Now I restrict using any set facility to on the range and for zeroing only be warned! TAKING STOCKįeed is from a polymer, 4-round, detachable box magazine with integral/ambidextrous caches in the base plate. The animal appeared and as I was coming up my finger brushed the trigger and the gun fired! Luckily for all concerned I did not hit the deer or anything else, but it scared the hell out of me. This is scarily light and once with my Scout I nearly came a cropper as I was waiting for a deer and forgot I had put the set on.
However, this can be further reduced by cocking the action and pushing the blade forward to ‘set’ it for an ultra light pull. At the front of the blade is an Allan screw that adjusts the weight should you wish. The trigger is a ‘single set’ mechanism and as standard offers a break of around 4 lbs, which is firm without being too heavy and good for most needs. To disengage this you have to push the button down and roll it forward, in this position it also allows you to push the bolt handle down to lock it out too as well as bolt removal.
It goes like this – red dot FIRE, roll it back and a white dot appears - SAFE with bolt operation, roll it back again and a grey catch flicks up – SAFE bolt locked. The safety is tang-mounted and consists of a roller wheel, which is ideally placed for firing hand thumb operation without disturbing the grip.
It also stands proud of the side of the stock so is easy to grasp even with heavy gloves on. The handle is called a ‘butter knife’ style due to its shape, as such is has no knob just a flattened/widened end, which works very well. At the rear is a shroud with a cocked action indicator pin that protrudes. It locks by a 4-lug (twin-opposed) bolt at the front, which engages directly with the chamber extension, which takes all the pressure. The SBS action shows a big bolt with cut-outs to stop the build up of dirt etc. The Standard’s is 22” and well suited for popular UK calibres 243/308 Win. Rifles are identical with the exceptions of weight and barrel length for example the Magnum weighs 7.5 lbs with a 25” barrel, whereas the Mountain is 7.3 lbs with a 20” tube. Model options include: Magnum calibres, Mountain, Semi Weight, Light/fluted and Stainless steel. I imagine that this has been done for the UK as we do not use irons that much, and it’s ready threaded ½ x 20 UNF with a thread protector.Ĭalibre choice in the Standard is: 243 Win, 6.5x55 Swedish, 270 Win, 7圆4, 30-06, 308 Win, 8x57 and 9.3圆2. The barrel is distinctive with their trade mark, spiral, cold, hammer-forged finish, this the Standard model shows a light/medium, 22” tube and no iron sights. The closed-topped receiver shows a generous ejection port that allows reasonably easy single loading. The SBS action and look blends both old and modern aspects of Steyr rifles in general. However the SBS action is just that bit different from say a Remy 700 or similar as we shall see! On test is a CL II SX in 243 Winchester, which really impressed me no end! In truth nothing has changed apart from the stock, but that is the thing that makes the real difference. Now called the CL II, which is the wood-stocked version it’s also available in a synthetic option - the SX - which is where we really see the differences between it and the old ProHunter! BETTER BY FAR Well things have changed considerably as what is pretty much the same gun as before is now fielded with vastly improved furniture that makes it the design it always promised to be. Steyr apparently tried to beef up the stock a bit but with limited success and though liking what the ProHunter offered mechanically and having tested a few versions I would not bother. The ProHunter sadly a design let down by its synthetic stock, which was far too flimsy, as it uses the exact same SBS (Safe Bolt System) feed and action as the Scout. I owned one for six years and really liked it. The Scout well probably one of the most radical designs ever offering a number of features that made it in some ways a go anywhere do anything bolt-action. The SSG is more a sniper/ precision option that used to be the preferred bolt-gun for those shooting Practical Rifle pre-1988. Steyr Mannlicher for me really means three sporting rifles – the SSG 69, the Scout and the ProHunter of these it’s the last that is perhaps the most general product.