Rifle Test: SAUER 505

For more than 270 years the name J. P. Sauer & Sohn has been synonymous with traditional German gunmaking in the Suhl district in the centre of the country. Sauer rifles are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship as well as their phenomenal accuracy and superlatively smooth bolt system.

The new Sauer 505 is not just a made-over model in an attempt to keep things current; it has been radically redesigned. In my view it now reaches the upper echelons of what a rifle can achieve.

ACTION

The full steel construction further certifies the solidity of the 505 without any weight gain, due to the skeletonised magazine housing and scalloped action sides. The designers have taken great care over every part of the chassis, as can be seen with the humpbacked top of the rifle. This means that the new saddle-mounting system can be attached effectively, which is a marked improvement on the older scope-mounting system.

The action and barrel both have the super tough DLC (diamond like carbon) coating, which should eliminate corrosion if looked after correctly.

The small ejection port remains, but the bolt itself is now one piece, which improves its overall smoothness and utility. This characteristic smoothness is a Sauer calling card.

The 60° action is one of the best available and the six lock-lug arrangement make it almost invulnerable to wear and tear. The three large frontal lugs and the three smaller posterior ones perfectly engage with the abutments cut into the rear of the barrel. Ejection takes place via a single sprung plunger system that uses a well-sized claw. The claw is set into the bolt head and I had no problems with the system.

Also new is the manual cocking system/safety at the rear of the bolt. Easily positioned for fast and silent, use it feels very ‘German’. The facility to leave the rifle loaded but keep the action decocked until you need to fire gives the rifle a very hunting feel.

The scalloped polymer button at the rear of the bolt slides up and down to cock and decock the firing pin mechanism. The main button is black with a lower red inset section. A gentle push inwards of the red section decocks the 505 and the button lowers. A long upward  press of the black button recocks the action. This system functions more easily than similar mechanisms on other platforms and it is silent to use. I still like the old up-and-down Sauer safety but perhaps that’s personal preference.

I really like the Quattro trigger mechanism; it’s a marvel. The four preset weights can be adjusted by removing the forend. This is a simple process, but it would be nice to be able to adjust the trigger without removing any major parts. The four settings are 350g, 750g, 1000g and 1250g (0.77lb, 1.66lb, 2.2lb and 2.8lb). It’s a simple and really nice trigger action with a superb single- stage let off. The trigger pull length is also adjustable across a range of 8mm and can also be angled left and right through up to 5°.

The detachable three-shot flush-fit magazine feeds the 505 as standard (two-shot in magnum calibres), but I had the extended five-shot model on test. The magazines is of an all polymer construction, which makes it light and weather proof. The single- stack feed system is simple but reliable and the magazine is a one- size-fits-all model with rear insertion. The Maglock mechanism requires a double press on the release button for magazine release. This stops any unwanted detachment of the mag when stalking. Although it’s an effective system, the catch is a tad small for my liking.

For the barrel, Sauer still use the old cold hammer forged method that gives great concentricity and longevity. The ability to exchange the barrels remains unchanged on the 505, with three numbered Allen bolts securing the barrel to the front of the action.

Removing these bolts in order and lowering the locating lever enables swift exchange. With just a bolt change between calibre groups you have an extremely versatile hunting rifle that has the ability to cover all species.

In total the 505 can handle 19 calibres ranging from .222 Rem all the way up to 10.3x60R Swiss, with all the new and popular small, medium and magnums catered for. Lengths differ depending on calibre as do diameters. I had the 20" .308 Win option, which I thought was ideal. Magnum calibres are 62cm/24" (optional 56cm/22") with fluted barrel options also available and standard on the Highland model.

The 20" version on test has a 17mm profile but a heavier varmint type at 19mm can be ordered; the rifling twist for this calibre remains at 1 in 11" .

This will do for all but the heaviest .30 cal bullets. The muzzle is very nicely profiled with a 15mm/1 muzzle thread as well as an end protector.

The stock on this ErgoLux model was nothing short of outstanding. I was very careful not to scratch it while out stalking! The grade 7 walnut stock exhibits delightful, sculpted, flowing lines so characteristic of Sauer rifles. The forend is slender with a walnut grade and grain pattern matching the stock. The forend detaches from the action retaining bar through a simple push and quarter twist of an Allen key inserted through a small hole in the underside.

The chequering on the forend is finely executed and grips well in cold or wet weather. It is mirrored on the pistol grip with a slight palm swell that I really appreciate. This then combines with the slow upward rake to the stock and the classic Bavarian- style dropped cheekpiece. A small hole through the recoil pad for the Allen key enables easy stock removal.

The ease with which the forend and butt stock detach makes swapping the luxury walnut stock for the weather beating synthetic model a breeze.

These changes are done with an Allen key that is cleverly held in the QD sling swivel stud. The 505 has four stock options and walnut with wood grades from 2 to 10. The ErgoLux walnut weighs 7.6lb.

Other stock options include the ErgoMax Black, which is a sporter polymer equivalent of the walnut stock and makes the rifle approximately 7.7lb. Alternatively one could have the Synchro XT thumbhole polymer, which transforms the 505 into a superb stalking rifle, ideal for woodland or hill stalking in foul or fine weather. If you want to go the whole hog then how about the Synchro XTC, which weighs only 7.1lb and features a thumbhole stock design and carbon fibre construction.

I opted for the Synchro XT Black as a second stock to try out. It is moulded from tough polymer with slightly raised stippled grip areas instead of chequering. The thumbhole design as it allows both easy access grip at any shooting angle and is pretty much ambidextrous. The adjustable cheekpiece is sensational and can be controlled by a central button that gives an inch of height adjustment with a very solid locking position. This enables you to alter the height for differing shooting angles as well as different sights.

With all the barrel and stock options, lengths and calibres there is a 505 for any hunter on the planet.

FIELD TEST

The 505 came with a Blaser Titanium over-barrel sound moderator, which added very little to the overall weight and not much additional length, making it ideal for woodland stalking to avoid snagging any trees.

The new Blaser saddle mount was simplicity itself to set up, with twin tensioners on each side of the swivel and clip tightening fasteners, which 

securely held a rather nice Blaser B2 3-18 x 50 IC scope. Although the scope was superb optically, I did notice that it made the 505 somewhat top-heavy. If it were mine I would fit a lighter smaller model for woodland stalking. Despite this, the mount was secure and well engineered.

I decided to conduct the performance tests up in Scotland at 100yd with a variety of lead core and copper factory bullets, and follow that with some reloads to see what that would do for accuracy.

The rifle’s accuracy was astonishing, with very little difference in group size can’t recall another rifle with such consistency. These are measured edge to edge, so if you subtract the calibre they are all tiny. The exceptional Hornady ECX 125gr shot 0.44", so minus 0.308 is sub-¼ MOA. That is superb performance for a factory rifle, let alone one shooting factory ammo. As the factory cartridges were so accurate I didn’t bother with my customary hordes of reload data.

Instead I selected a few old favourites along with differing weight bullets for small or large species deer. Check out the video at https://tinyurl.com/ergolux

IN THE FIELD

With the ErgoLux we had several red hinds to cull and any single young stags if the opportunity arose. At this time of year the reds are off the hill

and feeding on the low land and woods in Scotland. It’s easier on the legs but hard work being silent through the leaves and broken twigs.

Unsurprisingly I chose to load up with the Hornady ECX cartridges once I had re-zeroed at 100yd. I had been observing the reds through the new Pulsar Telos XP50 LRF thermal, which gives ultra-clear images and accurate detection ranges coupled with an in- built laser range finder.

This pre-stalk scouting paid off as it got me onto a parcel of hinds the next morning at first light. They slowly emerged from the edge of the woodland at 300yd and traversed the long open field in front of me. Partially hidden by the grasses and undulating ground, I rested the 505 on the sticks and waited until they stopped at a small burn at 160yd. Sure enough a single hind without a calf offered a broadside shot. The 505 hit its mark and dropped the hind while the others scattered in all directions.
 

I also tried the Synchro XT polymer thumbhole stock on a couple of end- of-season CWD stalks. As anyone will tell you, this involves lots of crawling and swatting in wet ditches – perfect terrain to test the limits of the weather- beating synthetic stock.

I positioned myself about 200yd from a strip of rough ground that the CWD often bedded down in and sure enough, just as the sun dropped below the skyline, a nice old buck with half- broken tusks appeared at 133yd as ranged on the Steiner LRF binos. Again the superb ECX 125gr lead-free round hit the mark perfectly and we had a nice buck and some lovely venison for the farmer.

CONCLUSIONS

Sauer have surpassed themselves with the new 505 range. All the little tweaks have certainly enhanced performance, as demonstrated by the accuracy tests. This proves that Sauer takes care of their barrel manufacture and the new Blaser-type saddle mount is an obvious improvement.

I believe that the Sauer 505’s primary appeal lies in its versatility – in addition, of course, to its build quality. The freedom to change calibres and stock configurations at will is most welcome and all the new design features are a real improvement, which will certainly boost the appeal of this model to serious hunters. Either walnut or synthetic, the 505 range has a rifle for you.

CONTACT: Blaser Sporting UK 01483 917 412