Sauer 505 Rifle Assessment | Discipline & Stream

J.P. Sauer & Sohn, extra generally generally known as simply Sauer, is a part of the Blaser Group which additionally contains Blaser, Mauser, and John Rigby & Firm. The 505 is the most recent rifle from Sauer, who declare it was “[d]esigned to be probably the most stunning bolt motion rifle on the planet.” Magnificence will all the time be within the eye of the beholder, however nonetheless, you anticipate a brand new rifle from an iconic firm like Sauer—the oldest gunmaker in Germany—to be one thing particular. And the brand new 505 is simply that.

How stunning you discover Sauer’s newest bolt gun can have lots to do with which inventory you select, and you’ve got eight to select from, together with one carbon-fiber, three polymer, and 4 extremely figured walnut choices, a number of that includes thumbholes and adjustable combs. I examined the 505 Synchro XT mannequin, which encompasses a polymer thumbhole inventory. I can’t say I discovered this explicit mannequin to be the “most stunning” bolt, however I used to be nonetheless very spectacular—partly as a result of you possibly can change the look and performance of this remarkably versatile rifle with a single software. Let’s take a more in-depth look.

Sauer 505 Synchro XT Specs

• Size: 40 inches
• Weight: 7.87 kilos
• Barrel: 22 inches, threaded at 15×1 w/ protector
• Motion: Sauer bolt motion
• Set off: 1.0 pound (as examined)
• Capability: 3+1 or 5+1 (removable journal)
• End: DLC
• Inventory: Two-piece, polymer thumb gap
• Obtainable Commonplace American chamberings: 222 Rem., 223 Rem., 243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win., 270 WSM, 308 Win., 30-06 Springfield, and 375 H&H. Particular order solely chamberings: 6.5×55 SE, 7×64, 8×57 IS, 8.5×55 Blaser, 9.3×62, and 10.3×60 R
• Value: $3500.00

Sauer 505 Overview

The guts of the 505 is a totally new motion which provides modular versatility. Together with the eight inventory choices, the rifle will be had in 19 completely different chamberings. What’s so distinctive concerning the 505 is that you could swap between these eight shares and 19 chamberings by yourself, and with none particular instruments. The important thing to this technique’s distinctive versatility is without doubt one of the quick-detach sling swivel studs on the rifle. Once you take away it, you’ll see it has a hex-head wrench that’s hidden within the rifle’s inventory. This single wrench is the software you employ to swap shares, change barrels, and regulate the comb top. It’s merely ingenious.

The motion is new, manufactured from metal, and options integration with the one-piece Blaser saddle scope-mount system that permits for elimination and reinstallation with out lack of zero. It encompasses a one-piece, six-lug bolt, with a Sako-style extractor and plunger ejector. The motion doesn’t have a standard security. On the rear of the bolt, there’s a sliding actuator that you simply push ahead and serves as the protection. You noiselessly push it ahead along with your thumb to cock the rifle and depress a pink button that turns into seen when the rifle is cocked, to uncock or “protected” the rifle. What’s wonderful is that the 60-degree bolt operation requires practically the identical minimal drive after firing because it does earlier than.

The motion feeds from both a 3+1 (offered) or 5+1 (non-obligatory) removable journal, which is held in place by a recessed launch button positioned simply ahead of the journal properly. Curiously, this magazine-release button will be locked to bypass unintended launch. The Quattro set off on this rifle is the most effective set off I’ve ever pulled on any rifle. It’s consumer adjustable between 0.77, 1.65, 2.20, and a couple of.75 kilos, and if you press the set off is doesn’t really feel such as you’re pulling a standard set off; it feels extra such as you’re touching a button—a button that appears to maneuver nearly imperceivibly—that makes the rifle fireplace.

The inventory is a two piece design that features a buttstock and a forend. The butt inventory is hooked up by a single hex screw and the forend is hooked up by a latch that clamps onto a spigot system on the motion. At no level does the inventory forend contact the barrel. Each inventory sections are hooked up and eliminated with the hex wrench/sling swivel stud. Sauer provides a fast connect bipod adapter that replaces the entrance sling swivel, and it interfaces with Spartan Precision bipods and tripods.

With the forend eliminated, you’ll see three hex screws positioned on the front-bottom of the receiver. Once you loosen these screws with the provided wrench, you possibly can rotate the forend spigot mount 90 levels and take away the barrel. That is the way you swap between completely different chamberings. For those who go for a cartridge with a special rim diameter than your present chambering, you’ll want a special bolt, which can price you $600. Additional barrels retail for between $1000 and $1300, and the Blaser scope mount with 1-inch, 30mm, 34mm, 36mm, or 40mm rings, prices $526.

Sauer 505 Synchro XT Capturing Outcomes

Let’s be clear about one factor, this rifle operates with the precision of a Swiss watch. It doesn’t matter what management you try to govern, half you attempt to regulate, take away, or connect, there are not any hitches, glitches, or hold ups in any way. As you’ll anticipate of a finely crafted German-made rifle, all the pieces works to perfection and with utter smoothness. With most any bolt-action rifle, you possibly can apply torque to the bolt in a technique to make it both not work or drag a bit. Not with this rifle. The bolt glides contained in the motion as effortlessly as poking your thumb in a heat bowl of pudding. The set off was additionally improbable, permitting you to nearly assume the rifle into firing.

Relating to the rifle’s precision efficiency, I shot a number of five-shot teams with three completely different looking masses from the bench and the typical group measurement for all three was 1.18 inches. That is good however not nice for a $3500 rifle. However bear in mind, this can be a switch-barrel rifle delivering near-MOA efficiency.

Although usually not an enormous fan of thumbhole shares, I used to be shocked I favored this one as a lot as I did. I don’t wrap my capturing thumb across the wrist of a rifle’s inventory, and even with the thumbhole design, I may comfortably hold it on the proper aspect of the inventory simply above my set off finger. There was a kind of shelf there that offered a snug reference for thumb placement. I additionally adjusted the comb so it allowed for an ideal cheek weld whereas aligning my eye with the riflescope. This helped whereas capturing from the bench and off-hand.

The sliding security/cocking button took some getting used to, simply because it’s so completely different out of your common bolt-action rifles. The extra I shot the rifle, nevertheless, the higher I favored the system. What actually stands out, and perhaps can’t be repeated sufficient, is simply how easy the protection and all the pieces else about this rifle labored. The rifle is a bit butt heavy, balancing about 2 inches behind the entrance of the motion, which explains the nimble dealing with. However with the Banish Backcountry suppressor hooked up, the rifle balanced completely for subject work. A carbon-fiber inventory is offered for the 505, and it’ll lower a pound and a half off the load. Right here’s a breakdown of the precision-testing outcomes.

Ultimate Ideas on Sauer’s New 505 Synchro XT Rifle

Professionals

• Implausible set off
• Extraordinarily versatile
• Glorious workmanship

Cons

Within the curiosity of full disclosure, the rifle I examined was the German model of the rifle that can be offered in America. That is why the muzzle was threaded at 15×1 and why I wanted an adapter to five/8×24 for the suppressor. American rifles can have extra typical and ranging muzzle thread pitches relying on the chambering. For instance, the American 308 Winchester can have a 9/16×24 thread pitch. Additionally, this rifle had the black inventory that can be on the 505 as offered in Germany. American rifles can have a Titanium Gray inventory. Apart from these variations, the rifle I examined would be the rifle you should purchase in America, together with a model with the carbon-fiber inventory ($6500) and a grade 5 wooden inventory ($4500). There’s additionally the least costly ($3200) model with a historically styled artificial inventory. The opposite shares together with all 19 chamberings can be out there on particular order.

This isn’t the most-precise capturing rifle I’ve ever examined, nor the lightest. Nevertheless, that is clearly one of many best-made, most versatile, neatly configured, and modern rifles I’ve ever seen or evaluated. Admittedly, the cartridge and even inventory interchangeability is probably not interesting to hunters who like a special rifle for each pursuit. However this can be a very sensible one-rifle reply to about any looking query, from prairie canine to Cape buffalo.