DOES ANYONE OWN A STEYR PRO HUNTER RIFLE. IM IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW 308 AND IM LEANING TOWARDS THE STEYR PRO HUNTER, HOW DOES THIS WEAPON COMPARE W/ SAKO ,TIKKA OR A BROWNING RIFLE. MY FATHER HAS A VERY EXSPENSIVE STEYR MANNLICHER MODEL M HE GOT YEARS AGO OVERSEAS AND IT IS AN AWESOME RIFLE. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU FOLKS. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Hi - I've had two Steyr Pro Hunters; one the full size in 308, the other a Compact in 7mm-08. Both are incredibly accurate - well under MOA with factory ammo, and the 308 will do 2 - 2.5" at 300 yards when I do my part. Still working loads for the 7mm08; but initial shooting gave several different loads that were under .75" at 100 yards.

I bought the 308 from a friend who is basically a custom rifle maker and safari outfitter. He knows my financial limitations, and when I came to him for an accurate rifle, he pointed me unhesitatingly to the Steyr even though he had several other "Big Name" rifles on the rack. He calls the Steyrs "gunsmith proof" as, except for tightening up a tiny bit of slack in the trigger, there's nothing he could do to improve them.

Having said all that, they're definitely "different" looking; and use a one size fits all approach to actions. The good news with that is there is PLENTY of room in the magazine to seat bullets out long in order to minimize jump to the lands - possibly part of the secret to their accuracy.

I think you'd be happy with one as long as you don't need controlled round feeding, and if you can get past its looks...

Regards,

Kevin

I got an old one that I bought back in 1976. They take some getting use to. Mine is a 7 x 57. It likes 140 gr Nosler Partitions. It was at the time a hard rifle to scope because scope mounts were hard to by. I went thru several because of scope slippage. Good rifle thou. Good value for the money these days

You might want to step up to the bar and buy one now if you can find it. Steyr was bought out and seems the new owners have no idea as to what they are going to do at the moment. When I tried to get a Pro Hunter 30/06 from the importer GSI at Christmas time they had none. Only had a couple in any caliber. Good luck in you quest. No doubt you will have a good rifle if you can find one.

I have an older Model M Professional with the ABS Cycolac stock, 5 rd detachable rotary mag, iron sights, Warne rings, Kahles 3-9x42 with TDS reticle. I had the set triggers removed and a single trigger installed. I bedded it myself and installed a Pachmayr pad. I get 5/8" 3 shot groups @ 100yds. with 30 cal. 165gr. Partitions @ just over 2900fps. I love it. I can't say I'm too partial to the new ones; too many safeties and crap.JMHO.

Swampfoot,

I have two of the Steyr SBS rifles: a .308 Win Steyr Scout; and a .376 Steyr ProHunter.

I am really pleased with both rifles, and the out of the box accuracy is outstanding.

The ProHunter was initially loaned to me by GSI for a hunt in Zimbabwe in September, 2001. I was going to hunt with the rifle and write it up for African Hunter. I liked the rifle so much that I bought it after I got back.

I think the quality is above that of Remington, Ruger or Winchester.

Strongly recommended...jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

I own a 30.06 Forester and it puts almost anything that I feed it into MOA groups. Steyr rifles have one of the best factory triggers that I have seen. I have a .260 ProHunter on lay-away at my local shop, and I am anxious see what it will do, once sufficient funds are available to pick it up. A friend has a three ProHunter rifles, .376, .270 and 7X57 and all are excellent shooters. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with a Steyr - Buy it!!

[This message has been edited by cwilson (edited 01-15-2002).]