New Sauer 101 Hunting Rifle from J.P. Sauer & Sohn
J.P. Sauer & Sohn has released an all-new hunting rifle, the Sauer 101. This new rifle features a six-lug bolt that locks directly into the barrel, along with a new, sophisticated safety system that positively blocks the firing pin. The Sauer 101 also has a patented “Ever-Rest” bedding system featuring a metal block surrounding the front action screw. The Sauer 101 comes with either a black synthetic stock (“Classic XT”), or a quality walnut stock (“Classic”). MSRP has not been revealed, but the Sauer 101 is designed to fall in the “mid-class price range”, making it much more affordable than the Sauer 202. CLICK HERE to visit Sauer 101 dedicated website.
| Sauer 101 Features | |
| Smooth-running bolt with 60° lift 6-lug bolt locks directly into the barrel Dual ejectors provide reliable 90° extraction Safety system directly blocks firing pin |
Crisp 2-lb trigger pull 22″ barrel for standard calibers 24″ barrel for Magnums Adjustable open sights optional |
Sauer 101 Technical Features Video (with Amazing Computer-Generated 3D Animations)
Sauer has provided some fantastic 3D-style cutaway animations that show the features of the new rifle. You can see 3D “exploded” renderings of all the gun’s components. As well, the animation shows the function of the safety system, the six-lug bolt, and the dual-ejector system. Watch this video!
Barrel Attachment Technology
Sauer boasts that the barrel is heat-pressed into the receiver, with the bolt locking up directly into the barrel. That may sound good, but in reality, this engineering solution makes it extremely difficult to fit a new after-market barrel to the gun. We talked with two highly-respected custom gunsmiths. Both agreed that it would be “very difficult to find a smith who would tackle the task of re-barreling this gun (starting with a barrel blank).” One smith observed that “machining the lug recesses directly into the barrel is not a procedure that 95% of gunsmiths are capable of doing.” So, when your Sauer 101 barrel wears out (or if you want to change calibers), presumably you have to send the gun back to the factory.
Chamberings Offered
Standard calibers: 22-250 Rem. .243 Win, 6.5×55, .270 Win, 7×64, .308 Win, .30-06, 8x57IS, 9.3×62
Magnum calibers: 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag
Sauer 101 Intro Video (1 Minute)
Sauer 101 Pros:
1. The safety system looks very robust and sophisticated. The Sauer 101 features an integral firing pin block that allows firing only after the bolt has been fully locked into battery. That’s smart engineering.
2. Crisp, two-pound trigger pull is very nice for a factory rifle. Sauer claims trigger has “zero creep”.
3. Sauer 101 Accepts Remington 700 long action scope base mounts.
4. Stock is ambidextrous — good for both righties and lefties.
Sauer 101 Cons:
1. The pressed-in “Heat-Lock” barrel attachment system is not “gunsmith friendly”. And, because the lug recesses are inside the barrel, it will be difficult to fit after-market barrels. The machining required is much different than simply drilling a chamber as is done with “pre-fit” threaded barrels.
2. The sling swivel stud is positioned on the front of the Schnabel fore-end. To fit a Harris bipod, the owner will have to add a stud further back, or make an adapter for the forward-facing swivel stud.
3. No factory muzzle brake option.
4. No factory rail option for mounting scope rings.
5. No provision for adjusting length of pull (fixed at 14.4 inches).
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Tags: 6-lug bolt, Ever-Rest, Gunsmithing, Hunting Rifle, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Sauer 101, Sauer 202
Regarding the cons:
1. This is the same design as the Sauer 200 STR uses. There are plenty of aftermarket barrels avaliable for it. Blasers’ R93 and R8 also uses a system that locks in the barrel, and i’ve seen several aftermarket fittings of new barrels on a chamber from a factory Blaser barrel.
Editor: Not true. The Sauer 200 STR was designed as a modular system with swappable barrels. On the Sauer 101, the barrel is press-fit and then Heat-locked into the receiver. This is NOT made for “do-it-yourself barrel swaps”. Currently there are no aftermarket sources for Sauer 101 barrels. On the 200 STR the barrel is clamped with three cross-bolts and the barrel is designed, from the get-go, for swapping and removal (it has a special profile milled in the bottom of the “tenon area” to match the clamps). Not so with the Sauer 101. The barrel in a Sauer 101 is not clamped — it is held in place by a “heat-lock” process and there are no cross-bolts at all. Completely different system. Video showing 200 STR barrel removal by unfastening cross-bolts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzFC8UYxtDs
3. This is a European made hunting rifle made for the European hunting market. Not a 338 LM tactical rig from Cheytac. They use supressors as they are superior to brakes, not only reducing recoil but also sound levels.
Editor: Sauer is trying to sell this in the American market. In many US States suppressors are not legal to own. Other gun makers are offering muzzle brakes as a low-cost factory option. It makes sense to do so for magnum cartridges, particularly since it is not a simple task to remove the Sauer 101 factory tube and fit a new barrel fitted with a brake.
It’s a cold hammer forged, nitrided barrel and will out-live the hunters who this product is targeted at many times. If you want a switch barrel Sauer there’s the 200, 202 and SSG 3000.
Editor: Marc, you raise some good points. I agree that the barrels will probably handle the typical round-count, perhaps with the exception of the 22-250 and .243 win. Reading through the available materials, we’ve found no description of the barrel mfg. process and no indication one way or another regarding nitriding. The barrels may well be nitrided — but thus far we’ve seen no official statements to that effect in the marketing materials, manual, or website.
- the barrel is shrunked to the receiver and can`t be changed by a gunsmith
– the stock is not compatible with other stocks. No after market stocks.
– the trigger is not compatible with other triggers. No after market triggers.
It will get a US best seller.
I imagine some ingenious smith would likley be able to find a way to do this.
-cut the barrel through the chamber area
-insert one or more small pins through action wall into original barrel (partial depth), to truly lock into place. key is not to penetrate chamber or lug recess’
-machine down and thread the stub (remnant of original barrel) flush to end of action
-cut an internal thread into stub, upto but not impinging upon lug recess’
-cut and thread an new blank to fit into the newly threaded stub
the key aspects to my mind is to take the threading aspect right back to the lug area without actually effecting the lug area, and the chambering job would be quite finicky.
). PS i’m not a smith, and i know im simplifying the tasks but its still certainly doable.
this job is very possible, however I admit it’s probably not cost effective unless these actions are real performers (how many of us throw planty into rebarrelling run of the mill remmy’s though
Yet another over engineered German rifle with limited application in the U.S.. I’m sure it’s a well crafted accurate rifle, but with a list price of $2,295 (Clayton Firearms), it seems to be a niche product given its limited flexibility when compared to other brands. Given that I can, and have, used either Savage or Remington actions to build complete swap barrel rifles across various cartridge classes, with custom drop-in barrels, triggers and stocks, that shoot sub MOA, for less than the Sauer, I must ask why? Even the AR platform offers a better value, and the Cooper line offers off the shelf traditional appearance with standard construction. I suppose the Sauer will appeal to the gentleman hunter, but there are alternatives with equal appeal and more flexibility.
Editor: Thanks for finding a price. We figured the gun would be around two grand ($2000.00 USD), but could not find an MSRP in Sauer’s materials. With the $2300.00 “street price” you located, we think there will be a limited clientele for this rifle — as you predict.
please note that’s 2300 AUSTRALIAN dollars, take away the ‘australia tax’ we get screwed with on any international item and i imagine its likely to be less than $1500 USD.
I saw this at the Southwest Zone shoot in San Antonio last weekend. I was told the list price was $1695 USD. The bolt was really slick, and the gun had real nice balance. Agreed the sling mount precludes using a bipod as-is. Shooting sticks are the best option without adding another stud. Limited caliber choices will keep me from acquiring one…my next rifle will be a 6.5×284 or a 284 Winchester. I could be talked into a 280 or 280AI, if I like the wood on the stock.
I purchased a 101 after researching rifles for about 3 months. Purchase price was about $1500 & change. I have owned many rifles and have never had a rifle that shoots as accurate, shot after shot, as this one.
I always admire quality in any firearm, and this new Saur 101 is a further compliment to the array of fine firearms.
Some features that always appeal to me are the short throw bolt, excellent extraction system, balance, a 5 shot magazine in non-magnum calibres, plus an additonal round up the spout. That last round could be the difference between finally stopping the prey, or loseing it in the bush – or worse if it’s closing in on ‘Yours Truly’.
Having said this – I would have much appreciated a good mount of iron sights just in case the scope gets damaged somehow in the hunt, or in the moment of truth, etc. Plus, I’ve always liked a longer barrel – preferably 24 to 25 inches, even for non-magnum rounds like the 270, 30-06, and many other of my favorite calibres.
Perhaps the Saur custom gun shop at the manufacturer can provide these items for discerning sportsmen like myself..?
The best and finest firearms are like great hunting companions, quality wines, and game rich landscapes that have beckoned honorable men down through the ages.
‘Well Done Saur..!’
would like to find out about a .270 Left Hand action latest version, thank you
Lots of confusion and brain cells wasted here, this is how I see it, and I do own 202’s and a couple of Blaser R8’s,,,,the 101 is designed to fit in between the say Tikka, Howa and the top end rifles. Firstly it was never designed for the American Market, secondly so many people hung up on changing barrels, if that’s your game than get a 202 or a Blaser, the 101 would have to rank as one of the most accurate rifles I have seen out of the box, build quality is Fantastic unlike the hundreds of mid budget US brands, personally I cant even compare the 101 to some of those brands, it literally is chalk and cheese, I have now seen 2 101’s shoot 1/2 MOA at 100 with various brands of ammo not many other brands gonna do that for you, not in this price range. My .270 is the same.
A lot of the questions above have been answered such as bipod adaptor and different stock styles from the factory check their website.
http://www.sauer.de/en/products/bolt-action-rifles/s-101/sauer-101-alaska/features.html