now you just need a decent scope
Gary
Why, have you got one for sale???
willie_gunn
Blaser R93 or Not ??
- Thread starter Grant.N
- Start date
Gary
Why, have you got one for sale???
willie_gunn
Well, what an interesting thread
I have just put a down payment on a new R93....in fact if I'm totally honest I paid the money on Saturday and then came back and thought I'd see what helpful advice I could glean from the site
Little did I realise that buying a Blaser was making such an overt statement about my logic, my bank balance, my perceived status as a stalker or my virility
For those who care to know, I bought one for a number of reasons.
First, those people I know who use them already are people whose advice I respect, who have shot a lot of deer (four are professional or semi-professional stalkers), and who happily explained the R93's plus and minus points. In all cases they now seem to use R93's exclusively, which I found quite telling.
Second, on the occasions I've had the chance to shoot an R93 they have consistently produced cloverleaf groups regardless of ammunition, whether factory or homeload. Recently I've been having problems with my own Sako 75 in .308 (that's a different story that I will relate at some point) so to reduce some of the variables we shot my homeloads through an R93...and produced a ragged single-hole group. We then tried some of the factory ammo I'd brought along...and produced a ragged single-hole group. Results like that give you confidence in your kit.
Third, whilst a custom/semi-custom rifle is attractive, a wait of several months for a rifle that will lose a chunk of its value before I've fired a shot is not attractive. That is why a second-hand custom rifle is a good buy. If you buy second-hand then what your getting is not your rifle, it's someone elses, and you trade off the lower price for compromising on your ideal. If you sell a custom rifle, you have to accept that you will lose money. Having spent the best part of six months looking for a second-hand Blaser I quickly came to the realisation that buying new was, for me, an affordable option. I can get exactly what I want, built to my spec, and should I subsequently decide to sell it, I can get back the majority of my investment.
Fourth, the takedown capabilities of the rifle are not without their benefits. Maybe it's just me, but I don't particularly care to be wandering through hotels and airports with something that is so obviously a cased rifle. At a more practical level, getting my cased Sako into the car for trips to Scotland and elsewhere can be a pain as the only place is across the back seats. Can't really leave it there in full view to pop into somewhere for a pie & pint (of course the three dogs are a useful deterrent).
The fact that people who use Blasers consistently disassemble/re-assemble the components with no loss of zero says something about the quality of the engineering. Yes, £350 for a set of saddlemounts is expensive, but if they enable you to re-assemble your rifle and optics with no loss of zero then that is what you are paying for, not the cost of the metal itself. The only mounts I've seen that offer anything similar are Apels, and set of those for my Sako would cost the same as saddlemounts. If you don't want that capability then Optilocks and bases for a Sako are £120. You pay your money and take your choice.
Fifth, call me idiosyncratic (I've been called a lot, lot, worse) but I like the fact that the Blaser is different. The other rifle I'd like is a Ruger #1 for heaven's sake!
Finally, as for being a hairdresser's rifle....co-incidentally I am currently about half-way through reading Vidal Sassoon's autobiography. The man was born into poverty in the East End of London, was placed into an orphanage at an early age, fought fascists in the streets of London, fought in the Arab-Israeli war, dated (and married) some of the most beautiful models in the world, partied with Michael Caine and Terence Stamp, oh yes, and along the way built a multi-billion dollar empire. Not bad for a hairdresser.
Once the rifle turns up I'll happily post my experiences, both good and bad.
willie_gunn
Willie
Nice post, you obviously dont need the approval of the non believers.
You know you wont regret it.
Enjoy your new rifle, steve
Last edited:
caorach
Well-Known Member
Have you used an R93 musty? How do you think the R8 compares? Not that I'm going to swap the R93 as it does everything I need but I'm always interested in new stuff.
I must say that if you are buying new at present the R8 is probably the way to go as there is always the possibility that the R93 production will stop, though that seems unlikely as Blaser say there are 100,000 of them out there so there must be a significant profit to be made from replacement barrels and the like.
I must say that if you are buying new at present the R8 is probably the way to go as there is always the possibility that the R93 production will stop, though that seems unlikely as Blaser say there are 100,000 of them out there so there must be a significant profit to be made from replacement barrels and the like.
caorach
Interestingly I looked at both the R93 and the R8. I have to confess to having had mixed feelings about the removable magazine/trigger, and I couldn't justify the £500 price difference over the R93.
Now all I needed was someone to tell me that the R93 might cease production
Seriously, I'd be interested to hear from anyone with experience of both.
willie_gunn
Interestingly I looked at both the R93 and the R8. I have to confess to having had mixed feelings about the removable magazine/trigger, and I couldn't justify the £500 price difference over the R93.
Now all I needed was someone to tell me that the R93 might cease production
Seriously, I'd be interested to hear from anyone with experience of both.
willie_gunn
I swapped a R93 for the R8, both in 308.
I loved my R93 and had no problems with it whatsoever, it was very very accurate and never let me down in any way. The main reason i swapped, other than i just wanted too, was because my 93 had a short barrel and when firing from the bipod i was unable to see the reaction of the beast through the scope due to the slight increase in muzzle flip.
I would say that the r8 is slightly nicer, not better, than the R93.
The stock has a slightly nicer feel to it and altthough i didnt find it a problem in r93 the detachable mag of the r8 is an improvement, you can lock it in if you wish and it would perform in the same way as the r93 but with one more round capacity.
My r8 is as accurate as my old r93, it shoots sub half inch at 100 yards with my homeloads and holds the same accuracy out to 350 (only tested to 350).
I believe they will eventually stop making the r93, and in my opinion the r8 is worth the extra money,
Regards steve
I loved my R93 and had no problems with it whatsoever, it was very very accurate and never let me down in any way. The main reason i swapped, other than i just wanted too, was because my 93 had a short barrel and when firing from the bipod i was unable to see the reaction of the beast through the scope due to the slight increase in muzzle flip.
I would say that the r8 is slightly nicer, not better, than the R93.
The stock has a slightly nicer feel to it and altthough i didnt find it a problem in r93 the detachable mag of the r8 is an improvement, you can lock it in if you wish and it would perform in the same way as the r93 but with one more round capacity.
My r8 is as accurate as my old r93, it shoots sub half inch at 100 yards with my homeloads and holds the same accuracy out to 350 (only tested to 350).
I believe they will eventually stop making the r93, and in my opinion the r8 is worth the extra money,
Regards steve
Last edited:
caorach
Well-Known Member
Now all I needed was someone to tell me that the R93 might cease production
Well, I did say it was unlikely but on the other hand you know how "marketing departments" work! I suspect that with so many R93s out there and with them being modular there is just too much money to be made producing the "bits" for Blaser to stop doing it. So, while they might not market a complete R93 I bet you are able to buy all the bits to make one for a long time to come.
I also saw somewhere (probably on the internet so not a reliable source) that someone was suggesting that Blaser patents on the R93 might be running out real soon now. If that is the case then it would be a good idea for them to have a product in the market that they hold exclusive rights to as if this is true then anyone could make bits for an R93. This may be the major driving factor in the release of the R8 as a removable mag and trigger might be a new idea for which you could get a patent, despite it being beyond me to see why you'd want a trigger that is removable. This is pure guesswork on my part but an interesting rumour if nothing else
As you say though it would be interesting to hear from those who have used both, I personally can't see any advantage in the R8 over my R93 unless I had a requirement for big Africian cartridges but sometimes you need to try something for a while before you start to see why it makes sense.
Steve
Many thanks for posting this reply - it's great to hear from someone with experience of both.
Out of interest, what was the barrel length on the R93? I had the option of (I think) 20" and 23", and I went for the 23". I was almost swayed to go for the 20" on the basis that adding a moderator would add another few inches of length, but I ended up sticking with the standard 23".
On the question of a detachable magazine, having had a Sako 75 for the last ten years I can certainly see the attraction, and it will likely take a while to get used to not having one anymore.
That said, I do remember one time in Scotland where the stalker sent me forwards to the next grassy knoll to take the shot. Unsleeving the rifle I crawled forwards, got the rifle up on the sticks and waited for the recumbent stag to stand. As I readied myself my hand moved along the bottom of the rifle and, with a growing horror, I realised the magazine had dropped out. Although I had one up the spout I was not comfortable taking a shot without a back up, so I searched the heather around where the rifle was rested....nothing. I then slowly crawled back down the slope of the knoll, looking all the time for my the magazine. Eventually I got back to my rifle slip where the magazine was sitting happily in full view. I slowly crawled back up the slope, inserted the magazine and readied myself again. Unbelievably the stag hadn't yet got up, most likely because it was dumbfounded at the stupid idiot crawling across the heather. Eventually it stood up and I took the shot.
The shot was fine, but the earbending I got from the stalker lasted quite some time. Now, of course, we laugh about it, but at the time I swore I'd never get another rifle with a detachable magazine.
willie_gunn
Offroad Gary
Well-Known Member
Dom, why not get two magazines and join them together with a piece of string threaded through the sleeves of your stalking jacket? Gary
Willie
I had the shortest barrel the factory offered i think it was 20 inch, from memory it was 2 inches shorter than the standard barrel.
My mate has the standard lenth barrel and when we fired them back to back the shorter barrel definatly had more muzzle flip.
steve
I had the shortest barrel the factory offered i think it was 20 inch, from memory it was 2 inches shorter than the standard barrel.
My mate has the standard lenth barrel and when we fired them back to back the shorter barrel definatly had more muzzle flip.
steve
Dom, why not get two magazines and join them together with a piece of string threaded through the sleeves of your stalking jacket? Gary
Gary
Nah, I already had some nametapes attached to the magazine "just in case" I lost it.
Steve - many thanks for the post. Sounds like ordering the 23" was the right thing after all.
Dom
Grandhubert
Well-Known Member
Dom, why not get two magazines and join them together with a piece of string threaded through the sleeves of your stalking jacket? Gary
You sir are henceforth being watched.
Gentlemen such as you, those who would mock their slightly more scatty and prone to temporary amnesia fellows, must be made examples of.
Woe betide you sir, should you ever happen to suffer from the misfortune of loosing stuff.
We shall be here, we shall not forget!
Grandhubert
Well-Known Member
My account was hijacked by scallywags.....Oh god no I don't mean people from Liverpool....I'm offending everybody today....
And to think, I had the moral high highground just a few minutes ago...
Mr Free Market
Well-Known Member
Sorry to be late on to this thread, but did someone say Blaser R93 ......??
Sorry to be late on to this thread, but did someone say Blaser R93 ......??
Ahhhh, Blaser porn?
willie_gunn
caorach
Well-Known Member
I've found another very serious flaw with Blasers after looking at this picture: All your bolt handles have dropped off! That really is a serious manufacturing defect and to have it happen to such a large number of rifles as well. What did you do to them, or did you buy them without bolt handles? For reference they should look like this with the little handle being used to help open the bolt. Maybe real men open their bolts with their teeth? Hmmm, maybe this calls my manhood into question.
EMcC
Well-Known Member
I hope you Blaser addicts don't mind me joining 'Your' thread but I am finally, after years of finding the name 'Blaser' rather funny, Blase meaning blow in German and often used as the word for Fart as in "Wer hat geblasen ?" I have finally been converted - well nearly
I have just had my FEO interview for the renwal of my FC during which we discussed my travels using my Steyr in 30-06 and it was decided that the Blaser was a 'more manageable' rifle for carriage! so an extra 30-06 was promptly put on my form as 'to be acquired'.
Now Gents comes the hard bit, where can I acquire a Blaser R8 at a price that does not require me to sell the house, wife, dog, car and if neccessary, my body ? I certainly have no intention of buying at the full RRP so if I don't get my way my dreams may be shattered ;-(
I have just had my FEO interview for the renwal of my FC during which we discussed my travels using my Steyr in 30-06 and it was decided that the Blaser was a 'more manageable' rifle for carriage! so an extra 30-06 was promptly put on my form as 'to be acquired'.
Now Gents comes the hard bit, where can I acquire a Blaser R8 at a price that does not require me to sell the house, wife, dog, car and if neccessary, my body ? I certainly have no intention of buying at the full RRP
so if I don't get my way my dreams may be shattered ;-(Similar threads
