On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the Steyr Arms Pro Hunter III SX, the latest in a line of fine shooting turn-bolts from the storied brand. There are some guns which you can just sense the quality of when first looking at them. The Pro Hunter III is one. It sports an elegantly understated spiral pattern along the length of its cold hammer forged medium contour barrel, which runs 20 inches up to its 1/2x28 TPI threaded muzzle on our .308 Winchester chambered test model. It can also be had in lengths of 16, 22 and 25 inches, in other chamberings. The action is buttery smooth, taking full advantage of Steyr’s Safe Bolt System, which is worth a more detailed explanation.
A simple, quiet roller safety is embedded in the tang. Notch the safety all the way back, and the gun is on safe with the bolt locked. Roll it one stop forward and the gun’s still on safe, but you can work the bolt. Roll it all the way forward and you’re ready to fire, indicated by a red dot. A small tab mandates that you must consciously press it down to roll the safety forward. But there’s more to the SBS than just those three positions. With the safety all the way back and the bolt in battery, you can push the bolt handle down an additional nickel’s width into the stock recess. This rotates the firing pin sear, physically preventing it from striking the primer. It’s a clever, almost hidden layer of safety, allowing you to carry a chambered round with supreme confidence knowing that it’s physically incapable of being struck by the firing pin.
Apart from this, the bolt body is slicked up with corrosion resistant Mannox finish, aiding in tis smooth operation. The action feeds from a flush-fit detachable box magazine, holding four rounds in .308 Win. It even boasts a first-stop position, which allows a hunter to hand feed a round directly into the action, despite having a full magazine inserted. A pretty neat feature for those of us who take to the field. The receiver itself is drilled and tapped for optics, and generally ships from the factory with a single or two piece Picatinny rail.
Finally, the synthetic, straight comb stock of the Pro Hunter III utilizes an aluminum bedding chassis for a rock-solid foundation. Grip panels are rubberized for purchase, and the fore-end is square for stability, yet tapered for a comfortable hold. Sling swivel studs reside fore and aft. The best part? The MSRP for this 6.6 pounds rifle is $1,349, and you can often find it on the open market for even less. While that’s not exactly budget-rifle prices, you’re getting a whole lot of functionality for the price, and in our testing, a sub-MOA rifle to boot.
For more information on the Steyr Arms Pro Hunter III SX, visit steyr-arms.us. And of course, to help keep content like this coming and the woods open for hunting, click the join button in the upper lefthand corner. An NRA membership will also entitle you to a free subscription to American Hunter magazine, where you can find even more content like this. We'll see you there.
