SAUER S 202 YUKON 9.3X62

Rifle
review
By Gary Rodgers
SAUER S 202
YUKON
9.3X62
Since 1751, J.P. Sauer & Sohn have been dedicated to
producing premium high grade rifles and handguns.
With only the best quality materials, precision
workmanship and outstanding quality control makes
Sauer Germany’s oldest gun manufacturer with a
reputation that is hard to surpass.
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Australian Deer Hunter - July 2013
Some 260 years on Sauer & Sohn are still at the forefront of firearm
developments and the Sauer Yukon S 202 is a perfect example of
this………
I have always had a fascination with Sauer rifles; my first introduction to
them was with the Sauer 202 Classic which at the time I reviewed in a 300
Winchester Magnum. My attention within the Sauer range of hunting
rifles has since moved to the Yukon S 202. I still remember the day I first
laid eyes on it back in late 2011 at Clayton Firearms when it arrived here
in Australia.
Some 3 years later, I finally have one that I have had the pleasure of
hunting with this amazing firearm for the last 4 months. The Yukon really
is a spectacular looking rifle in my eyes. It has been launched forward in
time with its design, AP Realtree camo stock and its Ilaflon camo coatings
which cover all of its metal work.
Using Sauer’s reliable Classic XT as a basis, the Yukon is what I guess what
you would call a Hybrid. Designed as a mid-weight mountain stalking
rifle, the Yukon maintains the high quality production we have come to
expect from Sauer and their reliability in the field with all this rolled into
one slick looking rifle.
The Sauer was delivered to me by OSA Australia, who is now the
Australia Distributor of Sauer rifles since late last year. I unboxed the
package and was greeted by the Sauer Shot Case. This well presented case
offers impact proof ABS protection and utilised three combination locking
latches. I opened the case to find a rifle laid out in a dismantled state. I
removed the action complete with barrel and the stocks fore-end attached.
I then removed the rifles butt stock and also the Zeiss Victory HT rifle
scope complete with detachable Sauer scope mounts. Taking the Allen
key tool provided and attaching the extension rod, I then inserted the key
into a small hole located in the centre of the rubber butt plate. With the
butt of the stock inserted I then proceeded to attach the butt stock to the
action, attached the scope, locking it in place and insert the swivel studs
for the rifle sling to the stock. With the rifle setup I was ready to head out
to sight the rifle in.
I had opted for the Yukon in a 9.3x62 configuration and OSA Australia had
provided a newly released scope from Zeiss for the rifle test, the Zeiss
Victory HT 3-12x 56 rifle scope.
Looking closer at the Sauer Yukon, its two piece stock which
is a polymer fiberglass reinforced stock, has the classic
Monte-Carlo-design and features a new ‘Soft Touch’
anti-slip rubber coating, which works well in varying
elements from wet to hot conditions. The stock also
features detachable sling swivels which utilise a simple
depress button for removal.
the receiver. By unscrewed and unscrewing all three screws and removing
the alignment lug and its screw will allow a simple twist of the barrel and
its removal. With the Barrel removed you can simply change barrels
within your Calibre category and then simply closing the bolt, attaching
the new barrel. The alignment lug is then replaced and its screw. All three
screws are then re-tightened evenly which clamps the barrel to the
receiver. As I was only provided with one barrel, I removed the barrel that
the review rifle came with and simply just re- attached the barrel to the
action again. The whole process took next to no time.
The Sauer Yukon features an all metal receiver which is milled from solid
block of metal and is available in steel or a light weight-metal version. The
weight difference between the two is some 450 grams. The test rifle had
featured the light metal alloy receiver.
The barrel is something I found interesting, not only due to the fact that it
was interchangeable but more so to the fact that the bolt locked directly to
the barrel. The bolt features six locking lugs which lock the bolt directly
to the specially designed barrel. Our test rifle featured a 22 inch barrel
which was factory free floated and fluted.
The main design concept of the fluting is to help reduce the overall weight
of the barrel whilst not affecting the stiffness of it. It will also assist
somewhat in cooling the barrel after multiple shots due to its increased
surface area, however, this is only marginal but the reduction of the overall
weight in the barrel is something that I feel is important in a mountain and
stalking rifle.
The Yukon’s bolt offers a 60 degree lift and its rounded bolt handle ensures
a sure grip when cycling the bolt. Additionally, the bolt is smooth to
operate and its positive bolt cycling and ejection of spent cartridges was
also something to note. During the test and within the field tests that were
conducted with the rifle, I have no issues with the feeding or ejection of
both spent and live cartridge rounds.
Safety and Trigger Assembly
The Sauer Yukon utilises a unique safety setup which is depressed from
behind the bolt’s shard to engage the rifles safety. To remove the rifle from
its safe state, the button is then raised up from within the trigger guard to
engage the trigger. When the safety is engaged on the Yukon it acts on the
trigger and the cocking piece of the firing mechanism and completely
disables them locking the bolt as well. When the button is raised to
disengage the safety, a visible red indicator line on the top safety button
indicates that the rifle is ready to shoot.
The Yukon also featured a set hair trigger which I must admit was
impressive to shoot with.
The Yukon’s
metal work utilises a new Camoflon protective coating
which is a newly released variant of Sauer’s renowned Ilaflon and offers
impressive protective characteristics against rain, ice, snow, sweat and
even blood. Ilaflon is regarded in Europe as a must when it comes to rust
protection and is coated onto all steel parts of the Yukon.
The Camoflon with its black droplet shapes over the grey base coating
merges perfectly. This combined with the new stock camo pattern in
Realtree AP really makes the rifle blend into most bush surrounds.
The Yukon S 202 offered the versatility of switching barrels by simply
removing the fore-end of the stock with the same provided Allen key
which is used for attaching the butt stock with. With the fore-end of the
stock removed, enables access to the 3 screws which clamp the barrel to
A well manufactured single stack magazine completes the Sauer S 202
Yukon. It is built to be tough and in the 9.3x62 holds 3 rounds offering a
strong spring loading of cartridges when loaded into the magazine. The
magazine is finished off with a steel outer casing and features Camoflon
on the outer exposed base of the magazine. The magazine is spring
loaded when interested into the magazine well with just the right amount
of resistance. The MagLock release button is located just in front of the
magazine well and when depressed, the magazine pops out slightly with
the magazines spring loaded tension. The MagLock button is depressed
into the fore-end of the stock to prevent any accidental release of the
magazine while in the field.
As with all European Quality made rifles, there are many upgraded
options and for the Sauer S202 Yukon it allows its owners a number of
customisable options from rifle stocks to barrels and triggers.
Australian Deer Hunter - July 2013
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Sauer Yukon Rifle Specifications
Calibre: 9.3×62
Receiver: Alloy
Trigger: Set Hair Trigger
Barrel: 22 inch
Diameter: 0.75 inch continuously fluted barrel
Capacity: 3 rounds
Coating: Camoflon-coating
Yukon: grey/drop-shaped
OAL: 40,35 inch
Weight: 7,89 lbs
Stock: right-handed polymer Monte-Carlo-stock with Soft Touch
Yukon Stock Colour: Realtree AP
Scope: Zeiss 3-12x 56 HT
Bench Test
My bench test was undertaken
using Hornady Dangerous Game
Series 286 grain SP-RP and
Highland 285 grain Soft Point
Ammunition as one of my good
mates has had great success for
many years with this combination
in his own 9.3x62.
I drove out to my private property
and settled in for a nice afternoon
sighting in the Yukon. After I had
setup all of the targets at 100 yards,
I headed back to the bench and
settled in to start off with a few
sighting shots to see where the
Yukon was hitting. Low and left,
so several inches up and several to
the right as the click adjustment on
the scope were made. The Zeiss
Victory HT scope tracked well,
offered a great crystal clear sight
picture and a large magnification
range help easily pickup
shot locations. A couple of
more shots and a few
breaks in-between allowed
the rifle to cool down and I
was ready to start.
during the months of March until June where I then drop down into the
lower county where I hunt the valley basins. I do a lot of climbing to
higher altitudes glassing, all of which I have had the chance to do with
the Yukon.
Once the snow on the top begins to clear, I’ll head back to the tops
until late in the year. For me the Yukon is an almost perfect fit for my
hunting style. I love the fact that it’s accurate, the fact that it’s built to
be reliable and the fact that it’s tough.
I pushed it into some pretty shitty wattle and regrowth country a few
weeks ago with the Yukon where a timbered rifle would have come
out second best to say the least, yet the Yukon handled it well. No
marks on the barrel, action or receiver and its fiberglass reinforced
stock handled it without any markings or scratches. I believe the
Camoflon really helps in this area of durability not only protecting the
metal work from rust but also from obstructions. While hunting with
the Yukon, I experienced snow, rain and even hail while on some of
these hunts and the rifle did it easily and without any compromise to
grip, carrying the rifle or cleaning the rifle after my hunts.
I love the fact that I can totally pull the rifle down for storage, cleaning
or while travelling. I also believe that the impact proof ABS case is a
must for the hunter who travels.
The rifle was accurate straight out of the box and shot well with the
factory ammunitions we tested, although I only tested it with what
my local dealer had, I have to say I am very happy with the results.
The 9.3x62 is one of them calibres that is certainly making a comeback
with hunters and for any Sambar hunter this really is one great
calibre.
The Zeiss Victory HT 3-12x56 rifle scope we tested with the Sauer
Yukon, offered a clear and crisp sight picture in all hunting conditions
thanks to the SCHOTT Glass, even in the worst of it. The scope’s light
gathering abilities of a 56mm objective lens and its extended 3-12
magnification range are also important properties of this premium
rifle scope.
My fist group came in at
just over an inch with the
Highland 285 grain bullets
best group being, XX. The
Hornady
Dangerous
Game 286 grain bullets
best group came in at XX. I
have to say I was pretty
happy with what I was
getting out of these group sizes from Factory loads and between two
different manufactures. I then had a break, swapped over my targets and
then wanted to see how the Set Hair Trigger would change my group
sizes.
Personally, I would have liked to try the Zeiss Victory HT in 1.5-6 x42 on
the Sauer Yukon 9.3x62 rifle and I think the reduced weight would be
something that would suit my application and hunting style with this
calibre.
I settled in and shot my first group. My best group with the set trigger
came in at XX. Completely satisfied, I pull the pin, packed up and headed
home pretty happy with what the Yukon had achieved.
All in all I am privileged to have had the opportunity to use such a rifle
when many deer hunters would simply not have the access to such a rifle
package as this.
In the field with the Sauer S202 Yukon
As I had said earlier in the article, I have had the opportunity to use the
Sauer S 202 Yukon for the past 4 months, I have hunted with this rifle 3
times and I also had one of my long time mates take the Yukon out for a
bit of a test drive on one of his recent hunts.
It has been a great rifle to hunt with and I have to say that I have been
really impressed with the Yukon as a mid-weight 8 pound scoped
mountain/stalking rifle. The majority of my hunting takes place on tops
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Australian Deer Hunter - July 2013
Within the extended range of Zeiss Victory HT scopes, there are
magnification ranges and objective sizes to suit your individual
needs. From the close range application of the 1.1-4 x24 to the lighter
weight properties of the 1.5-6 x42 and 2.5-10 x 50 Zeiss right up to the
Zeiss Victory HT 3-12 x 56 we tested, Zeiss pretty much have all your
needs covered.
In my eyes, the Sauer S202 Yukon puts ticks in all the right boxes and if
you’re looking at a rifle that comes with all bells and whistles and upgrade
options, then I would say definately look at the Sauer S 202 Yukon as an
option. I think you will be suitably impressed.
The extended range of Sauer rifles and Zeiss Sports Optics are available
at all leading gun shops across Australia. The Sauer S 202 Yukon has a
retail price tag of $3,900 and the Zeiss Victory HT 3-12x56 rifle scope has
a recommended retail of $2,600. ***