I have ordered a Sauer 202 Classic Synthetic in 8x68S, with a 65 cms bbl.
Yesterday the gun dealer called suggesting I take a model “Team Sauer XT†with a 60 cms “Fluted Heavy Magnum†bbl instead. He says this model is immediately available and in promotion and there will be no increase in the negotiated price. He doesn’t know when he can deliver the Classic Synthetic.

Anyone here has had any experience with this Team Sauer XT model?
Would this shorter bbl affect the bullet velocity significantly?

B.Martins

b.

I have no experience with the new Team Sauer XT but consider the Sauer offerings all good looking rifles. I've one fluted barrel on a hunting rifle that shoots excellently (Blaser Attaché barrel) but it's not "heavy" at all, rather - "light".

I don't know how far you'd want to carry a "Heavy Fluted Barrel" depending on what Sauer's definition of "heavy" is; that would be the major consideration for me; especially if you want to stalk in Africa with it.

As for the length - well I think you'll have to be the judge of that. Certainly an 8x68S is probably one of those cartridges that could use a good length of barrel.

Having said that, my Blaser R93 65cm .375H&H barrel is long for me and I'd be just as happy if it was 60cm. My other .375H&H; a Winchester Model 70 had a 24" heavy barrel which I had chopped to 22". So far neither me nor any of the dead animals I've shot with it have noticed one bit of dfference other than I consider the rifle more balanced, optically pleasing and somewhat handier.

Sorry, I have no personal experience with the XT either. I did look at the Sauer website, though, and it looks as if the XT is the way I'd personally go. I like heavier barrels for heavier calibers, they make it easier to get the rifle to shoot well. It also helps you recover from recoil for those second and third shots on your driven pigs... Besides, at least from looking at the website, I can't detect much of a weight difference between the two rifles you considered. A lot depends on whether you are going for a steel or aluminium receiver?

I have loaded for a Blaser R93 in 8x68S. It was one of the older models with a 24" barrel. I got fine velocities out of the "shorter" barrel (200 grs NP - 2900-3000 fps). The XT barrel of (about) 23.5" sounds just fine to me - you'll certainly enjoy the shorter barrel in narrow blinds etc.

Can you pay your dealer a visit and actually handle the XT??
- mike

Gerry & Mike,

Thanks for the input.

I had the chance of handling a Sauer 202 Classic in 8x68S at Expocaça (Hunting Exhibition) in the beginning of this month. It was a normal wooden stock with a steel receiver and it seemed a very well balanced rifle.
I have two other Sauer rifles (a 90 in 30.06 and a 202 in 9,3x62) both with steel receivers (I don’t like the light ones), and decided for another Sauer not only because I like them very much, but also because the only other rifle available in 8x68 was a Mauser M03 which I don’t like that much.
The problem is that at present there is no agent for Sauer in Portugal. There is an agent for the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain, and the Portuguese gun dealers have to import thru him. As a result of this Sauer’s sales strategy no one keeps Sauer rifles in stock any more. So I have to decide on the XT model without actually having the chance to look at it first!
I was hoping someone had already used (or at least handled) it that could convey his impressions about this model.

B.Martins