Blaser R93 Revisited

[BJH65]

There are presently a lot of outstanding deals on used Blaser R93 rifles. I’ve brushed up on some of the old AH threads regarding the rare catastrophic bolt failures of the R93. I think there were two catastrophic incidents worldwide but I could be wrong? Nor did I read about any conclusive proof of what exactly caused this, like too hot handloads? There was no recall that I’m aware of either?

My question is it worthwhile to obtain a used R93?

Are there any AH members who presently use an R93 without concern?

Is there a way to retrofit an R93 and prevent a catastrophic bolt failure?

There seem to be some pretty amazing deals on R93’s but I really don’t want to worry about having a bolt imbedded in my forehead! Years ago, the original Beretta 92 F 9mm service pistol had some failures with the slide coming off and injuring the user so Beretta engineered a retention disc to prevent this from happening and it became the model 92 FS.

Thanks for any feedback.

BJH

 

[SETH RINGER]

I BOUGHT A R93 +/- 20 YEARS AGO BASED ON MY GRANDMA LEAVING ME A BIT OF MONEY I DIDNT EXPECT OR NEED SO I BOUGHT SOMETHING THAT I THOUGH MIGHT LAST A GEN OR TWO. UPGRADED WOOD, 3 BARRELS, LEFT/RIGHT BOLTS, NICE SCOPES, THE WHOLE SHEBANG. ADDED ANOTHER SYNTHETIC STOCK AND ANOTHER COUPLE BARRELS.. COUPLE ELE, COUPLE BUFF, HIPPO, LEOPARD, BUNCH OF HOOFED GAME ALL OVER, NEVER A HICCUP.
NEVER BEEN SCARED TO SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER. THAT BEING SAID ALL WE SHOOT IS FACTORY AMMO.
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH SET WITH OURS, DO NOT SEE US "UPGRADING" TO "R8". IF YOU BUY A R93 THE THING I THINK NOW IS TO PICK UP ALL THE SMALL PARTS AS EXTRAS. MAGS, BOLTS, ETC.
PURA VIDA, SETH

 

[dlmac]

I was gifted a R84 Ultimate in 8x68 and 6.5x68. It has 2 scopes. I shot it years ago in the 80s and still remember the pain and sore arm for 2 days! Have never used it in the field.

 

[Dinsdale]

There are presently a lot of outstanding deals on used Blaser R93 rifles. I’ve brushed up on some of the old AH threads regarding the rare catastrophic bolt failures of the R93. I think there were two catastrophic incidents worldwide but I could be wrong? Nor did I read about any conclusive proof of what exactly caused this, like too hot handloads? There was no recall that I’m aware of either?

My question is it worthwhile to obtain a used R93?

Are there any AH members who presently use an R93 without concern?

Is there a way to retrofit an R93 and prevent a catastrophic bolt failure?

There seem to be some pretty amazing deals on R93’s but I really don’t want to worry about having a bolt imbedded in my forehead! Years ago, the original Beretta 92 F 9mm service pistol had some failures with the slide coming off and injuring the user so Beretta engineered a retention disc to prevent this from happening and it became the model 92 FS.

Thanks for any feedback.

BJH

So one of the famous accidents had the shooter load the rifle round with Blue Dot pistol powder. Im not too kind, so Ill leave out my comment on his stupidity.

I’m guessing on this forum I have had a R 93 about the longest in general, 2003 maybe?; think 10 barrels right now(?) 3 receivers/stocks , well over a dozen different optic mounts. Owned maybe half dozen more barrels.

Pretty fair round count on some of them,300RUM down to rimfire. Have been to Namibia in October with powder dust and had no issues; regular hunt in rain and snow at home.

Owned a R8 I assembled from used bits here and there on forum buys.

I sold the R8 for a good buck as a complete rifle and kept the R93 set ups and personally they have been 100% reliable.

 

[BJH65]

So one of the famous accidents had the shooter load the rifle round with Blue Dot pistol powder. Im not too kind, so Ill leave out my comment on his stupidity.

I’m guessing on this forum I have had a R 93 about the longest in general, 2003 maybe?; think 10 barrels right now(?) 3 receivers/stocks , well over a dozen different optic mounts. Owned maybe half dozen more barrels.

Pretty fair round count on some of them,300RUM down to rimfire. Have been to Namibia in October with powder dust and had no issues; regular hunt in rain and snow at home.

Owned a R8 I assembled from used bits here and there on forum buys.

I sold the R8 for a good buck as a complete rifle and kept the R93 set ups and personally they have been 100% reliable.

Thank you, great information.

 

[BJH65]

I BOUGHT A R93 +/- 20 YEARS AGO BASED ON MY GRANDMA LEAVING ME A BIT OF MONEY I DIDNT EXPECT OR NEED SO I BOUGHT SOMETHING THAT I THOUGH MIGHT LAST A GEN OR TWO. UPGRADED WOOD, 3 BARRELS, LEFT/RIGHT BOLTS, NICE SCOPES, THE WHOLE SHEBANG. ADDED ANOTHER SYNTHETIC STOCK AND ANOTHER COUPLE BARRELS.. COUPLE ELE, COUPLE BUFF, HIPPO, LEOPARD, BUNCH OF HOOFED GAME ALL OVER, NEVER A HICCUP.
NEVER BEEN SCARED TO SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER. THAT BEING SAID ALL WE SHOOT IS FACTORY AMMO.
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH SET WITH OURS, DO NOT SEE US "UPGRADING" TO "R8". IF YOU BUY A R93 THE THING I THINK NOW IS TO PICK UP ALL THE SMALL PARTS AS EXTRAS. MAGS, BOLTS, ETC.
PURA VIDA, SETH

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Dinsdale]

If shopping for R93’s be aware there was a recall for pins in the trigger group back in 2002.

Checked and subsequent manufacturing have a proof mark of a P in a circle on the side of the trigger.

Read here;

Blaser Jagdwaffen

Ive handled several dozen and never seem an unmarked gun, I think its pretty uncommon.


Only other issue,and I have another post on this forum, maybe a few others about it. Had a crappy 257WBY barrel that just wouldn’t shoot very accurate with factory ammo. At the time I didn’t hand load. I sold it to another guy who hand loaded and he didnt get much better out of it. Maybe a year later I was told there were roughly a hundred bad barrels in that specific chambering. I never bought another and Im pretty sure a return to Blaser would have probably got me a replacement. That was roughly 2006 manufacturer.

Everything else is more accurate then I am.

Favorite barrel is still my 28ga shotgun single shot. Squirrel, coon, turkey, crows, its what sits next to the door.


Rare/unusual finds finds you might encounter;

28ga shotgun barrel and flat tray magazine well filler, bolt head.
Original tracker with its shorty 308win barrel and stock with unique sling swivel locations.
The lightweight composite stock.
Off-road stock in Timber, a wood grain pattern on composite stock.
300RUM and 7STW require a “UM” bolt head and not just a magnum head.
Blaser pistol based on R93 action.

I have never had a magazine insert fail or lose grip even after many loading and unloading cycles. That said I would only buy a barrel with an insert in general because theres not as many around.

Go to “BlaserBuds”, good for info and classified.

 

[BJH65]

If shopping for R93’s be aware there was a recall for pins in the trigger group back in 2002.

Checked and subsequent manufacturing have a proof mark of a P in a circle on the side of the trigger.

Read here;

Blaser Jagdwaffen

Ive handled several dozen and never seem an unmarked gun, I think its pretty uncommon.


Only other issue,and I have another post on this forum, maybe a few others about it. Had a crappy 257WBY barrel that just wouldn’t shoot very accurate with factory ammo. At the time I didn’t hand load. I sold it to another guy who hand loaded and he didnt get much better out of it. Maybe a year later I was told there were roughly a hundred bad barrels in that specific chambering. I never bought another and Im pretty sure a return to Blaser would have probably got me a replacement. That was roughly 2006 manufacturer.

Everything else is more accurate then I am.

Favorite barrel is still my 28ga shotgun single shot. Squirrel, coon, turkey, crows, its what sits next to the door.


Rare/unusual finds finds you might encounter;

28ga shotgun barrel and flat tray magazine well filler, bolt head.
Original tracker with its shorty 308win barrel and stock with unique sling swivel locations.
The lightweight composite stock.
Off-road stock in Timber, a wood grain pattern on composite stock.
300RUM and 7STW require a “UM” bolt head and not just a magnum head.
Blaser pistol based on R93 action.

I have never had a magazine insert fail or lose grip even after many loading and unloading cycles. That said I would only buy a barrel with an insert in general because theres not as many around.

Go to “BlaserBuds”, good for info and classified.

Great, thanks for the information.