Hi team
Okay, late to the thread but it's interesting so here we go. Firstly Aussies aren't big on Blaser, they love Tikka, Sako and Remington. Once they shoot one they usually sell their other rifles to buy one.
I wanted a Blaser and bought a shop demo 30-06 Makura Ulrich Takedown/Blaser R93 ($4000 under RRP) with some advice from the guys on this site, I had never owned a Blaser and it was the most expensive rifle I had bought. Firstly LOP too long for me as it was made for giants, had it shortened. Fit is a must no matter what the rifle cost.
My lovely wife bought me a 25-06 barrel/insert, so two calibers, one very small travel case (type C), two scope mounts and two scopes, NICE, functional and very very easy to travel with. Sako does not do what Blaser do in this regard, full confidence in Blaser. How do they shoot, as good as cheaper rifles I have owned. Kind of like owning a Porsche but, yeah a turbo Golf might take you but it's still a VW.
Bought another R93 recently secondhand, a Professional, still dear, still great, sold the barrels and mounts it came with and it owes me Aud$1500, scoped w/ my 25-06 barrel included, can't go wrong. Now those deals are extremely rare and I was in the right place at the right time and broke up a significant purchase and sold on most of the parts keeping only what I needed to assemble a second rifle.
The problem I see with upgrading at this point to a nice timber R8 for my next significant birthday (60th, currently 55), is that I will need to sell most of my rifles to get anything better than what I have and that puts me into serious Mauser money, AUD $25000.
I own Tikka T3X, Mauser M12 Expert, Carl Gustaf 1900, Weatherby Mark V, CZ 557, Remington 700 and a couple of Blaser R93 and they all shoot, so do Sako. They are all a joy to shoot and own however, since owning the Blaser most now live in the safe while the Blaser or Mauser are hunting.
I think most people try to rationalise the idea of cost, most rifles are not modular, are not switch barrel and do not hold their value like a Blaser, it is that simple.
If you want a Blaser and cost is the factor, buy secondhand, scratch your itch, you can always trade up (or down) and you will not lose your money unless you damage it.
Cheers
John (rant over)
