Steyr Sbs Prohunter Mossy Oak

A state-of-the-art rifle combines with high-tech camo and optics to make a great hunting rig for Alaskan black bear.

Having been lucky enough to use many of the world's bolt action rifles I have developed some rather strong opinions about what works best. One of the most innovative rifles I have ever used is the new SBS (Safe Bolt System) from Steyr Mannlicher of Austria and imported by Trussville, Alabama-based GSI, Inc.

A revolutionary bolt action design, the SBS represents the next generation of Steyr precision rifles, and could set the pace for bolt action rifles in general. Combining Steyr craftsmanship with all the classic features of a traditional American rifle, the SBS is a gun for the 21st century.

A Rifle With It All

The heart of Steyr's new SBS rifle is its action. Totally rigid, the high-strength steel receiver houses its unique Safe Bolt. Four front locking lugs give this bolt super strength while allowing it a lift of only 60 degrees.

Ice residue grooves in the bolt body provide high reliability under freezing and dirty conditions, and the bolt body is electroless nickel-plated for ultra smoothness and resistance to corrosion. The cocking handle is an improved version of Steyr's famous "butter knife" design, and the SBS bolt field strips in seconds without tools.

Tough And Safe

Totally new, the SBS receiver features a patented safety bushing that encases the extractor, thus providing an additional safety margin for unexpected excessive chamber pressures. So strong is this safety bushing that Steyr has fired special high-pressure proof rounds of 120,000 lbs. psi in the SBS without any damage. Conventional high-pressure proof loads produce only up to 70,000 psi.

Drilled and tapped to accept the same scope bases used on the Browning A-Bolt receiver, the SBS is the first Steyr rifle to use American scope mounts.

Screwed into the receiver is Steyr's high-quality, cold hammer forged, match grade barrel. With iron sights optional, the barrel can be had in 20" and 23.9" in standard, and 25.6" in magnum calibers.

The SBS's special smooth two-stage trigger is adjustable, but comes set at just over 3 lbs. from the factory. Even with the safety in the "fire" position, no amount of slamming the butt on the floor will make the SBS fire.

Steyr has incorporated safety design features into the SBS that dramatically enhance safe handling and usage. Using an ambidextrous roller tang safety, the SBS features three safety positions -- "fire," "load/unload," and "safe."

Logical in design, when the safety is forward, bullets can go forward (fire), and when rolled back, bullets stay back (safe). In the middle loading position, rounds can be loaded or removed from the chamber, but the SBS will not fire.

In the rear, or safe position, a white dot and gray safety catch are visible. Here the safety is engaged, preventing the rifle from firing and locking the bolt, but this is only part of the equation.

As an extra measure of safety, the bolt handle may also be depressed about 1/8" to the double lock position where the firing pin is cammed totally out of alignment. When the tang safety is moved off safe, the bolt handle moves back up to its normal position.

To remove the bolt, lift the handle and then put the safety on. Now simply pull the bolt out. As an added safety feature, when the bolt is re-inserted and closed, the SBS automatically goes to double lock.

Fantastic Features

Like other members of the Steyr family before it, the SBS features a detachable box magazine. Holding four rounds (three in magnum calibers), this magazine is a departure from earlier Steyr rifles in that it is a double column, two-position feed magazine.

Dual opposing locking tabs secure the magazine in place, and a second locking notch allows the magazine to be lowered slightly to a drop-lock position. This position lets the shooter unload the chamber and close the bolt without feeding another round.

Using a tough, revolutionary new gray synthetic stock, the SBS model designed primarily for the American market is called the ProHunter. Special features include an integral trigger guard and beavertail-style grasping grooves on the forend. To protect the fingers against recoil, the rear of the trigger guard is angled in the style which has been used on fine European rifles for a century.

To better facilitate using the SBS while wearing gloves, the area behind the pistol grip is hollowed out, and the butt stock features Steyr's new spacer system to allow for instant changes in the length of pull. The butt pad itself is rounded for instant shoulder placement under stress.

When combined with the material from which the ProHunter's stock is made, its straight-line design has a startling effect in reducing felt recoil. Pachmayr Q.D. sling swivels are standard.

Available on the SBS ProHunter is a 10-shot magazine kit (eight shots in magnum calibers). With all the features of the standard magazine, the eight- and 10-shot DBM offers a higher capacity while not extending below the trigger guard. Chambered for most popular American and European calibers, the SBS ProHunter is finished in matte blue.

Although the gray color of the ProHunter's synthetic stock is quite pleasing to the eye, Steyr has added a new dimension. The stock is now available finished in Mossy-Oak Break-Up camouflage. Permanently molded into the stock, this finish is not only practical and durable, but is beautiful, complementing the contrasting matte blue steel and black butt spacers.

Seeing Clearly

I topped the SBS ProHunter with a Swarovsky 1.5-6x42 hunting scope with duplex reticle. Built on a robust 30mm tube, this scope offers not only the highest precision, but also the ideal power range for hunting any animal, especially dangerous game.

On its highest setting, this scope can be used for either looking closely at game, or shooting at longer distances. At the 1.5x setting, it is perfect for close-in shots or running game. The Steyr SBS ProHunter in Mossy Oak Break-Up and Swarovsky scope combo would prove to be a hunter's dream come true.

I ran a series of accuracy tests using different types of .30-'06 ammunition in the rifle. Throughout these tests, the rifle performed perfectly. Not only was its bolt throw smooth, but I found I could cycle it very fast, an important feature when hunting dangerous game.

To prove the gun's capabilities, I took it on an Alaskan black bear hunt. I sighted in the Steyr SBS with Hornady's new Light Magnum ammunition and was ready to go. For a cutting edge, I took along Spyderco's Wegner Clipit knife. Adopted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, this knife is tops for skinning and a variety of other uses.

After meeting the rest of my hunting party, we flew to High Level, Alberta, where we were met by Bob Irvine and crew of Wolf Creek Outfitters, and driven to their fine hunting camp on the shore of the Chinchaga River.

The next morning we left with our guide, Todd Langevin, to drive another 40 miles deep into our hunting area. Thick with millions of spruce and poplars, this wasn't the middle of nowhere, but we could see it in the distance.

Seeing only relatively small bear that first night, I never took a shot even though one bear snapped its jaws as it stood looking directly up at me.

Some of the other hunters were successful that night, but my turn came two days later when a good-sized bear arrived at my stand. I waited several minutes to observe and make sure no cubs were with it. As it approached the bait, I could see it was taller than the 55-gallon drum standing on end.

I placed my crosshairs just behind his front leg and squeezed off the shot. As I felt the recoil, my hand went to the bolt and quickly cycled it, chambering another round as I saw the bear come to its feet and start to run.

As the animal neared the tree line 15 yards to the right, I shot it again and saw it roll over. Only after approaching the bear did I see that it wouldn't have run much farther. With the extensive damage from the first round of Hornady .30-'06 SST Light Magnum, it was literally a dead bear running.

I'll be getting my bear rug in about 10 months, but I've already got my Steyr SBS ProHunter. I own many other fine hunting arms, but the Steyr's SBS makes the ProHunter a must-have rifle to bring unprecedented safety to a hunt.

                             ACCURACY RESULTS
                        Steyr SBS ProHunter .30-'06

Ammunition                              Velocity Accuracy [*]
Federal 168 gr. Gold Medal Match       2,697 fps        0.78"
Federal 150 gr. BTSP                   2,901 fps        1.11"
Hornady 150 gr. SST Light Magnum       3,093 fps        0.82"
Hornady 165 gr. BTSP Light Magnum      3,009 fps        0.98"
Hornady 168 gr. BTHP Match             2,792 fps        1.08"
Winchester 168 gr. Ballistic Silvertip 2,780 fps        1.26"


(*.)Accuracy measurements are the result of five five-shot 100 yard bench
rest groups using the Oehler P35 Chronograph

COPYRIGHT 1999 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group