Quality lefty factory rifle - any factory rifle better than a Sauer 202 Synchro XT

[lambic]

I spend most of my life working so whatever I buy will only have a fraction of the use of professional stalkers and I am careful with my gear. A more expensive new factory rifle should last me a lifetime (apart from the barrel) and I should know it inside out.

So based on that, going to try to find a Sauer 404 Synchro XT. Hoping it will fit me. So that would be an ambi stock with left hand action. No idea what waiting times will be. Maybe get a wooden l/h stock and a smaller calibre additional barrel in the future.

Been looking on YouTube, but still cannot figure out how the Sauer scope mounts actually grip the scope.......

If 404 does not fit them will look at Mauser then Sako 85 Hunter then Heym SR21.

Cheers

 

[Muir]

Thanks for input gents.

Muir - do you not approve of a thumb hole stock on a 270 for practical reasons or just not to your taste?


Cheers

James

Sorry, I missed this.
I like thumbholes on varmint rifles or rifles shot from a rest, but to carry? Awfully uncomfortable. I guess it would depend on your style of hunting.~Muir

 

[Scarlet]

Does sauer do a left handed synthetic model?

The thumbhole stock on the XT model is ambidextrous. So all you need is a left hand action on the 202.

 

[lambic]

Very nice gun that Scarlet. Non fluted with steel action? How is the balance with moderator?

Muir -I think the rifle will be slung over my shoulder 99 percent of the time so a thumb hole hopefully would not make carrying too uncomfortable generally speaking.

 

[Southern]

Look beyond the brand new Sauer vs the Tikka T3 at a fraction of the price. That is like comparing a Mercedes S class to a VW Jetta - both a good ride, but....

Left handed makes the pickings more slim, but there still have to be some very clean and little-shot second-hand Sako 75, Sauer 202 and 200 out there in left hand versions. You'll save half the price and have a very nice rifle.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Since there seem to be a lot of knowledgeable lefties on this thread, and since I was sorely tempted by the lefthand Sauer 200 in 7x64 that Ivythorne had up for sale for a year or more a little while back, it was just outside my budget though, especially with the trip to Somerset to look at and test shoot it. Sad really as it would have been an awful lot rifle for the price (£700 IIRC).

My understanding is that the 200 and 202 are breakdown switch barrel capable rifles. Are they all one action length? Could you for example have a 243 and 30/06 barrel and use them interchangeably on the same receiver?

Apologies for the partial hijack - although the answer to this question may well be part of what makes the rifle better - which in terms of versatility would be fair enough!

Guy

 

[JasonH]

Hi Guy

Not too sure about the 200 but the 202 is a switch barrel design. The .243 and 30/06 share the same action size but you would need a different bolt and magazine along with a barrel which in reality makes it not very economical. However the new 404 which is the Blaserfication of the 202 (as they now share the same stable) will enable this more easily as you can swap the bolt head but at a price of course. To be honest I run 2 202s for this reason one in .243 and one in .308 with a 6.5x55 barrel (they share the same bolt).

 

[Southern]

Yes, the 200 is a switch barrel. The barrels are the same, so I could put a 202 barrel on my 200.

But don't let that sway you, because it looks like you could buy a second Sauer 200, second hand, for the same cost as a new spare barrel.

I must add that I also own a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08 and it shoots great. I love the light weight, and I don't have to baby it. I had a T3 Lite in .30-06 which shot so well, but sold it to a friend, as I have another stainless rifle which shoots well under an inch ( Remington 700 BDL SS), and a zillion more .30-06s. I have never seen or heard of a T3 in .308 that did not shoot very well. I just helped a young deer hunter select his first new deer rifle and he bought a Tikka T3 in walnut, after shooting my Sauer, Tikka, Howa, Sako, and M70 Featherweight, all in .308.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Thanks gents. Interesting that 6.5x55 and 308 share a bolt when 243 is different - given that 243 and 308 have very similar case dimensions, whilst the Swede case is a fair bit differnet no?

 

[Scarlet]

Very nice gun that Scarlet. Non fluted with steel action? How is the balance with moderator?

Yep no fluting and steel action. Not exactly a light gun but a solid built and a smooth action gun.
Very comfortable to hold on target in many shooting positions and im glad I went for a thumbhole stock.
The balance well what can you expect when you stick a jet-z on a 23 inch barrelled gun.
I like it and that what matter`s and it works very well indeed.

 

[lambic]

Looks like 12 months lead time on left handed 404 at the moment. Too long to wait for me.

 

[takbok]

Why dont you buy a T3 and get a really fancy stock if you don't like the feel of the standard T3 stock? The T3 action and barrel is up there with the best.

 

[lambic]

What customs stocks would you suggest for a Stainless T3 Lite Takbok? Know nothing about them.

Could be the answer. The Stainless is a big plus that Sauers cannot offer.

 

[JasonH]

My tikka T3 in its Boyd's laminate stock nice addition just need to egg it bedded.

 

[JasonH]

Thanks gents. Interesting that 6.5x55 and 308 share a bolt when 243 is different - given that 243 and 308 have very similar case dimensions, whilst the Swede case is a fair bit differnet no?

The reason is the cartridges diameter the length of case is within the chamber of the barrel or the throat as some I believe call it.

 

[lambic]

Thanks. Will have a trawl on the web starting with Boyd.

 

[novice]

Definitely worth getting in touch with pse composite stocks in Ireland. Think ejg on here is the head Man there. I'm sure I've seen examples of their work on left handed tikkas before. In fact one of their stocks is certainly on my Christmas list to replace the McMillan on my lefty m595.

Novice

 

[takbok]

Sorry I can't help with stock suggestions. I'm pretty happy with my standard synthetic stock.

I like the look of those PSE stocks, and the Boyds thumbhole ones could be nice if that's what you're after.

What customs stocks would you suggest for a Stainless T3 Lite Takbok? Know nothing about them.

Could be the answer. The Stainless is a big plus that Sauers cannot offer.

 

[Adiepie]

Thanks. Will have a trawl on the web starting with Boyd.

Sorry, Boyd LH stocks are greater than their $100 limit, so can't be (easily) exported!!

You will need to go to the "grown up" stocks for a LH - McMillan, GRS etc

Or a custom stock maker?

Adrian

 

[lambic]

Think this is going to need a lot of researching. Thanks for the tips