I was wondering if anyone owns or has gotten an opportunity to handle one of these rifles and what your impressions of it are? I'm in the market for a new big bore and was considering one of these (Africa PH model) in perhaps 416 Rem. Mag. or 404 Jeff.

I'd also like to know if anybody can tell me roughly what these rifles are sell for.

Thank you

John, a number of the folks I know on the Blaser forums have bought M03 rifles, and absolutely love them. Some confess that if they had bought the M03 first, they probably wouldn't have gotten into Blasers. One point, though...and it won't affect you...is that those buying one in a lighter caliber, like 308 or 30-06, didn't realize how big the rifles were. They are definitely sized for big calibers.
As far as price, they seem to be all over the board, like Sauers. When initial sales were slow, some dealers were marking them down in the $2,400 to $3,000 range. I haven't seen any at that price in a while, but keep checking the websites.

Have handled them, haven't shot them,
but I liked what I handled.

More so than the Blaser.

.

quote:

Have handled them, haven't shot them,
but I liked what I handled.

More so than the Blaser.

X2

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

I have one in a 404-- great rifles! I will say the Africa barrels new are close to 2,500--just for the barrel. A complete gun is around 5,800 for a grade two. When the wood goes up so does the cost.

Here is mine in 404/8x68s--grade 2


By null at 2010-07-01


By null at 2010-07-01

Show-off!

John,
I too like my Mauser M 03. I have a 404 Jeffery barrel, a 375 H&H Barrel and a match grade 308 Winchester barrel. All the barrels shoot a whole lot better than I can.
I can't say enough good things about the system.

Downside, if there is one, is that you have to use Mauser mounts, rings, barrels, magazines and bolt faces. It isn't cheaply made and it isn't cheap! You'll pay about what you'd pay for a custom rifle, but you won't have to wait 2 years to get it!

The other side of using Mauser stuff is that you don't have to send this rifle back to your gunsmith to make it shoot! It shoots right out of the case! Just my opine!


I bought my rifle from Tip Burns at Canyon Sporting Arms, Canyon Lake, Texas

Both nice set ups! Getting ready to take the plunge too. Rusty, What grade wood is that beautiful stock?

Rusty

Very nice indeed and not a DR ! LOL


375 H&H Barrel and 308 Winchester is a great combo.

I think I would go 375, 308 or 30.06
then MAYBE something bigger than 375H&H.

Hairbol, I think it is grade 4?

500N, uh, let's not spread that around too much! OK?

I got the 308 match barrel to shoot 300 Yard F Class. I've been working on some loads.

My next barrel will be a .223 barrel and I will have a mount for my Ops Inc 12th Model suppressor. That ought to be fun!

How do they shoot?

Just got back from the Eastern Cape and I took some big optics with the plan of doing som long range shooting and did but the case and size of 2 haevy rifles with all the stuff was a drag literally. So I want to simplify and go this route, but the guns I shoot now are one hole guns and I don't want to give that up. I hear I won't but the more I hear that the better.

Guy's thank you for the feedback.

Rusty/505ED, are the barrel bands for the sling swivels standard on the African barrels? Also, does the kick stop come standard in the stock?

Sorry for all the questions but after perusing Mauser's web site I'm having a hard time figuring out what comes standard on the rifle. I'm also wondering if the tan composite stock would bring the price down a bit.

Those are beautiful rifles you guy's have.

John,

Yes the Africa barrels come with steel NECG sights. They are very nice. The kick stop comes with the Africa package. I did not like the kickstop so took it out, the rifle is heavy enough with out adding another pound. Mine with scope is over 10 lbs.

If I remember the Africa package comes with the rifle in grade 4, single case, scopemount, sling. Its right at 6,000. It has a 10 year warranty, and the fit and finish is first rate.

I bought mine from Tip Burns also. He has sold 12-15 since becoming a dealer a few years ago. He also keeps a few in stock. He has a knock out Mannilicher M03 , and a couple of standard grade 3's the last time I was in.

Yep the tan stock will decrease the price a bit-- but i still think it will be more than 5K. Remember I said the Safari barrels are $2460--These rifles are not cheap, but you do get alot for your money.

They shoot, can be broken down, and return to Zero everytime-- not much out there for under 6K will do that.

www.canyonsportingarms.com

Ed

My rifle did not have a kickstop. I just added one to mine, mainly because I'm a recoil wuss!

A pre fit Limbsaver is available for one of the Blaser stocks. Makes a big difference to the recoil of them.

.

I own a M03 in cal. .458 Lott since several years and am very happy with it. My M03 was one of the very first that came on the market. I wrote an article about it that was published in the May 2009 edition of the “African Expedition Magazine” (AXM). (www.africanxmag.com) If you can’t get access to this article via the AXM please let me know and I’ll send you a copy of my article.
Cheers, Hans

Ed, How many rounds does your 404J hold in the magazine?

3+1

HJ,

Read the article last night.

I have posted on this before- I have owned them in 308, 300 Wm, 37s (standard and African barrel) 404J and 416 Rem. In fact, last I checked my 416 is for sale at Cabelas, listed there by the fellow who bought it from me.

I agree with all that is posted. Very accurate rifles, very. I took them 2-3- times to Africa, and really liked traveling with the take down case.

They are heavy. I agree the recoil reducer adds unnecessary weight BUT if you take it out you have to replace it with some type of screw/bolt because it serves to anchor the recevire to the butt stock. I took mine out and could "bend" the rifle and the rear of the receiver would rise out of the stock, unsecured in the rear portion.

505ED - did you notice this as well? What did you replace the recoil reducer with? I spent a week or so trying to find a long enough bolt to fit instead of the recoil reducer.

Great rifles- and as Biebs said, they pop up used at very reasonable prices.

BTW I have a NIB standard barrel 7 mm Mag for an M 03 with sights. Absolutely new. Note, no magazine, so you will need to have a magnum magazine already or order one. I paid $1200 for it 3-4 years ago, would like $1100 shipped. If anyone is interested, please PM me.

NOTE- payment MUST-MUST be by USPS money order only. That is a United States Postal Service Money Order- not a WalMart or Western Union etc. USPS only.

No Joel, Tip Burns and Lee Labas (manager of Mauser) are good friends of mine. Lee put a spacer in the screw and it fit tight, like it is supposed to, but your right if not it would not fit right.

Ed