About 10 years ago I passed on a consignment Pro Hunter in 6.5x55. Been kicking myself ever since. Thinking now about a Pro Hunter in 280 Remington. Curious to know your thoughts and experiences with the Pro Hunter, and especially new production.

I had one of the 308 Mt rifles with a 20" barrel. It was HEAVY, it was also among the most accurate rifles I've ever owned.

The safety is very different, but I actually liked it.

The bolt handle shape forces you to mount the scope higher than normal for clearance. It can be replaced or ground down if you don't want to mount the scope high.

Spare magazines are expensive and hard to find.

The ergonomics and balance are "different". Not bad, just different and it takes a while to get used to it.

I sold mine after a brief ownership. Not that there was anything wrong with it, it just didn't fill the role I envisioned it for when I bought it. I was looking for a lightweight carbine length rifle and it was just much heavier than I realized. Especially after getting a scope mounted.

If none of those are negatives to you, you'll have a hard time finding a more accurate rifle.

Very well made rifles, accurate as well. By that I mean less than MOA with loads it likes. Mine is in 6.5X57. Different safety as mentioned, but very easy to use and I as well found it easy to use gloves or not. Ergonomics are great, the removable spacers make the rifles suitable for women and youngsters. Triggers are first rate, as good as any I have had on a factory rifle. Daughter got married and asked for "her" rifle... Would get another with no reservations.

I had one in 308 that I bough used for $550. I tried a couple brands of factory ammunition, and found the Hornady Light Mag 150gr SST shot a .267" group the first time I tried it. Steyr's are capable of incredible accuracy.

Pros: Incredibly accurate, great trigger, great safety )3 pos., plus you can push the bolt down into a "locked" position which blocks the firing pin), great ergonomics. Easily adjusted length of pull (spacers). Detachable magazine which locks in low where it wond feed or all the way up where it will feed. Great open sights on some models. Can be bought cheap.

Cons: Out of the main stream looks, Heavy.

I never knew it was heavy til I started carrying a Montana and a melvin Forbes worked over Colt light rifle. My 376 steyr has killed a truck load of deer though.

They're built like a brick [bleep] house.

I've had 3 of them, 2 I bought new and 1 I got used from the Katrina flooding and had to have it redone. After the facts, I had more into it than if I would have bought it new, oh well.

The new ones where 376 Steyr and 260 Rem. Shot the 376 quite a bit but got rid of it after I left AK. The 260 has never been fired, but am in the process of borrowing it to a coworker for winter deer season so I can at least see what it is capable of.

From what I've shot of the three, Triggers are good and really like the safety. They are on the heavy side.

I have a Steyr Prohunter in a .280. The most accurate rifle I own (I own 2 Tikkas as well). Sub MOA with several different brands of ammo. I have hunted with it for years and it has performed perfectly in every possible hunting condition you could imagine. I love the safety, the trigger, the magazine, and the lock down bolt. I was ambivalent about the spacers on the stock until I started hunting in Saskatchewan. Being able to adjust the stock for all the heavy clothing was clutch.

Now, the gun is not that pretty, and a little on the heavy side as well. For me, it is like taking the chubby girl to the prom. At least she can dance.

Steyr Pro Hunters are heavy, ugly and very popular in the homosexual community.

Thanks guys, informative posts and I appreciate it. I don't mind the weight. Most interested in reliability, accuracy, and the synthetic adjustable spacer stock for ugly weather hunting conditions. I am curious if the Pro Hunter will outshoot my M700 CDL... will keep you posted on results.

PS: ReadyRob, how can you be an Auburn fan and live in Georgia? ;-)

Tell us about yours.

Ditto. The magazine has a latch on each side, nearly impossible to bump it loose by accident. Very long OAL possible on the short action models.

Haha! Good one.

Ask ringworm. He's totally queer for them things. Or maybe it's just Kimber he's queer for. HeII, I forget...

It rusts easy..................keep it oiled.

I have a stainless Prohunter .280 and it shoots lights out with both 120BT and 120gr TTSX. Also had two .308's and they were half MOA shooters. Steyr's are one of the most accurate out the box rifles you can buy IMO.

Are the actions all the same length? All long action?

I have had three of the older ones, still have two of them. I traded a mountain version for the longer barrel. All were outstanding shooters with the right factory loads.
Pros--accurate, good trigger, love the tang safety, stock spacers.
Cons-the early production had a problem with heavy bolt lift. Newer ones have an improved bolt cam. Early production had a grey stock that was flimsy. New black stocks are stiffer. Neither of these should be an issue with the newer rifles. The old stocks had flush mount detachable sling swivels which made it hard to use a bipod. The newer ones have studs. A bipod probably wouldn't have worked well on those flimsy stocks anyway.

Mine are all older production. I had the newer bolt cams retrofitted, but the new stocks were too pricey. If I rest the rifle just ahead of the magazine, I can get groups like this (shot #4 was not a flyer, it was up four clicks)

I have owned or own...
308, 243 and 223 scouts.
Classic mountain in 308 and 7/08.
Foresters in 30-06 and 270.
Prohunters in 243, 7-08, 308, 7x64mm, 270, 30-06, 300wm and 376 steyr.
Tactical in 308 standard and HBC and one mag.
To call them accurate is like calling Dolly Parton top heavy.

1:10 twist?

to clarify, the 280 Pro Hunter factory barrel is 1:10?

Dogger, give these folks a call. They are the US distributors, and have been helpful to me in the past. For what it's worth, it looks like they may be discontinuing the Prohunter. The European website doesn't show it anymore (just the Prohunter Varmint), and the US website has them at a discount (but not in 280).

Steyr Arms, Inc.
2530 Morgan Road
Bessemer, AL 35022
Phone: (205) 417-8644
Fax: (205) 417-8647 - See more at: https://steyrarms.com

Ask for Jeff.
The PH won't be discontinued.

will do, thanks,

FWIW, when I visited Steyr U.S. headquarters in late 2015, uncertainty was expressed about the future of the Pro Hunter.

With regard to the OP's request, Pro Hunters are an excellent value. The more recent models with the stronger fiber reinforced stock are especially desirable (black in color not grey). Triggers are adjustable and refined. The action is safe and unique due to the 'safety bushing' and I liked the bolt lock/safety operation that uses a tang mounted thumb wheel. Accuracy was consistently under 1 MOA with my 30-06. Pro Hunters are also not lightweight yet use more plastic than I prefer. All said, at a street price of ~$750, they are hard to beat.

The changes made to the "prohunters" are this...
New stock on the CLSX with aluminum bedding.
Sent blaser style safet on the m12.
My statement should have been...the SBS won't be discontinued.

This is a CL, and in every way shape and form identical to an SBS PH whe. The stock is removed...

The original idea was to strengthen the standard stock, reduce the price point and get the rifle into American circulation. For the Euro market the CL would replace the PH so the price point would be reflective of the older base prices.


Suffice it to say, a better value is not available for someone interested in safety, accuracy, reliability.
However if your list begins with looks, weight and campfire recognition your probably going to buy something else.

I am reconsidering the 280, given the twist rate (haven't yet confirmed what it is), it might not be ideal for a "do everything" rifle. My interest in the Pro Hunter is to be the reliable, accurate, harsh weather "go to" rifle when I want to leave the walnut at home. Am starting to think the 30-06 makes more sense for this mission.

7-08

Totally agree, especially if you can purchase them pre-enjoyed.

I now have 5 Steyrs, two wood stocked and 3 synthethics



Top to bottom,

7mm Rem Mag, Steyr Pro, 26" barrel

308 Win, Steyr Mountain Rifle, 20" barrel

376 Steyr, Steyr Pro, 20" barrel

As much as I like wood, when it comes to it, here lately its the 308 and the 376 that get the nod when its nasty outside.

All three are sub-moa shooters to 200 yds. (which is as far as I've tested)



308 Steyr @ 100 yds.

I load the 376 Steyr with 235 gr. TSX.




100 yds.




200 yds.


In fact, after last weekends experience with the 376 Steyr,



it's gonna be my hoglet thumper when its nasty out, maybe even when its nice.

JAPPFT,

GWB

Hmmm... wanting a one load rifle... first choice to try in the 280 Pro Hunter would be the 150 grain Scirocco...

I just counted up...for my 2 376 PH rifles i have 365 new brass, 184 once fired, 123 loaded rounds, 9 magazines.
Also have 2 tactical (1 light one HBAR 20"), 1 mountain synthetic, I half stock classic mountain both 308.
I've thinned the herd a bit.

My go to load in all rifles chambered for 308 Win is the 150 gr. Accubond over 46.5 gr. Varget




308 Win.




308 Win.





308 Win.





308 Win


JAPPFT,


GWB

Spoke to Herbert. The 280 is 1:10 twist.

I have a few Steyr rifles. Have a Pro Hunters in 270,7mm-08,280,30-06,and 338 Federal. They all shoot well under sub moa with good factory loads.

They are not featherweight rifles,but weigh about what typical sporter rifles from winchester or ruger weigh.

The safety and trigger are superb,and they stand up to bad weather and rough conditions very well. I dropped my 270 out of tree with no issues.

They remind me of glock handguns,they look a little funny,but they sure work well. The bolt can be fully stripped without tools,and they are made to work wet or cold.

I have never seen one rust. the new ones are all either stainless or mannox. Neither will rust in my experience.

Leaning towards the 280 but also thinking 260 or 7mm08 or 30-06...

How's resale on these?

Well, I waited too long to pull the trigger on the 280 Remington Pro Hunter... vendor sold the last on hand and their Steyr distributor reported no more will be in the pipeline. Rats.

Can't see any sense in getting a 270 or a 30-06 when i have 280 dies, cases, bullets, and factory loads out the wazoo.

There is no place for that kind of logic around here

I've been looking at Steyr Scouts lately, and one thing I haven't been able to find out is whether Styer's Mannix is a nitride treatment, it just some form of choating. Also, don't you have to use higher rings on steyr's to clear the bolt handle?

Its in the metal not a coating , similiar to what Glock does

I never cared for the looks of the older ones, but that new stock helps a lot. Clearly they're excellent rifles with unique and helpful features.

Cabela's in La Vista was clearing them out and I managed to get a 20" 308 Win. for a little over $500 with taxes. My friend, the one that borrowed my 260 Rem., really liked it. Told him about the clearance sale and he picked up the last one on '06. I got there around noon when they had 3 of them and an hour and a half later they where sold out.

Well, I am thinking I should stick to basics with the Pro Hunter and roll with the 30-06 or 308. Curious to know what bullets have worked well for you out of the Pro Hunter in 30 cal? Thoughts on the 20" vs 23.6" barrel length?

This decision is harder than I thought... leaning now towards the 7mm08 in 20" barrel configuration.

Current bolt rifle stable consists of 6mm Remington (22"), 280 Remington (24") and 300RSAUM (22").
The 300 covers bullet weights over 150
the 280 covers the 140 to 175 middle.
the 6 covers 100 and below.
the bullet weight gap is 100 to 140 which a 6.5 would cover nicely...
and here i am looking at a 7mm08... sheesh

Maybe this can help with your decision.....shameless plug

Prohunter 6.5x55

According to the folks that import Steyt,the Mannox finish is a very hard layer that is similar to tenifer,the finish used by Glock. They would not tell me exactly what it is,but I'd bet it is a nitride base coat with a ceramopolymer surface layer.

I can tell you it won't rust,and it won't wear off in anything short of a sandblaster.

Hej geedubya,

Are the receiver lengths the same for the three chamberings?

Kinda sorta look it in your pic.

Resurrecting an old thread... for those who have owned/shot both, how does the Steyr Pro Hunter compare to a Sauer 100 Classic or 100 Classic XT?

They short action is actually intermediate.
The 376 steyr 375x60 fits the same action as the 308 class.