Blasers, owner experience?

[Border]

I'll gladly share my experience.
I disliked my Blaser so much that I never shot it. I even went as far as never purchasing it in the first place. Hell. I didn't even do a google search to find a dealer to not purchase the gun that I won't shoot from.
...And that's all I'll say on the subject . ~Muir

So it's safe to assume that you're not a fan.......

 

[Jagare]

How many people who have bought Blaser straightpulls still use and are happy with them? I think most probably have had turnbolts and have "upgraded". Anyone "downgraded" after a period of use?
I am sitting on the fence, I have nothing against them. All of them that I have seen or shot have shot well. Just beginning to get an R93 itch that may be scratched in time.........

So you'll be bringing the new Blaser down for the roe bucks in August then? Bet you fondled one and got all moist at the hunting show at the weekend . You know You want one.

 

[cjs66]

It is like anything else I guess and depends on your requirements. Mine is a tool to do a job and in that respect I really don't know how you'd make it any better. Yes they are expensive for what you seem to get but they are well engineered and practical and the longer I live with mine (approaching 12 years now at a guess) the more I come to like it for all these reasons, good design and engineering don't come cheap. Some people like to fiddle and customize and chop and change whereas I just like to lift the rifle out and go and not have to think about it. It will shoot any ammo I can put into it better than I can, it has been weatherproof and reliable in some pretty awful conditions, it is completely consistent unlike me, the cocking mechanism is certainly a very good idea, and best of all it comes apart and packs into something little bigger than a briefcase and when you put it back together nothing has changed. In a way a lot of these things are disadvantages for people as it is a quality tool for someone looking to do a job but if your hobby is guns rather than getting out and using them then there is nothing to modify, fiddle with, worry about and load development can be as simple as buying a box of whatever the shop has in the right cartridge. A lot of people get a lot of pleasure out of enjoying their guns, modifying them etc. and in that case I'd say the Blaser isn't what they want.

Oh how very true!

cjs

 

[Border]

So you'll be bringing the new Blaser down for the roe bucks in August then? Bet you fondled one and got all moist at the hunting show at the weekend . You know You want one.

It's just an itch that I have had for a long time. No Blaser fondling, more like Kahles drooling. My problem is, as you know a cabinet full of perfectly serviceable quality rifles. The standard R93 trigger is a let down compared to the Jewell. The big scope on the 308 is definetly going though. I need a "dangerous game scope" for driven game instead. Will no doubt be old faithfull on the bucks again.

 

[Uncle f]

Ok have a r8 pro success in .30.06 and also. .223 barrel for foxing. Then I got a k95 single shot in .308 and finally finished my level 2 on Friday morning with it (three animals all done). I then got a sauer 202 in .6.5x55 and had it about a week zeroed it and hated it so threw it back and got another r8 pro black edition grade 6 in .6.5x55. Enough said really
Blasers are expensive and are most certainly not the only rifle in town but they are fantastic guns and so accurate there are many haters of blasers out there but I put this all down to jealousy!!!lol

get an r8 you won’t ever regret it

 

[bowji john]

Some say they are style over substance ....

But what style and what substance !!

Had mine for 2 years

Love it

 

[Uncle f]

Agree entirely

 

[Blackrider]

Bought my first Blaser, an R93 .270 with fluted barrel 7 years ago and I've never regreted it ! I could have had a R8 as they were just coming in but I preferred the R93.
I shoot mainly in Argyll for Reds and Roe and since then I have grassed many deer and I trust the rifle implicitly !

I have recenty swapped my .270 for a 300WM and before that another R93, a .223 for a .243 mostly for roe.
Superb rifles but I accept that maybe they're not for eveyone !

With the .243 and the 300WM, I dont anticipate ever wanting another deer rifle again !

 

[243 Stalker]

Border,

I also pondered for a number of years over buying a Blaser rifle, mainly taking into consideration the significant cost. Having handled the various rifles and stock configurations at numerous shows, a year ago I took the plunge and purchased an R8 Pro Success with a fluted barrel. My advice would be to not waste any more time deliberating, it will be everything you are expecting it to be, so just buy it and enjoy it.

ATB 243 Stalker.[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Hmm. I bought my 93 off a nice man from here for the right money. I've had T3 and Xbolt before. I do get annoyed over the top loading and unloading but not enough to buy an R8 or anything else.

Would i I change it? No. I bought a new stock from a man in Germany to fit my measurements. I now have 2 stocks and 3 barrels. Just realised my 243 bolthead ejects to the right. Oops. Need a left hand bolthead. Of and another stock cos I can't be bother to change barrels. .

i lurve mine and really can't see any reason to change it.

 

[zambezi]

... It will shoot any ammo I can put into it better than I can, it has been weatherproof and reliable in some pretty awful conditions, it is completely consistent unlike me, the cocking mechanism is certainly a very good idea, and best of all it comes apart and packs into something little bigger than a briefcase and when you put it back together nothing has changed. In a way a lot of these things are disadvantages for people as it is a quality tool for someone looking to do a job but if your hobby is guns rather than getting out and using them then there is nothing to modify, fiddle with, worry about and load development can be as simple as buying a box of whatever the shop has in the right cartridge. A lot of people get a lot of pleasure out of enjoying their guns, modifying them etc. and in that case I'd say the Blaser isn't what they want.

+1

I bought one. It is so good, I bought another. It is my go-to platform for un-fussy reliable operation. A chunk of cash, sure, but they are well built and look to be long lived. I really love the fact that you can stalk with a round in the chamber and know that, on an R8, "safe" means the firing spring is not compressed. I.e. you can drop it, snag the trigger, etc and nowt will happen. And when you are ready to take the shot, cocking is near silent [chambering a round with a standard bolt action rifle can be fairly quiet done slowly, but cocking an already chambered R8 is quicker and quieter] If there is any negative to the R8 design, it would be that the straight pull action is quite a noisy clatter. And failing to operate the bolt positively can result in the radial lock up failing to fully engage [rifle bolt looks 95% closed, but rifle won't fire]. So trying to finesse/slow an R8 bolt cycle is not advisable: it needs to be positive. But the speed of bolt cycling is superior to any standard dog-leg bolt throw. [I think WMS have a YT video showing how quick]

 

[Blakey]

I have an R93 in .243 - it is extremely accurate and has a beautiful crisp trigger. But I find the cycling the bolt very noisy compared to a conventional bolt action. This can be a real disadvantage when trying to load up as quietly as possible when setting off on my permission. Also not having a detachable magazine is also a pain. Top loading before setting off can also be noisy and time consuming. Not so sure I would buy it again - probably spend similar money on a quality conventional bolt action. Pro

 

[Vipa]

I've had a couple of R8s and now an R8 pro success in 6.5x55 & 300wtby... wouldn't have anything else!

As for having to slam the bolt home to get a positive lock up... not true.. I have experimented with this on the range and as long as the bolt handle is pushed all the way forward it can be done as slowly and as quietly as you like with no issues or misfires. It all boils down to familiarity and knowing when it is fully engaged and when it is not!

 

[Muir]

So it's safe to assume that you're not a fan.......

I've only seen two in my life. The last was a stubby little carbine in the city that had a $4K price tag. I know they are nice rifles. I've just never experienced them and haven't gone out of my way to do so. ~Muir

 

[Alantoo]

I have an R93 in .243 - it is extremely accurate and has a beautiful crisp trigger. But I find the cycling the bolt very noisy compared to a conventional bolt action. This can be a real disadvantage when trying to load up as quietly as possible when setting off on my permission. Also not having a detachable magazine is also a pain. Top loading before setting off can also be noisy and time consuming. Not so sure I would buy it again - probably spend similar money on a quality conventional bolt action. Pro

I am interested that you find cycling the bolt noisy. I have always been puzzled when I hear others saying that. My R93 was second hand and was well run in by the time I had it and was very smooth and quiet. The new R8 was a bit notchier but even so I did a video with a sound meter showing how much quieter it was than my very notchy Finnfire. I should be able to post a link to it.

The noisiest thing was the clink as the cartridge came up out of the magazine. When I am in stealth mode I put my left thumb into the magazine and ease the ammo coming up to dampen even that sound. I hook my right thumb over the safety/cocking slide/bolt release and squeeze the bolt between forefinger and thumb to operate it silently. Of course you can cycle it fast and noisily just like you can with an ordinary turn bolt, but when you need another round in a hurry stealth mode is not so much of an issue.

As far as the OP goes, I find the unique combination of the design features worth the cost to me, and enjoy using it.

Found the video link...look at the decibel meter for the actual sound levels, the ALC (automatic level control) tries to make the Blaser noisier and the Finnfire quieter.

Alan

 

[Cranhill]

I’ve got R93 with four barrels, 243, 308, 6.5x57 ans 7x64, no issues and their left handed

 

[zambezi]

As for having to slam the bolt home to get a positive lock up... not true.. I have experimented with this on the range and as long as the bolt handle is pushed all the way forward it can be done as slowly and as quietly as you like with no issues or misfires. It all boils down to familiarity and knowing when it is fully engaged and when it is not!

I have used my R8 for a number of years and am fairly familiar with it. My observation re positive close of action is based on personal experience of an event that occurred despite familiarity. In the final moments of a 2nd stealthy stalk on same outing, I elected to chamber a round ever so softly just before placing rifle on sticks. I did that without taking my eyes off the quarry and did not see or feel that full radial lock up had not been secured...which is why I favour a positive bolt action. I have since dry tested and attempted simulating that fail with no success. So I imagine the heightened excitement of the moment was a co-contributor. I.e. it is worth pointing out potential pitfalls that might present during a stalk.

The noisiest thing was the clink as the cartridge came up out of the magazine. When I am in stealth mode I put my left thumb into the magazine and ease the ammo coming up to dampen even that sound. I hook my right thumb over the safety/cocking slide/bolt release and squeeze the bolt between forefinger and thumb to operate it silently. Of course you can cycle it fast and noisily just like you can with an ordinary turn bolt, but when you need another round in a hurry stealth mode is not so much of an issue.

Good tip. Agree that fast follow up shot rarely requires stealth.

 

[Toller]

I don't understand the reputation they have for being noisy either. What the hell are people doing with them??!

Just close it gently like any other bolt-action when stealth is required and make sure the bolt is fully closed... like any other bolt-action...

It's certainly possible to feel a point on closing the bolt that hasn't fully engaged. What I mean by that is the action can be closed gently to a point where there is slightly more resistance and it feels like the bolt might be closed. It needs a tiny bit more pressure to totally close. At least, that's what mine is like and it hasn't caused any issues.

 

[PasqualeM]

I`ve used my R93 extensively since I bought it in 2014 & it`s the best rifle I`ve ever owned. The 3 barrels, 308w, 6mm Norma Br, 6xc, all shoot extremely well. The 6br barrel is a matchbarrel but the other 6mm barrel shoot equally well. Had a custom 6xc before but there is no point in that since the Blaser shoot the same or better. The last bullet, ScenarL 105, that I developed a load for had an averagesize of 10,2mm @100m. I shot 9 3-shot groups. I hunt mostly in the wintertime with temperatures sometimes falling down to -30C. It has frozen once and that is probably due to poor maintanace. No POI shift due to wheather or any other condition. The shooting distances varies roughly between 100-300m and the birds that I hunt are not that big. It`s a true hunting tool.
/Rob

 

[deeangeo]

K95...absolutely silent to reload (and easy) if 2nd shot required for calf or other (rare) finishing shot. Wonderful.