Top rifle is Heym left-hand SR20 G i.n .375 H&H Magnum. '!he I~werrifle is Heym's SR40 in .222 Remington. Both are quality rifles.

German rifles have always had afine reputationfor beauty and quality. Now, the classic Heymrifles are available for left-handed shooters.

'Spensive, but this is an instance where theadage, "You get what you pay for," has nonegative connotation.

Heym bolt rifles utilize a Mauser-typelocking system that is characterized bysmooth operation. A three position safetylocks the bolt as well as the trigger in therear position, but permits the bolt to beopened for unloading the chamber withthe safety at the middle position. Whenthe safety if fully forward, the rifle willfire. The forward position (fire) is markedwith a red dot; the rear position is markedwith a white dot. The middle safe positionis not visibly marked, but the tactile de­tents let you know the position of thesafety.,

A choice of three optional triggers canbe ordered on a Heym bolt action rifleSingle stage, adjustable; single set; or dou­ble set. We tested one left hand rifle withthe single stage trigger and another withthe single set trigger.

The magnum bolt actions hold threerounds in the magazine; standard actionshold five rounds. Cartridges can be re­moved from the magazine via a hingedfloorplate.

That leads me into the only real flaw Ifind with the Heym rifles. The floorplateis cast alloy, not steel, where steel is muchmore preferable. On the short action riflewe tested, it's cast with some high reliefscrollwork and a stag head that just drawsattention to it. I have to concede, though,that the relief artwork is well executed.Under magnification, it shows to be aquality job. Perhaps it's just a case of mypersonally not being familiar with that sortof decorative treatment for rifles. If thesame scene had been engraved on steel,I'm sure that it would have been perfectlyacceptable to me. Maybe the reason thecast relief decoration bothers me is thatseveral of the very expensive Heym gunsare decorated with absolutely superb handengraving. Engraving is available on boltrifles at additional cost; just order the De­luxe version. The SR20 floorplate is alsocast but plain. Trigger guards on all thebolt action rifles are aluminum.

All topside metal-barrel and receiv­er-are flawlessly blued. An inscriptionon top of the barrel, just forward of therear sight, announces that the barrel is ofKrupp steel. Alongside the rear sight onthe left is model and caliber data. A littlefarther back are proof markings and, onthe receiver's left side, are the serial num­bers. Flip the rifle over to the right side,and along the receiver is the companyname, Friedrich Wilh Heym. Forward, on

H

side ot'the dividing line between East andWest Germany. Eventually, the plant wasre-started in Munnerstadt, in West Ger­many, where it is today.

Around the mid 1960's, Heym enteredinto a working arrangement with Mauserto produce Heym-designed bolt actionrifles under the Mauser label. Then, inthe early 1970's, that arrangement was ter­minated, and with some changes to theHeym-Mauser, the guns were produced asthe Heym SR series. The SR20 is thestandard length action; SR20 G is the mag­num action; SR20 L is the Mannlicherstyle carbine; and SR40 is the short action.All of these now are available in left-handversions. All the options available on right­hand versions of the SR series of rifles areavailable on left-hand versions.

Friedrich Wilh Heym is an arms factory,but the rifles built there get a good deal ofattention to detail equaling a" lot of handwork. That, in turn, translates into limitedproduction and a correspondingly higherprice. Heym guns are comparatively ex-

By Jim Woods

I f there was ever a maltreated minority,it's the left-handed long-gun shooter.

Only a couple of U.S. production riflecompanies offer left-hand models, andthey're good ones too, but the choices arelimited in both model and caliber. There­fore, when a new southpaw rifle modelcomes on the market, it's welcomed withleft-handed open arms. Join me in a rous­ing welcome to the left-hand Heym boltaction rifles.

The German name of Heym is an oldone'in sporting firearms, even though thename hasn't been very well known in theU.S. until the last ten years or so. Therewere some Heym guns imported to theU.S. back in the 1920's and 30's, but withthe Second World War, that trickle of gunsdried up, not to start up again for a halfcentury. Heym, though, has markedseveral new starts in its history. The com­pany started in the gunmaking center ofGermany-Suhl-in 1865. FollowingWWII, the company moved out of Suhl,which was going to wind up on the wrong

34 GUNS • DECEMBER 1984

SouthpawSafari Riflethe right side of the barrel at the rear sight,is additional marking that won't be seenon Heym rifles that are sold in countriesother than the U.S. It's the U.S. importername and address, Paul Jaeger, Inc., Jenk­intown, PA.

One reads so much about wood-.to-metalfit in most test reports, so I won't dwell onthe supe·rb Heym workmanship in thisarea. It's enough to say that if it weren'tfor the different colors of the blued steeland the French walnut stock, it would bedifficult to tell where one leaves off andthe other begins. The stock is hand check­ered and matte finished. Heym's standardgrade wood leaves nothing to want for in afield grade gun. In fact, straight-grainedwalnut, well fitted and expertly finished,shows off well in the gun rack. All the half

stock ritles, except the petite SR40, werefitted with a Schnabel fore-end. The othertest rifle, an SR40 in .222 Rem., has asquare cut fore-end tip, in rosewood as·isthe Schnabel on the Standard and Mag­num rifles. The SR40 makes use of whiteline spacers at the buttplate, pistol gripcap, and fore-end tip. The SR20 has nospacers at the contrasting fore-end tip orpistol grip cap and is fitted with a browncompressible" rubber buttpad.

All the Heym bolt action rifles comewith iron sights, the rear of which is asingle fixed leaf with an adjustable eleva­tion notch. The front is a bead on a ramp.All the rifles are, as are most rifles fromother manufacturers, drilled and tappedfor standard scope mounts. The Heymrifles can be ordered with Suhler claw

mounts, or the excellent EAW mountsthat,. like the claw type, permit the scopeto be easily removed when the use of ironsights is desirable. f

The two test rifles I had on hand werealready equipped with scopes when I re­ceived them. I saw the guns at the Nation­al Shooting Sports Foundation S.H.O.T.Show in Dallas in January of 1984. The SRseries of ~ifles was being shown to theindustry, and both the left hand and righthand sample guns were outfitted with var­ious accessories including mounts· andscopes. I made arrangements to borrowtwo left hand rifles, a subject of consider­able personal interest to me, since I shootlefty even though I'm right-handed in allthings except shooting long guns. Since

Continued on page 58

35GUNS • DECEMBER 1984

Top: Detail of the Heym SR20 with test target.Below: Closeup shot of the Heym SR40. Right:Author used SR20 with Schmidt & Bender scope.

,- - - - - - - - - - _I

the provIsIOn that I got it back first tocomplete my test of it.

The new owner of the gun had actuallypurchased two Schmidt & Bender scopesfor the rifle. The second was a 56mmobjective lens 2 'I2-IOX model that he ex­pressly wanted for low light shooting. Heintended to switch to this particular scopewhen he hunted leopard, for which he hadobtained a permit to bring back into theU.S. I did some shooting with the secondscope too, enough that it was pretty wellsighted in for him.

Though I've never met the gentlemanwho purchased the rifle, he told me bytelephone that his safari to Botswana was asuccess, and the left-hand Heym SR20 Gaccounted for trophy 'Cape buffalo, kudu,and gemsbok. He also took a fantastic47'12-inch sable antelope, and he did baghis leopard, though not in the eveninglight for which he took the large objectivelens Schmidt & Bender scope. He did usethat high magnification scope for some ofthe small antelope that called for longrange shots. I can tell you that I liked therifle so well, that I'll latch on to anotherone like it for my next trip to Africa. Heymcan supply plenty more rifles just like it, tome and other left-handed shooters whoappreciate great guns.

The SR40 in caliber .222 Remington,stayed with me a while longer. It is fittedwith superb Coneuol bases and rings,holding a Leupold 3x9 Compact scopethat compliments the trim lines of the

Lelt-Hand HeymContinuedfrom page 35

....----~~t!..~iiij~j;IiiIiii---'--The classic Hunter Brown color is . Two Handgun.

not the only thing that's different These rugged cases meet all airlineabout these new cases from the Pro- requirements and are not affected bytecto Division of HOPPE'S. The full heat, extreme cold or moisture. Atlength Piano Hinge is the best protec- the price of guns these days, they alltion ever against twisting and bind- deserve top protection when movinging. Neat looking, nickle plated them from place to place. It's the bestlocks, three of them on some models, travel insurance you can buy!add to the security, as does the "egg- The popular full line of Protectocarton" polyurethane lining; bumper ABS Plastic Green cases in a full linefeet, rugged twin braces and double of sizes is, of course, still availableluggage handles enhance the rich and covers all kinds of archery,looks of the scuff resistant Hunter camera, gun, spotting scope, andBrown finish. other outdoor transportation chores.

Protecto's new Hunter Brown cases Another great line of productsare available in the seven most popu- from the same folks who make No.9lar styles, including the BIOO-Double Solvent. HOPPE'S, Division of Pen-rifle or shotgun, B200-Single Trap guin Industries, Inc., Airport Indus-Shooter, B300-Single Rifle, B400- trial Mall, Coatesville, PA 19320Single Compact, B500-Silhouette Pis- (Dept GN12)tol, B600-Four Handgun and B700-

the guns were already in the country forthat Show, I didn't have to wait long forthem, and they came complete with thescopes that were mounted for the display.

They also came without firing pins! It'sa S. H. O.T. Show rule that guns on displaymust be deactivated, so my two test rifleswere good for photos and very little else.This was the first time for me that I had toresort to gunsmithing before I could test-

• fire factory-loaned guns. Eventually, thefiring pins came in the mail, and I replacedthe dummy pins that were in the gunswith the operational ones.

This wait for firing pins was not the onlydelay in my test fire plans. Following theS.H.O.T. Show in January, the SafariClub Show came up in February in LasVegas, Nevada. Heym was displaying atthat show too, so I had to give up the riflesfor use at that affair. As luck would have it,a discriminating left-handed sportsman, aMr. Tom Carmody of Ventura, California,spotted the .375 H&H Mag. SR20 G withEAW mounts and Schmidt & Bender1 '/2-6 power scope and made arrange­ments to purchase it on the spot. I seemsthat he had a Safari coming up almostimmediately, and he wanted that particu­lar gun for Africa. The rifle was committedto Mr. Carmody by the Heym people with

: J Send me copies of Hodgdon'sPowder Data Manual No. 24 @ 12.50 each.

Name _

Address _

LIVING PROOFYou know that quality and value are

the result of wisdom and experience.Now the accumulated wisdom ofthreegenerations of family tradition is pass­ed along to you in articles, photo­graphs and stories that every hand­loader-from beginner to seasonedveteran - will find valuable.

Handloading takes special care andrespect for what you're doing. That'swhy everything you need to knowabout loading ammunition ispresented in Hodgdon PowderData Manual No. 24. The formatmakes for easy reading and the infor­mation is technic~lly perfect.

The living proof of the HodgdonCompany's commitment to quality isour customers themselves. Pick up acopy of Hodgdon's Data Manual No.24 and prove it for yourself.

Available from your favorite fire­arms dealer.

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!~!~!"~!!~62!l58 GUNS • DECEMBER 1984

SpecificationsHeym Sr Series Bolt Action Rifles(All available in left-hand variation)

5.6x57; 6.5x55; 6.5x57; 7x57; 7x64; 9.3x62; .243Win; .270 Win; .308 Win; .30~06

5 rounds44Yz-inches23Yz-inchesApproximately 7-pounds$835; Left hand, $995

.222 Rem; .223 Rem.5 rounds43 Yz-inches23Yz-inchesApproximately 6Y4-pounds$765; Left hand, $925.

Magazine capacity:Overall length:Barrel length:WeightPrice:

Model SR20 N Standard RifleCaliber:

6.8x68; 8x66s; 7mm Rem. Mag; .300 Win. Mag;.375 H&H Mag.

Magazine capacity: 3 roundsOverall length: 47-inchesBarrel length: 25'/z-inchesWeight: Approximately 7Yz-poundsPrice: $880; Left hand, $1040

Model SR20 L, Full Stocked CarbineCaliber: Same as Standard Rifle except 9.3x62 not avail­

able.41 Yz-inches20Yz-inchesApproximately 7Y4-pounds$945; Left hand, $1105

Model SR20 G Magnum RifleCaliber:

Overall length:Barrel length:WeightPrice:

Model SR40, Short Action RifleCaliber:Magazine capacity:Overall length:Barrell length:Weight:Price:

small rifle. The SR40 was equipped with asingle set trigger that releases with just awhisper, then the trigger is first pushedforward to set it. Without the set functionbeing used, the trigger breaks at a normalcrispness of about 3'Iz-pounds.

With the normal trigger and usingFederal ammo, I printed 3-shot, sub-inchgroups from the very start. For that matter,Remington ammo did the same in theHeym SR40. With the set trigger, groupsshrank perceptibly when I could control it.Sometimes though, I'd barely touch thetrigger at the wrong time in the waver, andI'd scatter grou ps all over. It took a lot oftime with the set trigger before I cQuldshoot with it consistently. It may be goodfor target games, but the standard triggeris the best choice for hunting.

Both the SR20 and the SR40 areobviously intended for hunting, and theleft handed shooter/hunter would do wellto take a close look at them. Admittedly,the rifles are considerably higher pricedthan the U.S. production rifles that areavailable for left-handers. But, they repre­sent a significant new choice for the south­paw shooter and we shooters so handi­capped need all the I 'Ihelp we can get.

GET ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY"'Copyright HAC 1984

HOLLOWAY ARMS CO.3959 W. Vickery Blvd.Ft Worth, TX 76107

Dept 122\

1-800·HAC·ARMSIn Texas 817·732·1000

Every Holloway Arms Company Rifle is test­fired at the factory to insure both functionand accuracy. Fired from a machine rest at1DO-meters, the test target is packed withthe rifle as our commitment to excellence.The target on the left was fired by a serialproduction rifle using standard military ballammunition. Fired using only the rifle's ironsights, HAC will ship no rifle unless the fiveshot group is satisfactory. HAC cares for therifles it makes so that they will take care ofthe situation. Service to the shooter beginswith service to the product. We make it aseasy on your wallet as we make it tough onyour target.

AVAILABLE IN.308 Win., .243 Win., 7 mm·08 Rem., .358 Win.

MODEL 7 STANDARD RIFLE MODEL 7C CARBINE20" Barrel (Shown) 16" BarrelWeight wlo Magazine: Weight wlo Magazine:

8 lb. 12 oz. 8 lb. 80z.Length, Stock Folded: 33" Length, Stock Folded: 29"Length, Stock Extended: 43" Length, Stock Extended: 39"

BARREL BY SHILENQUALITY BY HAC

ACCURACY BY DESIGN._~--­-.__........:.... -

:::::?~ ,"-, "__ .•"::.:1.~.- ~-

,

GUNS • DECEMBER 1984 59