2025 Purchase Heym v M18/CZ600

[Sdoc]

Hi All,
I would like to hear your thoughts on Heym SR21/30 versus M18/CZ 600 on finish quality etc. I'm hoping to purchase in the new year in 308.
I just shoot nowadays for the sheer pleasure of shooting, I don't hunt anymore so it would be plinking only, but I have plenty of target oriented rifles. I like to challenge myself on simulated hunting at distance sometimes, so first round hit.

I have an SR21 in 243 and I love the trad finish, blued steel/walnut. Its very difficult to get a recent detailed review on youtube etc on the SR21/30, they are all old at this stage.

I have noticed that Heym prices are significantly lower on their website if you take an off the shelf offering in the 21/30 versus using the online configurator, 1500 Euro for a 308 in walnut stock which brings it to the same price point roughly as a CZ600/M18 pure here in Ireland. It will probably be a bit more by the time its shipped etc, but still.

If I use my SR20 as a yardstick for quality, on the face of it, it looks to me like the Heym would be a superior rifle. I know that the forums would rate the SR20 higher then the SR21, but that's not really the question - its the SR21/30 v other current offerings for finish, quality etc.

Also, if anyone can suggest an alternative, happy to hear, but blued/walnut only.

Thanks!
SnakeDoctor

 

[308rws]

I’ve also noticed that off the shelf Heym are exceptionally well priced at the moment. I like the look of their SR30 offering, but won’t get to see one until Feb. I would pitch it against the Mauser M12 which is also an impressive offering.
The problem is that post Brexit Heym has stopped importing to the UK and obtaining Export Licenses for firearms is not easy.
What I’d not considered until your post is the potential to source a German rifle in the Emerald Isle and bringing it back across the Irish Sea in person. I don’t know if any other SD Members have done this?
In short, I’d probably stick with Heym if you’ve got a good Irish importer.

 

[Sdoc]

I actually don't know if there is an official importer in Ireland, my RFD can more or less get anything imported, but it's a wait normally. We can get rifles from the UK through the North. It's an RFD to RFD transfer from the UK to the north and then relatively straightforward RFD North to South RFD. It should work in reverse as well!

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

The heym 30 should be a simple yes or no because it's a straight pull

The M18 is also a pretty simple decision- it's a rough keepers gun to complete with cheap American offerings. But they punch above their price point I have heard . They are certainky worth the £500-600 they cost- but aren't in the same league as the CZ or Heym.

I rather like Heym as a brand. Wish I had one tbh. A poor man's schultz larsen perhaps ? Certainly under rated in the UK.

Can't comment on the CZ.

 

[styer-243]

Heym SR20 is fantastic, shot 243 and own a 7x57.

Keen to find out more about CZ 600, robust brand and a lot of rifle for the money.

 

[Andy Mauthe]

For what it’s worth, I have a custom configured Heym SR21 on order now. I’m in the USA and they aren’t very common here and their US distributor/importer is primarily focused on Heym double rifles. So ordering for me was made up of several phone conversations and emails until we arrived at a configuration that met what I wanted and met his thoughts of what he wanted to import to maintain the Heym standard set by the custom doubles he normally deals with. At any rate, the level of fit and finish I believe will be above the other options you mentioned. If you want the highest level of fit then go with the custom configuration. They do more hand finishing as compared to the standard offerings. Also take a look at the Anschutz 1782. I have one of those too and they’re excellent and fairly configurable. Let us know what direction you go. Cheers from the States!

 

[HonestJohn]

Hi All,
I would like to hear your thoughts on Heym SR21/30 versus M18/CZ 600 on finish quality etc. I'm hoping to purchase in the new year in 308.
I just shoot nowadays for the sheer pleasure of shooting, I don't hunt anymore so it would be plinking only, but I have plenty of target oriented rifles. I like to challenge myself on simulated hunting at distance sometimes, so first round hit.

I have an SR21 in 243 and I love the trad finish, blued steel/walnut. Its very difficult to get a recent detailed review on youtube etc on the SR21/30, they are all old at this stage.

I have noticed that Heym prices are significantly lower on their website if you take an off the shelf offering in the 21/30 versus using the online configurator, 1500 Euro for a 308 in walnut stock which brings it to the same price point roughly as a CZ600/M18 pure here in Ireland. It will probably be a bit more by the time its shipped etc, but still.

If I use my SR20 as a yardstick for quality, on the face of it, it looks to me like the Heym would be a superior rifle. I know that the forums would rate the SR20 higher then the SR21, but that's not really the question - its the SR21/30 v other current offerings for finish, quality etc.

Also, if anyone can suggest an alternative, happy to hear, but blued/walnut only.

Thanks!
SnakeDoctor

Schultz Larsen

 

[Mungo]

Be aware that there are fundamental design flaws in the Heym SR21 that can cause accuracy problems that are all but impossible to solve.

I can go into detail if needed…

 

[Sdoc]

Schultz Larsen

Are currently running about 2.5 K in Ireland, putting them about 1k more then the Heym, if you can get them. I would certainly consider, but also my concern would be after support in Ireland

 

[Sdoc]

Be aware that there are fundamental design flaws in the Heym SR21 that can cause accuracy problems that are all but impossible to solve.

I can go into detail if needed…

Please do, Id be interested to hear - one question though - is this hands on experience?

 

[Dorset Shakari]

Be aware that there are fundamental design flaws in the Heym SR21 that can cause accuracy problems that are all but impossible to solve.

I can go into detail if needed…

I’ve had 2x SR20s, and 2x SR21s. All have been tack drivers.

 

[HonestJohn]

Are currently running about 2.5 K in Ireland, putting them about 1k more then the Heym, if you can get them. I would certainly consider, but also my concern would be after support in Ireland

After support in those is unlikely to be needed for the best part of 50 years

 

[Mungo]

Please do, Id be interested to hear - one question though - is this hands on experience?

Hands on experience.

First: the positives. They are absolutely beautiful guns, made to an extremely high standard. The fit and finish is nearly custom gun level, and the metal and wood work is just lovely. Ergonomically excellent, really well balanced.

However, there is one core problem. They were designed around the time that the Blaser switch barrel systems were taking off, and Heym clearly wanted to come up with a way to at least market the gun as a switch barrel. They came up with an odd hybrid solution: the barrel and chamber are one unit, and the trigger and its housing are a separate unit. So you can undo the action bolts, lift out the barrel/chamber part, then drop in a barrel/chamber of another cartridge. The trigger unit remains in place, and the barrel/chamber slots onto a small stud that projects up out of the trigger unit.

This arrangement can cause problems. It creates a fulcrum in the middle of the action, pushing up in the centre while the action bolts pull down at either end. This means that the bedding must be absolutely perfect, and the action bolts tightened perfectly, with torque maintained perfectly. Any imbalance in this imparts a lot of tension into the system, and it becomes unstable, shooting double groups. If you have a wood stock, the stock inevitably flexes over time with temperature and moisture - so it's almost impossible to completely stabilise. A synthetic stock can help, but again, bedding and bolt torque needs to be absolutely perfect.

I had an SR21 in .308 for about 10 years. I spent an enormous amount of time and money trying to get it to shoot consistently and trying to diagnose the problem. Once I worked out what the problem was, I was able to get it shooting consistently for 20-30 shots, but inevitably something would loosen or shift, and the groups would open up dramatically. In the end I sold it, and have never had anywhere near the problems with any other rifle.

Not every SR21 shows these problems, but enough do that I would really advise against getting one. If I were looking to get a rifle of this sort, I'd get a Schulz and Larsen.

 

[Sdoc]

After support in those is unlikely to be needed for the best part of 50 years

Yes, you would think -

Hands on experience.

First: the positives. They are absolutely beautiful guns, made to an extremely high standard. The fit and finish is nearly custom gun level, and the metal and wood work is just lovely. Ergonomically excellent, really well balanced.

However, there is one core problem. They were designed around the time that the Blaser switch barrel systems were taking off, and Heym clearly wanted to come up with a way to at least market the gun as a switch barrel. They came up with an odd hybrid solution: the barrel and chamber are one unit, and the trigger and its housing are a separate unit. So you can undo the action bolts, lift out the barrel/chamber part, then drop in a barrel/chamber of another cartridge. The trigger unit remains in place, and the barrel/chamber slots onto a small stud that projects up out of the trigger unit.

This arrangement can cause problems. It creates a fulcrum in the middle of the action, pushing up in the centre while the action bolts pull down at either end. This means that the bedding must be absolutely perfect, and the action bolts tightened perfectly, with torque maintained perfectly. Any imbalance in this imparts a lot of tension into the system, and it becomes unstable, shooting double groups. If you have a wood stock, the stock inevitably flexes over time with temperature and moisture - so it's almost impossible to completely stabilise. A synthetic stock can help, but again, bedding and bolt torque needs to be absolutely perfect.

I had an SR21 in .308 for about 10 years. I spent an enormous amount of time and money trying to get it to shoot consistently and trying to diagnose the problem. Once I worked out what the problem was, I was able to get it shooting consistently for 20-30 shots, but inevitably something would loosen or shift, and the groups would open up dramatically. In the end I sold it, and have never had anywhere near the problems with any other rifle.

Not every SR21 shows these problems, but enough do that I would really advise against getting one. If I were looking to get a rifle of this sort, I'd get a Schulz and Larsen.

Thanks for that clear and concise answer. I am extremely risk averse when buying new for a few reasons. The biggest one is that these type of rifles in Ireland have car crash second hand value as there is no real market for them, so when I buy, thats it.

 

[HonestJohn]

But why consider the m18 against fine quality rifles such as Heym? The m18 works, but is like a plastic fork from a chippy

 

[Sdoc]

But why consider the m18 against fine quality rifles such as Heym? The m18 works, but is like a plastic fork from a chippy

They are at roughly the same price point here in Ireland, M18 pure (NOT the plastic stock) v "off the shelf" Heym- - couple of hundred quid difference, and I haven't got to hold an m18 Pure so cant compare. The next step up is SnL, or Anschutz, around 2.5 K.

 

[HonestJohn]

M18 pure in the same as the others, just a bog standard kiln dried stock that’s CNC machined.

If you handled the m18 compared to a Heym, you’d be shocked at the difference, it’s huge.

The Heym 21 isn’t famous for being the best shooter or ejector though, not from personal experience, but I believe it’s hit and miss, no pun intended.

Why not an anschutz 1782 classic?

 

[Sdoc]

M18 pure in the same as the others, just a bog standard kiln dried stock that’s CNC machined.

If you handled the m18 compared to a Heym, you’d be shocked at the difference, it’s huge.

The Heym 21 isn’t famous for being the best shooter or ejector though, not from personal experience, but I believe it’s hit and miss, no pun intended.

Why not an anschutz 1782 classic?

I certainly am considering at this stage. I need to get my hands on one, they are in country but its a 6 hr round trip!

 

[Mungo]

The Heym 21 isn’t famous for being the best shooter or ejector though, not from personal experience, but I believe it’s hit and miss, no pun intended.

I can add to its problems…

Firing pin can go - not uncommon to get light strikes leading to inconsistent firing or misfires. Never really got to the bottom of why.

As you say, ejection could be inconsistent. On more than one occasion, shooting at groups of fallow, after the first shot, it failed to extract, and then the next round jammed.

Magazine release is finicky and can jam. When this happens, the only way to get it out is to loosen the stock bolts and drop the stock. Obviously, given what I said above about the need to have these torqued up perfectly, this is really not ideal in field conditions.

Ultimately, I think it’s a gun designed to be shot a handful of times a year by a gentleman stalker at sub-100m ranges. At this, I think it would work well. As a gun to be used more often, especially with any level of purpose, it’s really not a safe option.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Which CZ 600 are you thinking about - the Lux or the American?

The CZ 600 seems to have been slow be become popular in the UK. I've two CZ 557's and can't fault them, I'd like to hear more first hand experience of the 600 too.