Mauser M12 Review......Rifleshootermagazine.

1899 said:
Phil - what makes you think the guys who run and own the factory know what they are doing? GM was a much bigger and more successful factory than Mauser and look what happened to them. How many times has Mauser been shut down or changed ownership? Say the word "Mauser" to anybody in the hunting and shooting world and the first thing they think of will be the M98. It is THE quintessential bolt action and the "guys who run and own" the factory don't seem to be keen on cashing in on that cachet. But instead they design a cheap rifle and "paint" it two different colours and call one a Sauer and the other a Mauser. Cooper has proven that there is a strong market for a quality built $2000 rifle. Sako has proven that you can even have commercial success selling tupperware stocked $1750 rifles.

Basically they own arguably the most famous name in the firearms manufacturing world. Mauser invented the "wheel" and now the guys who run and own Mauser are trying to reinvent the wheel.:confused:
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the only reason is : Mauser is no more Mauser and the factory of Isny owns everything (Mauser, Sauer and Blaser) that is the only simple reason.

honestly a Sauer from the past and an actual one or a Blaser or Mauser has nothing to do with that bring them to what gunsmithing was ...

and i agree about Zastava and what Mauser should have done ..... i dont think today we are a lot less to think that an old M98 is the perfect firearm a shame for us .... due to the fact that in Europe the M 98 has still the repution of the weapon not being on the right of the legend ....

you mentionned Sako and i love that one especially the 85 and the T3 same barrels from the same line not same price ..... they know what they do ....
 
Phil - about Sako - do you remember when their synthetic stocks were made by McMillan? How the times have changed!
 
1899 said:
I guess they probably already thought of this, but my view is a full line-up of the plain old M98s with pricing starting in the higher end Sako or Cooper range would do ok. It would be nice to see a Kurz M98 or maybe a G33/40 sized action of smaller stuff, a regular M98 length action for most mid length chamberings and a true magnum length double square bridge for heavy duty stompers. Name them the old way - Type A, B and C etc for level of finish and you have a full line-up to satisfy pretty much all needs.
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Trouble is as a not so large German company, they could never price in that range without using old stock actions. Their M98s at present have price tags that make a fellow of means whistle, though lovely. Tough niche they're in, few have the money for their premium products and they're eyeing the over saturated production market with this M12. Don't think it will end well. I agree they should focus on the M98, it's a brand second to none, globally the classic nature of even the Model 70 CRF doesn't come close to its reputation, panache, and history. Which reminds me I need to build a really nice M98 when the No.1 is done.
 
Ardent said:
Trouble is as a not so large German company, they could never price in that range without using old stock actions. Their M98s at present have price tags that make a fellow of means whistle, though lovely. .
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Correct me if I am wrong here, but a new M98 coming out of the Mauser (Isny) factory will run you about what Reimer Johanssen, Prechtel, Granite Mountain, Saterlee etc would cost by the time all is said and done. And those companies really are small operations where I suspect much of the work is done by hand, and by one or a very few people.

I am not trying to be a smartass here, but I just don't see how designing something new from the ground up (M12, M03 etc) and tooling up for that would cost so much less than going with the tried and true.

At any rate I am sure we are not going to solve this "problem" on CGN! ;)
 
1899 said:
I guess they probably already thought of this, but my view is a full line-up of the plain old M98s with pricing starting in the higher end Sako or Cooper range would do ok. It would be nice to see a Kurz M98 or maybe a G33/40 sized action of smaller stuff, a regular M98 length action for most mid length chamberings and a true magnum length double square bridge for heavy duty stompers. Name them the old way - Type A, B and C etc for level of finish and you have a full line-up to satisfy pretty much all needs.
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Guys like you and I would love it, but would it draw in the Ruger American, Savage Axis generation? Unfortunately I doubt it.
 
Pretty much anyone who wanted a 98 has had at least one. If not there are plenty out there in many different forms from cheap new manufacture to crusty old military, to vintage Mauser Mausers all the way up to brand new Mausers from Mauser. Lots of choices. Lots. In fact so may people have had a 98 that now they are looking for something different, something better suited to the modern hunter.


Now days people want accuracy, smooth feeding and a gun that works perfect right out of the box. The 98 is opposite of all these things. (sorry but its true)

Manufacturing rifles for accuracy, feeding and having 99% or higher working perfect right off the assembly line is the new definition of "high quality" Nostalgia is not.
 
Well I took the plunge and my M12 is in the mail and should be at my doorstep no later than next week. When I made my decision I viewed the cup half full and found a lot of good qualities in this firearm. Sure I rolled the dice being that it is a new model of firearm, but it's German made, or at least it comes from Europe........quality control with proof stamping. I was going to go with the MO3 but I already "had" a modular firearm (R93 Blaser) in the past and never utilized it as a modular unit.........I prefer the fixed barrels.
Mauser, Blaser and Sauer are under the wing of Sig Arms where most gun nuts are aware of their quality; sure I would of loved a M98, but $10,000 plus is way out of my price range. After viewing many sites, write-ups and videos on cyber space I then made my decision. The gun is a hybrid of other made firearms with some new inventions; point in fact, the bolt shroud and safety mechanism is identical to the Heym SR21. Well, within the next month it will be tested at the range for function and accuracy; fit and finish will be conducted when it arrives at my doorstep. The real test will be in the field in November, snowing with -24 temperatures.
 
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track said:
Thanks! Of course it is chambered in the 308 Winchester.................... I'll give a range report, etc. later..........
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I had to double check your CGN handle... for a second I thought it was J.P who replied...
 
Ya have to admire the Germans... rarely do they put a guarantee on guns (though the sig101 has a 5 shot sub moa 'guarantee' for the American market and it's the same gun as the M12 basically), the end product is more expensive usually than a competitive product (ie: Sako85), and should you not follow their suggested maintenance, any warranty or guarantee it did have is gone!

there must be a reason we like buying German things like knives, cars, guns... ;)

congrats on your purchase, the wife said the M12 and Sauer 101 are out of my 'price range' so that was the end of that. really looking forward to reading your review.
 
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