Blaser R93 rifle

[Roe]

I've had quite a few questions regarding my Blaser R93 rifle. Even with 2 million rifles sold, it seems to be fairly uncommon / unknown in the US.
Well, it's an interesting rifle. Unorthodox for a bolt user perhaps, but it has proven to be a great tool for shooting and especially hunting. The barrel change, repeatable accuracy and "transportability" convinced me to make the transfer from ordinary bolt action rifles. So far I've used 6 barrels and they've all shot 0.4 MOA or better (with bipod/backrest) but I've yet to break the 0.25 MOA limit. I shoot mosly from 400-1000 meters (450 to 1100'ish yards) with most shots being 4-650.
I've made a short film on some of the features in my rifle. Even though this is a "no-gunsmith" rifle, aftermarket parts are steadily popping up and quite a few of them enhance or improves the features of this rifle. The film is on Youtube behind this link [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqDER9lnnCQ]Blog 25: A better Blaser[/ame]
There's also a post on the Blaser rifles on 6mmbrGun of the Week 12 and some info at Blaserpro and Blaser USA.

Hope this was of some interest.

 

[davkrat]

No help on the Blazer but wanted to say welcome on here Thomas. Love watching your videos!!!

 

[Buano]

It's not that Blasers are unknown in the US, it's that they are out of most hunter's price range.

 

[Roe]

Thanks for that! The films have turnes into a small hobby now.

I reckon a R93 Professional rifle is around $3000 and the barrels about $1000 each. So in my case $5000 has replaced 3 rifles and I'm looking at $1600 a rifle and 1/3 MOA consistent performance.

I know that isn't "true math" but it's useful for the wife. I dunno, what do you guys pay for a LR rifle?

 

[Mikecr]

I think your math is funny..
$3K for the gun,
$1K/barrel x3= $3K for 3 barrels,
$3K + $3K = $6K

Now, 3 LR scopes/mounts for 3 removable barrels will set anyone back another $3k+,
$3K +$3K + $3K = $9K for a 3 gun system

$9k - $5k = $4k dumber than American wives are..

 

[davewilson]

i've heard 2 guys say their outfitter would not allow their clients to take a blaser hunting with them. this was Alaska and brown bear was to be hunted. it seems the heavy kickers had a reputation of jamming due to the recoil.

 

[Roe]

There's no way to say a Blaser rifle is cheap. I simply made a "lifestyle choice" and drive a **** car, buy as much as possible 2nd hand and save, save, save to buy once. My hunting suit has lasted me 12 years now, my optics has been with me since forever etc...

I'm an ordinary worker. Most of my friends are also workers, but many of them have still made the transition to Blaser rifles. I was no 4 of my friends to get rid of my bolt rifles.

An original Blaser mount is $300 and a scope whatever you decide to put in it. The ONE mount and scope can be switched between the barrels. Just write down the needed click correction and you'll have no change of POI. I just happen to have two PMII's (was 3) from my "bolt days". I've gone from 4 to 1 rifles so the overall cost is more or less unchanged. The other day I got a 22 Hornet for fun, so I'm back to 2.

But that being said, Blasers are not for everyone (be that taste or money) and I'm not selling any - I just say they work and it was a good choice for me.

There is an incredible amount of rumours going on regarding the Blaser. I have never heard anything to indicate a jam problem - and I have a lot of Blasers around me in various calibres.

 

[Mikecr]

I just find it a bit hard to believe that a barrel swapping system could keep up(performance wise) with stand alone, purpose built guns.
I can swap scopes while keeping it's level, but not it's POA. No way I could zero a scope on a gun, remove the scope, re-mount it, and not get a change to zero.
And what about the boltface for different cartridges? It has a bolt, & boltface right? Is this included with the barrel? Does every barrel always have a front sight? Are the barrels hammer forged? Free floated?
Then there are the chambers themselves. Can you purchase barrel blanks, to be chambered by a gunsmith?
What aftermarket triggers, or stocks, are available?

Not that I hold anything against Blaser. They are very nice. I seen one for auction at Cabelas for >$20,000(heavily engraved custom).
But this is a LR hunting site, and I would be sincerely amazed if a Blaser(even their LRS2) could hang with common, but custom, LR bolt guns -at distance.
There just aren't many factory guns that could do this..

 

[Roe]

I was of the same mind as you before switching. I discovered that the system works and now like it a lot.

Watch my videos, I usually shoot the Blaser 0,4-0,5'ish MOA to 700'ish yards without change in POI. I assemble the rifle and make a CBS headshot at 440 yds more or less every time. It shoots sub MOA to 1100 yards which is where I run out of clicks on the scope (regrettably I don't have a 20 MOA mount.)

It will NOT (edit) measure up to a BR and it is more difficult to shoot well than a heavy LR rig. But my carbine will hit a deer at the ranges the bullet will kill it, it is very much a LR hunting rifle and I drop 40-50 deer with it every year. It will not quite measure up to a "solid" LR rig such as you describe, but it will do good enough. I think the shooter will be the limit before the rifle.

You have to switch bolthead when going between calibre groups (small, medium, magnum). Clip off, clip on. You choose open sight/no sights and there is no price difference. The scope mounts on the barrel and the system gives same tension every time so going between barrels. The bolt locks in the barrel and the barrel locks to the recoil slots. This eliminates action/barrel tension as there is no traditional action, only the bolthead locking in the barrel. More and more aftermarket parts are available. Fortunately, better triggers can be had from Bix'n Andy now. I did not like the original trigger. Barrel blanks are not available, but it is easily done by a gunsmith - just re-thread your old barrel.

 

[elkregulator]

tag.. I sure like my R93

 

[Buano]

My biggest reason for passing on the Blaser 93 now that I could afford one, is the limited choice of calibers & barrel lengths. For instance, I love a .25-06 and know such a load needs a long barrel to achieve the ballistics it's capable of. Blaser chambers for the .25-06 — in a 22" barrel!. A 22" barrel may be suitable for a 30-30 or .375 H&H, but it's not suited for a .25-06.

I would love a Blaser with barrels for .257 Weatherby, 300 Weatherby, & .340 Weatherby. It would be perfect for everything from pronghorns to Alaskan Brown Bears. Blaser offers the first 2 calibers, but not the third, and chamberings from .257 Weatherby through .375 H&H all come with the 25" barrel.

 

[Roe]

Bixn-Andy - Laufwechsel

This guy makes custom barrels on Border blanks. If the quality is like the replacement trigger he makes it should be very good. BUT this custom job comes with a searing pricetag so it is out of the question for me. His trigger was worth every Euro though...

I too want slightly different twists/ calibres. My solution will be to cut and thread in a new blank in my old barrel when it is shot out. It will not cost more than a normal rebarrel job.

 

[Mikecr]

My solution will be to cut and thread in a new blank in my old barrel when it is shot out. It will not cost more than a normal rebarrel job.

What does this mean?

 

[Roe]

That I intend to cut my worn-out barrel and keep the bit with the recoil slot that attaches to the stock.

This bit will be threaded and barreled like an ordinary action.