Did any one posting on this forum had the chance of handling the new Mauser M03?

The concept of having a double square bridge rifle with inter-changeable barrels its more appealing to me than the straight-pull one (e.x. Blaser), and thus I have been considering buying one.
But before making a final decision I would appreciate to ear from people with first hand experience.
Thanks in advance for any input.

B.Martins

B.Martins,

I took a close look at that rifle at the Nuremberg Gun Show in March. the shape of the rifle is nice and classic - a really appreciable stock! Metal work is nice done and the bolt goes nicely smooth. But: the cocking lever at the end of the bolt is a great disappointment, as it need a strong thumb to get cocked and - worse than so - as decocking the striker can be rather painful. The cocking lever is caught by a catch. To decock you have to press the catch, and in that moment the lever goes back. The strong spring is strong enough to rather painfully squeeze or cut a piece of the skin on your thumb between the lever and the catch- It�s like a pair of tongs. Mauser have to rework that funktion. If so, it would be a great rifle.

Best regards,

Fritz

Fritz,

Thank you for your info.

Do you think that a safety device like de ones that can be used with the M98 can, by any chance, replace the cocking device of the M03?

Best Regards

B.Martins

Don't forget, you are only reacting to a single opinion. You should really handle the rifle for yourself and make up your own opinion. I have heard other testimonies (I have not handled the M03 myself, so I'll refrain from stating my own opinion), and they pretty much contrasted the one offered above. See for yourself, then make up your mind.
- mike

mho,

Thank you.
Of course I will not buy the rifle before I handle it!. But having the opinions of others (even if controversial) will help me to decide. At least I know at what to look and what to expect.

All my rifles (except for a Dakota 76??!) have a sort of straight forward �safety tang� (or a �cocking device�) and I wouldn�t be very happy to add another one with an �odd� cocking system to my collection, if I can help it.

I am not very confident when developing loads for my Blasers and I am set on trading them for another rifle with an �easy changing barrels� feature. And apart from the M03 the only other one available on our market is the Sauer 202 but I don�t like its safety solution.

Regards

B.Martins

Mr. Martins, If they are available to you I can heartily recommend HS Precision Take-down rifles. Interchangable barrel sets are available I have 1 with 2. My 300 RUM is one of the most accurate rifles I own. They are guarenteed to be 1/2 inch or better in calibers 30 and smaller. Good luck.....DJ