When I first got my R93 there were 2 or 3 times when the gun did not fire because the bolt was not seated all the way. My fault because the action was so smooth I was babying the bolt. I found out that you are not supposed to baby the bolt but to operate it firmly. Since then, not one occurrence. My hat is off to the European gun makers like Blaser, Merkel, Glock etc. These are the real innovators in design and engineering in firearms. American gun manufacturers are happy to churn out the same old stuff ie. 1911's and Mauser based actions because that is what many Americans buy. Other than the Accutrigger from Savage I cannot remember any other innovations from American manufacturers. Shame, but I guess it makes money! Meanwhile I continue to enjoy my R93, my Kreighoff in 500/416 and my Blaser S2 in 500NE!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
When I first got my R93 there were 2 or 3 times when the gun did not fire because the bolt was not seated all the way. My fault because the action was so smooth I was babying the bolt. I found out that you are not supposed to baby the bolt but to operate it firmly. Since then, not one occurrence. My hat is off to the European gun makers like Blaser, Merkel, Glock etc. These are the real innovators in design and engineering in firearms. American gun manufacturers are happy to churn out the same old stuff ie. 1911's and Mauser based actions because that is what many Americans buy. Other than the Accutrigger from Savage I cannot remember any other innovations from American manufacturers. Shame, but I guess it makes money! Meanwhile I continue to enjoy my R93, my Kreighoff in 500/416 and my Blaser S2 in 500NE!
Peter.

Well said Peter! When it comes to innovation in hunting rifles America is the last place to look. Probably explains why I went "German" back in 1974 and before that had gone "English" with a Parker Hale! BTW the German Sauer beat the tar out of that English Mauser. A fellow named Roy Weatherby chose JP Sauer to manufacture his Mark V and it became one of the best known and dependable rifles in the world.

Funny thing reading this thread is that none of the gurus who declared the Blaser rifles unsafe mentioned the Remington safety issue. The documentation is all there if someone wants to read up on it. BTW check the Remington graveyard for innovations that didn't last but a few years before the market forced them to abandon them. Advertising will take you so far - then the marketplace will decide your fate. Obviously the marketplace has decided that Blaser builds great guns.

Lots more comes to mind but like Capt Dave said, love em or leave em, just don't lie about them. Well maybe not quite what he said, but I read it that way.

The other day two mates went hunting. I heard bang, then bang, bang, bang.

When they got back to camp I said did the Mauser M03 fire first then the Blaser R93 do the follow up?

Yes was the answer.

Champ: I wouldn't buy (or use) a Remington 700 on a dare, same for Savage.... Just for the record.
I'm glad all you Blaser guys like yours including the S-2 Double, but I didn't just fall of the sugar cane cart last night and just like with Remington 700s and their fail on fire safeties, glued on bolt handles and flimsy sheet metal extractors, when I actually read of issues with Blasers (more than just a few) then whilst watching hunting shows on TV I actually SEE instances of that bolt not going into battery, well I'll pass.
And of course there's aesthetics and well, they are just FUGLY. No harm, but I'll stick with archaic 98s, 70s and of course Weatherbys... Cheers, jorge

. . well they are just FUGLY . . .
Boy jorge, I don't think I want to see any rifles you'd describe as FUTIFUL

Here is an interesting piece of footage taken on pighunting in Europe. The boys are using Blasers, M03 and Sauer 202.

I dont see any misfires on the R93s! And it shows the Blaser at its best!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pslzMze9rNk

quote:

Originally posted by Dom:
. . well they are just FUGLY . . .
Boy jorge, I don't think I want to see any rifles you'd describe as FUTIFUL

quote:

Originally posted by MLG:
Here is an interesting piece of footage taken on pighunting in Europe. The boys are using Blasers, M03 and Sauer 202.

I dont see any misfires on the R93s! And it shows the Blaser at its best!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pslzMze9rNk

Too bad you don't get Track Across Africa or Under Wild Skies TV show, you'd see Blasers fail to fire to your heart's content.

The video shows real hunters that now their weapons. These hunting shows show some lousy attempts at being a hunter. You have clients book hunts because their vanity brings out a desire to be on tv. Some hosts are such a joke in their attempt to fill a role as somebody that is a true sportsman or to pander to the gullible. When in fact the only thing to their credit is a good marketing degree.
I find little use for most outdoor shows anymore. To watch some of these hunters is an example of what not to do.

quote:

Originally posted by Blaserguy:
The video shows real hunters that now their weapons. These hunting shows show some lousy attempts at being a hunter. You have clients book hunts because their vanity brings out a desire to be on tv. Some hosts are such a joke in their attempt to fill a role as somebody that is a true sportsman or to pander to the gullible. When in fact the only thing to their credit is a good marketing degree.
I find little use for most outdoor shows anymore. To watch some of these hunters is an example of what not to do.

Dittos...

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
And of course there's aesthetics and well, they are just FUGLY.

Thats all it comes down to, you don't like the look of that big easy to grab bolt. Well take a bex and lie down. You'll feel better in the morning.

I have used Blaser products for over 14 years now. I was a lefty and this was a good option at the time. I have hunted with them in cold weather (BC, West US) and in Africa. I can tell you they are very reliable and the accuracy has to be seen. I still have one R93 (varmint with 300 win mag match,308 match, and 243 match barrels, and one R8 frame with 6.5x284 barrel and 7mm rem mag barrel. All barrels shoot 3/4 MOA if I do my part. I have custom guns--but I love my blasers. They grow on ya!!!

Blaser rifles are reliable and accurate.

They are also very fast to operate and easy to learn.

Anyone who can walk and chew gum at the same time should be able to operate a Blaser.

The blaser gun is very accurate, nicehandling gun. I have shot them a few times...but when it comes to choice I would still take a M98 or M70 pre-64 Win over any Blaser. I just don´t know why

quote:

Originally posted by Blaserguy:
The video shows real hunters that now their weapons. These hunting shows show some lousy attempts at being a hunter. You have clients book hunts because their vanity brings out a desire to be on tv. Some hosts are such a joke in their attempt to fill a role as somebody that is a true sportsman or to pander to the gullible. When in fact the only thing to their credit is a good marketing degree.
I find little use for most outdoor shows anymore. To watch some of these hunters is an example of what not to do.

Really? tell that to the likes of Tony Makris. I don't know you, but I know Tony and I'll venture to say he's at least every bit the hunter you are and certainly a lot more than me.

Jorge

Is it not possible these guys just did not get enough time to familiarise themselves with the gun?

I remember the first time I held a Blaser and thinking " how the hell does one get to like this contraption!"

It takes a while to get the hang of it in terms of the straight pull, safety etc. It also becomes second nature when cocking the gun to positively close the bolt and its not a problem.

One thing I do know - if the bolt is in the correct (forward & locked) position the gun WILL fire.

Thousands of hunters now use the Blaser system. If there was a problem with them short stroking it would not have achieved the sales success it has.

It's up to the operator - nothing is infallible I guess.....

quote:

Originally posted by MLG:
Jorge

Is it not possible these guys just did not get enough time to familiarise themselves with the gun?

I remember the first time I held a Blaser and thinking " how the hell does one get to like this contraption!"

It takes a while to get the hang of it in terms of the straight pull, safety etc. It also becomes second nature when cocking the gun to positively close the bolt and its not a problem.

One thing I do know - if the bolt is in the correct (forward & locked) position the gun WILL fire.

Thousands of hunters now use the Blaser system. If there was a problem with them short stroking it would not have achieved the sales success it has.

It's up to the operator - nothing is infallible I guess.....

I have to agree, I have had the Blaser click on me 2 times...when I first got it, after awhile with the system (14 years) It has not happened since. Now not chambering is another thing. You must full length size your brass--no question. Blaser chambers are tight! In short if you don't like them please stay away, but I bet if you kept and open mind and tried one you would like it! I have taken the Pepsi challenge with a lot of my friends on the range and put out 3 boxes of different factory and see which gun shoots better--some have been very nice customs by Hill country,Gre-tan, and MG arms....I have never lost.

I borrowed an R8 to shoot my Roe. I did not have time to get familiar with it. It was extremely accurate though.

I was shown the locking 'petals' in the R8 which are at 90 deg and told the R93 has them angled (???) hence the bolt's tendancy to let go and end up travelling through the back of the head if they fail.

Not a rifle to loan out to someone unfamiliar with them that is for sure.

I personally have no experience with blasers, but I was in Namibia recently and discussed rifles with 2 PH\s.....they told me, shaking their heads, that the on several occations had to help clients clean their blasers....seems that these rifles cant handle the fine namibian dust..

Seems like an unsound design to me....I think I will stick to my time proven mausers and english double..

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
I personally have no experience with blasers, but I was in Namibia recently and discussed rifles with 2 PH\s.....they told me, shaking their heads, that the on several occations had to help clients clean their blasers....seems that these rifles cant handle the fine namibian dust..

Seems like an unsound design to me....I think I will stick to my time proven mausers and english double..

Not to turn this thing into a match which I think it already has. I have known a few PHs that have used Blasers, and even with DG with good results.

Louis Van Bergen--begged me to leave him my R8 semi weight to hunt with--he said it was a hunting machine. We did not have any problems with 2 Blaser's their on 2 different trips, 18 days in the field, but maybe that was just South Afircan Dust.




A Blaser and a weatherby caliber the
Blasphemy (my wifes R93 with 257 wby mag barrel)



I knew back in the mid 2000's that Joekie Du Toit used a R93 to back up clients on those big Bots bulls He used it until he scored a double--no blame there...I guess the Botswana dust did not bother his Blaser.



Reading on good ol AR, I see Buzz C. used a 500 Jeff in a R8 for awhile too...Buzz hunts a lot of elephant too...Oh that's Zim's dust, must not bother Blaser products.

Sorry I just should have read the first line of this post "I personally have no experience with blasers" and left it at that. Have a great weekend. Out.

Ed

Touchy stuff this....so good we can choose what rifles we like..

Sorry Pondoro if I came off short...I just really get tired of a lot of crap spewed about the blaser products. I hate that they cost a arm,leg,sholder,and neck. I do love their innovation and build quality. I love the way they break down and travel. Are they the best rifles made today? Well, I think yes. Do I love the lines of a classic custom rifle? Well yes--I am in the process of putting together a Lon Paul 404 on a CZ550, that should tell you something. I will say Blaser are accurate, and reliable. Would I use one on DG...well if I did not have one of my doubles---hell yes. I would also not be without a Blaser... I bought my first Blaser used in 1999...after 14 years-- old habits die hard.

Ed, we have drunk of the Kool-Aid, for sure. And the nay-sayers just leave more in the pitcher for us :-) :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Ed, we have drunk of the Kool-Aid, for sure. And the nay-sayers just leave more in the pitcher for us :-) :-)

Great point

I could probably fill 10+ pages on this thread with photos of game taken with my old R93, in Africa, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, Argentina and all over the USA. Never a hick-up.

Well your right Jon-- trying to convert guys to the blaser system that don't want to is harder than....
....well you get the idea!

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Blaserguy:
The video shows real hunters that now their weapons. These hunting shows show some lousy attempts at being a hunter. You have clients book hunts because their vanity brings out a desire to be on tv. Some hosts are such a joke in their attempt to fill a role as somebody that is a true sportsman or to pander to the gullible. When in fact the only thing to their credit is a good marketing degree.
I find little use for most outdoor shows anymore. To watch some of these hunters is an example of what not to do.

Really? tell that to the likes of Tony Makris. I don't know you, but I know Tony and I'll venture to say he's at least every bit the hunter you are and certainly a lot more than me.[/QUOTE
Jorge this really comes down to preferences
I want to like this show but Tony comes off like what we call in Texas as a dude. He looks to be trying the be playing a part in a Stewert Granger movie. I just have a hard time taking him serious especially when it has so much production value. Its entertainment and I guess what some expect to see. I'm just just a small town Texas guy that grew up in a time when you had a gun in a truck at all times even at school. A surprising number of us from my area have been to Africa a number of times as well as other places. Like you I know what I like and what I don't like. When I see a guy on a safari wear a wide fedora hat I chuckle the first day because I know I probably wont be seeing him wear it in a couple of days after he gets tired of hanging it up in the brush. You can't see limbs and you will constantly be numbing into them. The wide brim fedora with the Stewart Granger hat band is safari cool but totally useless in the thick stuff. I learned that way back at 16 with a rifle stuck under the seat of my 65 Chevy truck waiting for school to get out so I could go hunt. But those were simpler times and we didnt know that you had to follow the status quo and limit our opportunities.

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
I personally have no experience with blasers, but I was in Namibia recently and discussed rifles with 2 PH\s.....they told me, shaking their heads, that the on several occations had to help clients clean their blasers....seems that these rifles cant handle the fine namibian dust..

Seems like an unsound design to me....I think I will stick to my time proven mausers and english double..

Pondoro, based on my own multiple and direct experiences hunting big game, including dangerous game, with Blasers in Namibia (and elsewhere), I say that such reports are complete bullshit. The Blaser works just fine with normal cleaning and maintenance.

OK....I admit that my comments was aimed to tease you blaser owners a bit, but nevertheless those PHs where serious in there comments..

I have no doubt that the blaser works....but perhaps it is somewhat more sensitive to dirt than the mauser..?

What are your experience in the field..?

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
OK....I admit that my comments was aimed to tease you blaser owners a bit, but nevertheless those PHs where serious in there comments..

I have no doubt that the blaser works....but perhaps it is somewhat more sensitive to dirt than the mauser..?

What are your experience in the field..?

Over 23,000 rounds fired from Montana to Mozambique and never a failure to feed or function that could not be traced back to faulty ammo. Those cases can be traced back to my non full length resized cases from less than one box of handloaded match ammo, ten years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
OK....I admit that my comments was aimed to tease you blaser owners a bit, but nevertheless those PHs where serious in there comments..

I have no doubt that the blaser works....but perhaps it is somewhat more sensitive to dirt than the mauser..?

What are your experience in the field..?

The Blaser action when closed actually keeps out more dust. The exposed bolt of a Mauser has more surface for dirt to "stick" to.
As far as PH's complaints I have heard were not about the type of gun but the lack of ability of the client to shoot.

Why does one of these threads turn into the I heard from a mate, who's mate hunted in Africa who overheard from a PH at a campfire that blasers blowup, misfire and can't handle dust. But somehow its okay for the Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan FFS.

The R93 was voted the rifle of the century for good reason.

Obvious! Afgan dust is not as fine as Namibian dust.
Peter.

I guess the Australian SAS will change to double rifles when they get sent to Namibia, according to the logic on this thread. My guess is they would be issued with a Blaser S2 in 9.3x74R regulated for 300m with 225gr FMJ with schmidt and bender rail scope.

These Blaser bashing threads are completely pointless. If you don't like the R8 then just get a blaser BBF lol.

quote:

Originally posted by mchughcb:
I guess the Australian SAS will change to double rifles when they get sent to Namibia, according to the logic on this thread. My guess is they would be issued with a Blaser S2 in 9.3x74R regulated for 300m with 225gr FMJ with schmidt and bender rail scope.

These Blaser bashing threads are completely pointless. If you don't like the R8 then just get a blaser BBF lol.

Can't fix stupid. If this were a game with the mercy rule it would have been called a long time ago.

Not sure I agree with this assessment. I think there are plenty of folks who have heard of Blaser but have never seen or handled one, and are looking for a reason to get one. Their concerns IMHO are not being given legitimacy by the Blaser gun owners, who dismiss such concerns out of hand (case full of Bullseye etc). There have been a few instances of a Blaser bolt flying back into the face of the shooter. How many times has this happened to a Mauser style rifle? I have heard of barrel blowups, magazines being mangled, but not of bolts flying back into the shooter's face. So, clearly there is either of difference in reloading technique, or a fundamental design difference. Blasers are accurate, light and fast, but I treat mine with respect! For the record my R93 has 3 barrels: 7mm RM, 300WM and 375 H&H.
Peter.

When I was first introduced to the R93 there was an acquaintance who owned one but never shot it because he knew it was going to blow up on him. Well listening to him and reading what the world renowned expert Moeller had to say made me very leery of buying one. However looking beyond the legend of Mr. Moeller (who btw reportedly thinks the R8 is the crown jewel- at least until somebody at Blaser jacks his jaw again) there wasn't much of anything out there but rumors and gossip. Obviously some people had reloaded ammo to some pressures that the gun didn't handle. Simple enough. I decided that my head wasn't going to be blown off and bought one. I don’t reload btw. Believe it was Clint Eastwood who made the comment that a man has to know his limitations… Wasn't long I had several barrels and by golly they shot good.

When the R8 came out I ordered one at the next Safari Club show in Dallas. Now I have 3 R8s. Might add a 4th or 5th for that matter. I like them. They frigging shoot darn good and they are quick as greased owl doodoo if you're coordinated enough to 'pull to unload and push to reload'. Obviously some folks have difficulties with that process. I admit that the first time I killed something with the R93 I found myself pulling up on the bolt and realized that it wasn’t going to open. I’d just killed a running Mule deer at approximately 160-175 yards out with one shot. He came out of a ravine bolting up the other side the mountain and I swung on him, squeezed off the shot and saw him break stride and start rolling. Watched him roll not even thinking about reloading. He was dead. It was then that I was going to open the bolt and unload it that I realized I was trying to make it go a direction it couldn’t. After that one time I’ve never had another incident and now it’s just automatic. I do it now quick enough that I don’t even realize that it’s done.

While it appears to you that we blow this stuff off it's because it is irritating to say the least. The same bandwagon bunch moves from site to site bashing the gun. They cite Moeller and other rumors each and every time. It gets old. If the gun was dangerous the German government would have taken it off the market. They’re tighter there than anything that is done here. As others pointed out guns aren’t proofed here, they are there. If they were unsafe I’m sure some cheesy American lawyers would have made some money out of it by now. That’s what we do best btw. All else fails, you’re stupid, inept, etc., blame it on the tool and sue the guys that made it.

If the guns were such pieces of junk as this handful of experts’ claims they are they wouldn't be the #1 selling gun in Europe. The R8 has been a phenomenal seller. I've had two attaché barrels ordered here in the states for over 6 months and there is no telling when they'll come in. Blaser quite honestly will do fine whether these fence sitters decide to buy one or not. They can listen to the rumors and deprive themselves of owning a fine firearm or go check them out for themselves, shoot some and decide it if's right for them. If someone is interested all they have to do is contact one of us and if they happen to come through San Antonio I’ll be happy to let them shoot any of mine. And I’m quite sure if anyone anywhere else in the country is interested all they have to do is go to the blaserbuds website and tell us where they are and chances are pretty darn good we’ll have a member somewhere close to them where they can play with one.

As some here have openly stated their comments were to toy with the Blaser owners. Well after fighting the same battle over and over the toying concept just isn’t as funny to us as it is to others. The fact that quite a few of the old timers here have used the guns extensively all over the world is ignored and for all practical purposes shunned. Makes no sense. These guys are all good hunters and can afford whatever brand/model they wish to. Many of them have much more expensive collectibles in their gun safe. Yet when it comes time to go hunting they're using the Blaser rifles and adding to their collections.

BTW I did sell off all my R93 equipment due to the fact that I didn’t want to grab the wrong bolt, barrel or other item and get somewhere only to find that I had the wrong part. My 243 barrel was scary accurate and the 270 wby was sub ½” with factory Wby ammo. The 243 was sub ½” with 3 major brands of factory ammo. I did have a regular round 270 wby barrel first that was also sub ½” but managed to score an attaché which turned out to be just as accurate. Really is nice to have a gun right out of the box that does what these rifles do with no tinkering, no ‘fixing’ crap.

Jorge,
I saw the episode with Tony Makris where the rifle failed to fire on a cape buff. He broke it down, verbally, and stated that he tried to close the bolt to lightly so as not to make too much noise. He owned up to it on camera and said he should have chambered the round harder.
Just sayin'

A mate of mine loves his R8;

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Jorge,
I saw the episode with Tony Makris where the rifle failed to fire on a cape buff. He broke it down, verbally, and stated that he tried to close the bolt to lightly so as not to make too much noise. He owned up to it on camera and said he should have chambered the round harder.
Just sayin'

Yep, and I spole to him about that too. He admitted that would not happen with his Sako. The several other times it happened on camera I am sure was for the same thing.


I didn't respond to the Makris bashing before, because frankly arguing with zealots is all but impossible. Tony, like others here enjoys the WHOLE African experience so he dresses like he wants to, but more importantly he wears large brimmed hats because of the sun exposure/cancer issues and has nothing to do with being a poser. Enjoy your Blaser...