FEW rifles garner the worldwide respect that the name Steyr Mannlicher does; the name is synonymous with quality, accuracy and reliability. The company continues a long tradition of building fine hunting rifles and several generations of hunters have appreciated the good looks and positive operation of Steyr actions. Steyr has introduced a new model to its diverse line that will be of particular interest to the serious varmint shooter. Designated the Pro Varmint SX, or sometimes the CLII Varmint, it’s a handsome synthetic-stocked .223 hunting rifle perfect for taking afield.
Built on the Mannlicher classic SBS Light action with abbreviated ejection port, this rifle is blessed with all the virtues inherent in the modern Mannlicher system.
The Pro Varmint is in a class apart; in no way does it resemble one of those overweight, cumbersome varmint rifles which are afflicted with fat, heavy bull barrels and a bulky stock. Rather, it’s an attractive outfit with a sleek profile intended to provide a medium weight, finely accurate .223 varmint-hunting rifle.
This model features a 24” free-floating stainless-steel match-grade fluted barrel. The familiar spiralling marks left by the hammer-forging process are all but obscured by five deep flutes. The flutes are in two sections, starting about 32mm in front of the receiver. The first section is 27cm long, then there’s a break for 35mm before the fluting resumes for another 20cm, stopping just short of the muzzle.
As Steyr didn’t intend this to
