European Styled Sporting Rifles in the US?

[JPbowhunter]

It’s worth considering Schultz and Larsen, they’re beautiful and solidly made classic rifles. They also come factory threaded.

 

[SaintPanzer]

Well, except for the threaded barrel part, you've described my Steyr Classic II.

 

[BFaucett]

View attachment 782362
Model 114 European Classic. Can be ordered with threaded muzzle. Well within your budget and guaranteed accurate.

I've owned Sako, Tikka and Sauer rifles, and they are wonderful hunting guns, but with wood they will likely exceed your budget unless you find one used.

From Google AI Overview:

"Savage Arms introduced the Model 114 Euro Classic (or Classic European) in 2006 and discontinued it around 2010."

https://www.google.com/search?q=when+did+savage+drop+the+Model+114+European+Classic

Cheers. Bob F.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If you do not mind going vintage, the easy answer in my opinion is the Husqvarna, Swedish Mauser in 30-06. They are easily one of the most accurate factory rifles I have ever owned and check all of the boxes on your list. The 30-06 is not hard on bbls so, even a well used example is likely to still have lots of life left in it. I bought a premium Imperial grade a few years ago and was stunned with the accuracy. It shoots everything I have fed it to sub moa and some of the best loads are closer to 1/2 moa. I once shot a three shot group with 180g Federal Fusion ammo into a 2.25" group at 400y. It will not do that every day but will hit near the middle of a 12" plate every shot at 400y. That is with a 4-16x optic. Mine cost $700 at auction but a good example can be had for about 5-6 hundred. The early ones were made with FN actions from Belgium. Can also be had in 8x57mm Mauser or 6.5x55mm Swedish or get one of each. Mine loves the 180g Swift Scirocco or the 180g Barnes TTSX BT. Either is a real world 400y hunting rifle for North American big game or African Plains Game.

Pics below are the rifle and a shot of the 400y group recorded with it last year.

View attachment 782397View attachment 782398

I just yesterday dropped a Remington 788 off at MagNaPort to have the barrel threaded for sound suppression. $139
I’m sure you have local smiths that can remove, reinstall the existing front sight and thread a barrel. Buy a sporter Mauser for $600-$1200 and have the work done. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting sporter mausers for sale in calibers that don’t harm barrel rifling over 100 years.

 

[odonata]

Well, except for the threaded barrel part, you've described my Steyr Classic II.View attachment 782585

Mine too. I was looking for a LH Steyr CL II in 9.3x62 when I stumbled across a pristine 30-06 with a Swarovski z3 3-10x42 scope & QD rings for less than $2k on a Cabela's used rack. I sold the scope here on AH for $650 so the rifle wound up costing me close to $1,300. Getting something like this threaded would still keep the price below the OP's budget. The trick to this option is being lucky enough to stumble across a similar deal.

 

[Altitude sickness]

A nice donor to have threaded

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/mauser-rifles-sporter-post-war/mauser-werke-2000-308-win-.cfm?gun_id=103696949

 

[Rob Davies]

I'm passively considering swapping out of my many synthetic stocked rifles for another more classically lined rifle in .30-06. I consider myself above average in my knowledge of these things but am shocked that I can't for the life of me think of a single model of european-made or styled model of rifle in the states with:

1. A reputation for accuracy
2. A threaded barrel
3. Factory irons
4. A wood stock

Currently available on the market. My budget is sub-$2k, if anyone has anything I should be looking for on the new market I'm all ears. The Sako A-III classics are lovely and right about there, but I'd have to thread it and add irons, which wouldn't be the worst thing but perhaps there's something better. The CZ 600 lux fits the bill, but it just looks too ugly for me. The Sauer models are tricky sometimes just due to knowledge about them in the states. If we could get the 100 with irons here in the states I think that'd be the ticket, but alas. It's for mountain hunting so something lighter weight would be preferable. Thanks in advance!

Mauser
Haenel Jaeger 10
Some Sako are available with iron sights

 

[Altitude sickness]

The Mauser-Werke 2000 I posted just above is the original Heym SR 20. A very smooth action and very accurate rifles.

Heym made them under the Mauser name and when Mauser discontinued the contract Heym relabeled them as the SR 20 and sold them under the Heym brand. A huge value.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

10 years ago a European styled rifle was a plastic stocked Blaser R8, R93, Sauer 202, Sauer 404, Heym SR30 or Heym SR21 or Steyr, Sako or Tikka with sights and a 3-12 Zeiss, Schmidt, Kahles or Swarovski in EAW mounts. .

20 years ago a European styled rifle was a Sako 75, Sako AV, Blaser R93, Sauer 202, Sauer 90, Steyr LS, or Heym SR20 with a wood stock and open sights. The same 3-12 scope in the same EAW mounts.

Today a European rifle is a plastic stocked Sub-2000 Euro Sauer 100, Mauser M18, Mauser M25, Tikka T3, CZ, Savage 110, or Heym SR30 with a plastic stock and no sights threaded for a silencer with a 3-18 or similar scope. The why is that prices are out of control for an R8 or Sauer 505, silencers are a real requirement, and a guy needs to be able to hunt roe deer at last light, put a thermal attachment on for pigs, or use it on a driven hunt. EAW is less common now, sights are non-existent, and wood is rare.

The only people buying high end wood stocked rifles are in their 60's or princes named Franz.

The common European rifle is 1500-2500 Euros, has a clip on thermal or night vision scope 1500-2500 Euros, a mount system like Dentler where they can swap back and forth between optics. A silencer is pretty much mandatory at this point.

Used Steyers are cheap in America that is what I would buy.

I also see a lot of Steyr Mannlichers amongst the European hunting community.

 

[Coues106]

I love the look of those Steyr Classic II's @odonata and @SaintPanzer, where can I find the iron sight/schnable model? I see that they're still in production but all the halfstocks are more "american" styled, and everything I can find under "Steyr CL II Halfstock" are these newer models apparently. I've handled these before and completely forgot about them, thank you!

 

[skydiver386]

From Google AI Overview:

"Savage Arms introduced the Model 114 Euro Classic (or Classic European) in 2006 and discontinued it around 2010."

https://www.google.com/search?q=when+did+savage+drop+the+Model+114+European+Classic

Cheers. Bob F.

Still available from Savage, as I just bought one factory direct. My cost was just over 1k. Everything on the gun was to my specifications.

You have to contact the factory, but the rifle can be built in your choice of action length/caliber, barrel length, finish, etc. If they have the parts and materials to make it, they'll build whatever you want. The only thing is they don't usually have is super high grade woods, as they don't get requests for it very often. I was told they can get it, but more lead time is required.

Hard to beat a factory custom shop rifle for just over $1,000 that usually shoots.75MOA.

Savage Special Order Department
1-800-370-0708 option 6
1-413-568-7001

 

[mauser98]

Find a CZ 550 or 557 lux. They still float around the net in like new condition.

 

[Kalthoff]

2. A threaded barrel
3. Factory irons

The trend is to avoid "factory irons" on threaded barrels, in order to be able to use "telescopic suppressors" ie. the type where half the suppressor slides over the barrel. You get the benefits of a suppressor without the weapon becoming overly long and unwieldy.

Currently available on the market. My budget is sub-$2k,

Your budget will only cover basic models with plain wood.

Consider either 2. hand or a budget increase.

 

[Coues106]

Find a CZ 550 or 557 lux. They still float around the net in like new condition.

This is another great call, thank you.

 

[SaintPanzer]

I love the look of those Steyr Classic II's @odonata and @SaintPanzer, where can I find the iron sight/schnable model? I see that they're still in production but all the halfstocks are more "american" styled, and everything I can find under "Steyr CL II Halfstock" are these newer models apparently. I've handled these before and completely forgot about them, thank you!

Call the importer. I've met him at the DSC convention, but that was some time ago:

Steyr Arms, Inc.​

2530 Morgan Road
Bessemer, AL 35022 :: Map

Hours​

Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET

Contact​

Phone: (205) 417-8644
Support: support-usa@steyr-arms.com
Service: service-usa@steyr-arms.com

 

[Wyit76]

They are going to be a bit more than your specified 2k budget and they are proving difficult to find, for me at least, but the Sako 90 series can be had with a classic wood stock and irons. My distributor told me they are an EU specific option but they pop up on gun broker occasionally. A shop local to me has a 90 hunter model in 30-06 I haven't been able to talk myself into, yet, but it is a beautiful rifle and shoulders like a dream.

 

[Kraut]

You might risk a look at Colt Sauers. Beneath the 98s and the Mauser M66 the Sauer 80/90 has always been reliable. Mannlicher Schoenauers are even better.
But that's the "old stuff"...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I second Habib's recommendation for Springfield 03A3. Mine cycles so smooth it almost closes the action by itself. Those actions can still be had relatively cheaply. Timney trigger and scope safeties for them are still available. Good walnut stocks can be found regularly on eBay. Boyds makes stocks for them too although I don't care for the useless position three slot for bolt release they carve into theirs on left side. Dumb because no one outside of the military would ever use position three. Most quality gunsmiths/stock makers don't carve out that unsightly slot.

Here's my Springfield. Replaced the stock1981 ($25), changed the safety 2018 ($45), added Winchester Express iron sights 2020 ($100), replaced the military barrel 2021 ($100), replaced Weaver 3x with Nikon 3-9x BDC scope 2018 ($99 Black Friday sale), replaced Weaver bases with 1-piece CCOP base 2020 ($65?), replaced standard Weaver rings with low Warne QD rings 2020 ($85), reblued barrelled action and bottom metal 2019 ($120). I believe Dad bought the original military surplus rifle for fifteen bucks in 1961.

Or you can build on a Mauser action. Aftermarket stuff is much more abundant for those but I believe you are looking for American made with European look? Springfield 03A3 so closely resembled German 98 Mauser that US govt was required to pay significant settlement for patents violations.

I agree with others; suppressors and removable box magazines are not "European look." But plastic stocks look right at home on guns having those features.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@EuroOptic has the CZ600 Lux for around $1k, in 30-06 and threaded barrel.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1188223311

 

[Muskox]

Steyr Mannlicher Luxus 7x64 - eGun

Rep. Büchse SteyrMannlicher GK im Kal 7x64 + ZF 1,5-6x36 Abs 4 auf Steyr 3Punkt Montage TOP Zustand - eGun

Steyr Repetierbüchse mit Bunthartung und Goldeinlage - eGun

Steyr Mannlicher mit hochwertigen Zielfernrohr - eGun

Steyr Monobloc .308 Win. Holzklasse 4 **NEUWAFFE** - eGun

https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=20441964 This is my style plastic stock, threaded big scope!