Home / Heym SR30 straight-pull rifle review

Heym SR30 straight-pull rifle review

Heym SR30 straight-pull rifle review: Bruce Potts applauds the Heym SR30’s fusion of classic looks and cutting-edge technology.

ShootingUK
ShootingUK 13 December 2010

Heym SR30 straight-pull rifle review.
Heym’s SR30 model differs significantly from the traditional SR21 bolt-action rifle – the engineering excellence is still there, but this rifle functions in an entirely different way.

The SR30 is one of the new breed of straight-pull rifles that rely on the manipulation of the bolt with a single rearwards motion to cycle the action.

As always, Heym retains that all-steel action and high-grade walnut rifle, with every component receiving the same attention to detail, especially the precise, rifled barrel produced in-house.

The Heym is unashamedly old school in its appearance, but technically, it is anything but old-fashioned, with its cutting edge bolt lock-up system and cartridge delivery.

ACTION
The SR30 sports one of the best straight-pull bolt designs to date. The bolt handle has a steel core that is covered with a round knob fashioned from the same walnut as the stock.

/></p> <p>This not only looks fabulous, but also feels natural in the hand.</p> <p>There are three positions to the bolt.</p> <p>The first is in the half-cock position, where the bolt sits at slightly more than 100° to the action and the safety catch can be applied, locking both the bolt and its ball bearing in place.</p> <p>This effectively locks the firing pin in a retracted position for an extremely safe “carrying the rifle” mode.</p> <p>Next, with the safety released, the bolt can be pushed forward to 85°, which results in a couple of things: first, this sets the firing pin and trigger mechanism and second, it locks six radial hardened ball bearings that act as locking lugs protruding from the bolt body and locking into the action’s side walls.</p> <p>This unique design assigns proportionate pressure to each ball bearing, ensuring even lock-up pressure that helps accuracy and makes for a strong bolt lock-up.</p> <p>In fact, Heym tests its actions to more than 110,000psi pressure to ensure integrity, and when you consider that most cartridges, such as the .308, operate at 55,000psi, you can see how safe the margin of error is.</p> <p>The final position of the bolt comes after firing by pulling the bolt handle straight back – no slight deviations, simply straight back – which will retract the ball bearings, allowing rearward movement of the bolt and the ejection of the fired case from the action.</p> <p>To remove the bolt entirely from the action for cleaning, you have to engage it at its rear then activate the safety and push the bolt stop button – the bolt will slide out.</p> <p>It’s a bit fiddly, but the smooth and positive way the Heym operates is sure to win over those in doubt.</p> <p>The top of the action is rounded and will accept scope bases to fit a scope sight. Because the bolt is a straight-pull design, you can mount your sight low to the action.</p> <p><strong><em>ACCURACY AND TARGETS</em></strong><br /> I shot more than eight factory loads, including Winchester, Remington, Federal, Hornady and RWS. Each shot below 1.5in at 100 yards for three shots.</p> <p><img width=

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