SIG Sauer 200 STR

The SIG Sauer 200 STR (Scandinavian Target Rifle), also known as the SIG Sauer 200 STR Match, is a bolt action rifle mostly used as a target/competition rifle for national competitions by Norwegian, Swedish and Danish sport shooters. It is a variant of the Sauer 200 TR or SIG Sauer 200 TR Match rifle that features thicker 19 mm (0.75 in) diameter barrels. The 200 STR is produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH in Germany.

The Sauer 200 STR rifle has a factory warranty of 15 years, exempting the use of overpressure (handloaded) ammunition (The 6.5×55mm P_max piezo pressure is set at 380 MPa (55,114 psi), the .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO P_max piezo pressure is set at 415 MPa (60,191 psi) by Sauer & Sohn following the relevant C.I.P. rulings.^[1]

Design details

Due to the Sauer 200 STR modular design, barrel, chambering, and trigger groups can be relatively easy changed by the user with the help of simple tools. The rifle stocks are however factory fitted to a particular rifle, so stocks can not be easily exchanged between rifles. Also available are .22 Long Rifle conversion kits and genuine left-hand versions for all chamberings.^[2][3]

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 3 milliseconds lock time.^[4][5]

Barrel

The 200 STR chromium molybdenum (CrMo) steel hammer forged match barrels have a 19 mm (0.75 in) end diameter.^[6]

Trigger

The 200 STR has a two-stage trigger mechanism with an adjustable trigger pull of approximately 13 N (2.9 lb_f) to 17 N (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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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 mrad (10 mm at 100 m) increments and features 100–600 m sight markings. 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.^[9][10]

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. A metal sling attachment rail is integrated in the underside of the front of the stock.^[11][12]

Scandinavian Target Rifle use

The Sauer 200 STR rifle was approved for use by the Norwegian Voluntarily National Rifle Association Det frivillige Skyttervesen (DFS) from 1. January 1990 in the 6.5×55mm, .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO and .22 Long Rifle chamberings. 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.^[13] 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) and the Danish De Danske Skytteforeninger (DDS) for use in their shooting events.

These three Scandinavian national shooting organizations strive to keep the costs of participating in their shooting events reasonable, so their rulings restrict the use of very expensive highly specialized target rifles by allowing only the use of their respective (historic) military service rifles and the Sauer 200 STR target/competition rifle.

In competition events the .22 Long Rifle chambering is used for short range shooting events at 50 m (55 yd) and field shooting events up to 100 m (109 yd). The 6.5×55mm chambering - which in the 19th and 20th century was used by Norway and Sweden as their military service chambering - is used by Norwegian, Swedish and Danish sport shooters for shooting events at 200 m (219 yd), 300 m (328 yd), field shooting events up to 600 m (656 yd) and rapid-fire orientated Stangskyting events.

Variants

Besides the several variants of the Sauer 200 STR rifle several other variants of the basic rifle are available.

A special Sauer 200 sport shooting variant is a single shot version chambered for 6mm Norma BR. The 6mm Norma BR has become a popular chambering in match rifles used in 300 metres (328 yd) ISSF and CISM and other 300 metres rifle disciplines.^[14][15]

The rifle is also produced in the SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 sniper rifle variant. Unlike the match rifles the SIG-Sauer SSG 3000 sniper rifle is intended to be fitted with a telescopic sight, uses more weatherproof stocks and features some other accessories.

References

External links

• SIG Sauer STR 200 Match webpage at www.sig-sauer.de
• Det frivillige Skyttervesen (DFS) (Norwegian)
• De Danske Skytteforeninger (DDS) (Danish)
• SIG Sauer 200 STR manual (German), (Norwegian), (Danish), (Swedish)
• Vihtavuori 6.5×55mm load data for the Sauer 200 STR rifle containing muzzle velocity data for the 200 STR standard barrel lengths