Blaser R93 is Retired

[timbrayford]

I think a wise move from Blaser. If it would been a good design they would not have retired it. Pay off's getting to expensive???
edi

Or it might just be that many Blaser customers preferred the R8 over the R93.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

I think I'll add another barrel to my current collection....

Mine won't be retiring any time soon.

Regards

 

[viking850]

I hope it will be a long time to come

How long do you think thenR93 spares situation will endure?

 

[mchughcb]

Im just waiting to wear out my 40 year old Sako so I can buy an R8.

All I'm hearing is excuses. Just work out what kidney you need to sell and you're 90% there.

 

[bogtrotter]

Im just waiting to wear out my 40 year old Sako so I can buy an R8.

You will have to wait a bit yet then,its barely run in.

 

[Buggadifino]

Perhaps the American that blew up the R93 using pistol powder hasn't tried to repeat the experiment with an R8....or perhaps the R8 just withstood it

(Edit- note to half wits etc. Only use Rifle powders/loads from published manufacturers data - Pistol powders/overloads will blow up any rifle)

First off may I just point out that I do not have an axe to grind either way with Blasers; indeed I was considering buying one until a Mauser M03 came up at a good price.

You are, of course, correct in that doing something stupid can destroy any rifle but the point is that the failure mode of a straight pull is straight back if a catastrophic failure occurs. With a traditional bolt gun the point of failure is likely to be where the barrel is screwed onto the action so injury is possible but unlikely to be life changing. Note that reloading with pistol powder is not the only means of causing a massive pressure spike. Under loading a cartridge can have the same effect.

It would appear that the R93 is more likely to fail in the manner described than other straight pulls as the collets that lock the action into battery have nothing behind them when the action is fully forward. With the R8 a sleeve slides forward and sits underneath the collets when the action is made ready preventing then from letting go under pressure.

I did have some diagrams found elsewhere on the interwebthingy which I will post one evening if it helps.

 

[mchughcb]

Excellent please do and if you have any references to R8 owners with a bolt stuck in their eye socket please post as the usual antagonists seem to be awfully quiet on the R8.

 

[ejg]

Excellent please do and if you have any references to R8 owners with a bolt stuck in their eye socket please post as the usual antagonists seem to be awfully quiet on the R8.

Sounds awfully cocky what you write on this forum, why don't you research, find the guys that were hurt using rifles from this company, talk to them and see if they thought is was as funny as you make it out to be.
A friend of mine researched the problems of the 93 and as an aftermarket rifle supplier as well as rifle designer now refuses to make any part for these rifles as well as has banned any 93 coming on his premises.

edi

 

[timbrayford]

Sounds awfully cocky what you write on this forum, why don't you research, find the guys that were hurt using rifles from this company, talk to them and see if they thought is was as funny as you make it out to be.
A friend of mine researched the problems of the 93 and as an aftermarket rifle supplier as well as rifle designer now refuses to make any part for these rifles as well as has banned any 93 coming on his premises.

edi

I wasn't aware that Blasers needed aftermarket parts, their rifles come well made already without having to rebuild them.

 

[Border]

You will have to wait a bit yet then,its barely run in.

 

[Orion]

I did have some diagrams found elsewhere on the interwebthingy which I will post one evening if it helps.

The ones on post #24 by Kano on this thread?

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/safety-warning.14239/page-2

Interesting hypothsis on the difference in bolt design/lock up between the the R93 and R8 and it's possible effects when excess pressure is vented into the action of the former.

 

[ejg]

I wasn't aware that Blasers needed aftermarket parts, their rifles come well made already without having to rebuild them.

Well, they are not perfect just like remmy etc, we are asked constantly if could not make parts for them. Especially now for the R8 also from training centres.
edi

 

[timbrayford]

The ones on post #24 by Kano on this thread?

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/safety-warning.14239/page-2

Interesting hypothisis on the difference in bolt design/lock up between the the R93 and R8 and it's possible effects when excess pressure is vented into the action of the former.

That made interesting reading, to pick up on a minor point though "what happens if a case ruptures?" - there are two gas escape ports on the R8 barrel, I can't recall whether the r93 also has this feature

 

[timbrayford]

The only parts added to my r8 are an LP mod and a harris bipod stud, I can't imagine what else you might need, please enlighten us

 

[scotch_egg]

Well, they are not perfect just like remmy etc, we are asked constantly if could not make parts for them. Especially now for the R8 also from training centres.
edi

edi,

I know you aren't a fan of the Blaser but I would certainty love one of your E-Tac stocks inlet for my R93

 

[mchughcb]

Sounds awfully cocky what you write on this forum, why don't you research, find the guys that were hurt using rifles from this company, talk to them and see if they thought is was as funny as you make it out to be.
A friend of mine researched the problems of the 93 and as an aftermarket rifle supplier as well as rifle designer now refuses to make any part for these rifles as well as has banned any 93 coming on his premises.

edi

This discussion is about the R8. Please post any war stories about the R8, I would love to hear them.

 

[ejg]

edi,

I know you aren't a fan of the Blaser but I would certainty love one of your E-Tac stocks inlet for my R93

We were looking at that with the R8 but with the newer E-Tac3.
My gripe with the R93 is that there is an issue that seems to be swept under the carpet. They did make some changes with the design over time to try and fix it. As I understand it has nothing to do with the locking strength of the action as they have tested the action to 6000bar without a problem. Scary bit was that some would fire on no go gauges and also when the action was not 100% closed. Meaning slightly too long cartridge could lead to problems on some rifles. I prefer to try and understand where an issue is rather than ignore it, at least one can try avoid the situation. There might be more issues but this one was proven and could be repeated.
Not too sure about German proofing agencies, apparently many rifles (several brands) are failing proof after they have threads cut for moderators meaning the initial proof didn't catch the problems.

edi

 

[Buggadifino]

The ones on post #24 by Kano on this thread?

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/safety-warning.14239/page-2

Interesting hypothsis on the difference in bolt design/lock up between the the R93 and R8 and it's possible effects when excess pressure is vented into the action of the former.

Yes that was it, thanks. I would imagine that, with these design changes, anyone getting an R8 to fail has really had to work at it.

 

[mchughcb]

Thanks for posting.

 

[EMcC]

Well, they are not perfect just like remmy etc, we are asked constantly if could not make parts for them. Especially now for the R8 also from training centres. edi

Can you please enlighten me as to what aftermarket bits you have been asked to make.
Apart from the large bolt handle some people prefer and a stud, in the right place, for a bi-pod, I can't think of anything else so am very interested.