WRT to Steyr ... the earlier 'Mannlicher-Schoenauer' built until the mid to late 60's were all 'front' locking lug designs and except for one fairly uncommon model called the M72 - they all had a split rear bridge to allow the bolt handle to be retracted. These actions are very slick and considered 'classics' ..
In the late 1960's Steyr-Mannlicher introduced a line of rifles that were far more economical to produce that employed 'rear' locking lugs (the bolt handle and locking lugs are machined from a single piece of special alloy steel which is then placed on a seperate bolt body containing the extractor, pin, spring etc) .. these actions came in different lengths and all used a rotary 'snail' type of magazine constructed of a form of synthetic material (aka - plastic) - they also used the same material for their 'floorplate' through which the two action screws went and the magazine engaged. Cleaning solvents did not react well with this material and there are common complaints of failure as a result (see above) -- There was a 'Luxus' model produced during this period that had a similar action BUT employed a steel 'single row inline' magazine. They also employed a steel or alloy floorplate I believe and did not suffer from the same maladies as the other versions.
The current version of Steyr produced from approx 1996 onwards is a 'front' lug locking action referred to as the 'SBS' system (Safe Bolt System) ... some say these are even less expensive to make but I dont know ....
FWIW All Steyr's / Mannlichers can shoot very well as they typically have excellent barrels ... this firm was one of the first to develop and employ hammer forged barrels (during WWll) and despite some views to the contrary they can perform VERY well!!
There is a very common misunderstanding held by the 'experts' who assert that all Steyr barrels employed on the 'rear locking lug actions' are pressed in and not threaded to the receiver. PERIOD end of story!! ... This is NOT completely TRUE ... Only the barrels on the 'SSG' actions are pressed in - the SSG model rifles are unique and employ a longer action tenon than other Steyr rifles with rear locking lugs AND the barrels are cooled/actions heated while they are aligned and brought together under pressure. The designers have a specific reason for employing this construction technique on this particular rifle model (the SSG) ... all the other rear locking actions employ threaded barrels that are secured to their threaded actions in standard fashion.
One last point -- I think it is very safe to say that while Steyr has pursued efficiencies and product improvements over the years - they have never permitted these changes to detract in any way from the accuracy of their firearms.
