[H&Hhunter]

I just picked up a composite R93 in the walnut compsite stock configuration in .300 Wthby. What an awsome light smooth rifle. Accurate as all get out I think I may have found a sheep hunters dream...

Anybody out there with info on the Blaser R93 good bad or indifferent? I've just shot it at the range never really used it yet and any real time info would be appreciated.

[Ian]

Some friends and I got the chance to shoot an R93 Tactical in .300 WM about a year back. A strnager out at the range had it, and offered us the chance to try it out. Having never touch one before, several of us were able to shoot nuckle- and quarter-sized groups at 100 yards with it. I was VERY impressed with the thing.

[Slingster]

I've got the standard and Safari Synthetic stocks with four barrels, and I've found them all to be consistently accurate. Along with my .308 and .376 Steyr Scouts, they form my "working rifle" battery.

[Jaywalker]

There's one for sale in 30-06 at my gun club for $1700-something, if anyone is interested.

jaywalker

[Al Thompson]

H&H, there are some great posts on TFL about the Blaser.

[max popenker]

These are funny rifles, but have slightly compromised reputation. First, there was recall on several rifles having troublesome triggers that could lead to AD (see http://www.blaser.de/r93check/index.html ).

Second, even on ther most expensive fancy models Blaser uses plastic sight bases, which are real PITA to gunsmiths, at least here, in Russia. In general, if you have plenty of $$$ and want to look slightly different, Blaser will fit the bill. Otherwise, i'd stick to more conventional and proven designs.

General info is here - http://www.blaser.de/english/index.html

[Sactown]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p82977148cd3e8e6901a2e0b106119408/fcc286c9.jpg


This is mine. I've never had any problems and she's been pretty darn accurate as well as comfortable to shoot. No complaints here, cept for the $100 magazines!!

[M16]

I have five blaser r93 rifles along with extra barrels from 22-250 to .416 Remington. This is the best out of the box gun made. You can buy the gun and go shoot. No need to mess with the two pound crisp trigger. No need to bed the action and freefloat the barrel. If I could have only one rifle and ten or fifteen barrels this would be the one. Sactown, Give my friends at Ware Gun Shop a call. They have the best prices on Blasers, parts, and accessories. I don't have the number handy but the do have a website and you should be able to find it with a search engine.

[Slingster]

Regarding the recall on the Blaser R93, a few things should be made clear: first, it was not a design defect but a part defect, specifically, a pin in the trigger mechanism. Second, the part defect was the supplier's error and not Blaser's (they sent chrome-moly pins that were less resistant to rust instead of the specified stainless steel pins). Third, it was a general recall and not of certain rifles, because the CM pins were mixed into the parts bin with the SS ones and were indistinguishable visually, so all rifles were recalled in order to replace the pin. Fourth, Blaser handled the recall wonderfully, in my opinion. Once you contacted them they sent you shipping boxes with foam inserts and prepaid shipping labels already attached. You simply inserted your rifle in the box, sealed it, and shipped it. Two weeks later you had your rifle back.

My main gripe with the Blaser isn't with the rifle itself but with Sigarms USA, which has a sales and customer service operation that simply boggles the mind in its apparent lack of interest in selling the gun.

[Skunkabilly]

Man I gotta drive up northern California and play with all y'all's Blasers!!! Those shore are purty!!!!

[gun-fucious]

seen Rich's rig?
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80143
http://thefiringline.com/Misc/tanzania/blaser_scout.jpg

more of Rich & the 93:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45927
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=78822&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

[nextjoe]

I've shot a couple of them in .300 and .416. They worked alright, but the safety is silly and they're grossly overpriced IMHO. The .416 ran out of sight elevation and was still 6" low at 50 yards. Also the ones I shot had the synthetic stocks and didn't fit me well. I don't know if the wood stocks are dimensioned differently or not.

I wouldn't buy one, but the guys who like them REALLY like them...

Best,
Joe

[jason10mm]

I'm buying a LRS-1 (similar to what sactown has). Any idea what needs to be done to switch the straight pull handle to the left side? The sig site says that it costs $144 extra to get a lefty version, yet a complete bolt is $700 (!!). What all is needed? Hopefully just a replacement handle and not a complete bolt. Hmm, guess I could e-mail sigarms directly....

[Slingster]

I believe you need both a LH bolt body (with the handle on the left) as well as a LH bolt head (to eject to the left), or in other words, a complete left-hand bolt assembly.

[H&Hhunter]

IMHO. The .416 ran out of sight elevation and was still 6" low at 50 yards.

Nextjoe,

I'm surprised to hear that. You must have drawn a black marble on that particular rifle. I shot Rich's .416 and his .338 scout Blaser. The .416 was ripping off 1.5 inch groups iron sighted at 100yds and we had no elevation problems. The .338 was shooting quarters all day long as does my .300 Wthby.

I'm just curious what do you consider "grossly overpriced" for a rifle?

I paid $1500.00 for mine new.

By the time you re-stock and do a trigger job and an action job on your average Model 70 or 700 your not to far off what your going to pay for an R-93 that already is that accurate and light and useable.

Now that is for the Classic synthetic model you can spend some real stupid money on a Grand Luxe R-93 if you want to.

I think the R-93 in the classic configuration is actually a pretty decent buy considering what your getting. This is without a doubt the most accurate light weight out of the box .300 I've ever seen bar none. Mine is putting 3 200 gr accubonds inside of a .25 inches at a hundred yards and I've got several sub 3 inch groups at 400 yds with it. I just can't ask for more than that from a stock out of the box rifle.

Just my $.02

[Dr.Rob]

I looked at a Blaser at a big sportsman's show a few years back. the straight pull bolt was cool, but the metal to wood finish was awful on a rifle with that kind of price tag.

Never did get to shoot one but a Neat concept.

[nextjoe]

Nextjoe,

I'm surprised to hear that. You must have drawn a black marble on that particular rifle. I shot Rich's .416 and his .338 scout Blaser. The .416 was ripping off 1.5 inch groups iron sighted at 100yds and we had no elevation problems. The .338 was shooting quarters all day long as does my .300 Wthby.

Well, this particular rifle was way off. It's not a huge deal, as a new front sight blade would solve it, but I found it very odd.


I'm just curious what do you consider "grossly overpriced" for a rifle?

I paid $1500.00 for mine new.

By the time you re-stock and do a trigger job and an action job on your average Model 70 or 700 your not to far off what your going to pay for an R-93 that already is that accurate and light and useable.

My custom .416 Rigby probably came in around $2500-2700 total (I never sat down and calculated it), but I don't consider it overpriced since it was hand-built to my specs by a truly excellent custom 'smith. For me, that particular rifle wasn't overpriced. It's more than the average guy will pay, but a LOT less than many high-end custom jobs.

On the other hand, for a production rifle with minimal or no hand fitting, and lots of plastic and aluminum, I think $1500 is way out of line. I suspect that with a Blaser you're paying a lot for the higher costs of an imported Austrian (?) product, and snob appeal, not quality of materials. When the price nudges a grand, I expect NO plastic in any way, shape or form, and lots of machined steel. I think it's absurd to pay that kind of money and get a rifle with plastic magazine feed lips that easily get chewed up and deformed. Personal preference, s'all...

It's not the price that bothers me, it's what you *get* for that price.

Best,
Joe

[H&Hhunter]

Nextjoe,

I appreciate your input. I much like you am a custom gun guy I own two custom model 70's one the worlds coolest and most usable (in my opion) .375H&H and the other is an out of this world .458 Lott built on a stainless Model 70 action.

I also own a .470 N.E. Double Built by B. Searcy and custom fit to me. I like good guns and I will pay for one if it tickles my fancy. I was enamored to the r-93 because of it's trigger it's light weight and it's the most accurate out of the box gun I've ever messed with.

With that being said I can appreciate your disdain for polamer (plastic) parts. To each their own.

It just drives me nuts when guys guys get on the "If it's more than $200.00 it's to much" kick.

You sir obviously do not fall into that catagory.

I believe that a fine firearm is not only worth having but some times you have to pay for it. I've paid more for custom jobs that don't shoot as well as this thing does.