Well I thought I had made a major coup today. You regulars know I like to hunt with a double rifle whenever possible, and that sometimes I take a Blaser R-93 along as a spare. Also you can only take 2 long guns in a single rifle case when traveling on a plane. I like to shoot and eat various small game to ad to the table fare, especially when camping/backpacking.
I got a 28 gauge bbl today for my Blaser R-93. It just bolts on like a regular bbl and PRESTO you have a single shot small game [grouse, ptarminigan squirrel, rabbit, etc] shotgun.
Well I took the bbl home and assembled it on a Blaser Frame, and home comes the wife. I explain the rules of plane travel/restrictions and the weight factor and other problems with carrying a seperate shotgun. [She is already familar with the Blaser rifle concept]
Then this is where I made the major mistake....I handed her the Blaser shotgun....
She shoulders if a few times and says "I like this...it is right on....yes I like it."
Then she runs into the kitchen and SLAMS the screen door, holding it closed with her foot so I cannot get to her. She continues to shoulder and get the feel of the gun. Several times she says "I likeit." Then she says "Oh but it is BOLT TRASH...Just don't tell anybody....this is MY GUN."
So there you go.... Now I am trying to tell her how we will share it to shoot grouse in Montana, one person shoots grouse while the other carries the bear rifle. We will see how it goes.
I plan to try it out on squirrels the next time I go to the lease. I have some High Brass #6's.
I have a friend that has some 28GA. experience, and he says he has even taken wild turkeys with his 28GA OU. Cannot wait to try it out, if I can pry it away from the wife.

You are in trouble - that 28 ga. thing is addictive. I bought a 28 ga. Sig TR40 (O/U) a couple of years and it has become one of my favorites for grouse and woodcock here in Michigan. The 28 ga. with 3/4 oz. of 7.5 or 8 is just about perfect for grouse. Every ruffed I have shot with that load has dropped like a stone. Does Blaser make a SxS 28 for that frame? Please tell me that they don't - that would be just too tempting.

Spot the opportunity! Now is the time to get *another* R93 - after all your wife has announced she was going to take over the original one. Naturally, this also means you could get another couple of barrels in different calibers, the possibilities seem endless at this stage! All this without expected interference from "She Who Must be Obeyed"! Carpe Diem!!
- mike

[ 05-21-2003, 21:03: Message edited by: mho ]

No - not stainless steel. I meant Side-by-Side. I know that Blaser is making one and I assmued that was the gun being discussed.

Of Course - I was also wondering whether it meant "Single Shot"

Anyway, the Blaser R93 28 ga barrel is just a single barrel - fed one cartridge at a time (no magazine, if memory serves) through a bolt feeding mechanism.

- mike

mho
You are correct. It is a barrel that fits on the Blaser R93 bolt action hunting rifle. 28ga. is the largest gauge that would fit the standard forearm. It allows you to mount a single shot shotgun on your hunting rifle for small game. The barrel has iron sights, nice ones too and is machined for the standard Blaser scope mount????
Does anyone make 28 gauge slugs?
How about brass cases for 28 guage shot shells, then I could load my own ammo much like Westley Richards Explora shells. I was thinking of using say a 50cal black powder sabot with a 44 or 45 cal 250 to 300gr bullet. Should be able to kill a deer or pig to75or 100yds. With the solid lock up of the Blaser rifle a 300gr bullet could probably be loaded up to @1500fps.

N E 450 No2

Give the toy to your woman, and leave it there
Even the most hard core boltaction shooter wouldn't get a boltaction shot gun, but since it's a Blaser I'm not surprised

Now, What you need is an extra set of shotgun barrels to that Chapuis double, then you are ready to face the world

My friend who bought a double from Chapuis is going to have a chat with the factory about fitting a extra set of barrels in 20 ga. What a treat

/ JOHAN

[ 05-22-2003, 01:17: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

All three of the ones I ordered flew out the door. They are great.

Aleko

I have a 28 ga. barrel for my Contender carbine. The switch barrel thing will make you do crazy stuff.

JOHAN
I wish I had got a set of 20gauge bbls for my Chapuis, and maybe a set of Cape Gun bbls too [20ga. and 9,3x74R] I checked in to having a set fitted, but the cost was very high and the rifle would have to be sent back to France.

The beauty of the Blaser 28 gauge bbl is that it is so light. The bbl and a box of shells could even be backpacked. It would be well worth its weight in Alaska [ptarmigan] or Montana [grouse]. They are very good to eat.

How many hunting guns can be changed from a 223, to a 416 Mag to a shotgun [28ga.] in almost less time than it takes to type it.
This is a very handy system, especially if you are limited in the amount of space you have,ie fulltiming in a Motorhome, traveling with several hunters in the same vehicle, limited in the weight you can carry ie. float planes, horseback hunts, backpacking, or having to meet the rules of Airlines or Foreign countries.
The more I use the Blaser System the more I like it.

mho, I do have a Blaser for my wife, that is another nice thing about the Blaser, any bbl will fit any rifle. I can have her practice with a 223,deer and pig hunt with a 308, and switch her over to a 300 or a 375 for the big stuff. This way she does not have to learn a new rifle, trigger etc. And they are safe to carry loaded.
Also if a member of your family is left handed all you need is a left handed bolt, which will work on any bbl or rifle.

N E 450 No2

And other Blaser junkies, you can say what you want but my opinion is not to beeing changed

mho
Saeed, love the blaser saftey it has caused manny laughs in the African bush, we have to see about this year

Overengineered, over complicated, POS of toy gun for the infidels and immature hunters who has some sort of IKEA syndrome

/ JOHAN

JOHAN
My friend it has been my observation at least here in the US that most of the users of the Blaser System tend to be older hunters that have persued a wide variety of game and have done a lot of traveling to do so.
One of these hunters...he has lots of money...sold all of his Blaser "stuff" When I asked him why he stated that he wanted to get some custom guns. He had bought a Dakota in 330. It was a nice looking rifle. A couple of weeks he was trading it back in...I asked him why.. He said it would not shoot. [He meant with accuracy.]
I asked him bout the Blasers [he had had several bbls]..He said OH they all shot very good. I said "well", he said "I might have made a mistake."

Don't worry about Johan, we all love him, but we also know that he compulsively dislikes the Blasers. I don't agree with Johan's opinions in this context, but that does not mean I want to get involved in a war of words with him. I respect his opinions, and sometimes wish he would shut up - if he does not have anything positive to contribute (sorry Johan)
- mike

The 28ga is a real hoot to shoot. I normally use a 12ga for wild pheasants but I always put the 28ga tubes in when I get invited to shoot at a preserve. With light-modified & full chokes it will hammer pheasants out to 35 yards with no problem.

DB Bill
Thanks for the info. I have never used a 28ga.
This bbl will be used for getting small game for the "skillet", thus if it will take Phesants out to 35 yards, it should be perfect for my use.

My dad shoots ground squirrels around the ranch house with his .28 Gauge R 93. They are lots of fun to shoot.

Aleko

Test fired the 28gauge barrel today. Did pattern tests at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 yards. Shot one ounce of number 6 shot. Pattern was good all the way to 30 yards. You would need to be careful inside of 15 yards as the pattern is very tight and would be hard on edible game. I tested so close because I have shot many grouse at those ranges with 44Mag and 45 ACP Speer shotshells in hand guns. I can't wait to give it a try on some edible small game. The Blaser R-93 is light and handy as a feather with the 28ga. bbl.

Stay away from those 1 oz loads in the 28ga as they are much too slow.

All I use when hunting are 3/4 oz loads but I handload nickel-plated 7 1/2s. If you don't handload for a shotgun I believe there are some commercial 3/4oz loads imported for the small-gauge Sporting Clays crowd that have plenty of velocity and use hard shot.

[ 06-07-2003, 08:12: Message edited by: DB Bill ]

DB Bill
All the 3/4 oz. loads I have seen show a velocity of 1200fps.
My 1 oz. loads are WW Super-X High Brass Game loads velocity of 1205 fps.
Remington has a 3/4oz. load with a velocity of 1295fps.
The store I bought them at did not have any of the Remington loads. I know they could get me some.
Do you think 3/4 oz at 1295 is better than 1oz. at 1205?
I think I will stay with the #6 shot because I think it gives better penetration. Most of the game I shoot with this 28 single shot will not be on the wing.

If you cut open one of the 1 oz loads (#6 shot) and take a look at the shot you will find it to be relatively soft and not necessarily all than "round"...take a pair of pliers and try squeezing a few of them.

Try the same thing with the 3/4 oz loads (probably # 7 1/2s) and do the same thing...these pellets will be harder (size will give it a different feel but you should be able to discern the difference) and will look rounder. Target shot is harder and will penetrate and pattern better. The Sporting Clay loads, if my memory serves, whistle out there at 1300fps+...they may not be easy to find and they are more expensive but it doesn't sound like you will be using a lot of them.

DB Bill
Thanks for the info. I will track some of them down and give them a try. I will have to find some Bismuth shells also as I will try to sneak up on a Duck or two.

I like the Bismuth brand. That is what we shoot for ducks and geese. I have spoken with the folks at RWS to build some 28 gauge slugs in the Rottweil line.

Aleko

Aleko
If you get some 28ga. slugs let me know.
Wouldn't it be possible to load some "Fauneta" type rounds for the Blaser 28ga.? After all the Blaser could take quite a bit more pressure than a regular 28ga. shotgun. Even in the smooth bore bbl you should be able to get good accuracy to 50 to 75 yds. Good enough for deer and wild pigs.

I agree totally. Will be in the office tomorrow. I went up my my ranch to do a little spring cleaning with my .222 R93.

Aleko

I think your shell casing will be the limiting factor for pressure.

DB
You are correct. I was hoping to find some brass shells, maybe even some that were custom turned like some of the blackpowder shooters use.
If you could get a 300gr bullet up to between 1600 to 2000fps it should work pretty good. I was thinking of using a sabot like the blackpowder shooters use. Might get lucky and get decent accuracy to hopefully at least 50 yards, maybe even 75. Might have to use a cast bullet with Brenneke technolgy [wad screwed to the base] to keep the projectile nose foward since there is no twist involved.

Here is a link for 28ga ammo that does 1300 fps and is available is 6's, 7's and 7 1/2's.

http://www.bandpamerica.com/

Thanks DB