I've been asked to run a field test (drive hunting) of the new Swarovski PVI-2 (digital illuminated reticle) 1,25-4x24. As agreed, it arrived mounted on a Mag-Na-Ported 9,3x62 bbl. for my Blaser R93. After playing with this combo at home, I think that if it performs as well as it handles, I'll may send back a check instead of returning it after completion of the test.

Very nice looking rig. Is the PVI-2 coming to the US soon?

Do you wear special ear protection when you hunt?

To be frank I don't like the R93 design either nor scopes with no bell objective. Rail mounted scopes are interesting. I have only one of those and it's a good idea.

The PVI-2's are about to reach the shelves here, so I assume they're already on the boat to the U.S. too. They carry some interesting innovations :
- daylight mode (16 settings)
- twilight mode (32 settings)
- brightness control no longer with clicks but "rheostat like"
- memory for last setting
- immediate switch between both modes
- new digital illumination, sharp image and no surrounding halo in darkness. NB : new digital system adaptable to the previous PV-I series.
- reticle in the second plane (BTW, I grew accustomed to the former first plane reticle, which is a handy rangefinder).

Savage99, no I don't wear ear protection in the field (in fact, my rifles are becoming quieter as years go by. Must be nowadays powders, although my wife pretends i'm getting deaf

The 1,25-4x24 is a battue scope (running shots on drive hunting) but the PVI-2 comes also in 1,5-6x42, 2,5-10x56 & 3-12x50.

Re. the Blaser : whithout hands-on experience, you reaction is classic. I felt the same 8 years ago when I tested my first one. Today, after some hard hunting, 3000 assorted shots and a few dozen heads of game later, I own 2 with 3 bbls. Be forewarned and stay away from the R93 for, once you try one, you're hooked...

quote:

no I don't wear ear protection in the field (in fact, my rifles are becoming quieter as years go by. Must be nowadays powders, although my wife pretends i'm getting deaf Roll Eyes

Oh I thought old married men went deaf because they wanted to! That Maganport is a muzzle brake you know? It's going to be loud.

I don't like straight pull bolt actions and the Blaser is not pleasing to my eye either. I have worked the action on a couple of them and thats enough for me. I did like the Sauer 202 for a switch barrel but we don't have limts here.

Why the illuminated reticule in a scope with no bell objective?

quote:

Originally posted by Savage99:

Oh I thought old married men went deaf because they wanted to! That Maganport is a muzzle brake you know? It's going to be loud.
...
but we don't have limts here.
...
Why the illuminated reticule in a scope with no bell objective?

I've had a Mag_na-ported .300 Win and it didn't bother me when fired outside.
...
I'm fortunate to set my own limits
...
I own a Sauer 202 too. A very fine rifle but bbl. switching is much faster on the Blaser. More so, you can switch from standard to magnum (not with the 202) and the bbl. mounted scope doesn't need resighting. When travel-hunting, I'll take along a short gun case containing the Blaser stock & bolt + 2 scoped bbls in .300 Win and 9,6x62 and won't feel undergunned for anything earthly.
...
An illuminated reticle battue scope comes in handy when shooting hound-driven wild boar in dark undergrowth.

Andre
Re: YOUR new Blaser.
I think you will fine it perfect in every way.
Tracker bbl, in 9,3x62, with an illuminated Swarowski scope, it just does not get any better than that.

That rifle makes a Savage look beautifull!

So far I only shot a few factory loads through that Blaser and got groups around 1.25-1.5 MOA. Yesterday, I tested some handloads with Lapua Mega 285 gn on top off Vihtavuori N 135 and, bingo ! 5 shots in 2 cm at 100 m (.69 MOA) with a 4x scope. This rifle is a keeper and there's no way I'm sending it back (will start to negociate with the importer).

Hi Andre - just a Q - what kind of stock pad is there and where can you get one? - thank you

It's the regular "press-on" pad of the Offroad stock + an 1 cm accessory insert to lengthen the stock according to my own reach. You can even sandwich several layers/cm to fit an orang-outan arms.