Bolt action

The Sauer 200 STR is a bolt action sport rifle based on the Sauer 200 receiver introduced in 1985. This receiver is CNC machined out of a single piece of steel and has been designed for maximum stability and is also used in several other Sauer rifle variants like the SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 and, slightly modified, in the 21st century Sauer 202. Tight manufacturing tolerances, a high quality surface finish and non protruding locking lugs are the basis for "smooth" bolt action manipulation. The bolt has six lugs that lock directly into the barrel. This construction prevents that bolt thrust forces act directly to the receiver that encloses the cartridge with a radial collar that, in conjunction with a gas relief hole intended for pressure relieve during catastrophic ammunition failures, contributes to strength and safety. Further the rifle features a relatively lightweight firing pin resulting in a lock time of 2.4 milliseconds .^[2][1] The bolt knob uses M6 threads, enabling the use of aftermarket bolt knobs.

Barrel

The 200 STR chromium molybdenum (CrMo) steel hammer forged match barrels have a 19 mm (0.75 in) end diameter.^[2]

Trigger

The 200 STR has a two-stage trigger mechanism with an adjustable trigger pull of approximately 13–17 N (1.3–1.7 kg_f; 2.9–3.8 lb_f). The trigger can also be adjusted for length, horizontal and vertical pitch. The advantage of these features is to prevent trigger movement in an inappropriate direction that would cause the rifle to move off target.^[1] A lighter 500 gram trigger is also available.

Safety

The rifle has an external manual safety to help to prevent accidental discharges. When the rifle is ready to fire a visible indicator at the rear of the receiver warns the user for this condition.^[1]

Sights

For sighting the rifle features a diopter and globe sighting line mounted on dove tails. The factory SIG Sauer diopter can be adjusted in 0.1 mil (10 mm at 100 m) increments and features 100–600 m sight markings. The sight height through the factory diopter is 33.5 mm (1.32 in). Due to use of standard sized dove tails other more precisely adjustable diopters can be fitted. The rifle also features a mirage band to aid sighting over a warmed up barrel.^[2][1]

Stock

The 200 STR has a laminated beechwood stock featuring an adjustable cheek piece and shoulder pad. These adjustment options allow shooters of various sizes and shapes to tailor the stock to their personal preferences. An aluminium UIT rail is integrated in the underside of the front of the stock, which can be used for attaching a sling or bipod.^[2][1]

History

Before the Scandinavian Target Rifle, the Scandinavian shooting associations had a need to replace their various aging standard rifles. The rifles then in use at that time were:

• Used in Norway: Norwegian Krag–Jørgensen, and various rebuilt Mauser K98k actions, such as the Kongsberg KV59, M67
• Used in Sweden: Swedish Mauser, in variants such as CG-63, CG-73/CG-74, CG-80 and FSR89
• Used in Denmark: Danish Krag–Jørgensen and various rebuilt Mauser K98k actions, such as the Schultz & Larsen M52, M58 and M69.

Early in the 1980s, the Norwegian association had the lowest supply of M98 actions needed to build their current rifle models, with a supply expected to suffice for 6-8 years of production.^[3] The Norwegians took initiative to meet with the other Scandinavian rifle associations to consider finding a common ground for coming precision rifles to be used within the three organizations.^[4] The Swedish and Danish associations estimated they had enough supply Mauser M96 and M98 actions respectively to sustain themselves until around year 2000, but nonetheless joined the process.^[3] One alternative considered was to adopt a set of standard rifle rules, akin to those used internationally in UIT standard rifle, which would have allowed competitors to use any rifle within certain limitations. However, the Scandinavian rifle associations early decided to instead choose a single rifle model in order to make the sport accessible by keeping costs down.

In January 1983 it was announced that the three associations had conducted a meeting discussing a common Nordic standard rifle. Subsequently, an open competition was held where amongst others Heckler & Koch, Mauser, Steyr, Winchester and SIG Sauer delivered candidates. Some of the requirements were that the rifle would be suited for both Nordic bullseye and field shooting, would have a maximum weight of 5.5 kg, and have sufficient precision to produce ten round groups of less than 100 mm at 300 meters (0.33 mrad; 1 moa) using factory ammunition.^[4] The first test in the competition was held in July 1984, and consisted of 16 models from in total 13 manufacturers in 7 countries. The first test was conducted by 11 Swedish shooters and gunsmiths. In Sweden, sales numbers fell sharply for the newest Swedish standard rifle Carl Gustaf CG-80, with most shooters holding onto their older CG-63 rifles while waiting for the results of the Nordic standard rifle trials. The second test was conducted in Sweden in May 1985, this time with five participating shooters from each of the three countries Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The number of firearm candidates had now been reduced to 13, namely offered by Norwegian companies Eriks Våpenteknikk, Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk, German companies Mauser, Sauer & Sohn, Heym and Krico, American company Remington, Danish company Schultz & Larsen, Finnish company Tikka, Austrian company Steyr Mannlicher, and Swedish companies FFV, Lano and Erress. Among the models considered were Steyr SSG 69, Mauser M86, what would later become the Sauer 200 STR and Sauer 205, and KV IRG-M85 with magazine wells on its sides.^[5][6] A prototype of the IRG-M85 today is displayed at the museum of Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk. After an evaluation in September 1985 the 6 best rifles were selected for the next test round in Copenhagen in the summer of 1986. In the meantime a winter test was conducted in the winter of 1985/86. The last test was a winter test in Norway in the winter of 1986/87.

On the 4 December 1987 the commission gathered in Copenhagen, and chose the Sauer 200 STR as the new Nordic standard rifle, after changes to the stock material and some other technical details.^[3] Sauer had thus won the competition with a concept that allowed the user to perform most of the maintenance themselves without needing a gunsmith. The first production rifles were delivered in 1989, and the rifle became approved for competitions in all three organizations starting 1 January 1990.

Between 2005 and 2015, the DFS tested the Sauer 200 STR rifle in the 5.56×45mm NATO chambering, since this is the new service cartridge the Norwegian Army has adopted.^[7] In 2015 the DFS decided not to introduce the 5.56×45mm NATO as a chambering for their shooting events. The 200 STR rifle is also approved by the sister organizations of the DFS, the Swedish Volunteer Sharpshooting Movement Frivilliga Skytterörelsen (FSR) that merged in 2009 into the Svenska Skyttesportförbundet and the Danish De Danske Skytteforeninger (DDS) for use in their shooting events.