Mauser M18 Savanna Rifle Evaluate

All of the evaluators concerned within the 2022 Area & Stream Rifle Check agreed that Nosler’s Mannequin 21 rifle was the most effective rifle we examined. Nonetheless, we have been all equally enamored with the brand new M18 Savanna from Mauser. After dealing with and taking pictures it, all of us anticipated it to price twice its urged worth.

After all, the Mauser title is synonymous with the legendary Mauser 98 bolt-action that’s revered by rifle loonies worldwide. The M18, with its push-feed motion, will not be a Mannequin 98. However that ought to not deter you—the virtues of control-round feeding are exaggerated. What the M18 is, is sort of an identical to the Sauer Mannequin S-100. 

J.P. Sauer & Sohn, like Mauser, are owned by the Blaser Group and the 2 corporations are clearly sharing applied sciences. Nonetheless, the Sauer S-100 prices $250 greater than the M18 Savanna, and I feel the Savanna with its two-tone inventory, is a better-looking rifle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/tf9L-Dd2GsQ

Options and Specs

• Size: 42 or 44 inches, relying on chambering
• Weight: 6.9 kilos
• Barrel: 22 or 24 inches, chilly hammer solid, German metal, threaded at 9/16×24, with cap
• Motion: Three-lug, push-feed, bolt-action
• Set off: Adjustable, direct motion
• End: Blued metal
• Inventory: Weatherproof artificial with rubber inlays
• Capability: Removable journal (4-5 spherical capability)
• Out there Chamberings: 223 Remington, 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor (examined), 6.5 PRC, 270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum

The M18 shares the Sauer’s three-position security, three-lug bolt with a 60-degree raise, compatibility with Remington 700 scope bases, adjustable single-stage set off, and the removable magazines are interchangeable. What set’s the M18 Savanna aside from the S-100 is the inventory. Although each have a polymer inventory, the Savanna’s inventory is forged in an interesting chocolate brown shade and it’s fitted with soft-to-the-touch rubber inlays on the wrist and on the forearm the place your arms go when taking pictures. Additionally, the detachable butt pad is a bit distinctive. For those who depress the black Mauser emblem buttons on all sides of the inventory, the butt pad slips out exposing a hole cavity the place there’s sufficient room to retailer a versatile bore cleansing rope. I feel you would additionally poke an additional—emergency—cartridge into the froth fill throughout the buttstock.

The muzzle on all M18 Savanna rifles is threaded at a 9/16×24 pitch to allow the set up of a brake or suppressor, and the usual barrel size is 22 inches. Magnum chamberings have a 24.4-inch barrel. Simply ahead of the journal nicely there’s a recessed journal launch button, and the two.5-ounce polymer journal was straightforward to load, insert, and eject. All through our testing, it delivered flawless operation. Extra magazines can be found immediately from Mauser for $59.

Pictures Fired

Along with the manufacturing facility 10-year guarantee, the M18 Savanna comes with a sub-MOA assure. Ensures like these are arduous to codify due to so many variables. No matter your opinion on them, you have to settle for that this assure doesn’t prolong to any ammunition you would possibly shoot within the rifle. We examined 5 hundreds from the bench out of the Savanna by firing a number of five-shot teams. Two of these hundreds met the sub-MOA assure, three didn’t. For me, that is adequate; the most effective five-shot group fired with the M18 measured lower than 7/10ths of an inch.

The M18’s 60-degree bolt throw made the motion, which was as slick as snot, comfy and fast to cycle. The rifle felt pure in hand and on the shoulder, and whereas its rating on the sensible looking drill didn’t place it within the high three, generally there’s this factor that occurs whereas taking pictures known as human error. Each member of the take a look at group meshed nicely with the rifle and was pleased when it was their flip to shoot the Savanna. My solely unfavorable statement was that it appeared to push on the shoulder a bit arduous for a 308 Winchester. This could possibly be a proclivity of the inventory design or simply how I meshed with the rifle. Different testers didn’t really feel the identical.

Final Phrases

Within the Mauser press launch for the M18 Savanna, dated June 22, 2022, the urged MSRP is listed at $849.99, and at time of this writing, this was confirmed by a Mauser consultant. Nonetheless, on the identical time, the Savanna might be discovered at round $699.99 from quite a lot of retailers. Both means, contemplating the options and efficiency of this rifle, it’s a hell of a deal. As one skilled shooter on our take a look at panel put it, “There’s rather a lot to be mentioned for an inexpensive rifle which you can have the utmost confidence in.” And that’s precisely the type of rifle the M18 Savanna is.

Learn Subsequent: Why the Nosler Mannequin 21 is the Finest Searching Rifle for 2022

The M18 Savanna is chambered for hottest American looking cartridges, from the diminutive .223 Remington and the kill-almost-anything .300 Winchester Magnum. In my view, the main draw back to the design is that Mauser makes use of the identical motion dimension whatever the size of the cartridge. That after all is among the causes Mauser can preserve the value low. Given its options, how nicely feels in hand, handles within the area, and shoots, I can overlook that. It’s a very engaging, sleek rifle, and at its worth level, the M18 Savanna is difficult to not fall in love with—and purchase—even when you don’t want it.