I bought a new Blaser S2 .470 Nitro Express from Alex Roy. It came yesterday and I had a chance to run out to the range this afternoon to run just a few Hornaday 500 grain DGX bullets through it. Here are my first impressions:

1. It is VERY well made. All tolerances are very, very tight.

2. Alex had several so I was able to look over photos of the ones he had and pick out the wood I wanted. The wood on the one I picked is superb.

3. Right out of the box, the triggers are wonderful, as good as the triggers on my R93 and better than the triggers on my Krieghoff.

4. Physically, it is a big gun. It has a half beavertail forearm that fills your hand. The finish on the barrels is that same really durable finish on the R93 barrels. After I got done shooting, I took it to our local UPS store and had them weigh it. It weighed in at just over 11.5 pounds but that weight really, really soaks up the recoil. It was a pleasure to shoot.

5. Open sights are excellent and it is already set up to accept the Blaser Saddle Mount. I could just pull a scope of one of my R93 barrels, put it on my S2, sight it in and I would be good to go (but I don't like scopes on doubles, at least big doubles).

That's about all I can tell you for now. I only had a chance to shoot four rounds through it. I plan to shoot it again on Sunday and will try and put it on paper to see how it is shooting. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Dave, I think you'll love the S2. I've had several, and find them to be one of the most accurate, well engineered, and high quality doubles I've owned. Disregard the comments from the many "PH-wanna-be's" out there regarding the safety/battery design. Yes, it's different than most doubles, but it would be like saying a Model 70 with it's wing safety is dangerous, because I'm used to a tang safety. Well, if you are going to shoot one, any gun, any design, practice and get familiar with it. You'd be hard pressed to fins any double that will out-shoot a Blaser. Good luck!...Biebs

PS: I just acquired a Chuck Grace Dakota 76 in 450 Dakota, so I may hit you up on load advice for that one soon.

I use a Blaser Drilling that operates the same as a S 2, ie it decocks upon opening.
Once you ger used to it it is not a problem, at least for me.

I would not hesitate to use it for African DG.

Congrats on the new double Dave!

Congratulations! I have one in 9.3x74R and I also love it. It seems people only confess having one, when somebody else says it first, but don't worry about that

Guys, I think the "issue" (if there is one) about the auto safety is just silly for a couple of reasons. First, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you get charged (which is very, very rare), you will be lucky to get off two shots let alone reload and shoot three or four. Second, if you practice with your guns (I do!), the safety becomes second nature. It's just a matter of taking the time to familiarize yourself with your gun. We all should do that. Besides, I doubt that this gun will see anything more dangerous than a bison anyway but I sure wouldn't hesitate to take it on a buffalo or elephant hunt if I ever got the chance.

I know that an S2 is not everyone's cup of tea. I know some guys wouldn't ever consider an R93 either. However, I think my R93 is one of the best bolt action rifles I have ever owned. You can take it down and put it in a little case in seconds. Fly 5000 miles, put it back together and it goes right back to zero. It has a fantastic trigger, free floated barrel, the best scope mounting system I have ever seen and they shoot like they had eyes. You don't have to do a thing to them. After I shot my R93, I had no qualms at all about picking up an S2. Is is different? Hell yes!. So what. Let's see how it shoots. After all, that's what it's all about.

Dave you shouldn't start a post about a new rifle without pics, eye candy, eye candy.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
Dave you shouldn't start a post about a new rifle without pics, eye candy, eye candy.

Dirk:

I don't have a digital camera but I do have one picture of the assembled rifle that Alex sent me. I don't know how to post pictures. If someone could post it for me, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send it along.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Dave, I think you'll love the S2. I've had several, and find them to be one of the most accurate, well engineered, and high quality doubles I've owned. Disregard the comments from the many "PH-wanna-be's" out there regarding the safety/battery design. Yes, it's different than most doubles, but it would be like saying a Model 70 with it's wing safety is dangerous, because I'm used to a tang safety. Well, if you are going to shoot one, any gun, any design, practice and get familiar with it. You'd be hard pressed to fins any double that will out-shoot a Blaser. Good luck!...Biebs

PS: I just acquired a Chuck Grace Dakota 76 in 450 Dakota, so I may hit you up on load advice for that one soon.

Biebs:

If you need help with some load data for your .450 Dakota, Just drop me a PM. There was a recent thread with a lot of data too. RIP has a bunch of stuff as well

Dave, I just found that 450 Dakota thread.... Thanks...that should do it. I think I'll take the 450 Dakota and it's little brother, another Dakota African in 338 Lapua, when I go to Mozambique this October for another Cape Buff, plus a Sable, Nyala, and a couple cool little Suni.

Looks like the double bug has caught on!

Hope you enjoy your S2 they are very accurate doubles, I almost broke down and bought Biebs 500/416, but just could not do it.

Aleko at heritage arms had a 500/416 I shot out at the range it was no problem nailing rocks out to 75 yards off hand.

My D99 funtctions alot the same way, I'm not a big fan of the de-cock on opening for a DGR, but that is why there are different flavors.

Blasers tend to be very accurate, my D99 shoots as good as any gun I own, much less being a break action double rifle/ shotgun combo!

Here is the best regulation group I've shot with it.


By coachsells, shot with COOLPIX S4 at 2009-05-22

Ed

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Dave, I just found that 450 Dakota thread.... Thanks...that should do it. I think I'll take the 450 Dakota and it's little brother, another Dakota African in 338 Lapua, when I go to Mozambique this October for another Cape Buff, plus a Sable, Nyala, and a couple cool little Suni.

Biebs:

I think my pet .450 Dakota load is going to be that 450 TSX with 94 grains of Reloder 15. It was running right at 2400 fps in my gun. That ought to do it!

quote:

Originally posted by 505ED:
Looks like the double bug has caught on!

Hope you enjoy your S2 they are very accurate doubles, I almost broke down and bought Biebs 500/416, but just could not do it.

Aleko at heritage arms had a 500/416 I shot out at the range it was no problem nailing rocks out to 75 yards off hand.

My D99 funtctions alot the same way, I'm not a big fan of the de-cock on opening for a DGR, but that is why there are different flavors.

Blasers tend to be very accurate, my D99 shoots as good as any gun I own, much less being a break action double rifle/ shotgun combo!

Here is the best regulation group I've shot with it.


By coachsells, shot with COOLPIX S4 at 2009-05-22

Ed

Yea but Ed your using a scope. That's cheating man

I blame this on Ron. He's the one who got me hooked on Blasers!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Guys, I think the "issue" (if there is one) about the auto safety is just silly for a couple of reasons. First, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you get charged (which is very, very rare), you will be lucky to get off two shots let alone reload and shoot three or four. Second, if you practice with your guns (I do!), the safety becomes second nature. It's just a matter of taking the time to familiarize yourself with your gun. We all should do that. Besides, I doubt that this gun will see anything more dangerous than a bison anyway but I sure wouldn't hesitate to take it on a buffalo or elephant hunt if I ever got the chance.

I know that an S2 is not everyone's cup of tea. I know some guys wouldn't ever consider an R93 either. However, I think my R93 is one of the best bolt action rifles I have ever owned. You can take it down and put it in a little case in seconds. Fly 5000 miles, put it back together and it goes right back to zero. It has a fantastic trigger, free floated barrel, the best scope mounting system I have ever seen and they shoot like they had eyes. You don't have to do a thing to them. After I shot my R93, I had no qualms at all about picking up an S2. Is is different? Hell yes!. So what. Let's see how it shoots. After all, that's what it's all about.

All True.

EVERY Blaser I have shot, Bolt, Double, Single Shot, Drilling, Double Rifle Drilling, Combo Gun, has been very accurate, and worked 100%.

My only objections to the Safari S2 Blaser double rifle is #1 they are butt ugly, and #2 and far more important is the fact that the damn thing doesn't re-cock it's self on opening for a re-loading, and de-cocks the action if it is opened for any reason! This is a defect in my opinion, and cannot be reversed. I could live with the UGLY, but again IMO, Blaser would be smart to re-design the combi-cocking system to work the same as the Krieghoff!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacD37:

My only objections to the Safari S2 Blaser double rifle is #1 they are butt ugly

Ugly, heck no! I think they are beautiful. Kinda like a painting by Paul Rubens... a voluptuous beauty, but then again, I like full figured women too! You should see Mrs. Bush.... Oh mama!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacD37:

My only objections to the Safari S2 Blaser double rifle is #1 they are butt ugly

Ugly, heck no! I think they are beautiful. Kinda like a painting by Paul Rubens... a voluptuous beauty, but then again, I like full figured women too! You should see Mrs. Bush.... Oh mama!

......

S2 Blaser is a Nightmare

Seloushunter