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Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Slingster, I recently spoke at great length, two meetings, with a USA Blaser rep and 2 "guys" from the factory. They are supposed to make iron sighted bbls and the European scope mount available to us in the good old USA. [I already have a European scope mount .

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Originally posted by Savage99:
It seems to be a straight pull where I can't tell if the action locks or not?

I feel the same way about other actions where I am not sure if they lock up or not.

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Originally posted by Savage99:
I don't see much advantage to me in a switch barrel gun. It's hard enough to get a rifle to shoot and also stay sighted in. Being a switch or takedown cannot improve on consistancy.

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Being a switch or takedown cannot improve on consistancy

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Originally posted by mho:
Any rifle - not least the Blaser - will require a certain "behavioural" pattern - e.g. "chamber round, put on safety". When you get a rifle that works differently to what you are used to, training is called for. The Blaser is no different. Worst "problem": some people are not aware that when you reload the R93 after having fired a round, you have to decock - just like you would have to put on the safety in a "normal" rifle. For some reason some people forget this, and walk around with a cocked rifle... You tell me, is this a problem with the rifle or a problem with the people handling it? I really don't believe this is fundamentally different to any other rifle, but some people seem to be less cognizant of what they do with their firearms than others. I suppose it has to do with training, shooting and handling your firearm frequently, plus THINKING.

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I have been wondering whether I should post this, but I ended up doing so. We shall see if you think that I'm off the deep end?? If I'm preaching, just tell me to take a hike.

I made the statement above just a couple of weeks back. A few days later, I went to the range with my friend - who shoots a Blaser, and has worked with it for quite a few years now. I much admire my friend, he is intelligent, and he easily puts enough time into shooting to be considered experienced.

Then I noticed, that every time he (and numerous other R93 owners) had fired a shot, he simply pulled back the "bolt" of the R93, in preparation for the next shot. Nothing wrong with that, after all this was just on the range... EXCEPT... I don't know about you guys, but I believe that safety procedures should be developed at the range, because that is where you have the chance to make them become second nature. Just like I believe that a "normal" bolt action rifle should always be put onto safe when you chamber a round, an R93 should be decocked before you decide to chamber the next round. If you forget either, chances are that sooner or later you'll run around with a loaded rifle off safe. Obviously, there are times when one should not follow the above safety rules (R93 or "normal" rifle), mostly in situations where a quick follow-up shot is needed. I don't think that invalidates the general safety principle, though.

OK, having touched upon this subject with my friend, I discovered what I *think* is the reason that he operated his rifle in this (to my mind) less safe mode. He had trouble operating the bolt, in particular he had trouble operating the straight pull mechanism when the gun was uncocked. This after having used a Blaser for quite some years.

I don't know about you R93 owners, but my friend was operating the bolt pretty much as described by Blaser and their commercial representatives. (You'll have to bear with me, a photo or two would do wonders here, but in the absence of that I'll have to try to explain what I mean). To open the R93 bolt when on safe, 1) push the safety/cocking/decocking lever slightly with the tip of your thumb, and 2) pull back the operating handle with the rest of your of your fingers. There it is, as easy as 1) - 2).

Definitely possible, but has the following disadvantages: a) there are 2 finger movements that need to be coordinated, and b) the slight tipping of the cocking lever is too easily turned into a cocking movement, leaving you with a rifle loaded and cocked, as opposed to loaded and uncocked, if you don't have the right feel for when enough force has been applied to the lever to allow the operating handle to be withdrawn.

All of this should not really be a problem, because after all, you see the BIG RED dot telling you the rifle is now cocked. BUT, even if you uncocked the rifle afterwards, you would have been through "loaded and cocked" state as opposed to only "loaded and uncocked". (Sorry to preach, but see what I mean?)

OK, obviously you R93 owners have operated your guns sufficiently to figure how easy it can be done in total safety. Still just in case, let me describe how I operate my R93 without the separate 1) - 2) finger movement, and how this makes life both safer and a LOT easier.

When I want the open my uncocked R93, I place my open hand (four fingers together, thumb sticking out to the left - for a right-handed shooter), palm down such that the web of my hand (correct expession? anyway the root of your thumb) is positioned just on the cocking lever in its uncocked position, 4 fingers on operating handle. (Took a long time to explain, not exactly rocket science ). Now simply close your hand around the cocking lever/operating handle and pull your arm back. The root of your thumb will activate the cocking lever just sufficiently to allow the operating handle to be pulled back, thus unlocking the bolt for operation. It is the smoothest, easiest and safest way I have found to operate my R93. If you don't do it this way, give it a try a couple of times. Simply closing your hand is so intuitive that I find it a lot easier than the 1) - 2) coordinated movement of thumb and fingers.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, sorry if I have wasted your time.

- mike