Group: Blazer 93 ?

There are other takedown rifles on the market. Some are more expensive than the Blaser, a few - such as the T/C Encore - cost much less. As the gunwriter Jon Sundra has pointed out, if you have a well built bolt action rifle and plan to check your zero when you arrive anyway you can always take the barreled action out of the stock for transportation in a more compact takedown shotgun case.

The price is the primary drawback to the Blaser. The base rifle is plenty spendy and each extra barrel alone costs as much as many rifles. Still, it is a very nice rifle.

While I aspire to one, I have yet to shoot one. I have handled the matte finished synthetic; it looks nice, the bolt flick is wicked fast, and the trigger is as nice as any I've ever experienced. The 'safety' - actually a sort of thumb actuated striker cocker - will take a little getting used to. If you can afford one I don't imagine you'll be disappointed.

Check out www.BlaserRifles.com It is the 'American Web site for North America according to the home page I found at hppt://blaser.de/homeengl.htm from my search. It says that Sig Arms, Exeter, NH is the exclusive distributer.

I was thinking about buying one because it can be converted to left hand as well as having several calibers not normally available in anleft handed rifle. Call Sig. They will send you a very nice packet on the wepon as well as local rep's and pricing.

Hope this helps.

Chuck Scampoli NRA Life GOAL Life

I am an FFL in Michigan. I bought an R93 LX for myself in .308. I saw them at the '99 SHOT show and the weight, convenience of caliber change and the left handed bolt thrilled me. Incidentally, the left handed version is a true left, i.e. the cases won't be flipping in front of your face.

During my barrel break in, I put three shots (the only three I tried to place) into .317' at 100yds. with a 6x scope. I will certainly be adding at least one more barrel.

I've shown the rifle to two other shooters, and sold each of them a rifle on the spot! I can't think of anything negative about the firearm.

If you need any help selecting a dealer, let me know. To my knowledge there is just one Master Dealer in the U.S. and I have been ordering throught him.

Hi there,

A friend of mine owns one. I went moose hunting with it and 300 Weatherby barrel. Very nice gun indeed. However I din't feel comfortable hunting with such expensive gun - the friend owns de lux something model (and Swarovski 2.5-10x56 on it )))))))))))) Eventually I abuse my stuff, so I don't want to be sad about such a nice gun being abused. But there's an 'offroad' model if I remember the name correctly - with syntetic stock.

Two best things about the gun are interchangable barrels and straight pull bolt, which to my surprise no one has mentioned here. The latter greatly reduce time for follow up shots, but read further for more details. The safety and ccocking is tricky, I agree.

Another acquitance took this rifle bear hunting. He injured the bear, it was rolling on the groung for a few secs (375 H&H& and then it ran away. All this time the guy was trying to recycle the bolt. (You have to push a 'button' to do it, which you don't have to do with regular bolt action.) So if you have some 'normal' guns you may have a problem remembering to push the 'button' on r93.

Important safety feature - the gun may be carried uncocked with cartridge in chamber and you can cock it instanteneously with a push of a thumb.

Friend's gun has 'iron' sights, which is good, but 'iron' is PLASTIC! Would you beleive it? I was told a story about another happy owner of R93 wich put his rifle against warm stove in a hunting cabin. Guess what - 'iron' sights melted, cause the barrel heated up. Yes, right he was careless, but ... sights melted....

Another rifle with interchangable barrels I know about is Sauer 202. In Europe it's available in 'Alaska' model - syntetic stock and teflon coating on metal parts. I never handled it, but heard it's very good. On Sigarms web site they show only supreme model with wooden stock - don't know if they sell 'Alaska'. http://www.jpsauer.com/202.htm

Don't have any info on prices in US.

Leon