Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Anyone have / shoot the Mauser M18 .Synthetic Bolt Action

Looking at picking up a new 243 and ran across the Mauser M18 .Synthetic Bolt Action, anyone shooting one?

I've had a 7mm Remington Magnum for a while now. It shoots VERY well, and I like a lot of the other features as well. The trigger is easily adjustable, with a crisp pull, and the detachable box magazine can also be loaded from the top while still in the action.

From what I hear they are essentially the same as the Sauer 100 which has become my favorite rifle

Though they're made by the same parent company, and share some features, the Mauser 18 is not "essentially the same" as the Sauer 100. You can read about the differences here: https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/3/20/german-resurgence-mauser-12-and-sauer-101/

I think you will find that they are far more similar than different and the M12 Mauser and Sauer 101 are quite different altogether

You're right, I didn't have enough caffeine this morning!

The one thing that puzzles me is the magazine capacity of the Sauer 100 is listed as 4 for magnum rounds, but the Mauser 18's magnum magazine holds 5. Dunno why they would use different magazines if the rest of the two rifles are so similar...

The new unspoken marketing ploy is "Adequacy".
All rifles are good in some ways, a lesser amount are special in some ways, but there is more disposable income in the "adequacy" category and always will be.

I recognized this in Oz where a distributor called Fullers imported entire warehouses of obsolete military rifles with many as is such as the Mauser 93' in 6.5x 55, 'K98's in 8x57 and the '03 Springfield's which were re-barreled to .270 or .30/06 and restocked in a basic stained hardwood that was nicely designed and comfortable to hold. There was also a glut of Mauser barreled actions stocked with Ramline disposable stocks in .375 h&H and .458 also brought in. These rifles were terrific buys and exposed a lot of Aussies to metric cartridges and bigger magnums as well as offering "Adequacy" at prices the packaging costs today.

"Adequacy" is a wonderful category which many American's likely identify as "truck guns", but they are still viable, accurate and worthwhile additions to any gun safe.

Fine rifles. I'm partial to the 12 mostly for the safety. Mine shoots exceptionally well.

From what I have read here I need to find a dealer that has one to check out.

thanks for the input

I have both , sauer 100 in 7m08, and mauser 18 in 6.5 prc. Big difference is in the 2 stock profiles. Both are excellent values. Both mags hold 5 rounds each if I'm not mistaken.

Eurooptic still has them for $399 - that’s cheap enough to “risk it.”

https://www.eurooptic.com/Mauser-M18-243-Win-22-Synthetic-5rd-Mag-Bolt-Action-Rifle-M180243.aspx

What's the difference in the profiles?

no 223?

The comb/cheek rest on the sauer has more rise as it moves rearward toward the recoil pad. LOP on my sauer is over 14". Some on the fire have stated this typical for many European designs. These 2 rifles are my first German made bolt guns. This rise in the comb may become a factor in choosing ring ht for the sauer.

The stock on the m18 seems to have a more level comb/check rest. Haven't paid any attention to LOP on the mauser.

The sauer has that schnabel (sp) thing on the fore end.

I like them both, but find myself spending more time with my rest set up when shooting the sauer at the bench. Then again I tend to overthink rest set up anyway.

Been wondering about the M18 myself. The prices on europtic website make it hard to not wanna give it a try. I do have a sauer 100 xt in 9.3x62, and it shoots great, also very fast handling and I like it alot.

Any chance it is made in left hand?

Nope, but as a left hander, I like the fact the stocks don't have the righty cheek weld.

Thanks.

Finally got a chance to shoot the M-18 in 6.5PRC last weekend. Bought two different loads of Hornady factory ammo for sight in. Bore sighted rifle at shop and fired first shot at 50 yards. Took two more shots to be in bullseye at 50. Then fired a three shot group at 100 yards that measured 0.66 inches. Both loads shot to same spot in that rifle. Easiest sight in and time to get great factory ammo groups of any rifle I have ever owned. The 6.5 PRC has much more recoil than I was expecting. Seemed like a max loaded .270 or .280 AI to me but very accurate rifle with factory ammo. Group sizes opened up slightly as I shot to adjust the impact to 2" high at 100. That may have been due to warming the barrel, my sore shoulder since I had fired over 100 rounds with other rifles that day or bore fouling but all groups shot were under 1" at 100 yards. Nice rifle and great factory ammo IMO.

Thanks for the report!

The powder, bullet weights and and velocities are in the .270 Winchester range--which isn't surprising, since the 6.5 PRC is essentially a short-action 6.5-06. It used similar bullet and powder-charge weights as the .270.

But have not found it to recoil quite like a .280 AI, which kicks more like a .30-06 with bullets of the same weight, due to similar powder charges and velocities--in a rifle of the same weight.