The Sauer 80 and its successor, the Sauer 90, are undoubtedly timeless classics among German bolt-action rifles. From 1972 to 1981, this rifle was primarily manufactured in Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein.
The outstanding feature that hunters, both young and old, still appreciate about the Sauer 80 is its legendary smooth bolt closure. Sauer used so-called support lugs for the locking mechanism, which engage precisely in the corresponding recesses in the bolt sleeve when closing the bolt. This ensures that the bolt chamber with firing pin, extractor pin, and claw does not rotate during the cycling process. This system works reliably, quickly, and extremely precisely. With the right ammunition, precise shots where the bullets almost perfectly meet are not uncommon.
The Sauer 80 is usually equipped with a combination trigger that offers a direct trigger with a set trigger. A sliding safety is located on the stock neck and secures the trigger as well as the chamber. Some hunters criticize this safety, as they would prefer a firing pin safety. Another point of criticism is the length of the rifle: the bolt is a few centimeters longer than that of the classic 98 system, and the barrel length is 60 cm, even 66 cm for magnum calibers, which increases the overall length to up to 118 cm. It is also not possible to change the barrel.
Well-preserved models are available from around 1100 euros.
