Mauser M25 or something else?

[Sophiedons]

Hi, just looking for a little bit of advice regarding buying my first rifle. I had in my head that I was going to buy a Tikka T3x ace game but I have just been to a demo day and hated it! Far too heavy and far too much metal. I've always got bloody cold hand and holding on to that thing in the middle of winter up in Scotland would be a nightmare! It did however shoot like a dream. But it's definitely out for me. I also tried the Mauser M25 (.308) which I quite liked, the blaser R8 which I loved (but I think out of my budget if I let my head do the thinking), sauer 505, which I didn't like (not sure why it felt a bit hollow?? Not sure just know I didn't enjoy shooting for some reason). I also held a few guns to work out grip preference. I have also shot my husband's Sako S20 hunter which I also quite like but being a little contrary would prefer a different gun .

So asking for some recommendations for a rifle around £2000 (don't want to go much above that for the gun). I feel most comfortable with a thumbhole grip, a precision grip and pistol grip ok, didn't like the traditional straight grip. It is a 6.5 creedmoor I would be looking to buy.

At the moment the Mauser M25 (but not sure if that's out in a 6.5 creedmoor yet) is probably top, but any suggestions of others to checkout appreciated.

 

[C&K Suffolk]

The Sauer Pantera in .308 is a fantastic rifle. Good weight. 20” barrel and the stock is very configurable

 

[BigT]

I really like the M25 when I played with one my only concern is in one video review I saw feeding seemed a little iffy with some loads

 

[ColinBr]

Don't discount the Mauser M12 either. It's a cracking rifle.

 

[Cottis]

Maybe consider a Schultz and Larsen Victory Synthetic. Might satisfy a good amount of your criteria.

 

[topscots1]

Hi, just looking for a little bit of advice regarding buying my first rifle. I had in my head that I was going to buy a Tikka T3x ace game but I have just been to a demo day and hated it! Far too heavy and far too much metal. I've always got bloody cold hand and holding on to that thing in the middle of winter up in Scotland would be a nightmare! It did however shoot like a dream. But it's definitely out for me. I also tried the Mauser M25 (.308) which I quite liked, the blaser R8 which I loved (but I think out of my budget if I let my head do the thinking), sauer 505, which I didn't like (not sure why it felt a bit hollow?? Not sure just know I didn't enjoy shooting for some reason). I also held a few guns to work out grip preference. I have also shot my husband's Sako S20 hunter which I also quite like but being a little contrary would prefer a different gun .

So asking for some recommendations for a rifle around £2000 (don't want to go much above that for the gun). I feel most comfortable with a thumbhole grip, a precision grip and pistol grip ok, didn't like the traditional straight grip. It is a 6.5 creedmoor I would be looking to buy.

At the moment the Mauser M25 (but not sure if that's out in a 6.5 creedmoor yet) is probably top, but any suggestions of others to checkout appreciated.

I was there on the day as well, the M25 if it felt right it should be the one, lots of options available but go with the one that feels right.

As Colin has said above, the M12 does come in a thumbhole but a leap in price

The M25 is a fantastic rifle for the money, after speaking to the majority of those at the demo day post shooting no one had a bad word to say about the M25.

The most important thing in a rifle is how it feels to you. The Mauser will shoot well as has been shown.

I perhaps would go for the option without the fitted scope and add my own.

 

[ColinBr]

I was there on the day as well, the M25 if it felt right it should be the one, lots of options available but go with the one that feels right.

As Colin has said above, the M12 does come in a thumbhole but a leap in price

The M25 is a fantastic rifle for the money, after speaking to the majority of those at the demo day post shooting no one had a bad word to say about the M25.

The most important thing in a rifle is how it feels to you. The Mauser will shoot well as has been shown.

I perhaps would go for the option without the fitted scope and add my own.

We know a certain someone looking at 1 just now. Pity he couldn't make it to the demo day

 

[topscots1]

We know a certain someone looking at 1 just now. Pity he couldn't make it to the demo day

It gets decent reviews from everyone I spoke to. I’m sure he will take the leap.

 

[The Optimist]

What about a Sako 90 6.5CM? Not a thumb hole grip but has an integrated rail and different options for stocks, barrel lengths etc. it will be different enough from the S20

 

[Twodogs]

Whilst quality in every aspect is certainly important, so is the fit/feel.
When you have narrowed down your choice try to get your ‘hands on’ each example and even better get to shoot one for more than couple of rounds. If you’re going to shoot primarily from sticks, test on sticks. How does it feel?
If it does not feel ‘right’ it won’t be.
Sometimes you just pick a rifle up and it feels right.
I believe Ivythorne Shooting allow you to test before purchase, maybe worth an enquiry.
Whatever, good luck with and enjoy your choice.

PS
For the money you are talking consider a semi-custom? Get what you want. BE Engineering on here is worth an enquiry

 

[Scarpa]

I went to a big European gun show and handled quite a few rifles, I was torn between the M12 thumbhole and the Sauer 101 Alaska, both come with an adjustable cheekpiece. I enventually went for the Sauer as I wanted to do some driven boar and being an old shotgun shooter it felt much more natural to swing for me than the thumbhole.

 

[BigT]

Whilst quality in every aspect is certainly important, so is the fit/feel.
When you have narrowed down your choice try to get your ‘hands on’ each example and even better get to shoot one for more than couple of rounds. If you’re going to shoot primarily from sticks, test on sticks. How does it feel?
If it does not feel ‘right’ it won’t be.
Sometimes you just pick a rifle up and it feels right.
I believe Ivythorne Shooting allow you to test before purchase, maybe worth an enquiry.
Whatever, good luck with and enjoy your choice.

PS
For the money you are talking consider a semi-custom? Get what you want. BE Engineering on here is worth an enquiry

I got a semi custom from B.E cost me less than a new Tikka lite and it flat out shoots.

 

[Craigsaun]

Stop messing about and get yourself a BLASER R8 and be done with it . You know you want to

 

[Sophiedons]

Maybe consider a Schultz and Larsen Victory Synthetic. Might satisfy a good amount of your criteria.

Thanks for this suggestion. Do you happen to know the difference between the Victory Synthetic and the Hunter synthetic? I might be able to get down to Ivythorne to maybe try a Schultz and Larsen but the one there is a Hunter synthetic.

 

[Sophiedons]

Stop messing about and get yourself a BLASER R8 and be done with it . You know you want to

Wish I'd never tried it! Bloody loved the thing

 

[Heym SR20]

Key with any rifle is that it fits snd feels right for you. Most brands do have a range of stocks and a range of barrel weights and this makes a considerable diffference to how they feel. A T3x with a light barrel is a totally different rifle to one with heavy weight barrel.

And don’t be in a hurry. Take your time to get it right for you. You loose a lot of money changing a rifle because its not correct, especially if you buy new - at best you will immediately loose 20% VAT and another 20 to 30% cos its not correct longer new.

 

[Cottis]

Thanks for this suggestion. Do you happen to know the difference between the Victory Synthetic and the Hunter synthetic? I might be able to get down to Ivythorne to maybe try a Schultz and Larsen but the one there is a Hunter synthetic.

The Victory is a fully blued action and i think can be had with the option of a 2 stage trigger. The Hunter is basically based on the Classic action which i thin is actually better. A touch lighter (I think) and also has a duracoating on it, so better in all weathers. I have a Grade 2 classic in wood. It is a really good rifle.

The barrel channel is different slightly on the Victory synth stock but apart from that, the features of the stock are effectively the same. Bolts will be the same or very similar. The barrels will 100% be the same. All come apart and all actions will utilise the slide and lock mounts which are very well designed.

The barrels especially are brilliant. They are cut rifled and hand lapped. They are better than the hammer forged barrels on the Mausers and Blasers that are made in Isny. I have an M12 as well. The S&L's are better rifles if they fit you. I also have a short actioned Legacy in .222rem. Easily the most beautiful little rifle I own

Steve at Ivythorn will look after you and allow you to handle tons of different rifles. Which is a good idea. Don't get married to any rifle. handle as many as poss and buy what feels right.

 

[Sophiedons]

The Victory is a fully blued action and i think can be had with the option of a 2 stage trigger. The Hunter is basically based on the Classic action which i thin is actually better. A touch lighter (I think) and also has a duracoating on it, so better in all weathers. I have a Grade 2 classic in wood. It is a really good rifle.

The barrel channel is different slightly on the Victory synth stock but apart from that, the features of the stock are effectively the same. Bolts will be the same or very similar. The barrels will 100% be the same. All come apart and all actions will utilise the slide and lock mounts which are very well designed.

The barrels especially are brilliant. They are cut rifled and hand lapped. They are better than the hammer forged barrels on the Mausers and Blasers that are made in Isny. I have an M12 as well. The S&L's are better rifles if they fit you. I also have a short actioned Legacy in .222rem. Easily the most beautiful little rifle I own

Steve at Ivythorn will look after you and allow you to handle tons of different rifles. Which is a good idea. Don't get married to any rifle. handle as many as poss and buy what feels right.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and give me the details. Really appreciate it. Definitely going to have to arrange a visit down south and see Steve.

 

[ColinBr]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and give me the details. Really appreciate it. Definitely going to have to arrange a visit down south and see Steve.

Going by your location, why not pop into Cluny's. They have a great selection of rifles, and a shame you didn't make the Demo day the other week

 

[Sophiedons]

Going by your location, why not pop into Cluny's. They have a great selection of rifles, and a shame you didn't make the Demo day the other week

I did make the demo day. That's where I tried:
Mauser M25 - quite liked and seriously considering
Blaser R8 - regret trying as I loved it but realistically out of budget
Sauer 505 - hated
Tikka t3x ace game - shot well but far too heavy and too much metal for me.

If I hadn't tried the blaser I would probably be getting the M25. But as I preferred the blaser I thought maybe I should try some other gun within budget in case I get on better with them. My parents live down in Devon so I may visit them and pop into Ivythorne.

The thing with the Mauser is it was the only gun I didn't manage to hit the 300m target with, the other three I did consistently with three shots. Might just have been it was the first gun I tried and I was a bit too excited/not shot in front of people before but it's just put a tiny bit of reservation in my head about it.