Greetings from Germany/Washington/Afghanistan

[addicted]

Waidmannsheil,

My name is josh and I am an american who has been living in Germany near kaiserslautern for a few years however I am currently located in Afghanistan for the time being.

Wife with 2 beautiful kids. My oldest is a 3 year old yellow lab and my youngest is a 1 year old deutch Kurzz haar.

I dont have a blaser yet but its on the table for my next purchase and I'm primarily here to figure out if blaser is the way to go. As soon as i learn how to navigate your forum i'll start searching and asking questions but until then I just wanted to say hi.


-josh

[thechamp]

Well welcome aboard! You certainly do get around. It's a simple forum and we try to keep it that way...

I think you'll find a bunch of Blaser fans here and they'll be more than happy to give you a multitude of good reasons to own a Blaser.

Make yourself at home and if you got any questions feel free to fire away.

Nice boar there....

[Pigeon]

Hi and welcome Josh...

Greetings from "nearby" - close to Darmstadt...

Klaus

[addicted]

I appreciate your replies, opinions, and warm welcome.


Here are my current thoughts....

There are certain things that i want, and ofcourse these are just "wants" so not having them all will kill me. I was thinking toward a set up that i could change calibers between a 7x64 and a 9.3x62 on my own. I also enjoy the idea of a straight bolt design. I'm ofcourse leaning towards a wood stock but i would probably purchase a synthetic stock some time down the line to keep the family heirlom nice looking. I also enjoy a fair amount of palm swell and the ability to keep the scope low in order to maintain good cheek weld.


I really like the Heym SR30 line up but i'm unsure of their barrel swapping capabilities. The ball bearing design at the head of the bolt is unique and very functional. I have handled a few of these guns and I do like the way the safety is incorporated into the bolt handle and not to mention how sexy the wooden bolt handle is. drool....

Sauer 202's are nice guns even though they are more expensive than the 303's which i find quite rediculous. The safety is quiet like gel and the barrel changing ability is fairly sharp.

I have considered the new mauser but I havent heard much about it nor have i gotten to handle one in person.

The blasers i always thought of as out of my price range and soulless because of the lack of a tru forged action, but even the sauers stopped putting out the forged action before they were purchased by blaser. The thing that really draws me in about the blaser at this point other than the fine intracacies in design is the ability to swap between barrels/calibers, even between long and short action. Hearing more about this would be nice, such as the limitations and drawbacks?

I would enjoy to hear further thoughts from you D99 even in the negative if you could PM me. This site has PM's right?

thanks guys

-josh

[Dom]

Welcome to the Buds Josh.

The barrel swap out on the R93 is simply put, fantastic. The biggest advantage is you can take one basic rifle and swap out calibers in short order and no sighting in. The biggest disadvantage to this is the overall price of components, but still cheaper than a new complete rifle outfit. I am also of the firm opinion that there is no safer carry rifle with one up the spout than the cocking rifles like Blaser -- provided it is not cocked. It is not going to get caught on brush and cock itself.

K'town eh? Little America. You AF? You look familiar, were you at Graf last October? Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[dinsdale]

Upsides to the Blaser;

-Easy as can be barrel change...both accurate and fast both barrel and bolt head/magazine
-Several stock options for both wood and synthetic
-Several scope mounts...fixed,quick change,ring height, rail, red dots.....
-Can add easy to install/remove kickstop
-Easy to pack for travel
-Lots of caliber choices....the newer R8 is adding some big bore/DG calibers as well
-Shorter overall due to magazine layout over trigger(which also tend to be crisp)

Downsides;
-Some can't get used to the strait pull bolt and are just ingrained with the lift of a "regular" bolt
-As Dom said it can be pricey.....but often used components are very well cared for and are just drop in fits always. They hold their value OK, but you do save a bit searching out used market
-Not too much after market components around. Barrels are a factory only deal (as well as bolts and heads)......but there are other manufacturers doing some after market items for stocks/trim/optic mounts.


Overall I have one for two reasons;

-It's an awesome travel gun; compact and discreet.
-I'm not near the rifle looney as most and my Blaser(R93) does just about all of my hunting fun. So I like the consistant trigger/action style between calibers swaps, light and easy to carry all day.

[addicted]

Welcome to the Buds Josh.

The barrel swap out on the R93 is simply put, fantastic. The biggest advantage is you can take one basic rifle and swap out calibers in short order and no sighting in. The biggest disadvantage to this is the overall price of components, but still cheaper than a new complete rifle outfit. I am also of the firm opinion that there is no safer carry rifle with one up the spout than the cocking rifles like Blaser -- provided it is not cocked. It is not going to get caught on brush and cock itself.

K'town eh? Little America. You AF? You look familiar, were you at Graf last October? Waidmannsheil, Dom.

I was in graff for the 2b hunt in october. 15 guys on that hunt and only like 2 of us didnt connect with the game. It was still a cool hunt. I think i'll hit the 2b and 3b next year since they are back to back and i didnt get to hunt much this year.


Are there any limitations to the caliber changing? Can i really go from short action all the way up to a weatherby mag?

[thechamp]

Without getting carried away like I usually do, I'll add my support for the Blaser. Haven't seen the Heym, do know they make good guns though. I started as a Sauer fan and have had Colt Sauers and a multitude of Sauer 202s. I've had lightweight 202s, lux 202s, synthetic 202 magnums, etc. I have one lightweight 202 in 270 Win left that is my favorite carry gun if I don't anticipate needing anything bigger. (whitetail deer, etc., 300-400 yards max) It's light, accurate, nimble and fits perfectly. I found the 202 magnums to be a bit on the big side for my taste. I have to say though that every 202 magnum I've had shot 1/2" or better. It was a matter of finding the right ammo but they'd do it.

I bought a Blaser R93 last year and have a R8 on order. The R93 is a 270 wby mag which is also light and very nimble for a magnum rifle. It is also accurate. Still haven't had a chance to see how good it'll shoot since I upgraded to an attache barrel but so far two 5 shot groups under an inch without trying very hard.

The Blaser allows you to have different barrels with their own scopes already sighted in and you can go from magnum to standard without changing the initial rifle. The Sauer magnum can accomodate the standard rounds with the right bolt but then you're still handling a big action, extra weight, etc. If you have a standard action Sauer you're not going to be able to go any bigger than the 9,3x62.

Sauer has come out with some new scope mounts that are supposed to allow removing and remounting the scope without a loss of zero but they are very pricey in comparison to the Blaser mounts. Blaser also has some great rail mounts for the Swarovski, Zeiss and Schmidt & Bender scopes which make those fit like they're made for the rifle. As well as the new system with Zeiss where you turn on the illuminated reticle via the rifle.

Blaser barrels and parts are much easier to find than Sauer barrels, bolts, etc. Lots of R93s out there and it won't be long and there will be plenty of R8 equipment on the used market.

Lastly with the Blaser you can buy additional frames without going broke and as you indicated save the pretty one and hunt with the professional. With Sauer you'd be buying two complete rifles. Or if you got lucky maybe finding somebody that was parting one out which doesn't happen to often.

Lots more but I'll stop at that. Probably even covered some of what the other guys already mentioned but you won't regret a Blaser. You wouldn't regret a Sauer 202 either but the Blaser is more versatile! The versatility and the quality is what sold me on the Blaser.

[addicted]

Upsides to the Blaser;

-Easy as can be barrel change...both accurate and fast both barrel and bolt head/magazine
-Several stock options for both wood and synthetic
-Several scope mounts...fixed,quick change,ring height, rail, red dots.....
-Can add easy to install/remove kickstop
-Easy to pack for travel
-Lots of caliber choices....the newer R8 is adding some big bore/DG calibers as well
-Shorter overall due to magazine layout over trigger(which also tend to be crisp)

Downsides;
-Some can't get used to the strait pull bolt and are just ingrained with the lift of a "regular" bolt
-As Dom said it can be pricey.....but often used components are very well cared for and are just drop in fits always. They hold their value OK, but you do save a bit searching out used market
-Not too much after market components around. Barrels are a factory only deal (as well as bolts and heads)......but there are other manufacturers doing some after market items for stocks/trim/optic mounts.


Overall I have one for two reasons;

-It's an awesome travel gun; compact and discreet.
-I'm not near the rifle looney as most and my Blaser(R93) does just about all of my hunting fun. So I like the consistant trigger/action style between calibers swaps, light and easy to carry all day.

Dinsdale,

Can you point me to the aftermarket stocks you mention. thanks.

Is there a set trigger option on the r93's like the 202? is the trigger adjustable at all?

I've heard blaser barrels are the best and they are trying incorperate them into the 202's.

I've got a schmidt and bender summit that i purchased in the spring that is all alone waiting for a rifle. I may have to get another scope for night hunting though.

[deerhunter338mag]

Welcome Josh, hope you like the board. Go the 9.3x62 you will love it

[addicted]

Welcome Josh, hope you like the board. Go the 9.3x62 you will love it

I've been eyeballing 9.3's for a few years now. I originally ordered my cz550 stutzen in 9.3 but i guess it would take 6+ months for them to get that caliber available so i ended up getting an 8x57IS which has been my primary killer for a couple years.

I'm likeing the blaser more and more but we'll see what my options are when I get out of the desert.

[deerhunter338mag]

You will love the Blaser mate. It's a bit like the 1st time with the girl next door. Then one day you meet a good time girl and you never want to go back to that girl next door. Unless she is a good time girls

[addicted]

that good huh?

[deerhunter338mag]

yes mate they are. I will tell you a little quick story. I have a mate that has some fine rifles and he would always tell me how good they are. I got him a Blaser R93 at a great price. Now it's the only rifle he players with the most. See he plays with the good time girl.....

[addicted]

nice