An affordable workhorse for the hunter 

By Billy Allen 

Welcome to the world of Sauer 100 rifles, a lineup that quietly made its mark in the Australian hunting scene after its release in 2016. In my search for a new rifle, the Sauer 100 caught my eye. Interestingly, the same factory that makes Blaser and Mauser also makes Sauer, so I had no concerns about the rifle’s build quality or functionality. The Sauer 100 is the budget and base model rifle produced by J.P Sauer & Sohn and offers impressive quality and value. 

I’ve become a big fan of the Sauer 100 in the last few years, and I’m proud to say I now own three different Sauer 100 rifles. In upgrading my older hunting rifles, I purchased Sauer 100s. I now own a .243 Win XTA, a .270 Win XT and a 9.3×62 Cerakoted XT. 

First impressions 

Upon my initial handling of the Sauer 100 at the gun shop, I found myself excited by the rifle. Sauer’s entry-level model immediately stood out because it offers shooters premium features and excellent value for money. The Sauer 100 is an excellent entry-level contender – solid, reliable and priced between $1300 & $1900; great value for hunters and shooters across the spectrum from novice to seasoned veteran. Overall, this rifle is a neat, robust German-made hunting and sporting rifle with outstanding quality offered at an affordable price. 

The build quality and manufacturing standard of my first Sauer 100 in a 9.3×62 Cerakote XT was extraordinary, which motivated the acquisition of my second and then third Sauer 100. 

The stainless barrel models come threaded with end caps as seen on the .243 and .270. All the barrels are cold hammer-forged, with the standard action length rifles sporting 22-inch (56 cm) long barrels. A slight quality control issue with the rifle’s finish is that the stainless end caps have a different sheen than the barrel, creating a noticeable distraction. 

All these rifles sport black polymer stocks that are tough and impervious to all weather conditions. These rifles are serious, functional hunting tools – no unnecessary visual embellishments and built to be a durable workhorse in all-weather conditions. 

In the field 

The Sauer 100 rifles really came into their own once I took them out hunting. Everything I had felt in the shop translated into practical performance on the ground, where the details that matter most – balance, reliability, and weather resistance – made the difference. 

The Ergo Max stock is one of those designs that immediately feels right in the hands. It has a clean, attractive Schnabel fore-end and just the right amount of checkering on the pistol grip and fore-end, but comfortable enough to give confidence in all weather conditions. Made from soft-touch black polymer, the stock is tough and balanced. An ambidextrous palm swell and standard QD sling studs round out the practical touches. The XTA variant adds an adjustable cheek piece with 35mm of rise, so eye alignment stays spot-on no matter the optic or shooting position. 

What really sets it apart is the ‘Ever Rest’ factory bedding: an aluminium block recoil lug epoxied solidly into the stock, representing one of the superior factory bedding applications observed in a rifle of this price point. The recoil pad is firm without being spongy, reducing felt recoil effectively, and the slightly upward-sloping comb allows just enough cheek separation under recoil to eliminate any cheek slap. Everything stays comfortable and controlled, even when taking rapid shots or shooting from different positions. 

This rifle carries comfortably on the shoulder all day with a sling, stays balanced when you bring it up quickly and never feels like a burden, which, for a hunting rifle you’ll actually use, is exactly what matters. 

I started with zeroing and group testing at 100 yards on the farm, under typical Queensland conditions with a bit of wind. The .243 was fed hand-loaded 80gr Sako Powerhead blades, the .270 ran factory 130gr Remington Core-Lokts alongside hand-loaded 120gr Outer Edge projectiles, and the 9.3×62 used factory 285gr PPU loads. Across all three rifles, a minute of angle was achieved or better straight out of the box, with no need for load development or extensive testing of factory ammunition. 

The Sauer 100 uses a detachable double-stack magazine: 5+1-round capacity in standard calibres (4+1 in magnums). The magazine drops in and out cleanly and quietly. Feeding and ejection have been completely reliable with no issues across all my rifles. The design allows easy top-loading directly into the open action, my preferred method for topping off my magazine in the field. 

The magazine release catch is sensibly recessed at the front of the magazine well, keeping it protected from accidental bumps or snags in the bush – no risk of losing the magazine when you need it most. The magazine well plate and trigger guard are formed as a single piece of alloy, a thoughtful touch that’s missing from many rifles in this price range. While I personally prefer an internal magazine in a hunting rifle, the Sauer’s external setup sits flush with the bottom of the stock and functions so reliably that it’s easy to accept the modern approach. Overall, the magazine system is straightforward, quiet and dependable – exactly what you want when you’re on a hunt of a lifetime. 

The bolt is a standout. I’ve felt nothing smoother – a 60° lift that makes follow-up shots instinctive. It’s virtually impossible to jam unless you really try. The action is a turn bolt-action with three locking lugs, dual sprung plunger ejectors for reliable ejection, push-feed, single raceway for smooth travel and cycling. The bolt handle features an interesting black, grooved nylon knob, and the safety is a three-position lever on the rear right side of the action (fire / safe + bolt operable / safe + bolt locked). 

The triggers are adjustable to between 1 to 2kg (2.2–4.4lb). I adjusted the triggers on my Sauer 100s to around 2.5 pounds; they are single stage, break cleanly and have very little over-travel. The .270’s trigger initially had some creep; however, after a week of hunting in the rain, I used silicone spray on the trigger mechanism as part of my post-hunt maintenance. This action completely removed all the creep. 

At 3.1kg and 1065mm in length, the rifles are balanced on the shoulder with a sling. The Sauer 100 shouldered quickly and felt balanced when I shot it from a bench, offhand or in awkward field positions. The free-floating barrel held zero no matter the stance. Thanks to the stock’s secure grip and tactile feel, it stayed firmly in hand even when wet, and the synthetic material easily withstood bumps and rain. 

Reliability has been flawless. Feeding, ejection and loading stayed positive and quiet – no snag points and nothing to interrupt the shot. During the 2025 red deer roar, my .270 Sauer 100 XT faced its first true test. I’d only picked it up the week before and put just five rounds through it to sight it in. Yet over seven days of constant pouring rain, the rifle stayed completely unaffected. On the final evening, with the light fading and the country steep, my sixth shot out of this rifle connected cleanly at 185 yards on a big stag using 130gr Remington Core-Lokts. That single hunt in brutally wet conditions sealed it: the Sauer 100 was built for real-world hunting conditions. Every hunting and shooting trip since has only reinforced the decision to transition all my hunting rifles to the Sauer 100 platform. 

Conclusion 

The Sauer 100s have exceeded expectations in accuracy, consistently delivering MOA or better with three-shot groups at 100 yards in real conditions using budget factory ammunition. In more than 30 years of hunting and shooting, these are the most accurate rifles I have tested and owned. The high-quality factory setup and construction mean it works perfectly right out of the box, without needing adjustments or fine-tuning. 

Feeding, ejection, cycling, and weather resistance have stayed flawless. These rifles are reliable, durable, slick in operation, comfortable to carry and shoot, and genuinely low-maintenance- exactly what you need in an all-weather stalking tool, with even a smartly thought-out addition of being drilled and tapped to accept the readily available Remington 700 mounting systems. 

From rain-soaked deer hunting trips to longer shots across open country, they perform exceptionally well. I’ve now standardised the Sauer 100 platform on all my main hunting rifles in a .243 Win, .270 Win and 9.3×62. They feel beautiful in the hands and have become my default for all my hunting needs. 

The Sauer 100 series is a serious, no-nonsense tool that delivers without drama. The Sauer 100 series represents the pinnacle of the budget hunting rifle range, featuring genuine German engineering. They offer exceptional value and have quietly raised the standard for entry-level hunting rifles. If you’re looking for a durable, accurate hunting rifle that won’t break the bank, the Sauer 100 deserves serious consideration. After living with three of them through rain, heat, and everything in between, I can say with confidence: these are rifles worth owning.