Sauer 404. Nice little piece of engineering

I have many BRNOs and Mausers that I have carried and shot with great success. But a few years ago I picked up a Fabarm Iris switch bbl in 308 and 9.3x62. The thing just plain works. It has the switchable bolt head, etc....the takedown is not quite as elegant as the Sauer here, but the bbls are made by Sauer for Fabram and it is very accurate as all get out right out of the box.

I picked it up for one reason and one reason only....... airline travel with reduced baggage size restrictions. I can pack my 470 double and my Fabarm with a couple of scopes in a case the size of a trumpet case. No more Pelican or SKB monsters that cry out "steal me".

I do not know if the Fabarm with its aluminum receiver would survive for 200 years or not, but that is not my concern. It has worked well in all conditions, just as I know the Sauer will.
 
farshot said:
...I picked it up for one reason and one reason only....... airline travel with reduced baggage size restrictions. I can pack my 470 double and my Fabarm with a couple of scopes in a case the size of a trumpet case. No more Pelican or SKB monsters that cry out "steal me".

I do not know if the Fabarm with its aluminum receiver would survive for 200 years or not, but that is not my concern. It has worked well in all conditions, just as I know the Sauer will.
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:agree:
 
sadly most of us can't afford this gun. We can all have our opinions but until you shoot one or try one they really are just opinions not based in fact. For the average person its like an ferrari or Porsche. So unless you can pay to play your opinion is likely not on point.
 
Rangerz521 said:
sadly most of us can't afford this gun. We can all have our opinions but until you shoot one or try one they really are just opinions not based in fact. For the average person its like an ferrari or Porsche. So unless you can pay to play your opinion is likely not on point.
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Not really an accurate analogy, at least not in a lot of instances. The average person may not be able to afford a Ferrari, but probably has one or two lesser vehicles at home. But a surprising number of shooters say they cannot afford a Sauer or other higher-end rifle, and yet have many (perhaps many dozen!) standard rifles in their gun safes. One or two Sauer-class rifles, even with a number of barrels, would cost less than that pile of redundant hardware and serve better for hunting.
 
jjohnwm said:
Not really an accurate analogy, at least not in a lot of instances. The average person may not be able to afford a Ferrari, but probably has one or two lesser vehicles at home. But a surprising number of shooters say they cannot afford a Sauer or other higher-end rifle, and yet have many (perhaps many dozen!) standard rifles in their gun safes. One or two Sauer-class rifles, even with a number of barrels, would cost less than that pile of redundant hardware and serve better for hunting.
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Good concept, but in reality at $900-$1000 per barrel my redundant hardware is still significantly cheaper and affords me the opportunity to keep on shooting should something fail within the receiver. I probably screwed up, but I had the chance to pick up a 200 a couple years ago. It came with three barrels, two of the calibers I had no interest in. After some research as to barrel and magazine costs for calibers I wanted (as well as the advertised weight of the rifle) I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The rifle was on the other side of the country. Had I been able to fondle it and experience the fit, finish, and action I might not have been able to resist.:evil:
 
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My Dad was never into sports cars, but he did appreciate fine firearms. About thirty years ago he visited Germany, and a highlight of the trip was a visit to the Sauer factory. He had them build and customize a Sauer 200 to his specifications, upgraded wood and engravings, QD Recknagel scope mount and Zeiss scope, fitted case, the works. My Mom had them add a special engraving monogram with his initials on the cocking piece. That rifle became Dad's main "working" rifle, and accompanied him on many hunts. It was used to take numerous deer, a few bull elk, and a couple caribou. It became a family treasure, and I'm pleased that my brother inherited it when Dad died. Even after many seasons in the field, it is still gorgeous, functionally flawless, and technically advanced. The new Sauer 404 is just more of the good stuff from Germany. I have plans to order one. It won't be a rifle I will ever trade away, get bored with, or become dissatisfied with.
 
Good points being made by everyone so far.
My issue is not I don't like new technology or invention, I do! The thing bothers me most is that with their superior technology and workmanship, companies like sauer at least can divert some resource to improving the traditional m98 rifle.
There is no reason the sauer quick detach scope system cannot be applied to a mauser rifle.
 
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wapitiwhacker said:
Good concept, but in reality at $900-$1000 per barrel my redundant hardware is still significantly cheaper and affords me the opportunity to keep on shooting should something fail within the receiver. I probably screwed up, but I had the chance to pick up a 202 a couple years ago. It came with three barrels, two of the calibers I had no interest in. After some research as to barrel and magazine costs for calibers I wanted (as well as the advertised weight of the rifle) I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The rifle was on the other side of the country. Had I been able to fondle it and experience the fit, finish, and action I might not have been able to resist.:evil:
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Buy a Rem700...replace the trigger...pay for whatever other assorted gusmithing costs that are required to bring it up to the accuracy level of the Sauer or Blaser (not to mention the level of refinement and other features that you will still lack)...and then decide if it truly is significantly less expensive (I agree, they are cheaper!) than a new barrel for one of those guns.

Some of us do not want to open the garage and see 30 Chevies parked side by side, even if each one is custom-painted and performance-enhanced and now costs way more than it is worth. Far more appealing to open the garage door and find a couple of Ferraris (in case one breaks), a ton of useful space, and a pile of money left over for other things...like hunting! :)

As someone posted earlier, horses for courses. Each of us needs to decide for him or herself. But consider this: most owners of the high-end Euro-iron started out with the common stuff, and after some years or decades, found more satisfaction with the newer approach. Many of them end up selling all or most of their American Mauser-clones and using their Sauers or Blasers or Helixes or whatever for all their hunting.

Feel free to post a list of those gunowners who ever decided they were not happy with their decision, and started accumulating Rem700s again. :)
 
Elker, it's Not the Sauer system, but one of the reasons I like and use my Brno rifles is their traditional Mauser style actions and double square bridge grooved receivers, and the QD Brno skeleton mounts that fit them so well. The Brno Czechoslovakia factories were pioneers in that area of scope mount development since about 1948. The current CZ550 carries on the tradition of an improved Mauser action with built-in scope bases. There really is something for everyone in the marketplace, but not always in current production or at a price that one wants to pay.
 
Elmer, it's possible to put European quick detach mounts and rings on any of the budget guns that you may like. I have them on my 98 sporter. You likely will pay as much for them as the rifle alone.
 
On my takedown Fabarm I went to a picatinny base and I can use whatever rings I choose.

On a few on my BRNOs I use euro swing type detachable mounts.

On other Mausers or BRNOs I use claw mounts with railed scopes......... something for everyone. Its all fun.
 
jjohnwm said:
Buy a Rem700...replace the trigger...pay for whatever other assorted gusmithing costs that are required to bring it up to the accuracy level of the Sauer or Blaser (not to mention the level of refinement and other features that you will still lack)...and then decide if it truly is significantly less expensive (I agree, they are cheaper!) than a new barrel for one of those guns.

Some of us do not want to open the garage and see 30 Chevies parked side by side, even if each one is custom-painted and performance-enhanced and now costs way more than it is worth. Far more appealing to open the garage door and find a couple of Ferraris (in case one breaks), a ton of useful space, and a pile of money left over for other things...like hunting! :)

As someone posted earlier, horses for courses. Each of us needs to decide for him or herself. But consider this: most owners of the high-end Euro-iron started out with the common stuff, and after some years or decades, found more satisfaction with the newer approach. Many of them end up selling all or most of their American Mauser-clones and using their Sauers or Blasers or Helixes or whatever for all their hunting.

Feel free to post a list of those gunowners who ever decided they were not happy with their decision, and started accumulating Rem700s again. :)
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Touché. No, I certainly don't bemoan those who own and enjoy fine rifles or Ferraris. I was brought up by frugal parents and I guess a lot rubbed off. My lightly tuned Chevies are accurate enough to allow me to ethically kill game at the distances I choose to shoot them. I also don't mind hauling my Chevy through the bush and can accept dinging, scratching or otherwise marring the finish, something I would have great difficulty in doing with a fine piece of German kit (sometimes hard enough with what I have). Back to horses for courses.

I visited a gun shop in Germany on one of my visits there. Drooled over the all the wonderful works of art in their racks. Doubles, drillings, take downs, and on it went. I very much appreciated them for what they were, just have a little too much Scottish blood running through my veins.;) Cheers.
 
SuperCub said:
How much are those rifles?
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I saw some online stuff for about $3500. But could not find a Canadian dealer for these. Probably Prophet River would be your best choice. I would bet that once you paid for proprietary rings/bases, handling fees, and put a decent piece of glass on it would be north of $5000. Even if a different barrel was 900-1000(?, but typical for Blaser), and add the bolt head. Say another $1500 to have two barrels.

It is a price thing, but also a Alder monster issue. I just dont see myself buying this, and actually taking a chance of scratching the pretty wood. Make a synthetic stocked version for 2/3 the price and i would bet they would sell very well.
 
Canada's Sauer distributor was FN sports.... Wolverine and I have heard prophet river both had some access to the lineup.

The North American attitude to switch barrel rifles is quite odd...
 
Not really so odd. When you buy a domestic-made rifle, then replace the stock with an aftermarket piece that then requires bedding, and of course replace the trigger, re-crown or replace the barrel, maybe "blueprint" the barreled action, put on a functional recoil pad, and...and...and...

Well, by that point, it's only human nature to begin putting your mouth where your money already is! :)
 
One side of the argument in this thread is funny because there's apparently no value in developments after 1898- though I love the M98 as well. The other side is amusing because Sauer is touted as being exceptional in some regard- they're simply reasonable. I owned a 202 Takedown Forest recently with two barrels (9.3x62 & .30-06), and realistically it was decent, but nothing exceptional. Especially for the retail price.
 
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