This sentence was repeated to me like a prayer wheel, every day for a week: "Every gram counts on a mountain hunt, you have to carry everything all day, up the mountain and back down again". I already had blisters on my ears from listening to it. However, as a self-confessed smart arse and notorious know-it-all, I knew "that hunting in the mountains is no different than hunting in the forest or in the field". Let them talk, I thought, and ran blindfolded to my doom. So my first chamois adventure ended with a small near-death experience and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I had to admit that every gram counts on the mountain. My second experience with a chamois was with the one from Steyr Arms. Steyr has partnered with Fine Ballistic Tools (FBT) for the project of the ultimate high mountain rifle. We have now tested the result. I had to wait a long time for a test gun. The expectations were all the higher. On the one hand, the performance that the Steyr Gams could deliver; and on the other, the performance that the stock and the combo itself would deliver. The Steyr Gams was made available in 6.5 Creedmoor. With a total weight of just 2.4 kilos, it is a real lightweight.
Steyr Gams and its stock from Fine Ballistic Tools (FBT):
FBT from Austria has not only established itself on the market with its own ultra-light 3D printed silencers, but primarily with carbon fiber stocks. It all started with the model for the Blaser R8 actions, and now there is hardly a rifle action for which FBT cannot offer or manufacture a suitable carbon fiber stock. The Unic carbon fiber thumbhole stock is available for right and left-handed shooters. The stock carbon fiber fabric is laminated in layers in a special way and is therefore unbreakable. On the other hand, the stock has a 3D printed part in the center that houses the magazine and the action. The lightness achieved by the carbon fiber material in combination with the action section from the 3D printer is undeniably phenomenal. The transitions between the individual materials are very cleanly finished and the gun makes a very high-quality impression (and not just because of this).
Thanks to the straight buttstock design, the recoil should be directed straight into the shooter's shoulder. This should prevent the rifle muzzle from climbing as high as possible. The hollow carbon fiber body should also take some of the recoil away from the shooter. The cheek rest can be adjusted using a push button. The maximum height is 2.5 centimetres. The cheek riser can be removed from the stock without tools and cleaned if necessary. The rear of the buttstock has so-called overload protection. In the event of a fall in rough terrain, it should not break off but be pushed back into the stock. The small QD mount for the Push & Go sling swivel is located in the buttstock. The pistol grip of the thumbhole stock can be gripped very well with both larger and smaller hands. The pistol grip is quite short and relatively steep. The ergonomics were already very comfortable when aiming and shooting from a sitting position on the shooting range (and also from a high seat), but here too the "aha experience" comes when you shoot the gun lying down. The quickly removable mini-QD mount is practical for shooting while lying down. Without the sling swivel and stud, the rifle sits even better on a rucksack, for example. If you prefer shooting with a bipod, you don't have to take the diversions via the sling swivel, but can click one of Spartan's bipods into the fore-end.
The Steyr Gams rifle action
The Steyr Gams has not only been optimised in terms of stock for hunting in the mountains, but also in terms of caliber selection. The rifle is available in .223 Remington, .243 and .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor and 7mm-08 Remington. None of these calibers are too recoil-prone and harmonise well with the lightness of the gun. The manual cocking device is located on the top tang. If the cocking slide is in the lowest position and a white dot is visible, the gun is uncocked. To cock the firing pin, the cocking slide must be pushed upwards and a red dot becomes visible. The resistance for cocking is set just right, not too heavy and not too light. If the gun is cocked, this is indicated by the protruding pin in the back of the bolt shroud. It retracts again when the gun is uncocked. Lovers of manual cocking will get their money's worth with the version tested here. If you prefer a three-position safety, this is also available as an option. The safety then acts on the trigger and also locks the bolt handle and the firing pin.
The receiver is machined from a solid billet and Steyr uses Weaver cut-outs to accommodate an optic. Dentler mounts have also been available for the Steyr Gams since last October. The bolt action runs very smoothly. Steyr Arms relies on the patented SBS system for the locking mechanism, which has an additional retaining ring around the bolt head. This type of bolt is intended to provide the shooter with additional safety, for example in the event of unexpectedly high gas pressure. The additional cut-outs in the bolt are intended to ensure trouble-free firing under extreme conditions, such as extreme cold and possible icing. To remove the bolt from the receiver, the trigger must be pulled and the bolt can then be removed from the action in a twisting motion. The bolt handle has a nice curve and the throw is 70°. The barrel has been fluted to save weight. The grey Manox coating ensures a visually harmonious overall impression.
Trigger, magazine, scope mount and silencer – The overall set-up of the Steyr Gams
The test rifle was fitted with a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 riflescope using an Eratac block mount. The Eraloc quick release and the Erasilencer SOB 2S silencer came from the same manufacturer. The silencer is described as a hybrid, with a core and aperture part made of highly tempered stainless steel and an outer shell made of high-strength aluminum with reinforced walls. According to the manufacturer, this silencer is also suitable for use in shooting cinemas. There were compromises with the trigger. This is described by Steyr as a double stage type with set trigger. Unfortunately, there was no trigger wall to be found on the gun tested. After some pre-travel, the trigger broke quite sluggishly and slipped. Even with the set trigger option, the characteristics were not more satisfactory. The measured pull weights of the trigger (approx. 830 g and 170 grams whit set trigger) would basically be a very good match for the rifle. Feeding of the bolt-action rifle did not cause any problems: the detachable double-stack polymer magazine can also be easily loaded with cartridges from above when inserted into the rifle. The two buttons on the right and left of the magazine must be pressed simultaneously to remove the cartridges. Four 6.5 rounds fit into the magazine, another one into the chamber.
On the shooting range with the Steyr Gams rifle
FBT has opted for a straight rubber recoil plate, which is designed to deflect the recoil straight into the shooter's shoulder. It works. Both with and without a silencer, shooting with the lightweight stock is never uncomfortable. Adjusting the height of the cheek rest is child's play thanks to a push button integrated into the stock. The different notches are somewhat undefined. There is no stop that limits the height adjustment, in the "worst" case you have the whole component including the springs in your hand. According to the manufacturer, this is intentional; if dirt gets in, it can be quickly cleaned out again. Once you have the whole mess in your hand, everything can be put back together just as quickly as it was taken apart. The distance between the trigger blade and the pistol grip proves to be well chosen. The bolt handle is also very easy to grip and fire. The bolt throw angle should be taken into consideration when selecting the optic. In the set provided, the bolt handle and the "Switchview" throw lever of the riflescope did not correspond optimally with each other.
The gun was tested on the shooting range with four different loads. The velocity in front of the muzzle was measured with a Garmin Xero C1 Chronograph. Rarely have the results been in such a wide range. First place with 16 mm went to the RWS HIT. When cycling, it was noticeable that the cartridges were fed without any problems, but were occasionally not ejected and remained in the ejection port. At first we could not make any sense of this. On closer inspection, it was probably due to the cases touching the bulky mount.
Of course, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to go hunting with the test gun. Unfortunately not for chamois, but for our main game species, roe deer. I thought I had a good chance from the high seat, which we call "the last of the Mohicans". Relatively soon after taking the stand, a female roe deer disappeared through the beech regeneration up the slope. Too bad, but there was nothing I could do. Then there was a distinct rustling sound in the frozen beech leaves. A fawn stepped out of the thicket and made its way to the hide. The shot broke through the twilight and the roast for the neighbour was secured. Hunting luck and thanks to the huntsman.
Conclusion: the verdict on the ultra-light Steyr Gams rifle
If you don't want to compromise on gun weight, the Steyr Gams is the rifle for you. Very good results can be achieved with the right ammunition. Every gram counts and you simply won't get up your mountain any lighter.
Further information on the rifle can be found on the Steyr Arms website.
