Steyr Challenge hft or Anschutz 9015 hft

DEAN C. said:
Strange rant you're having there bud.
The beauty of a Steyr is that you CAN easily change the barrel , and they certainly don't need servicing any more than any other gun I own or have owned. My 2001 and 2007 Steyrs do not have worn out parts either, they both have had replacement cocking levers and firing valves once about five years ago, and still shoot like new guns. Clean the hammer every couple of years and they run like new.
I am not saying they are better than Annies, but they certainly stand the test of time and reliabilty.

Chris Cundey won just about everything last year including the UKAHFT series, with a 24 year old Steyr. What more do you need to know.
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Asking people to back up their opinions isn't a rant, I'm genuinely curious. Both are good rifles but no one has said specifically why the steyr is better. I'm wondering if it's just another dogmatic opinion or if there's a reason someone can come up with.

Changing a barrel on a 9015 is easy too, it's 2 screws. But you don't have to do it as the barrel is tremendous. Unlike the steyr ones that come with chrome plating that flakes off.

You say you have two old guns but you have replaced the cocking lever and firing valve... Exactly my point. You will not find 9015's which are old and worn out, they are not old enough yet.
 
Swings and roundabouts; sadly for such expensive guns I think both are significantly flawed and neither is likely to be great out of the box.

The Steyrs are noisy and inefficient, while their barrels are fixed to the chassis in various places and difficult to float; with associated implications for accuracy. Ergonomics of the thumbhole-stocked "Hunting" versions are less-than-splendid IME (although might be better if you have large hands while the fully-adjustable offerings are probably better in this regard).

Personally I prefer the construction of the Anschutz a lot more - the sidelever assy feels more substantially engineered while the reg can be adjusted in-situ; although this isn't much use without the provision to fit a pressure gauge on the output side - which is the preserve only of after-market modded guns. On top of the that on all but the latest models plenum volumes are too small to sufficiently support operation at 12ftlb.

I also like the fact that the 9015 is pretty much the only top-end comp rifle you can get with a proper, single-piece wooden stock too.. but appreciate that this is a matter of personal preference.

Triggers are very nice on both (if not true two-stage items); the Anschutz wins on adjustability IMO. If it's of relevance both can be had in LH guise; although the action of the Anschutz is far easier to swap yourself.

Bottom line, as nice as the Steyr is in some ways I don't think I'd buy mine again, while as things currently stand neither are ideal and knowing what I know now I think I'd struggle to pay the asking price for either. However, if Anschutz pulled their fingers out and installed a proper reg testing port I'd be very tempted..
 
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For me Steyr hands downs.
I've got 2 as I just simply wanted aback up one and what I could play about with without mucking about with my main rig to much.

They're easy to work on if needed, some folks just can't help themselves and muck about with them a bit to much at times for no real reason, yes a few of the barrels were a tad iffy but out of how many barrels were indeed crap or faulty?
The barrels are a quick change option. O-rings are easy to replace, just like any other part really. See steyrs online strip down and replace videos.
The stocks is almost fully adj, triggers are one of the best out there.
User friendly. They win a lot of comps as they simply work... OK some might need a tweak but what good shooter doesn't swap or jig things about a bit.
Even fresh out of the box they can win comps...

Yes I've owned and shot a lot of different rigs from many years.
 
Audi Swift said:
For me Steyr hands downs.
I've got 2 as I just simply wanted aback up one and what I could play about with without mucking about with my main rig to much.

They're easy to work on if needed, some folks just can't help themselves and muck about with them a bit to much at times for no real reason, yes a few of the barrels were a tad iffy but out of how many barrels were indeed crap or faulty?
The barrels are a quick change option. O-rings are easy to replace, just like any other part really. See steyrs online strip down and replace videos.
The stocks is almost fully adj, triggers are one of the best out there.
User friendly. They win a lot of comps as they simply work... OK some might need a tweak but what good shooter doesn't swap or jig things about a bit.
Even fresh out of the box they can win comps...

Yes I've owned and shot a lot of different rigs from many years.
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Kenny, I will grab you for a five minutes chat at the next comp..thanks for coming back
 
Darren W said:
Here goes, anyone with any insight into theses pair of choices for HFT shooting: 1, Steyr Challenge HFT or Anschutz 9015 HFT..

I know they are two very high spec guns that come at a cost..

any help or guidance
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All,

Again big thanks for all the feedback, truly all read and digested.

i'm clear that each have strengths and weakness and taking each note, Steyrs easy to tweak but quality of materials a challenge but also so easy to tweak a risk not buying a new gun.
Anschutz trigger very good but rumours of temp issues in the cold, the most interesting comment was the need for a reg test port surly a annoyance..but easy to change parts like Steyr.

once again thanks for the feedback..(y)
 
I have a Steyr challenge HFT and a Anschutz .22 Target rifle, also had a Walther XT400/Feinwerkbau 700 10m air rifles and I prefer the Steyr trigger over all of those. Don't know why people think the Steyr trigger isn't as good
 
ColinD said:
I have a Steyr challenge HFT and a Anschutz .22 Target rifle, also had a Walther XT400/Feinwerkbau 700 10m air rifles and I prefer the Steyr trigger over all of those. Don't know why people think the Steyr trigger isn't as good
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The anschutz trigger on the air rifles is the 4k unit, the .22 target rifles have a different trigger unit (5019 maybe?)
 
I have shot Annie's for the last few years in HFT in all weathers and NEVER had a issue. The rumours of them having issues in hot or cold weather is a urban myth. Summer you have to turn the power down a bit and winter up a bit but that's just basic science. I had a steyr challenge for a while but for a gun with so much adjustabily I couldn't get it to feel right. The steyr was also a nightmare with temp shift. I was forever having to tweak the power up and down.
That's just my findings with the two.
 
Sully said:
The anschutz trigger on the air rifles is the 4k unit, the .22 target rifles have a different trigger unit (5019 maybe?)
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Unless you own an ISP, then the trigger is a rifle trigger, and I think it is the 5019.
And it feels just the same as an Annie 9015 to me in use. Both superb, but not much between them and a Steyr to be honest.
The Annie triggers might just have the edge, but not so you would notice in practice.
 
Cowandchicken said:
I have shot Annie's for the last few years in HFT in all weathers and NEVER had a issue. The rumours of them having issues in hot or cold weather is a urban myth. Summer you have to turn the power down a bit and winter up a bit but that's just basic science. I had a steyr challenge for a while but for a gun with so much adjustabily I couldn't get it to feel right. The steyr was also a nightmare with temp shift. I was forever having to tweak the power up and down.
That's just my findings with the two.
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The important thing with both the Steyrs and annis is to acclimatise them to the colder weather. Let them come down to temp slowly.ideally over night before a comp The 9015 particularly is prone to getting condensation in the action,I'd bet the Steyr does too but it's not so easy to peer inside as it is the 9015.

The natural air density changes affects all guns through the year. 😉
 
Cowandchicken said:
I have shot Annie's for the last few years in HFT in all weathers and NEVER had a issue. The rumours of them having issues in hot or cold weather is a urban myth. Summer you have to turn the power down a bit and winter up a bit but that's just basic science. I had a steyr challenge for a while but for a gun with so much adjustabily I couldn't get it to feel right. The steyr was also a nightmare with temp shift. I was forever having to tweak the power up and down.
That's just my findings with the two.
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I like Annies and Steyrs, but I have only owned and used Steyrs (nearly 10 years), and never had any issues with temp other than extreme hot weather which affects most guns a click or two max.
I love my Steyrs but I too cannot get on with the FT stock versions for some reason, although I have used them ok.
I prefer my half stock, best of both worlds to be honest. My issue with guns sat in a full wooden stock like Air Arms and Annies is that they can move when taken out of the stock to dry off after a wet shoot and you have to re zero, I dont get that with the Steyr.
 

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Guys,
Thanks you for all the feedback, I went with a new Steyr Challenge HFT, its my first but again its performing out the box OK which is great start.
I put my first tin through the Steyr this weekend and zeroed and its was on the money.
The only issue I have with the filling probe which isn't having any of it, air leaking from between two o rings, I used an LG 110 probe and it worked very well, I await an answer from Steyr regarding the new probe which seem short..

Also thanks for heads up regarding the weather, I get that any compressed units operate slightly differently but some good and great tips to hep with this (y)
 
Darren W said:
Guys,

The only issue I have with the filling probe which isn't having any of it, air leaking from between two o rings, I used an LG 110 probe and it worked very well, I await an answer from Steyr regarding the new probe which seem short..

Also thanks for heads up regarding the weather, I get that any compressed units operate slightly differently but some good and great tips to hep with this (y)
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Make sure you push the probe fully home, there's not a lot to hold onto to remove it once fully in, I put a Best fitting quick release on the probe, push the probe in and connect via the quick release coupler
 
Darren W said:
Guys,
Thanks you for all the feedback, I went with a new Steyr Challenge HFT, its my first but again its performing out the box OK which is great start.
I put my first tin through the Steyr this weekend and zeroed and its was on the money.
The only issue I have with the filling probe which isn't having any of it, air leaking from between two o rings, I used an LG 110 probe and it worked very well, I await an answer from Steyr regarding the new probe which seem short..

Also thanks for heads up regarding the weather, I get that any compressed units operate slightly differently but some good and great tips to hep with this (y)
Click to expand...
If you bought the rifle new, are you pushing the probe right the way in? If it's not new I wouldn't be certain it's not the wrong probe. My rifles fine (HFT Challenge) and I've had it since they first came out; Jan 2018.
Edit-they do feel tight, but be firm and push it in up to the hilt! 🫢
 
All tried yesterday but still no luck, I can always use the LG 110 probe which sorted the fill out ok.

Will have another go tonight and see if I can master.

cheers guys
 
I bought a steyr challenge about 6 years ago and it has never had any issues, I had it serviced by Chris about 3 years ago. I don't mess about with it just dry it and clean it after a national round and give the barrel one pull through about every 500 to 1000 shots. I have quite a few other high end rifles and they all seem pretty good but always seem to go with my Steyr for the comps. I have never had an anschultz apart from my .22 rimfire one but hear they are pretty good too.
 
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