Heym model identification

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Lone wolf

Lone wolf

Well-Known Member
Trade Member
Now I have a slot for a .243 and a 22-250 the obligatory trawling of the tinterweb and local rfds has begun

Whilst all the usual offerings have cropped up such as howa, tikka, Remington ect I was short listing a few to consider.

When asked if I was lefthanded which i am (but shoot Right handed rifles also)I was suddenly handed a used Heym with a stainless steel Archer barrel and SS custom moderator which was very substantial and it just felt so nice, very impressed with the build quality of the rifle and its condition.

At first it was not what I had in mind being a traditional style wooden stocked rifle as I wanted something I could drop in a chassis and customize along the way, then I saw it had some 30mm rings already on it and that triggered my question of getting a picatinny rail on there for more versatile mounting options and was told a rail might be a few hundred pounds, which then put me off the gun as I felt like it would be a faff on finding something for this older gun and once found it could be extortionate for what I wanted.

But I cant get this rifle out my mind, I'm going to get then to send me some pics today so i can try to pin down what model it is so I can explore mounting solutions.

Will be a foxing and deer rifle so a 30mm scope would work as it is and I could run a tubed NV scope like a alpex as it is but would love a rail on there if possible

I know it's not the straight pull one, the SR30.

Will get some pic up when I receive them.

Could anyone shed any light on this rifle maker and especially the Archer barell as I know nothing about them.

Thanks
 
From memory, Archer was a sub-brand name used by Border Barrels for some of its production. When Geoff Kolbe gave up barrel making Border became Sassen & then Phoenix Barrels.
 
The archer barrels were button rifled and at the time were produced by Border Barrels (now Phoenix)

They were superb barrels

Assuming this one isn’t shot out or pitted the barrel should be good

The Heym rifles are very well made traditional hunting rifles

I’ve rebarrelled a few (not using Archer) and all have shot extremely well

They also shoot very well in standard form

I’ve come across a couple of Heyms Whixh have had issues reported of light stroke of firing pin - this has been resolved by ajustment back into factory tolerance as the pin is held in place by a small set screw on the cocking piece (which tinkerers who don’t know what they’re doing will play with)

All in - they are solid, pretty much hand finished stalking rifles with dependable resolution for quality and finish

Expect years of use from it, but be also aware that there are virtually no aftermarket upgrades in terms of trigger / magazine

PSE Compisites do make a stock inlet for the Heym but I can’t honestly recall if it’s for the straight pull model or bolt gun
 
Last edited:
Archer barrels are good barrels.

I would be pretty certain that the action will be a Heym SR20. Floor plate magazine with five round capacity, a thin bolt and the safety is on the side.

The later SR21 was built with action as an extension of the barrel. The Bolt is thicker, safety on the bolt shroud and a single stack 3 shot detached magazine.

I have had an SR 20 left hand since the mid 90’s in 243. They are really nice actions. Makers such as Rigby, TT Proctor etc would use them as the basis for really nice hand built rifles.

They are in my view a step above the Sako -the action and bolt feel a lot harder so smoother and magazine etc is a lot to tougher. More best London Mauser actioned hand built rifle feel than mass production. Heym also made the Mauser 2000 - very similar action, only real difference is a side safety on the bolt shroud.

There is a mini 222 sized action the SR40 - never seen one, only read about them.
 
Lone wolf said:
Now I have a slot for a .243 and a 22-250 the obligatory trawling of the tinterweb and local rfds has begun

Whilst all the usual offerings have cropped up such as howa, tikka, Remington ect I was short listing a few to consider.

When asked if I was lefthanded which i am (but shoot Right handed rifles also)I was suddenly handed a used Heym with a stainless steel Archer barrel and SS custom moderator which was very substantial and it just felt so nice, very impressed with the build quality of the rifle and its condition.

At first it was not what I had in mind being a traditional style wooden stocked rifle as I wanted something I could drop in a chassis and customize along the way, then I saw it had some 30mm rings already on it and that triggered my question of getting a picatinny rail on there for more versatile mounting options and was told a rail might be a few hundred pounds, which then put me off the gun as I felt like it would be a faff on finding something for this older gun and once found it could be extortionate for what I wanted.

But I cant get this rifle out my mind, I'm going to get then to send me some pics today so i can try to pin down what model it is so I can explore mounting solutions.

Will be a foxing and deer rifle so a 30mm scope would work as it is and I could run a tubed NV scope like a alpex as it is but would love a rail on there if possible

I know it's not the straight pull one, the SR30.

Will get some pic up when I receive them.

Could anyone shed any light on this rifle maker and especially the Archer barell as I know nothing about them.

Thanks
Click to expand...
SR21 - safety catch on the bolt. Detachable box magazine.
SR20 - safety catch to one side. Floor plate mag.

Both very nice. But be wary of the sr21 - it can have all sorts of very hard to cure accuracy issues. These stem from the structure of the action and the way it interfaces with the trigger unit and stock. Essentially, the whole set up is inherently unstable and unless the bedding is absolutely flawless and the action screws done up perfectly to balance the tension, you will get double grouping.

If it is an SR21, I would hazard a guess that it was rebarrelled because it had an accuracy issue, and is now on sale because rebarreling is not the solution!

As @Ronin mentioned above, PSE do a stock for the SR21. This partially, but not completely, cures the accuracy problem.

If the gun is an SR20, it will be a lovely thing that will just function. However, here you need to be wary of how you handle it. It will be light, and the stocks on them were often close to a Monte Carlo, much better shot standing than prone. Off a bipod, it can be hard to get a good cheek weld, and you can take a battering. The forend is also flexible, so not well suited to shooting from a bipod, and exerting any firm pressure on the fore end will throw shots off.
 
Lone wolf said:
Now I have a slot for a .243 and a 22-250 the obligatory trawling of the tinterweb and local rfds has begun

Whilst all the usual offerings have cropped up such as howa, tikka, Remington ect I was short listing a few to consider.

When asked if I was lefthanded which i am (but shoot Right handed rifles also)I was suddenly handed a used Heym with a stainless steel Archer barrel and SS custom moderator which was very substantial and it just felt so nice, very impressed with the build quality of the rifle and its condition.

At first it was not what I had in mind being a traditional style wooden stocked rifle as I wanted something I could drop in a chassis and customize along the way, then I saw it had some 30mm rings already on it and that triggered my question of getting a picatinny rail on there for more versatile mounting options and was told a rail might be a few hundred pounds, which then put me off the gun as I felt like it would be a faff on finding something for this older gun and once found it could be extortionate for what I wanted.

But I cant get this rifle out my mind, I'm going to get then to send me some pics today so i can try to pin down what model it is so I can explore mounting solutions.

Will be a foxing and deer rifle so a 30mm scope would work as it is and I could run a tubed NV scope like a alpex as it is but would love a rail on there if possible

I know it's not the straight pull one, the SR30.

Will get some pic up when I receive them.

Could anyone shed any light on this rifle maker and especially the Archer barell as I know nothing about them.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Sounds as if you like it.
If it feels right it probably is right, despite it not being what you thought you wanted.
Buy it if it makes you smile when you pick it up.
 
VSS said:
Sounds as if you like it.
If it feels right it probably is right, despite it not being what you thought you wanted.
Buy it if it makes you smile when you pick it up.
Click to expand...
True to a point.

My SR21 made me smile when I picked it up.

I spent hundreds, possibly thousands, trying to get it to group consistently, and eventually sold it. It was a beautiful rifle, and handled wonderfully. But it failed to do the key thing you need a rifle to do…
 
Last edited:
webley701 said:
From memory, Archer was a sub-brand name used by Border Barrels for some of its production. When Geoff Kolbe gave up barrel making Border became Sassen & then Phoenix Barrels.
Click to expand...
Great to know thank you
Ronin said:
The archer barrels were button rifled and at the time were produced by Border Barrels (now Phoenix)

They were superb barrels

Assuming this one isn’t shot out or pitted the barrel should be good

The Heym rifles are very well made traditional hunting rifles

I’ve rebarrelled a few (not using Archer) and all have shot extremely well

They also shoot very well in standard form

I’ve come across a couple of Heyms Whixh have had issues reported of light stroke of firing pin - this has been resolved by ajustment back into factory tolerance as the pin is held in place by a small set screw on the cocking piece (which tinkerers who don’t know what they’re doing will play with)

All in - they are solid, pretty much hand finished stalking rifles with dependable resolution for quality and finish

Expect years of use from it, but be also aware that there are virtually no aftermarket upgrades in terms of trigger / magazine

PSE Compisites do make a stock inlet for the Heym but I can’t honestly recall if it’s for the straight pull model or bolt gun
Click to expand...

Thanks, good to know the barrels are well thought of and ive Just been reassured that is been bore scoped and all is good.

I usual do like to tinker on with after market parts but I love the fact I can keep this as it is and it will do the job, will have a look at PSE stocks out of interest
Heym SR20 said:
Archer barrels are good barrels.

I would be pretty certain that the action will be a Heym SR20. Floor plate magazine with five round capacity, a thin bolt and the safety is on the side.

The later SR21 was built with action as an extension of the barrel. The Bolt is thicker, safety on the bolt shroud and a single stack 3 shot detached magazine.

I have had an SR 20 left hand since the mid 90’s in 243. They are really nice actions. Makers such as Rigby, TT Proctor etc would use them as the basis for really nice hand built rifles.

They are in my view a step above the Sako -the action and bolt feel a lot harder so smoother and magazine etc is a lot to tougher. More best London Mauser actioned hand built rifle feel than mass production. Heym also made the Mauser 2000 - very similar action, only real difference is a side safety on the bolt shroud.

There is a mini 222 sized action the SR40 - never seen one, only read about them.
Click to expand...
With your user name you sure came with the knowledge and info🙏 your on the money with it being a SR20, just had some pics sent to me will drop them at the bottom of the post, I can see how they would be favoured for hand build rifles.

Price wise I have no idea what a SR20 is second hand, and with this having a archer barrel and custom moderator.
this one is up for £250 so at that price with the reassurance of the barrel being sound and no signs of corrosion or pitting it's worth every penny
Mungo said:
SR21 - safety catch on the bolt. Detachable box magazine.
SR20 - safety catch to one side. Floor plate mag.

Both very nice. But be wary of the sr21 - it can have all sorts of very hard to cure accuracy issues. These stem from the structure of the action and the way it interfaces with the trigger unit and stock. Essentially, the whole set up is inherently unstable and unless the bedding is absolutely flawless and the action screws done up perfectly to balance the tension, you will get double grouping.

If it is an SR21, I would hazard a guess that it was rebarrelled because it had an accuracy issue, and is now on sale because rebarreling is not the solution!

As @Ronin mentioned above, PSE do a stock for the SR21. This partially, but not completely, cures the accuracy problem.

If the gun is an SR20, it will be a lovely thing that will just function. However, here you need to be wary of how you handle it. It will be light, and the stocks on them were often close to a Monte Carlo, much better shot standing than prone. Off a bipod, it can be hard to get a good cheek weld, and you can take a battering. The forend is also flexible, so not well suited to shooting from a bipod, and exerting any firm pressure on the fore end will throw shots off.
Click to expand...
Cheers for the info buddy appreciate that, just had some pics sent and its SR20......will drop some pics in below
VSS said:
Sounds as if you like it.
If it feels right it probably is right, despite it not being what you thought you wanted.
Buy it if it makes you smile when you pick it up.
Click to expand...
I do like it, even after I dismissed it with the obscure mounting options it kept playing in my thoughts, going to go and get it on Tuesday 😊
 
Heres the rifle in question

So its definitely a SR20 with a archer barrel and a custom moderator, sling and bipod.....and mounts which I have been told are hard to get hold of and costly...... £250.......so it will be with me on Tuesday

My only worry was the barrels condition and have been told by the rfd it's been bore scoped and all is good

IMG-20240907-WA0001.webpIMG-20240907-WA0000.webpIMG-20240907-WA0002.webpIMG-20240907-WA0006.webpIMG-20240907-WA0004.webp
 
Lone wolf said:
View attachment 382397
Click to expand...
Swing off mounts - probably Apel/EAW. Those are expensive (probably £200 plus new). They are fiddly, and need setting up properly. They can also work themselves lose.

I got rid of the ones on mine and replaced them with Recknagel picatinny-type bases. Alan Rhone do these for the SR20. Once you have them in place, you can mix and match scopes much more easily.

Be careful shooting prone - try to keep pressure off the fore-end as much as possible. Ideally, avoid shooting with a bipod, and instead rest it on a bag. You will also find with that stock, you struggle to get a comfortable cheek weld.

Good luck with it!
 
It’s got the Monte Carlo stock. They also did a straight Classic style stock which I have and do much prefer.

Those rings also very nice - they are Apel Swing mounts which are of top quality and highly respected. They are best part of €500 these days.

Ernst Apel Waffen - now called EAW also do a picattiny rail. EAW Picatinny Rails. - Optics-Trade
 
Mungo said:
Swing off mounts - probably Apel/EAW. Those are expensive (probably £200 plus new). They are fiddly, and need setting up properly. They can also work themselves lose.

I got rid of the ones on mine and replaced them with Recknagel picatinny-type bases. Alan Rhone do these for the SR20. Once you have them in place, you can mix and match scopes much more easily.

Be careful shooting prone - try to keep pressure off the fore-end as much as possible. Ideally, avoid shooting with a bipod, and instead rest it on a bag. You will also find with that stock, you struggle to get a comfortable cheek weld.

Good luck with it!
Click to expand...
Cheers buddy appreciate this info, the mounts will have to go then, I cant be doing with faffing on with something thats like that and likely to come undone

Alan Rhone has been suggested by a friend like you say for picatinny bases so that makes me feel better, just a shame they dont to rails like they do for the SR21......unless I've missed that?

It would mostly be shot out of my bog deathgrip tripod, on a few occasions I can see me being prone with the bipod when up on higher ground so I will remove the stock and remove somemore meat from the barrels inleting to free float it more.......and look at a cheek riser whilst I'm on with it.

Rather looking forward to tinkering on with it and doing some load development

Will naturally update the thread as I move forward with it😊
Heym SR20 said:
It’s got the Monte Carlo stock. They also did a straight Classic style stock which I have and do much prefer.

Those rings also very nice - they are Apel Swing mounts which are of top quality and highly respected. They are best part of €500 these days.

Ernst Apel Waffen - now called EAW also do a picattiny rail. EAW Picatinny Rails. - Optics-Trade
Click to expand...
yep I will have to sort out that cheek weld with something as it's not the best

ahh i will have to look them rings up as I have no clue at all about Apel swing mounts........they will be going and swapped out for picatinny bases but I really want a full rail on there but i can only see full rails for the SR21 and SR30 not the SR20......unless I've over looked it?
 
Lone wolf said:
Cheers buddy appreciate this info, the mounts will have to go then, I cant be doing with faffing on with something thats like that and likely to come undone

Alan Rhone has been suggested by a friend like you say for picatinny bases so that makes me feel better, just a shame they dont to rails like they do for the SR21......unless I've missed that?

It would mostly be shot out of my bog deathgrip tripod, on a few occasions I can see me being prone with the bipod when up on higher ground so I will remove the stock and remove somemore meat from the barrels inleting to free float it more.......and look at a cheek riser whilst I'm on with it.

Rather looking forward to tinkering on with it and doing some load development

Will naturally update the thread as I move forward with it😊

yep I will have to sort out that cheek weld with something as it's not the best

ahh i will have to look them rings up as I have no clue at all about Apel swing mounts........they will be going and swapped out for picatinny bases but I really want a full rail on there but i can only see full rails for the SR21 and SR30 not the SR20......unless I've over looked it?
Click to expand...
Nowt wrong with Apel mounts - but they do need setting up properly with sufficient tension. Once done so they work well. The SR20 and 21 have the same mounts - I think.
 
Quite looking forward to tinkering on with this and doing some load development for it prior to the start of my foxing

Worst case it shoots like a lemon I can keep the moderator and sell the mounts and stock and not be out of pocket much
 
Lone wolf said:
Cheers buddy appreciate this info, the mounts will have to go then, I cant be doing with faffing on with something thats like that and likely to come undone

Alan Rhone has been suggested by a friend like you say for picatinny bases so that makes me feel better, just a shame they dont to rails like they do for the SR21......unless I've missed that?

It would mostly be shot out of my bog deathgrip tripod, on a few occasions I can see me being prone with the bipod when up on higher ground so I will remove the stock and remove somemore meat from the barrels inleting to free float it more.......and look at a cheek riser whilst I'm on with it.

Rather looking forward to tinkering on with it and doing some load development

Will naturally update the thread as I move forward with it😊

yep I will have to sort out that cheek weld with something as it's not the best

ahh i will have to look them rings up as I have no clue at all about Apel swing mounts........they will be going and swapped out for picatinny bases but I really want a full rail on there but i can only see full rails for the SR21 and SR30 not the SR20......unless I've over looked it?
Click to expand...
No rail for an SR20. But the bases work well. I may even have some - I’ll look.
 
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