Which Rifle to choose (blaser, Merkel, Sauer)

26 December 2008, 19:20

richj

Which Rifle to choose (blaser, Merkel, Sauer) - please help

I 'm late to the party...

I recently bought a Blaser in 9.3 and 338Win Mag. I'm impressed with the rifle. The scope is a bit hi off the rifle and the "american style stock" is not to my taste but it seems to work.

I also own a Mauser 66 w/4 barrels in american calibers. They are interesting in that the receiver ring is similar to a mauser front ring and it's still a 90 deg turn bolt. Scope mounting can be a pain, and they aren't made anymore so parts can be an issue.

The M66 takedown can be a hard to disassemble, the barrels can get stuck and require some force to seperate.

Rich

28 December 2008, 21:35

George Semel

I been shooting a Blaser R-93 for going on three years now. They are good rifles no doubt. When I got it every one around asked if I was afraid of getting the bolt in the eye, I just smiled and said I don't load pistol power in 300 Weatherbys. And even then it took 15 shots for it to let go. I know guys that blow up a rifle every year, I been a hunting / handloader for some 45 years now and guess what, if you exercise some common sense, nothing is going to happen to you with regard to Blaser Rifles or any other rifle for that matter.

29 December 2008, 00:27

Dom

quote:
There has only been one accident with the current bolt house made of aluminium, the previous was made of plastic.
In Sweden they made a test with 8 differet rifles where the blocked the barrel with another bullet 10 cm after the chamber. http://www.testfakta.se/Article.aspx?a=16350

Best Regards Bjarne

Quite interesting video from the tests Bjarne, thanks for the link. I think under proper use no one should have any concerns with the R93, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

29 December 2008, 02:05

390ish

The only complaints I have heard on the Blaser involve noise. I have talked to two PHs who dislike the rifle for this reason.

29 December 2008, 18:49

MLG

quote:
Originally posted by 390ish:
The only complaints I have heard on the Blaser involve noise. I have talked to two PHs who dislike the rifle for this reason.

Because of the shorter overall length of the rifle?

01 January 2009, 02:28

f224

quote:
Originally posted by 390ish:
The only complaints I have heard on the Blaser involve noise. I have talked to two PHs who dislike the rifle for this reason.

I have heard this argument before. It is from people who do not understand the de-cocker and make the clients carry a rifle with an empty chamber.

If my guide or PH would not allow me to carry my rifle loaded, I would immediately cancel the trip and return home. That is why I tell them up front what I use for a rifle and if they don't like it, I book with someone else.

01 January 2009, 22:50

Roland1

quote:
Originally posted by luismat:
Hello guys,
this is my first post so please be gentle and participate

I live in Europe and have been hunting for a few years, especially deer and wild boar.
I've owned a few rifles in the past (Remington 700 BDL, Sako, mauser 03, etc.) with different results and now I'm left with a couple of CZ's 550
But now I need to buy ONE rifle, but I really need it to have one special characterists

1- It has to be an interchangeable barrel rifle/take down (for different reasons, you can only own a certain number of rifles here in Europe and a "system" like blaser or Merkel KR1 only count as one) and due to ease of transport

So,
I really need your help as I'm kind of lost:

1-I don't trust Blaser R93 that much, the bolt etc.... but on the other hand, thousands of owners can't be all wrong. But there were a few accidents in the past , but I guess those happen with all rifles

2-I really like the Merkel as it meats the requirement above and is a somewhat more traditional bolt rifle

3-I don't really like (but never used one) Sauer 202 take down.. and it is really expensive.

Guys, please help me out here... should I go with the Merkel ? feedback

thanks ! and I really love this Forum

From the 3 - I own the merkel and 202 Sauer no experience with Blaser - the 202 Sauer would be my first choice, I would not buy the take down - interchange barrels with the regular 202 takes no time - again the 202 is a superb rifle - balance - accuracy & reliability are totaly in harmony.

Roland

03 January 2009, 06:13

ron williams

I have had no experiance with the Merkel other than holding one and thinking it had a good feel to it.I have seven Sauer 202's they shoot great but I rarely shoot them as I have two R93's and nineteen barrels.No firearm that I am aware of swaps barrels and bolt heads as quickly as the R93 and the Proffessional Stock is built for severe duty in the field.The scope mounts do position the scope a little higher than I like but it takes very little getting used too.The noise is not a problem as after the first shot the animal is only concerned with trying not to die to quickly.

03 January 2009, 10:18

Precision Man

quote:
Originally posted by KSTEPHENS:
I guess the encore is too plebian for this group.

I dunno, as an Encore fan and Africa hunter, I think the thing people fear about Encores is being able to follow up with a fast second shot. I've got things with Westley Richards engraved on them too, but if I go hunting, I don't mind an encore and they're as fast to reload as a double rifle if you actually practice.

...Being as I've seen how tourist hunters in the US, Europe, Central America, and Africa tend to not even cycle their bolt after a shot as they stare through their scope to see if they got a hit or not, I find this all very amusing.

Proud member of the Merry Band of People With Too Many Contenders, Encores, and Barrels...
Some days you feel like a Lott, some days you don't...

Happy Shooting,

03 January 2009, 19:55

ron williams

I do not think the Encore is a bad sugestion at all but the original post listed three repeaters. While I do not own any Encore's I do have a couple of Contenders and the 25-35 barrel I have been shooting is a jewel. 505 Ed shoots encores as well. So to say that encores might be to plebian for this group is an unfair assumption.