Canadian Heym SR21 owner

[BarnabyWilde]

I am a Canadian southpaw deer hunter who has always used lever (Browning BLR, Winchester 88) and pump (Remington 760 and 7600) rifles. When I started hunting 40 years ago there didn't seem to be a lot to choose from in sinistral bolt action rifles and at the time I was focused on raising a family and paying a mortgage, so took the easy and economical route. Now that I am retired I've been trying to find bolt action rifles that suit me. I prefer wood and steel though so once again I'm finding that choices are limited due to the preponderance of plastic guns. And although my kids are all adults and my house is pretty much paid for I am now a pensioner so I'm still interested in the more economical options.

I have acquired a Tikka T3 stainless in 6.5x55 which although it has a large amount of plastic I do quite like the quality and is a fine gun for rainy days. Also a blued walnut Ruger M77 MK II in 270 Win. I had intended to stop there until I saw a NIB Heym SR21 Standard in .308 being sold at less than half of the retail cost here as it had been put away in a collection until the owner passed away. It is a beautiful gun but maybe not without issue and appears to be uncommon here. Whenever I'm searching for information this site invariably shows up so I'd like to take advantage of your experience and perhaps share mine down the road.

Chris

 

[22ppc]

Welcome aboard

 

[bowji john]

Welcome sir

Even if you are (a) sinister

 

[mazperks]

Thats an interesting word - sinister (Latin left handed) it was thought left handers were in league with the devil, hence its use in the modern sense of the word.

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome from another lefty' I did have a left hand Heym sold it and then bought a T3 lite 6.5X55, I found an issue with the Heym it did not hold accuracy after three shots as the barrel heated up. My other left handed rifle is a Remington BDL 700 30.06 it is very accurate even with the cheaper ammo Privy' on the range and comfortable to shoot.

BC.

 

[Ajax]

Welcome from Norfolk

 

[suburban bushwacker]

wellcome. some excellent choices there
There are a couple of 21 owners on here, I have a SR30 myself.
Bizarrely I have set of quick detach rings and bases for your rifle, and a visiting relative who could send them you when he gets home to Canada

 

[Sinistral]

Welcome sir

Even if you are (a) sinister

Thats an interesting word - sinister (Latin left handed) it was thought left handers were in league with the devil, hence its use in the modern sense of the word.

Nobody seems to know how many people are southpaws, but the estimates range from 7% - 15%.
Sinister covers quite a range of insults, sinistral means left-handed so these can only be adjectives.
Mind you, there is a 'dexter' noun but you wouldn't want to be called that.

 

[trickie]

I’m also Sinister, Dexter in Heraldic terms means on the right side (of you shield or coat of arms. Sinister, from the left side

Welcome

 

[BarnabyWilde]

wellcome. some excellent choices there
There are a couple of 21 owners on here, I have a SR30 myself.
Bizarrely I have set of quick detach rings and bases for your rifle, and a visiting relative who could send them you when he gets home to Canada

Really, that's interesting! One of the topics I had planned to post about were scope mounting solutions. There don't seem to be a lot of choices available. So I am definitely interested in what you have if you could give me the particulars I'd appreciate that!

 

[takbok]

Welcome from Aberdeenshire.

If you can find a standard wooden stock for your stainless T3 then I think that is quite an aesthetically pleasing combo - great rifles.

Rory

 

[Reloader708]

Are you still allowed firearms over there? I've lost track of what turdos after banning but it seems quite a long list.

 

[Sinistral]

Really, that's interesting! One of the topics I had planned to post about were scope mounting solutions. There don't seem to be a lot of choices available. So I am definitely interested in what you have if you could give me the particulars I'd appreciate that!

The SR21's predecessor, the SR20 which I had 3 of in Lefthand was a modified 2-lug Mauser action. The SR21 looks to be a 3-lug fluted bolt version of the same action.
If so, it will take Standard Mauser mounts (I used Weaver No.45 and 46 on mine), the Warne equivalents, and many other makes.
Heym just doesn't appear as a name in USA-based DIY mount lists, which is a nuisance.

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex UK

 

[BarnabyWilde]

Are you still allowed firearms over there? I've lost track of what turdos after banning but it seems quite a long list.

We are still allowed firearms here, for now at least. "Turdo" (I like that, surprisingly don't think I've heard him called that before) had said there were no hunting guns on the list, but there clearly were and so they were remove (I think) after a lot of negative attention. It's all intentionally couched in very confusing language so I don't trust that the Liberals don't have a hidden agenda to stop hunting, it's easy for them to target legal gun owners as they will likely abide by the law whereas most shootings use illegally acquired firearms and so all there legislation likely has little or no impact on public safety other than they would say that if a person was shot with a stolen firearm then the person would not have been shot if the original owner had not been allowed to own it.
I suppose I'm one of those "Fudds" that is happy to be able to hunt with more traditionally styled guns, I don't use autoloaders and I don't want to look like I've declared war on the deer and grouse.

 

[BarnabyWilde]

Thank you all for your warm welcomes!

 

[BarnabyWilde]

The SR21 looks to be a 3-lug fluted bolt version of the same action.

Although the hole spacing is the same the front/rear height differential is substantially different according to Optics Trade.. I have tried a #46 front and a #68 for the rear which Weaver lists for the Bauer 3000 which I believe to be the same as the SR21. They do not list any Heym guns on their base chart. I'll see if I can get my hand on a #45 just to see, it's possible I'm mistaken about the Bauer.

 

[Kiwiguy]

Optics Trade list the Recknagel Weaver style bases for the Heym SR 21 rifle.

 

[BarnabyWilde]

Thanks kiwiguy. I had seen these but they seemed expensive compared to the price of weaver bases (~ 5x) which are essentially the same thing. But it seems that weaver does not make a compatible pair with the right specs. The only other option available here are the Talleys, but if I buy Talley bases I have to buy Talley rings. Cha-ching! And I'm not really sure how well they're going to fit my scope lengthwise. The other options from Optics Trade all seem to be at least as expensive as the Talleys. I have ordered the Recknagel bases, I should have them in 5-7 weeks! Geez...

 

[Kiwiguy]

Hi Barnaby, the Weaver bases are probably made of aluminium where the Recknagel base are more than likely steel.

A few years ago my cousin purchased a Carl Gustaf 3000 rifle, similar to a Colt Sauer or Sauer 90. Normally I would use Warne bases but they weren't available for that rifle. My cousin purchased Recknagel and I was very impressed at how well finished they were, very well machined and blued. When paired with a set of Burris Signature Zee rings it was a great combination.