...The steyr appeals to me, but when you look at a schematic it makes you shake your head. They over complicated the simplest parts. But somehow I keep looking at them - and lusting.... stupid steyr
This is it ^, exactly! I have one I purchased pre-owned but apparently un-fired, not long after they were introduced. A long-time Jeff Cooper admirer could not resist the deal that I found, so I took it home. Please note that I am
not a devotee of the .308 cartridge for hunting, and I also do not generally care for detachable magazines in hunting rifles.
But...I fell in love with this rifle right from the get-go, and still enjoy it today. I didn't intend it as a serious hunting rifle, but it wound up being the rifle I used on a trip to the States when the BATFE inexplicably okayed its importation but nixed two American-made rifles (?). I also had it in my hand when I took one of the best whitetails I've ever seen on my own land. In the first case, I had listed it on my import application as a last-minute back-up rifle, and it ended up being the primary. In the second case, I just took it along with me "just-in-case"...and was presented with "a case".
It's ergonomics are perfect for me. It has one of the finest factory triggers I've ever felt. It is very accurate, has experienced no problems of any kind (over-engineering notwithstanding), and has taken countless coyotes and assorted other varmints for me. It's one of those guns I will grab at the last minute. I have it set-up with a scout scope for general use, as well as a standard-style higher-mag scope for some range use (both scopes in QD return-to-zero rings), and also have an Aimpoint Micro QD-mounted for it.
Complaints? Three, I guess. First, the afore-mentioned Teutonic over-engineering; it never caused an issue of any sort, but you always know about it and it sort of makes you expect a problem. You stop worrying after the first 10 years or so.
Second: It's ugly. This is a personal opinion, but just about everybody shares it. It's like owning a Bulldog; you'll come to love it, but you know damned well it ain't pretty.
Third: This is the one that bugs me. Steyr gave this rifle a full-length rail on top...but it's a Weaver rail, and it doesn't even have a full complement of cross-grooves. You'll likely find that there are some scopes that you want to use with a ring
right here...but there's no groove there! And the Weaver grooves don't accept true Pic-mounting rings. Irritating. I would love having a Pic rail instead of the Weaver.
All in all, the gun has held up well. It doesn't look new anymore, but when you start out ugly that's not so important. I have probably 2500 rounds through it, and I expect many, many more. Buy one!
