By Neil Schultz 

Since brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser introduced their single shot bolt action rifle in 1871, the brand has been associated with innovative and outstandingly robust firearms. In 1884 their tubular magazine-fed version (model 1880) was adopted by the Prussian army as its primary infantry rifle. Improving on the design, internal box magazine repeating rifles, including models 93 and 94, were adopted by numerous countries in the northern and southern hemispheres for military use. It was, however, the M98 that became synonymous with the Mauser name following its military use by several nations for more than five decades – spanning both world wars. Unrivalled strength saw the M98 action being used (and copied) in the manufacture of sporting rifles for game species ranging from boar, bear and deer to buffalo, big cat and elephant. 

Fast forward from the 19^th to the 21^st century and Mauser is still delivering superbly designed and manufactured sporting rifles. Most commonly seen in Australian hunting camps of the modern era, Mausers are the M12 and M18 models. Both are traditionally styled turn-bolt rifles available in a wide range of stock styles and commonly chambered in cartridges from the ever-popular .223 to whopper stoppers like .300 and .338 Magnums. Even some of the newer hot-rods like 6.5PRC are available. For those with an unlimited budget, one can even find the M98 Diplomat chambered in .416 Rigby. 

Most recently introduced to the Mauser lineup is its state-of-the-art M25. In a departure from its heritage, turn-bolt rifles, the M25 is a straight-pull design. Apart from looking cool, the M25 is a functional firearm designed from the ground up to live up to Mauser’s reputation of strength and reliability. 

At the heart of the M25 is its receiver/chassis machined from solid bar stock. Rails milled into upper chassis provide a smooth bearing surface for the bolt carrier. So slick is the interaction between carrier and rails, that only fingertip pressure is required to manipulate the bolt. Only 13mm (1/2 inch) of rearward travel of the bolt handle unlocks the lugs to allow the action to be opened. This sees the process of ejecting a spent round and chambering another from the magazine being quite quick indeed. 

Lockup of the bolt into battery is achieved by a very intelligent design utilising two huge radial lugs. The bolt doesn’t turn to lock, as is the case in many pump-action rifles; instead, the lugs flare outwards, pushed by a wedge inside the bolt assembly. This is an extremely strong system, giving even more bearing surface than the notably robust old Mauser 98 action. The bolt face encloses the head of the case with a small extractor claw on the right-hand side. Ejection is achieved using two springs in the bolt face. This functioned flawlessly during testing, with fired cases propelled clear of the receiver without hitting the scope or picatinny rail. 

The two rails, on which the bolt carrier rides, create very little friction, resulting in a very smooth action. The 5mm thick receiver walls around the bolt when locked into battery give great strength to the system. Those walls increase to around 8mm around the chamber. 

Due to the nature of straight-pull rifles, a cantilever picatinny rail is required to allow correct eye relief to be attained. This configuration allows the bolt carrier assembly unimpeded rearward travel. Mauser currently has three optic mounting basses in production. The rear of the carrier assembly is enshrouded in a polymer cover enhancing the M25’s clean lines. As it comes from the manufacturer, the M25 carries a three-round, single-stack polymer magazine. A five-round magazine will be available as an accessory. Release tabs on the forward sides of the magazine are easy to operate and well placed for thumb and forefinger to detach the mag.  

Mauser is chambering its model 25 for six common cartridges: .243Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag. Barrels on standard chamberings are 51cm in length with a diameter of 17mm. All are cold hammer forged and threaded with a 15x1mm metric muzzle thread for easy fitting of brakes or blast diverters. Rather than blueing or cera-coating, Mauser is using plasma oxidising to treat its barrels’ external surfaces. This surface treatment process creates a hard oxide coating on metals by using a high-voltage plasma discharge to oxidize the surface.  

Supplied to The Report for testing was the ‘Max’ version, fitted with a handsome laminated beech thumb-hole stock featuring an adjustable cheek riser. This is the heavier of the three stock options, weighing 3.4kg. Also available is the ‘Extreme’, wearing a black synthetic stock for all weather durability and a slightly lighter carry at 2.9kg. My personal choice would be the ‘Pure’, which, as its name may suggest, is a traditionally styled walnut stock giving the rifle that classic sporter appearance.   

In the field 

The Mauser M25 is all about hunting! It is short and light enough to be easily carried and fast to bring to the shoulder for quick shots.  

Enough of the specs…how we all judge a rifle is by its performance in the paddock or on the range. The ergonomics of the M25 stock are spot-on, allowing the rifle to come to the shoulder instinctively – placing the optics at eye level. At exactly 100cm overall length, the rifle swings to follow moving targets easily. The balance is perfect, with a scope fitted, the M25 naturally comes up level when shouldered. Shooting factory ammunition ranging from budget to mid-priced produced a string of sub-moa groups from a sandbag on the tray of the ute. Working the action to chamber a round for shots on fleeing mobs of pigs was fast! I feel that one of the stocks without the thumbhole would be even quicker by eliminating the need to thread the thumb through the hole in the stock: just work the bolt and grab the pistol grip. Chambered in .308, the test rifle excelled in the chosen task of thinning out mobs of feral pigs on a grazing property. Mauser’s M25 leaves nothing to be desired in a hunting rifle. Sure, it may not deliver bench-rest accuracy, but one doesn’t need one-hole groups for hunting. The M25 was designed for a purpose, and it certainly excels in that task. Well done, Mauser! 

The true test of any hunting rifle is how it works in real-world situations. The M25 is an ideal tool for Australian hunting targets. 

The M25 Max is a handsome firearm that is as functional as well. Note the bolt handle positioned where the hand is naturally placed in the firing position. The unobtrusive magazine is unlikely to be accidentally ejected due to two release tabs, seen on the leading sides.