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Sauer 303 (ISI)

About the Sauer

The story of Sauer & Sohn company began way back in the year 1751. The company was founded by Lorenz Sauer in the German city Suhl and until today it still lives up to its reputation as the oldest firearms manufacturing company in Germany. At its very beginnings, the company predominantly focused on producing firearms based on military contracts. The ‘Seven Years War’ in 1753 resulted in the company's first larger orders for the Prussian army.

Almost ninety years later, the eponymous grandson of Johann Paul Sauer started his business unit and around the same time, in 1839, the company changed its name to Spangenberg & Sauer. After the death of co-owner Ferdinand Spangenberg in 1873, Johann Paul Sauer, together with his sons Rudolf and Franz, took over the majority ownership of the company and re-named it to ‘J.P. Sauer & Sohn’. Soon after, the company reached its highest order to that point - approximately 150.000 rifles were produced for the German army. However, the number of military orders decreased severely in the following years, thus forcing the company to find new ways of expanding its market.

As the middle class grew, the demand for civilian arms production increased. The company knew how to exploit this economic situation and consequently presented its first SBS rifle in 1881, followed by the first catalogue which was released one year later. The innovativeness did not stop there – the company's success was at its very beginning, to say the least. As it grew, it began to gradually focus on hunting rifles. Thereupon, the first Sauer self-cocking drilling with a separate cocking lever for the ball lock was presented and launched in 1895. Twenty years later, the company presented the Sauer Meisterwerk XVIII shotgun that boasted sear, single trigger, ejector and engraving by Franz Schilling.

During the First World War, they mostly re-focused on military production and expanded its establishment along with the number of staff. However, the social and economic penury after the war, made the company struggle in the following years. To ensure its survival, the company started producing various products such as typewriters under the name Fortuna; for a short period, they also manufactured bikes. Due to the prohibition of military production, the construction of light hunting rifles was launched in 1930 with the triplet Mod. 30 and Mod. 30 L being introduced the same year and Mod. 32, Mod 32 L, Mod. 33 shortly after.

The shift in production happened again at the beginning of the Second World War when orders for military purposes firearms were increased. After the War, being deleted from the commercial register and under total soviet occupation, the company continued its production under different names - 'VEB FORTUNA Werk Suhl' and later 'VEB MEWA Ernst-Thälmann-Werke Suhl'. At that point, Rolf Sauer sold all company's rights to a group of industrialists in FRG. Nonetheless, the company still used its original name J.P. Sauer & Sohn for the production of hunting rifles years later. In 1951 J.P Sauer & Sohn GmbH was founded as the first hunting rifles manufacturer in FRG.

Soon after some of the most recognizable models were presented, such as Drilling Model 3000, which replaced the famous S53 Drilling, Model 80 bolt action rifle, Sauer 200 (the first modular action rifle in 14 calibres), the S 200 and Sauer 202.

After the year 2000, the ownership changed again when passionate hunters Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier took over. At that turning point, the company shifted to focusing exclusively on the production of hunting rifles, presenting several popular models such as SAUER 303 self-loading rifle, SAUER 101, SAUER 202, SAUER 404, SAUER 404 Synchro XTC, SAUER 100, Sauer S 100, SAUER SL5 and SAUER101 Highland XTC. Nowadays, the brand's vivacious history and tradition of over 270 years result in quality and experience, thus offering an infallible choice for every hunting enthusiast.

Sauer 303 ISI Rifle Review

Contrary to models 101 and 100, Sauer 303 is a semi-automatic rifle with a manual silent cocking system (SCS) which significantly reduces the cocking lever noise. Compared to most bolt-action rifles, it has a decreased recoil and much-increased accuracy. It features a 950 g (2.09 pounds) pull weight direct trigger.

The receiver, together with the detachable magazine well is made of one piece. Made of a light alloy, the two-position multi-lug bolt locks up with the barrel instead of the action’s housing. The rifle is equipped with a manual hand cocker that comes with an internal firing pin called intraLock which is automatically activated whenever the slide is not locked completely, thus eliminating any possibility of a misfire.

All S 303 models up until 2019 used a built-in ISI rail for mounting purposes. This simple yet effective mounting system offers the highest possible shot strength and 100% repeatability. After 2019, they moved over to SUM mounting solution that is also shared with the S 404 model.

Depending on the calibre and variants, barrel lengths are 510 mm (21.0-inch) & 510 mm (20-inch).

Sauer 303 ISI

Figure 1: Sauer 303 Classic, chambered for .300 Win. Mag. (Source: https://lovski-oglasnik.si/listing/sauer-303-classic-300winmag/)

Sauer 303 models are chambered for the following calibres:

.308 Win.
.30-06 Spr.
8x57 JS

Sauer 303 ISI

Figure 2: The receiver of an early version of Sauer 303 rifle, using ISI mounting surface (produced before 2019)

A: ISI rail

B: ISI rail

C: ISI rail

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: /

R1: 55°

R2: 55°

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts?

Two-piece / one-piece mounts

For two-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart.

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension.

The early version of Sauer 303 that was produced before 2019 uses a unique integrated mounting system called ISI rail which cannot be switched with any other rifle.

Note that this only applies to the mentioned version manufactured before 2019. Later versions use an upgraded SUM mounting system.

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Fixed mounts

This fixed one-piece aluminium mount manufactured in Germany by the INNOmount company is a suitable solution for your early version of Sauer 303 (produced before 2019) that uses an ISI mounting surface. It is sturdy and recoil resistant.

Detachable Repeatable Mounts

If you are planning on using different scopes on the same rifle, you might consider purchasing this German-made INNOmount one-piece mounting solution made of aluminium. This mount is suitable for the early version of Sauer 303 (produced before 2019) that uses an ISI mounting surface.

Help us build our riflescope mounts database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

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Dentler Base rail BASIS - Sauer 303

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Sauer 303 (ISI)

About the Sauer

Sauer 303 ISI Rifle Review

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts?

Two-piece / one-piece mounts

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Fixed mounts

Detachable Repeatable Mounts

Help us build our riflescope mounts database

Dentler Base rail BASIS - Sauer 303

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Sauer 303 (ISI)

About the Sauer

Sauer 303 ISI Rifle Review

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts?

Two-piece / one-piece mounts

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Fixed mounts

Detachable Repeatable Mounts

Help us build our riflescope mounts database

Dentler Base rail BASIS - Sauer 303

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