Blaser R93 or Not ??

[theshootist]

When I started looking for a stalking rifle I was convinced that nothing other than a strong turn bolt and a wood stock would do. Looking at the Blaser I was impressed by the ability to switch calibres but wasn't convinced it was something I would ever use. My biggest downer was the fact that it was straight pull, how strong could that lock up really be?

Well, having stalked with a number of gents I respected who all swore by Blasers I was eventually convinced and bought a .308. Its a brilliant design, its super easy to maintain, its short, light, very accurate and it has a fantastic trigger. I wouldn't claim its intrinsically more safe, but I like the fact that the firing pin is taken out of line when the rifle is on safe/de-cocked. If it were a pistol it would be a glock, it doesn't set my heart racing, but it does the job very well.

 

[dennisgrm]

I'd definitely go the custom route. Why pay for a factory production rifle what you could have a custom hand built rifle with precision barrel and chambering??? Don't make sense to me!!!

 

[Brough]

I understand dennisgrm, but its not your everyday factory rifle, They shoot well ,are very well made , I am a recent owner of a R93 and like it a lot . If you can afford it then buy one ,you won't be dissapointed , If you have used one or owned one and still don't rate them ,be nice to know your views, not just because your mates uncles brother had one ,or because you heard something on the net.
Why don,t you post an introduction and let us all know what you prefer to use .

 

[Mungler]

I had an R93 off road in .308 and I personally couldn't get on with:

1. the action
2. it was fussy feeding ammo
3. I didn't realise how much I disliked internal magazines

Don't get me wrong, it was a good gun and seriously accurate out of the box. However, by the time you add on an extra internal magazine, a ridiculously priced scope saddle mount and a set of rings you really get the feeling you are just having your pants pulled down for no other reason that you are now the proud owner of a Blaser rifle and the envy of those around you..... You could blow £500 at retail on the items I have just listed.

I now have Sauer in .25-06 and Steyr in .308 in the cabinet - both are out of the box accurate with no fannying about or customisation required and have drop out magazines. The Sauer has the nicest action of any rifle I have owned and the Steyr is just a complete package which has been well thought out and put together - integral bipod, integral stock magazine, a no nonsense scope rail etc.

 

[Offroad Gary]

I'd definitely go the custom route. Why pay for a factory production rifle what you could have a custom hand built rifle with precision barrel and chambering??? Don't make sense to me!!!

That's like saying why drive a porche when you can buy a kit car!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

The one thing I will say is that a Blaser or Sauer will hold it's value in a way that a parts/custom gun never will. I know, I have tried most of the options out there. Spend £2000 - £3000 on a semi custom on a factory action. Keep it a year and try and sell it. You will do well to get 50% of what you paid for it.

 

[Brough]

My R93 has been a fairly recent purchase , and like others couldn't really see what the fuss was all about ,now after using one I now know.
What I do know is they hold the value very well .
I was one of these people that could never settle with a rifle and went through numerous rifles including several sako's , my ticket was constantly in for variations.
Nothing wrong with the sako at all , I just wanted something a bit different , and knew as soon as I used this rifle ,this was for keeps. I'm not precious with it ,I look after it ,but didn't buy it to look at . Not everyones cup of tea I know ,but it does it for me.
Initially I thought the internal mag was a pain , but you adapt to these things and now don't think twice about it. I thought the release on the sako mags was a pain at first ,but you get by.


Brough

 

[Brithunter]

Hmmm dunno there is something about those Germanic fluted cheekpieces that does not sit right with me. It turned me off the CZ-Brnos too. I would ratehr have a staright stock no cheekpiece that one os those.

I have shot a couple of Blasers and yes they were slick and very precise in grouping using some Federal American Eagle ammunition but not for me.

Now as I don't buy rifles as investments nor to change frequently the actual re-sale valuse is of little importance to me.

 

[Brough]

Hi kev I like the style of the stock , like I said I wanted something a bit different.
This is the second rifle I have owned with the european hogs back stock , It will punish you shooting it prone as that is not what it was designed for , but a lovely fit for walk and stalk, it comes up a treat .

Brough

 

[Chitterne]

If you have used one or owned one and still don't rate them ,be nice to know your views, not just because your mates uncles brother had one ,or because you heard something on the net.
Why don,t you post an introduction and let us all know what you prefer to use .

I've owned 3 over the years. A sporter in 308, a jagdmatch in 243 and a TAC2 in 338.

The 308: 10% misfire rate. Returned to factory; insufficient headspace. Offered to re-cut the chamber. I said "NO!" and got it replaced with a Sauer 202 in 308. No misfires -ever.

Years pass and i think "surely it can't have been that bad?" and, seduced by that neat takedown concept, buy an R93 jagdmatch. 1% misfire rate; and worse with homeloads (you'll soon come to learn that Blaser reloading requires full length resizing and very careful shoulder bumping to prevent failures to fire). Got rid of it for another 202 - this time an Alaskan in 300wm. No misfires -ever.

More years pass; get a TAC2 in 338 (because i could ); 80% failure to fire on RUAG; would only work with Lapua brass.


Talk to most Blaser owners, and you'll find they have the odd failure to fire too. But they just seem to accept it; or write it off mentally and ignore it.

People will say " you can't have closed the bolt properly" "did you push it fully forward?" etc; but eventually you have to ask yourself how often your 'conventional' bolt guns fail to fire; (for most of us that averages about 0%!)


And once you accept in your head that, for a rifle design to mechanically fail to fire so frequently, something just ain't right with the design. Well, that whole collet thing starts to play on your mind everytime you pull the trigger. "Just how well did they design that bit?!" "Wonder how fast that bolt would come back?" etc

Needless to say, I don't own any Blasers now.

 

[Brough]

Hi Chitterne, Thanks for your imput , thats very interesting re; the misfires I haven't experienced anything yet and I do neck size only and only use lapua for reloading , I will be waiting for the misfire now!!! thanks.

 

[Chitterne]

Sorry! (You did ask though!)

I'd recommend that you switch to full-length resizing - you'll minimise any potential problems that way.

On the upside, I did fail to mention that, when they did go 'bang', they were all extremely accurate. The 243 jagdmatch in particular - it would even do 0.25MOA with federal classic!

 

[Mungler]

Get a Sauer or a Steyr.

 

[Chitterne]

Get a Sauer or a Steyr.

Yes, I think that's the bottom line answer to the original question; although I'd see Sauer as a significant notch higher in quality terms.

Another thought to bear in mind on the Blaser is the "silent make-ready" on the Hill; it can't be done.
It will always sound like an AK being made-ready
- and if you close it really really slowly, it's even more likely to misfire (infact you'll often see one of the Blaser mis-fire "remedies" commonly trotted out with the "did you push the bolt fully forward" etc stuff is to cycle them vigorously.)

Get a 202 and never look back (and never find yourself wondering, each time you squeeze the trigger, if gas escape from a pierced primer will cause the bolt carrier to move rearward and unlock the collet... You know you will, that nagging doubt is what cause you start this thread with a safety question )

 

[Offroad Gary]

Yes, I think that's the bottom line answer to the original question; although I'd see Sauer as a significant notch higher in quality terms.

Another thought to bear in mind on the Blaser is the "silent make-ready" on the Hill; it can't be done.
It will always sound like an AK being made-ready
- and if you close it really really slowly, it's even more likely to misfire (infact you'll often see one of the Blaser mis-fire "remedies" commonly trotted out with the "did you push the bolt fully forward" etc stuff is to cycle them vigorously.)

Get a 202 and never look back (and never find yourself wondering, each time you squeeze the trigger, if gas escape from a pierced primer will cause the bolt carrier to move rearward and unlock the collet... You know you will, that nagging doubt is what cause you start this thread with a safety question )

I've shot hudreds of rounds through mine and only once experienced the problem with badly sized cases, never since. The pierced primer safety issue is a myth, there's no plastic in the bolt to melt. I've had case head separation in my 308 with no issues. As for the silent on the hill, I've never been but i'm sure many haven with no problems.you only have to see the face of a foreign hunter when the blaser comes out of the slip to know you have made the right choice, a million of them can't be wrong!

 

[Chitterne]

I've shot hudreds of rounds through mine and only once experienced the problem with badly sized cases, never since.

Spoken like a true Blaser zealot the classic dismissal of the Blaser misfire thing -all Blaser advocates do it

Dismissal of the click-clack-click-clack as an irrelevance too

You misunderstand the pierced primer issue. It's not about melting plastic or anything else; it's the concept of very high pressure gas flow possibly causing the bolt carrier to move rearwards; thus causing the collet to unlock. No one would argue that it happens everytime there's a gas 'event'. It's suggested as one of those 'sometimes' things; like rolling 3 dice and getting 3 sixes.


Anyway, it's great that you like yours. That's the name of the game.

 

[Brough]

The Blasers been on the hill buddy , I can close the bolt on that baby as quiet as you like , don't be worrying about me now fella .
Sauer make a great rifle thats for sure , but to say significantly better in quality is your opinion and every one has one of those , just like they have an arsehole.
I'll keep the blaser if its ok with you .

Brough

 

[Chitterne]

I was comparing the Sauer to the Steyr. Apologies if that mis-read.
Not sure there was any need to say this about it though.

your opinion and every one has one of those , just like they have an arsehole.
I'll keep the blaser if its ok with you .

 

[caorach]

Spoken like a true Blaser zealot the classic dismissal of the Blaser misfire thing -all Blaser advocates do it

Dismissal of the click-clack-click-clack as an irrelevance too

Troll alert, troll alert. Once he's gone I'll tell everyone a story about Blaser misfires.

 

[Brough]

I was comparing the Sauer to the Steyr. Apologies if that mis-read.
Not sure there was any need to say this about it though.

Why did you edit your post, to late guv I saw the original .
C'mon admin.