Anyone here seen the new Mauser M18 rifle?

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Side note for mr. Owlowl, Mauser does currently make quality model 98s. Their model range includes the M18, M12, M03 and M98. Last time I looked a standard model 98 cost bout US $8,000 and a magnum actioned version was about US $10,500. It’s not that Mauser don’t realize how good the 98 still is, it’s simply that the action costs so much to make that they only use it in their top of the line models.


 
Well you might very well believe that a "fair price" on M98 $8k-$10k. And somehow M03 from the same company is half of that price while being way more complex system than M98. I don't even want to mention Zastava which is fine and dandy with M98 at 1/10 of the price, but I do want to mention EVERYONE else from Ruger, Kimbers, FNH Winchester and all others who can build control feed fixed barrel rifles for much less than Mauser.

So you might think that $8k M98 is just fine. But there is no doubt in my mind that current "Mauser"s primary goal is not to compete with Blaser and Sauer. They make everything they can to be non competitive or they are completely out of touch. Oh wait, they can't be out of touch, they are Blaser engineers to begin with.
 
Its pretty obvious that Mauser used Sauer as a crash test for the Sauer 100 before introducing the exact rifle under the Mauser name. The Sauer 100 is actually a pretty good gun. There is no denying that. So Mauser was probably making sure the Sauer 100 would sell well and get a good rep before taking the risk of damaging Mauser's reputation. Lots of companies do that to test new product they're not sure of in a company they own that doesn't have as good of a name as the other. KTM did it so much to Husaberg that they ran the name into the ground and replaced it with Husqvarna.
 
at $1000 and 6.5lbs, i'll stick with my $350 peened rusty K98 that I re-blued, stocked cleaned and true olled into a scoped match rifle... hits 1/2inch MOA with whatever commercial I seem to put in it except PPU (not sure where those rounds go)…. Can't be the old K98, a nice shooter milsurp is a better deal and probably a better rifle.
 
Well you might very well believe that a "fair price" on M98 $8k-$10k. And somehow M03 from the same company is half of that price while being way more complex system than M98.

Actually I said they only use the 98 action in their top of the line rifles, I didn’t comment on the “fairness” of the price (which in capitalism is determined by what the market will pay). In terms of quality though (fit, finish, quality of the wood used, etc) they are miles above a Zastava (which is a perfectly good rifle for the record). Personally for a good model 98 I’ll just stick with my Brno ZG-47.

Now to get back on topic.... the M18 looks like a good rifle, not clearly “better” than some others in its market segment but certainly competitive. My only hunting experience with any of the current Mauser products is my M12, it’s not a “classic Mauser” but due to its wonderful handling and stellar accuracy mine won’t be going anywhere (other than back to the woods with me every fall).
 
Do you call a $1k rifle in plastic molded stock, new footprint fitting nothing, can't rebarrel, no provision for bottom metal, zero aftermarket parts, one color, one barrel contour as competitive?

So one walks into a store, passes all Howas, Tikkas, Savages, and gets M18 instead, is this what you imagine in real life as competitive? Bergara for crying out loud, is way better deal, a company which didn't even make rifles 5 years ago.

I'm just not really sure which one is bigger - a line of people buying Sauer 100s all day long or a waiting list for M18. I wonder.
 
My guess is that 99% of hunting rifle buyers will never in their life time come close to shooting out a barrel on a new rifle.
 
My guess is that 99% of hunting rifle buyers will never in their life time come close to shooting out a barrel on a new rifle.

That's true, but a lot of what makes Remington 700s popular is the fact that they are easy to re-barrel and that there are tons of aftermarket parts out there for gunnutz tinkering activities.
 
And the sad thing is the EE has plenty of excellent steel walnut/b&c type rifles for less than a grand.

People may do as they please with their money.
I’m all for people going out and buying theses black plastic guns, then they and up selling their nice old blued steel and walnut guns to me😁
 
Side note for mr. Owlowl, Mauser does currently make quality model 98s. Their model range includes the M18, M12, M03 and M98. Last time I looked a standard model 98 cost bout US $8,000 and a magnum actioned version was about US $10,500. It’s not that Mauser don’t realize how good the 98 still is, it’s simply that the action costs so much to make that they only use it in their top of the line models.

You're nuts if you think the M98 costs 8-10K because the action is difficult to make.
 
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