Blaser R93
| Blaser R93 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Hunting rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Meinhard Zeh |
| Designed | 1993 |
| Manufacturer | Blaser |
| Produced | 1993–2016 |
| Variants | Blaser 93 Tactical |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | Various; see |
| Action | Straight-pull bolt-action |
| Feed system | 3- or 4- round internal box magazine |
| Sights | Aperture-type iron sights or telescopic sight |
The Blaser R93 is a German hunting rifle offered in a multitude of calibers and barrel lengths.[1][2]
Designed by Basers' designer Mr. Meinhard Zeh in 1993, it had a number of features rare on modern hunting rifles:
- Manual cocking system
- Straight-pull bolt action
- Direct trigger
- Original Blaser saddle mount[1]
Design features
Its straight-pull bolt action locks by a 14-lug radial collet in a 360 degrees groove in the barrel and is designed to withstand pressures significantly exceeding the Mauser 98–type bolt-action rifles. The Blaser R93 displays a locking surface of 66 mm2 (0.102 in2) compared to 56 mm2 (0.087 in2) for the Mauser 98. The stressed parts are made out of hammer forged steel and nitrided to make the locking mechanism work. The manual cocking system, or "de-cocking safety", enables the shooter to securely carry the weapon, only cocking the rifle just before the shot.[2]
The Blaser R93is a truly modular system built around an aluminium alloy frame, offering differing stocks and barrels varing length and thickness available in calibers from .22 LR to .458 Winchester Magnum. It also came in caliber 28 as a shotgun/slug barrel.
To avoid accidents with set triggers, Blaser offers the R93 only with a direct trigger. The Blaser is unique because the scope mounts on the barrel instead of the receiver. A Scope/barrel assembly can be removed and replaced with no change in zero.[1]
By changing an insert in the magazine, the barrel and bolt head, a multitude of calibers can be used in an R93 chassis.[1] A R93 Rimfire conversion kit was also available in .22 Long Rifle and .17 HMR.
The R93 was upgraded to the Blaser R8 introduced in 2008, which has a detachable box magazine/trigger combination. The Blaser R8 displays an enlarged locking surface of 96 mm2 (0.149 in2).[3] Parts for the R93 do not fit the R8 series rifles.
In 2009, Blaser and Carl Zeiss AG began offering a scope that switches on a red dot when the R93/R8 are cocked ("Zeiss Illumination Control/iC").
Production of complete R93 Rifles ceased in 2016.[4]
After a shooting accident near Koblenz, Germany in 1994, the R93 was criticised, with claims that it could not withstand high pressures, and the bolt would unlock when excessive pressures were generated. An investigation by the DEVA concluded that the handloaded ammunition had been used that greatly exceeded the maximum safe gas pressure for the round.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 De Vries III, George. "Blaser R93 Rifles". chuckhawks.com. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- 1 2 "Blaser R93 Bolt-Action Rifles". marcopolooutfitters.com. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ↑ Jagdfregatte R8 {German}
- ↑ "R93 Bolt Rifle". blaser-usa.com. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ↑ Blaser R93 accident Archived 12 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine., lawers cooperation (Rechtsanwaltsaktiengesellschaft) Nieding + Barth (German)