In the recent past in particular, Mauser, which is now part of the large Blaser Group, has also made many young hunters happy by offering affordable rifles in addition to the expensive and beautiful fine rifles in the classic 98 design. The world of the famous "98", which the Mauser brothers invented in 1898 and which is regarded as the blueprint for all modern bolt-action rifles, is reserved for solvent customers: the entry-level Mauser 98 Standard Expert model changes hands from over €13,000. In contrast, the conventional bolt-action M12 and M18 series (from 2012 and 2018 respectively) are among the no-frills tools for the hunting ground. The Mauser 12 series consists of four models, and a Mauser 12 Extreme can be purchased from a price of around €2,350. The Mauser 18 series is particularly extensive with new models, with the Model 18 Standard available for around €1,200. The new 25 series introduced at the beginning of last year fits seamlessly in this range, as it currently consists of the three different models: the Max with thumbhole stock and adjustable cheek piece, the Pure with simple wooden stock and the Extreme with synthetic stock presented here, all of which are available for less than €2,000. The Mauser 25 Max costs €1,899, the Mauser 25 Pure €1,799 and the protagonist of this article, the Mauser 25 Extreme, €1,699.
The Mauser 25 Extreme in detail
The 2.9 kg straight-pull rifle chambered for the popular .308 Winchester caliber with a 510-mm barrel is immediately appealing with its straightforward, clear design. The black polymer stock with non-slip surface areas on the relevant parts of the pistol grip and fore-end has sling swivel studs that are molded integral components. After pressing down a latch, the straight-pull bolt can be removed. The "Mauser-Spread-Lock-250" straight-pull locking system with two lugs that lock twice to 125 degrees, i.e. a total of 250 degrees and a large contact surface. All Mauser 25 variants are available as left-handed versions at no extra charge.
The smooth repeating action of the Mauser 25
The straight-pull bolt can be fired smoothly and at lightning speed. The secret behind this lies in the overall innovative technology of the Mauser 25. In a conventional bolt- action rifle, the striker is cocked during the cycling process with the bolt handle. Because the striker spring is strong, a little force is required for this. The Mauser 25 has no striker that needs to be cocked at all but uses a firing pin and single-action hammer that can be easily cocked by hand. This design detail alone makes the repeating action very smooth. We also noticed the two ejector springs on the bolt, which we have never seen before in this shape and design. Normally, spring-loaded pins are found here, which Mauser has completely dispensed with in the Model 25. Simplicity and few components are a good sign for a gun, because a component that is not present cannot break if the worst comes to the worst. Although the solution of using only the springs as ejectors is unusual, it worked perfectly in practice, as the cases of all types of ammunition used were reliably ejected from the gun.
The centrally located, two-position tang slide safety, which acts on the firing pin, facilitates ambidextrous operation. A simple press of the thumb releases the transport safety, allowing the chamber to be opened even when the safety is engaged, for example, for unloading. The direct trigger has an adjustment screw for the individual setting of the trigger pull weight in a range from 700 to 1,700 grams. As the trigger of our test gun was set to 880 grams at the factory, we saw no need to make any changes here.
Bedding of the Mauser 25 in the polymer stock
The aluminum chassis is inserted into the polymer stock, in which the plasma-oxidized and therefore weather resistant barrel with a diameter of 17 mm and M15x1 muzzle thread is fixed with two screws. A steel insert mounted in the chassis engages without play in a corresponding cut-out on the underside of the barrel root and thus forms the recoil lug. The polymer box magazine with integrated release control has a capacity of three cartridges, although magazines with a capacity of five cartridges are also available as an option. With the new Mauser "Single-Base-Mount", mounts are available for riflescopes with VM or SR rails, which are particularly impressive due to their low overall height and absolute stability. A Picatinny rail or a Blaser saddle mount adapter are also available for those who want to change their riflescope. Incidentally, Recknagel recently introduced two Picatinny rails for the Mauser 25. The short, lightweight aluminum rail was specially developed for red dot sights and the long steel rail for maximum flexibility when mounting night vision or thermal imaging optics.
On the shooting range: the Mauser 25 Extreme in practice
Fitted with a Minox RS-6 2.2-14x50 scope, we went to the shooting range to test the Mauser 25 for accuracy with seven types of factory ammunition, with a bullet weight range of 110 to 178 grains. We shot from a sitting position using a benchrest rifle rest and a rear sandbag with ears. We achieved the top group result of 13 mm with the GECO 146-grains Sport training cartridge. As already mentioned, the action of the Mauser 25 Extreme is very smooth, with the straight bolt handle knob positioned directly above the trigger as the final operating element and offering good handling characteristics. This should provide a lot of pleasure in a shooting cinema or on a driven hunt.
Mauser 25 Extreme technical specifications and price
Model: | Mauser 25 Extreme |
Caliber: | .308 Winchester |
Action: | Straight-pull, with two lugs locking in the barrel extension |
Barrel: | 510 mm long, cold-hammer forged with 1:10" twist and M15x1 muzzle thread, plasma oxidized |
Stock: | Simple polymer stock with integral sling swivel lugs |
Magazine: | Box magazine made of polymer with integrated release control, capacity of 3 cartridges |
Trigger: | Adjustable direct trigger, measured trigger pull weight: 880 g |
safety: | Two-position tang slide safety, acting on the firing pin |
Overall Length: | 100 cm |
Weight: | 2.9 kg |
Price (RRP): | 1.699 euro |
Wrapping up
The Mauser 25 is available in the standard calibers .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield with a barrel length of 510 mm, and in the magnum calibers 7 mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum with a barrel length of 620 mm. The synthetic stock is also available in a green color. Our Mauser 25 Extreme impressed in practice with its good handling, clean function and shooting performance. It is a no-frills hunting tool with interesting technical details, and the purchase price of around €1,700 can only be described as fair.
Text: Stefan Perey and Michael Fischer
