 lug rotating bolt that has been proofed beyond anything one will reasonably feed this gun.

Cycling : both smooth and wickedly fast ! Watch the video of the Norwegian rapid fire champion firing this gun

Fitting options: The rifle comes with a infinite choice in stock combinations and set ups to fit every variation in shooters choice and shooting style. If you happen to be the hump back of Notre dame this rifle will have a fit that works for you !

The fact is that these rifles represent like their euro counterparts the future of rifle design ! They are leaving the traditional "american style" guns in the dust !

The only downside..... they are expensive !

I have only hadled a Sauer 404. I lust for one! I own a Mauser M03 with 7 barrels. The 404 I feel has several refinements. Take down tool with the firearm at all times. Ease of Bolt head changes, and trigger adjustments. Scope mount levers are a big improvement over the M03. I love my M03 and can't wait to buy a Sauer 404! The most fantastic feature I like about my M03 is that you can take it apart, put it back together and it holds zero! The Blaser is the same way and I expect the Sauer 404 should be as well!
Once you try a "system" firearm, you'll be hooked!

The 6 lug Sauer or 9 lug Wby has always been suspect with some of the better known Gunsmiths. I did a test by marking a couple of Wbys with blue gunk, then closing the bolt and only 4 of the 9 bolts showed contact on one gun and only 2 on the other...I questioned someone on this from WBY and they told my my test was not conclusive as I did not fire the gun, in which case all lugs would have showed contact..Maybe so, but it would seem contact should be 100% before firing. I would be interested in re-doing that test but the guns are no longer available..

Has anyone done this on the Wby or Sauer would be my question..

This is not your grand mother's WBY bolt !

The Sauer 404 Bolt head is basically the same design used in the 202 and the 101.

The 6 lug which is actually a tandem 3 lug bolt was designed by Ingolf Reuter and Klaus Munst of Mauser in 1994 for the Mauser M94 rifle.

This bolt bolted directly to the barrel and it "auto head spaced" in it sucked the barrel to the bolt. It proved hugely successful and was proven not only to be durable, strong and highly efficient in terms of rifle precision. All of the rifles who share this specific bolting system are guaranteed out the factory sub MOA capable. In fact they are shot in factory and if they do not meet this criterium they are scrapped.

The same bolt pattern was later used by Sauer for their Sauer 200, and the 202.
The later budget 100 and 101 uses the same bolt pattern and the new 404 uses a interchangeable version of the same.

Mauser M03 has the same interchangeable bolt head with it's tandem 3 lug ( 6 in all)
The M 12 Mauser has the same bolt head.

The bolt head and Barrel receiver to which the bolt bolts are factory CNC machined. They sadly cannot be copied by aftermarket gunsmiths. ( Not unless they have the factory programming )

These rifles are scary accurate ! Shoot then out the box with RWS ammo and they make everything else factory look and shoot cheap !

One expects such quality from German gun designers/makers, the best in the world, in historical terms.

However, I am very much a "Mauser 98" guy, own a nice, original Type B in 9.3x62 and various Brno 21/22 and ZG rifles, plus divers FNs and HVAs.

So, I am impressed by the Mauser Mod. 12s, I have examined, but, wonder IF the overall functional reliability of these new designs equals the Mod. 98?

The Sauer 90 (colt Sauer) had some problems with the retracting rear lugs. That was a long time ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
I have read before that the Sauer rifle are a suspect with the big magnums - lug set back or similar.

Not sure if this is true. Anyone with experience?