I am thinking about a Sauer 202 set up for .243 and 9.3x62, possibly in the Stutzen (Mannlicher stock) version. Please tell me about your experience with and impressions of the Sauer 202.

Dave

A fantastic rifle, I never met one which didn't shoot <MOA, in any caliber, out of the box. I own one with 2 bbls. in 7x64 and .30-06.

However, you might reconsider the combo you have in mind as the .243 will need a separate, special bolt assembly. In addition to the 9,3x62, you might opt for 6,5x55, 6,5x57, 7x64, .25-06, .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win by replacing barrel and magazine only.

Nice guns, well made. Rare to run into one that does not shoot. The safety is a bit different, so make sure you get used to that.

In general, full stock rifles are often more finicky than half stock rifles. But I admit full stock rifles do have oodles of character.

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
However, you might reconsider the combo you have in mind as the .243 will need a separate, special bolt assembly. In addition to the 9,3x62, you might opt for 6,5x55, 6,5x57, 7x64, .25-06, .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win by replacing barrel and magazine only.

Andre, why does it make sense that the .243 requires a different bolt, if the .308 can use the same bolt as the 30-06/9.3x62 etc (albeit with a different magazine)???

- mike

Andre is correct.

For no apparent reason the 243win 202 has a different bolt head (3 lugs rather than 6 I think) than all the other .473" case head rounds. So if you do go for a 243 & 9.3x62 combo you will require an extra bolt at a considerable expense.

I would go for a 25/06 or one of the 6.5's with your 9.3 to keep the cost down.

I've had a 202 for a few years in 308Win. It's a great rifle and I've taken it all over the place with me. The removal of the stock makes it easy to travel with as it packs down into a more compact case, (the hard lockable is worth buying as an extra).

The safety takes a bit of getting used to and 've only had a problem on a couple of occasions when I have been so cold I couldn't feel my fingers. I had to take the gloves off and suck my trigger finger to get some feeling back so I could shoot the buck I was watching!!

Take a look at both the standard 202 and the take down version. There is a slightly different overlap in the calibres they can take(as each has 2 actions) and so depending on what extra barrels you may want it is worth considering both as a possibility.

The only other thing I can fault is that the forend is a litttle flimsy so a couple of people I know of have had to channel the wood out slightly as it touches the barrel when you lean on it. I've never done mine as it still puts stuff down for me.

My 308 was fussy about what it shoots, but once I found a load it just does the business.

My mate shoots his 243 & 270 barrels with federal factory ammo and it shoots amazing groups out to 300m with the 270win.

If you are lookignfor a synthetic stock then personally I find the sauers a bit "sharp" on the comb, but the wood stock is great. It also has the benefit of being such that with swing off mounts it is very comfortable to shoot over the open sights.

Rgds,
FB

The gunsmith I bought my riffle from, said that the forend can touch the barrel if you over tight it.

Great rifle and once you get used to the safety you won't want anything else - fantastic quality for a gun in this range and they're an absolute joy to use. I can't speak for the synthetic "Outback" models and the like, but the quality of my Elegance is worth every penny.

If I remember correctly I think the .243 and the .22-250 bolt are different from the 9.3 bolt - see http://www.sauer-waffen.de/uploads/media/S202_03gb_01.pdf.

I'm looking to get a 6.5x55 barrel for my 9.3x62 which should use the same bolt. Just bear in mind you will need an adapter or an extra swivel stud in the forend if you like to use a Harris bipod as they dont fit onto the standard swivels.

Good luck.

Nigel.

Smooth - user friendly - just plain nice - I have used it in Namibia 10 years ago (borrowed) in 2 calibers (7mmRM and 300WM) - no issues whatsoever - made 4 kills in 10 days without a missed shot ranging from 100m (warthog) - 300m (oryx)).

Have Sauer 202 Select 300 Win.Mag and shoot in Europe with RWS Doppelkern and in Africa with Barnes X Amo. This Rifle never has Disapointed me. I hardly go out in the Forest with a other Rifle since I have it.

Seloushunter

quote:

In addition to the 9,3x62, you might opt for 6,5x55, 6,5x57, 7x64, .25-06, .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win by replacing barrel and magazine only.

I´ve a Sauer 202 Stutzen in 9.3x62, and only have good things to say about it, it looks great , shoots very accurately with RWS KS, and I love it.

However, and according to the info I got from Sauer, in the Stutzen variant of the 202 you can not simply replace the barrel to change caliber.

From SAUER :

quote:

When taking off the fore end and putting it on again (with inlays) nothing will happen to accuracy because you still have the same barrel in the gun. But when now changing the barrel it can happen that the length of the stock leads to the problem that the hole of the metal cap is not 100 % in position for the hole in the new barrel. When then assembling the metal cap and fixing the screw at the muzzle you can get tension on the barrel which will finally leads to bad accuracy. Therefore we tell the market that there is no barrel interchange ability at the Stutzen because the user cannot change the hole in the cap or adjust length of the stock perfectly.

Here in the factory we just take a new fore end with perfect length that the hole of the cap fits exactly to the hole of the new barrel. Therefore we can change barrels but it might happen that we need a new fore end. So it is almost impossible to have one Stutzen with one fore end but two or more barrels because you cannot manufacture wood to this precise tolerance.

I hope this answers your questions.

Best regards

Matthias Klotz
Product Manager SAUER

Cheer´s

I really like the 202, a friend of mine has one in cal. 300WM that I've tried at the range with great results; now a question: if one disassemble the barrel, let's say for an air travel, does the rifle CERTAINLY keep the zeroing, once it's reassembled?

No, contrary to the Blaser R93 where the scope is mounted on the bbl., the Sauer 202's zero needs to be checked after a bbl. switch (scope on receiver !). However I experienced and found little zero shift (= no practical difference for hunting) if I tightened the bbl. nuts to the same tension, using a torque screwdriver. This may or may not be repeatable on another rifle...

Ahhh, I supposed it; anyway, I prefer a Sauer 202 over a Blaser R93.

I have a Sauer 202 and find it a real quality piece of kit.

Two things sold me on it. It is a real left hand rifle, and the safety is totally silent. I always said I would never buy a hunting rifle with a removable magazine and the spring loaded, almost ejector, magazine release is my only gripe. I have lost one magazine, but had no trouble getting another.

Replacement barrels are the price of a complete American brand rifle here and when you add the price of a scope and mounts, this is not a cheap unit. Being able to put it in a suitcase is a major bonus in this day and age.

That said I have a 375 H&H barrel that shoots amazing groups, a 270 Weatherby barrel that is better, and a 300 Weatherby barrel that I have just started on. A 6.5x68S will be next.

They cost a lot of money, but they are something of a bargain. Now I just need to dream up a reason for a takedown model.

I would not buy a takedown model, due to the reasons stated by André. IMO, the best takedown rifle is still the Blaser R93.

To travel with the Sauer 202 (not the Take Down model) you don't need to touch the barrel. The only thing you do is take the stock off with the long allen key so the main body of the rifle is untouched. I take the scope off anyway as it is on swing offs. the whole thing can be ready for travel in under a minute.

Apart from the fact that I always recheck zero after traveling, the only time I needed to make an adjustment was in Argentina but that was down to the guides driving witht he gun in a slip in the back of the pick up!!

FB

I have said to many times on this forum that I think the Sauer 202 is the best factory rifle out there. So that is my bias.

As I have also said here before, I see no reason for the S202 takedown to exist. Certainly not at the price which is huge.

As FB states, the standard model can be stripped down for travel in under a minute. It can be reassembled without loss of zero in the same amount of time, given good scope mounts.

Barrel / calibre changes can be executed on the standard model in five minutes. Rechecking zero will be necessary.

Has anyone ever gone Roe stalking with a Blaser or Sauer in 243win, spotted a big red and thought, hang on there big guy until I convert my rifle from 243 to 30/06?

Didn't think so.

quote:

Has anyone ever gone Roe stalking with a Blaser or Sauer in 243win, spotted a big red and thought, hang on there big guy until I convert my rifle from 243 to 30/06?

No but that's why I stalk Roe with a .30-06

Brian,

the only benefit of the take down model is that you canhave the 375H+H on the "non-magnum" action 202, whereas on the standard 202 the biggest you can carry is 9.3x62.

It makes no differencce in anythng bar if you wanted a 375 H+H as a safari calibre.


Rgds,
FB

Just standard non take down sauer
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/300106493/m/914103449

I use a Sauer 202 in .308 for stationary hunting. The gun is a love-hate affair for me but I have now found the perfect place for it.

The forend stock is flimsy and you need to get another stock to get bipods on it. The magazine is just pathetic and there are a few other things that are just stupid.

But the rifle wispers sweeeet things in my ear when I take aim and I am supremely confident in the rifle when actually taking shots with it.

It is the rifles ability to manage rough handling that I don't fully appreciate. It's one of these modern guns that are built for sunday hunters, people who lease one-day hunts and aren't allowed to leave their treestands until the PH comes to collect them. Such hunters need extraordinary precision ("hey, I paid good money for this hunt and if I see a roe buck at 300 meters I'll bloody well shoot") but have no use for ability to manage rough handling.

I have Leupold QR mounts on it. Most of the time, I have a Zeiss Victory 6-24x56 with an illuminated #63 reticle. Whatever I feed the gun it will shoot sub MOA, including weird experimentary loads like 220gr Hornady RN in 600m/s.

So, stationary hunts with bipods, with this precision and this scope. Critters just die when I pull the trigger, be they boar or moose or crow. Never mind shooting distance.

The gun started as a love affair, and then I started to mistrust, but now it's perfect for the use I put to it.

Nice looking rifle, and they shoot just fine, BUT the safety inside the trigger guard is a total folly.

I say that having been on the wrong end of a negligent discharge due to the safety arrangement and faulty gun handling!

I now avoid Sauer202 like the plague. Sorry if that upsets the many enthusiasts, but I will admit to some bias on the matter.

T260

Had one for a few years. It shoot very well and was a dream in a treestand.
Easy to take down and put back together for travel.

I too find the safe unsafe having experienced simular problems as previous poster.
Never got comfortable with the balance(to far back) and since most of my hunting is running game that didn´t work.

Best regards
Stig

I was on the phone to my gun dealer the other day and thought I would check the price for a caliber change. He quoted (GBP Sterling) about £500 for a barrel, £280 for a bolt and £50 a magazine...... price of another gun in otherwords!

Regards

Nige

It seems to me that you guys are telling me it is a nice rifle with a poorly designed safety.

I personally think that the safety is probably one of the best on the market, absolutely silent and easy to use. Anyone can experience an un-wanted discharge if they haven't got a clue, makes you wonder what they are doing around firearms in the first place
I had a 202 Europa Lux in 308Win but had problems with it, it turned out to be a lot of bad luck, not only were the threads for the forward mount stripped in the receiver but the new Swarovski on it turned out to be defective as well . The rifle was pre-owned and bought from a dealer, who ended up replacing it and the scope with a new ones. Unfortunately I had lost confidence in it and never felt 100% confident, have since sold it but would definitely have another (just not in 308Win ).

Sorry if I upset the people that love them, but we were asked for our experience with the rifle, Unfortunately, my personal experience was not good, `I really don't enjoy 30 cal 150 Gn BT's going past my ear at 2700+ fps... it is a trifle un nerving to say the least.

Take it FWIW, BUT look carefully at the position of the safety catch, its operation, and then form your own opinion in comparison with alternative designs and location on the action.

ATB

T260

Well, as soon as an idiot-proof solution is invented, someone invents a better idiot.

This could not have happened unless somebody waived a loaded in in your direction with a finger in the triggerguard!

The safety button is great when stalking. It's the perfect place to keep the thumb and as long as you grip the gun that way you can be sure that twigs or foliage can't push away the safety - which has happened to me using Sako rifles of ordinary safety design.

My father is considering on in the 7mm-08 (gasp!), and I had long thought about the 9.3x62 and 30-06 or 7x64 combination.

I have the 202 classic with the flat bolt in 7mm rem, and it is a shooter. At 200 yards I have got quite a few .500" inch groups with my own reloads. RL-25 70grs with 160 accubond.
Elmerdeer

I am pretty committed to this 202 idea, I am going to be in Denver on the 10th, and I had another Bass Pro ship two of them to the Denver store so I can give them a going over.

I am also going to go to Billings to Scheels and see what they have. They are awesome to trade with.

So here's the million dollar question. Do you have to buy a magnum to to be able to change to magnum barrels in the non-take down?

I'd rather take the Mauser M03. Maybe it's not as pretty as 202 rifle but it's better.

D99,
Except for the take-down, it's either standard or magnum action as they're not interchangeable, contrary to the Blaser R93.

Andre,

Thanks! I am going to get a standard instead of a magnum. I already have a 340 Weatherby and a 375 in other rifles. I just want the 202 for normal hunts.