I have the Steyr and love it. Its as handy to carry as a lever action carbine, but is a lot more versatile. It handles like a nice upland shotgun; a faster handling rifle would be hard to find.
What I think sets the Steyr apart are the details. The rifle is full of subtle little things that make a difference when using it. The back of the trigger guard blends into the stock so you'll never get your middle finger cramped or pinched, let alone whacked under recoil. The safety couldn't be in a better place or slicker to operate. Everywhere you'd carry the rifle fits the hand naturally. Somehow they created a stock that snaps up like an upland gun, sits solid on sand bags, and holds just right in offhand. The bolt handle catches the hand near perfectly a you come off the grip, then the action cycles smoth and fast.
Details. You really have to use it to appreciate them.
I've never thought of it as a long action, but if it is, its the shortest long action I've ever seen. The magazine has shoulders to keep the cartridges from moving too far forward under recoil and battering bullet tips. Details.
The trigger is beautiful.
One thing I always liked about mine is how it sends bullets of various styles and weights to roughly the same poi. I have a 100-yd target somewhere where I fired one shot with each of seven or eight loads ranging from 110 to 180 grains and its under 2". For a General Purpose rifle, I'm thrilled with that. I'd rather it did that than shot one load onlynto 1/4 moa.
I've heard the same from other Steyr owners. I don't know how they do it.
No, its not perfect. I'd like to see flush sling cups all over it instead of the Pachmayer/Millet attachments. Jeff Cooper was always bothered by the lack of a LH model and he was right there. I dont know about a full pic rail, but more scope ring slots over the receiver would be nice.
The bipod isn't the greatest. Its a bit wiggly and is a little taller than what I usually need. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt anything being there and can't add more than a couple of ounces. A real bipod can be installed using the under forend accessory rail.
I have used the built-in bipod as a stand when I've needed a place to out the rifle down. It is really handy there in fact, and keeps me from leaning it against a tree and asking for it to fall, or just laying it in the dirt.
Some complain about the backup sights. I don't have a problem with them aside from needing to cheek hard into the stock to get low enough to use them. I accept that, being backups. A more out-of-the-way or quickly accessed set would be hard to find.
The sights are one area I don't like about the Ruger. With my Steyr, I like bring able to use the Scout scope or a conventional scope over the receiver. I don't think I knew I'd be switching back and forth as much, but I do. The Scout scope is usually on mine, but I will put a Leupold 3.5-10X on for some shooting or simply load testing. I've stuck a Trijicon 1-4X AccuPoint on before also. All are in QD rings, so its nothing to do.
With the Ruger, you have to remove the rear sight to mount a conventional scope. I like the Ruger irons, but losing the ability to swap scopes in seconds would be a big negative for me. Plus then your backup sight is now off the gun.
Just my opinions and findings.
