Help me choose a K95

[Jax]

Following on from other threads, I’m keen to get a break barrel single shot rifle. Mainly so I don’t have a bolt handle constantly digging in to my side. I’m 99% sold on a 7x65r.

Ive looked in to the Blaser K95 and the Merkel offerings. The Blaser ticks more boxes for me.

I had a Luxus spec in mind, but the laser engraving is horrendous. May as well vinyl wrap the action.

A standard black spec with a grade 6 stock is appealing, but then so is the practicality of a carbon stock.

I was set on a traditional looking rifle with open sights and no mod, but I must use a mod on one estate I shoot. On that basis, I’d probably go reflex style to help keep the length down. I can save 20-30mm with a reflex mod compared to the likes of a SL5-i

I can’t decide which spec rifle to go for. If I go for the carbon, I’m tempted to put a MAE T12 on it. If I went wooden stock I’d probably go Lawrence Precision or a T12 scout perhaps.

Help! What are SD members using?

please feel free to share photos of you moderated K95, much to the traditionalist’s disgust

 

[deerstalker.308]

I would avoid the LP mod, a friend on here recently had one which came in significantly heavier than advertised weight and was returned unfired as a result. Given they are marketed on weight being a major factor seems an odd one to get so wrong!

 

[Leupsak]

I went with a 7x57r grade 6 black action open sights and no mod and would not change a thing.
If you want a light gun with mod I would recommend the same but with no sights and the small F&D featherweight 149

 

[Freeforester]

Overkill If it’s for British species, unless very carefully loaded. Heavy kicker, but mostly to the user.

 

[Jax]

Should have said. I’m not too fussed on the weight. Even with a T12, it would still be reasonably light. The weight up front might help with keeping sight picture

 

[Mike L]

@Uncle f

 

[Corvid8x57]

Toby Law at Macleods in Tain is the fount of all K95 knowledge & was very helpful when I bought mine.

 

[stevenedwards]

Recoil reducer, red dot sight, compact mod, may be SL5, and be sure the twist rate available in the chosen caliber accommodates lead free rounds. Then work on stalking in close, but that's just my plan it may not be yours ! oh and 7x57 decent lead free built weight not driven to fast as you are going to be close. You could consider a Pfeifer SR2 as an alternative.

 

[stevenedwards]

Forgot to include I have a Laurence precision, there are better options out there.

 

[243varmint]

6.5x55 or 7x57 or 7mm08.
Invisible thread protector incorporated with the front sight, then go for a lightweight FandD mod. If you have to thread a K95

 

[Jax]

Recoil reducer, red dot sight, compact mod, may be SL5, and be sure the twist rate available in the chosen caliber accommodates lead free rounds. Then work on stalking in close, but that's just my plan it may not be yours ! oh and 7x57 decent lead free built weight not driven to fast as you are going to be close. You could consider a Pfeifer SR2 as an alternative.

Recoil reducer is on the build list. I’m planning to shoot the Barnes 120 TTSX or 139gr LRX with any luck. The twist on 7mm’s is 1:9 or thereabouts if I recall correctly. I’ve got the info somewhere.

 

[Leupsak]

I shoot the 120 TTSX in the 7x57r, excellent choice and good availability

 

[Jax]

I shoot the 120 TTSX in the 7x57r, excellent choice and good availability

Thanks for the input. How do you find component/factory ammo availability? This is the one thing putting me off 7x57r.

 

[Steff]

If you stay with the 7x65R and decide to get a mod, you will need something more capable than some of the models recommended on here. A F&D 149 is waay too small for this caliber, so is the F&D 195. These will do a good job on a 7x57R or similar, but not on a 7x65R. My choice here would be a Hausken 224 XTRM.

 

[Kiwiroger]

Following on from other threads, I’m keen to get a break barrel single shot rifle. Mainly so I don’t have a bolt handle constantly digging in to my side. I’m 99% sold on a 7x65r.

Ive looked in to the Blaser K95 and the Merkel offerings. The Blaser ticks more boxes for me.

I had a Luxus spec in mind, but the laser engraving is horrendous. May as well vinyl wrap the action.

A standard black spec with a grade 6 stock is appealing, but then so is the practicality of a carbon stock.

I was set on a traditional looking rifle with open sights and no mod, but I must use a mod on one estate I shoot. On that basis, I’d probably go reflex style to help keep the length down. I can save 20-30mm with a reflex mod compared to the likes of a SL5-i

I can’t decide which spec rifle to go for. If I go for the carbon, I’m tempted to put a MAE T12 on it. If I went wooden stock I’d probably go Lawrence Precision or a T12 scout perhaps.

Help! What are SD members using?

please feel free to share photos of you moderated K95, much to the traditionalist’s disgust

Just get a .308 if you are going to put a can on it ,20.5 inch barrel is offered by blaser and you won't have lost any performance, job done !
They come with a 600mm barrel so the balance will be all to hell if you put a can on the end of that. If you want to stick with 7 x 65r / 57r use plugs or muffs. Otherwise buy the k5 Merkel with the 560 mm barrel and you might get away with it if the can comes back over the barrel far enough then you would have a useable suppressed rifle just. The Merkel also comes threaded no extra cost as well as open sights!

 

[Jagare]

I looked at a new K95 in 7x57r a couple of weeks ago. Very pretty rifle with superb arabask engraving. Only problem, it had 6000 reasons on the price tag as to why I didn't need it

 

[Heym SR20]

7x65r is a very nice calibre. If you want you can load a 140gn bullet at 2600 fps and recoil is minimal. Alternatively you can load up a long BC bullet at 2800 fps plus and you have a long range calibre for bigger game. The are videos on YouTube of a K95 in 7x65r used to red stags and chamois at silly ranges.

Keep the barrel long. The 25” still make a short rifle. Keep a black action and go for good strong straight grained wood. Don’t waste your money on the really fancy swirly stuff as it wont be as strong. And wood is the original carbon fibre.

If you can get a classic style stock rather than the hogs back with square cheek piece- just a styling thing.

 

[Dunwaters]

Here’s a photo of mine, right caliber, wrong colour. There are pro’s and cons to both rifle and cartridge’
The 7x65R has quite heavy recoil, worse than a .270 in my opinion, no big issue if you reload it down a bit, but factory loads will belt you so maybe a recoil reducer is indicated In a light rifle. Then theres barrel life, you can get a new barrel but it has to be factory fitted, neither cheap nor easy, so a long life cartridge is an advantage.
The K95 itself is not without faults, the trigger can’t be adjusted by the user, mine is crisp but far too light and has more backlash than a swing door, it makes the rifle very difficult to shoot accurately and does nothing to help with recoil, specify your trigger weight and test it before you leave the shop.
If you’re putting a mod on it you can afford a shorter barrel, the added weight will help with recoil and the overall length will still be shorter than a bolt action.
The rifle is light to start with, carbon fibre might just leave you with something thats a joy to carry but impossible to shoot, a rifle actually needs a bit of heft to handle properly.
Overall the K95 is a really nice bit of kit, but its not for everyone or all occasions, its more of a special day out item. Would I do it again? Maybe, but it’d be a 6.5x55.. and the trigger would be set at just under a kilo, crisp and backlash free.
Best of luck with the purchase.

 

[Jax]

I went with a 7x57r grade 6 black action open sights and no mod and would not change a thing.
If you want a light gun with mod I would recommend the same but with no sights and the small F&D featherweight 149

View attachment 217463

That is a good looking rifle! I like the open sight classic look. I’m not the biggest fan of thumbhole stalking rifles, so the carbon stock isn’t top of the list.

I could go SL5i with open sights and threaded muzzle. The SL5i works well enough on an 18” and 22” 308 I have.

what length barrel do you have?

 

[Lateral]

I rate the ASE mods highly, on the right rifle. I DON'T think a heavy lump of stainless is what I'd want anywhere near a K95/kipplauf type rifle, even if I had decided to fit a mod.

I use DPT, pretty light, modular, so you can extend if required, work more than well enough for me.


That said, my K95 is a stutzen, with open sights, it looks right. Personally, I would not have open sights, AND a mod'. IMHO, it looks wrong, AND, I doubt you could even use the open sights with a mod !

Open sights, NO mod, wear hearing protection.

With a mod, NO open sights, nice light "over barrel" mod', to keep the balance, and if you find the 7x65R a little punchy, fit a "kick stop", which does add weight, but helps to balance the rifle too.

As for the stocks: I like carbon, I'd better, I sell the Raven stocks, but on a Kipplauf

Wood of your choice, and I'd suggest the later straight comb, rather than the earlier, more traditional "hog back", which I have.

The reason, the hog back is low, and I have to use a cheek riser, to get the correct eye height. I use one of the stock socks, which also carries several rounds, but I can't remember what my stock looks like.


I'm in Watford, had would be happy to meet, if you'd like to try my 7x57R, to see how the stock fits.

Just PM if you think it will help.