Oppinions on Steyr Man. hunting Rifles

Over the years I have owned between 50-60 M/S and the lettered Steyr Mannlichers (SL,L,M,S&ST). But when they introduced the SBS series I felt what all die hard pre-64 model 70 owners must have felt when they first saw the 1964 model. I was not impressed, the style was gone, the new synthetic stock looked out of place with the older models, the old world look now looked more space age than anything. The custom series has retained the well liked line of the lettered series, but at almost double the price of the standard rifles. I have owned only one SBS series and that was a Tactical Scout in .308, which was unique and quite accurate, the built in bipod was a little flimsy, but overall it was nice to carry. At present I do not own a single Steyr, I hunt with an H-S /PHL in 300WSM as I like the way it carries and shoots, and collect only Coopers. I knew a few people that purchased the new SBS rifles, they all had mixed comments, although accuracy was quite good and once they got over the new style bolt and stock, most seemed quite pleased.
 
Top of the line quality. Very accurate. Some don't like the European stock styling but they are made in Europe. I like the spiral hammer forging marks on the barrels particularly.
 
The newer designs from Steyr don't do anything for me for a number of reasons. I much prefer the old Mannlicher-Schoenauers.
 
I think they're gorgeous! And apparently fantastically accurate as well. Most of the guys buying the Pro-Hunters fall in love with them, but I think the wood/blue guns are the t!ts:

Mannlicher_Classic_celopazba_puskohled.jpg
 
I've got an SBS stainless in 25-06. I can point at dozen things I don't like, like bendy plastic stock, butterknife bolt handle, plastic everything in sight, funny looking everything else. I'm not even super crazy about the caliber, but I bought it new for so cheap that shooting for science didn't seem insane at the time. And I didn't have one.

What I can't fault is the way it feels, shoulders, fits, works and shoots. Oh, man does it shoot.:eek: I talkin so many 1/2" groups at 200 yards that it makes me wonder a bit why I bother building rifles.
 
I've got a Steyr Mannlicher SL in 222 Rem Mag, a Steyr Mannlicher L in 308, and bought an SBS a couple of years ago in 270 WSM. I love them all and they shoot bloody well.
 
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