Sabatti Rifles

Chuckbuster

Chuckbuster

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I've seen a few Sabatti rifles for sale over the last year or so, but really know next to nothing about them. Google was really not very helpful either. I saw one recently that caught my eye and wanted to know a little more about Sabatti in case I decide to pursue that particular rifle. So, anybody have any experience with Sabatti rifles? Good, bad or ugly, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks folks.
 
Chuckbuster said:
I've seen a few Sabatti rifles for sale over the last year or so, but really know next to nothing about them. Google was really not very helpful either. I saw one recently that caught my eye and wanted to know a little more about Sabatti in case I decide to pursue that particular rifle. So, anybody have any experience with Sabatti rifles? Good, bad or ugly, I'd like to hear about it.
Thanks folks.
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I have a Sabatti Rover 600 in 7.62x39 mm for some time (pics). I bought mine from Marstar on sale a year or so ago. A synthetic stock. Trigger pull on mine is 3.45+-0.34 lbs from five measurements which is perfect for my liking. The ergonomics are also perfect for me (I'm 5'11"). The stock fits me very well. Built quality is very good. The bolt is very solid and buttery smooth. The barrel is floated. The downside is quite expensive synthetic mags which for some popular calibers (7.62x39mm and 0.223") are sold out nowadays and very hard to find.
I mounted a Vortex Crossfire II 6-18x44 AO BDC on my Sabatti. I tested Barnaul 123gr, PPU 123gr, Sellier&Bellot 124gr and a Chinese non-corr 61/08. With a non-corrosive Barnaul 123gr I'm getting a 1-1.25" grouping (3 shot strings) at 100 yards from a soft rest.
All in all it's a good, solid rifle. IMHO its's worth $600-650 (including tax) but I wouldn't pay more than that for a new one. I would only buy one if it's on sale. I guess Marstar still have some calibers on sale.

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Have one in 223 with walnut stock. Wood is nice, rest of the rifle is built very cheap. Receiver is cast and very little machining done to clean it up. Wear areas on the receiver and bolt are spot heat treated so the bluing is noticeably different in spots. Everything attached to the receiver and bolt is MIM or cast, bolt handle is pretty gross and has that purple MIM blue color to it.
Trigger is not bad once adjusted, fairly accurate but way too heavy for short action cartridges. Part of the reason for the extra weight is they cast the long action and short action with the same footprint so they don't need to have different stocks made. The short action has "ears" extending in front of the action so the recoil lug and screw attachment remain in the same spot at the long action. Pretty ugly arrangement, but that's what happens when you cut several corners to make a cheap rifle.
I can think of a few other rifles I'd buy before one of these.

Northern Republic has mags, but they are $50 or $55...crazy.
 
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Chuckbuster said:
Hmm. Seems opinions are "polarized" to quote some bum I've heard of. I'm getting a mix of decent for the money on one side and other brands are better on the other; and a gunny friend into Italian guns says they are of good quality.
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I don't know of any other modern "budget" Italian rifles being produced today other then Chiappa (and they don't make any bolt guns), and they are pretty poor quality. What Italian rifles is your gunny buddy into, Carano's?
 
Chuckbuster said:
Hmm. Seems opinions are "polarized" to quote some bum I've heard of. I'm getting a mix of decent for the money on one side and other brands are better on the other; and a gunny friend into Italian guns says they are of good quality.
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Like I said before if you get one within the range of $600-650 you will have a solid, no frills, hunting rifle. It will last for years of shooting. There is nothing really wrong with these rifles. A hunting video with a Rover 600 is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSigD8OA1CY&t=755s.
Their barrels are very good made of 4140 steel, cold hammer forged. Their original prices within the range of $800-1000 are IMO inflated and at those prices you could indeed get a number of more substantial rifles if you want to spend so much.
 
05RAV said:
Like I said before if you get one within the range of $600-650 you will have a solid, no frills, hunting rifle. It will last for years of shooting. There is nothing really wrong with these rifles. A hunting video with a Rover 600 is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSigD8OA1CY&t=755s.
Their barrels are very good made of 4140 steel, cold hammer forged. Their original prices within the range of $800-1000 are IMO inflated and at those prices you could indeed get a number of more substantial rifles if you want to spend so much.
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The one that caught my eye is used and a bit under $600+ tax etc.
 
Hitzy said:
I don't know of any other modern "budget" Italian rifles being produced today other then Chiappa (and they don't make any bolt guns), and they are pretty poor quality. What Italian rifles is your gunny buddy into, Carano's?
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He’s really into dbl barrel shotguns and combo guns; he’s got Rizzini and Zoli combo guns that are very well built.
 
If it's a 223 you are looking at let me know... I'd gladly part with it for $600 lol.
Paid less then that for it new.
 
Chuckbuster said:
Hahaha...well, since the one I'm considering is in LH and in a much more substantial chambering, yours is safe in your hands for the time being.
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For a "more substantial chambering" Sabatti (most likely the Rover 870?) the price of about $600 seems very reasonable. Especially if it's the Rover 870 stainless which on sale goes for $825 (a synthetic stock).
 
05RAV said:
For a "more substantial chambering" Sabatti (most likely the Rover 870?) the price of about $600 seems very reasonable. Especially if it's the Rover 870 stainless which on sale goes for $825 (a synthetic stock).
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That's another piece of the puzzle...I can't figure out exactly which model it is; although I thought perhaps a Mercury...?
 
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