Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Blaser R93 Safety Issue

I am researching the possibility of purchasing a Blaser R93 rifle in the USA and I have some questions, please.

During my research I came across the following statements:

"All the 93 & their Tac versions use the locking splines , thats all thats holding the bolt in place , from what I understand , most (action failures) have been caused by pierced primers , and the gas venting back and melting the plastic washer that actually cams the fingers/splines into battery . Also heard that the 338LM model uses a metal instead of the std plastic washer..."
(Link: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ub...r&topic=0&Search=true#Post387668 )

1. Do you indeed have to close the R93 action with authority to ensure it locks up? There are times I want to do it quietly.

2. Can the R93 fire when not completely locked up?

3. Is there a plastic washer that can melt and cause problems with a pierced
primer/gas venting?

Thank you for your attention,

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Answer: ---- Darren Hull <darren.hullblaser.de wrote:

Thank you for your email.
There certainly is some rubbish written in the internet. Please note that in all of these claimed accidents there are never any facts on these, other than "heard through a friend."

In answer to your questions:

1, You can close the bolt assembly relatively quietly but you do need to ensure that the bolt handle is firmly closed (90 degrees).

2, No. What happens is that: when fired, the firing pin/block first hits the opening lever and first pushes it closed, only then can the firing pin continue through. If the rifle is fired with the bolt assembly not fully closed, there will be a click (bolt assembly closing) and there may be a light indentation on the primer (tell tale sign that the handle was not closed). You can simulate this by dry-firing your rifle with the bolt assembly not fully closed.
The firing pin cannot contact the primer without first closing the handle.

3, There are no plastic/rubber parts on the locking elements.

Fact: Each barrel and bolt head is tested with a minimum of 30% overloaded proof cartridges - this is required by German law.

DEVA have tested our system and proved it to hold pressures of over 8000 bar. (Jaywalker note: 8000 bar = 116,030.19 ppsi, per Google)

We have now sold over 160 000 R93 rifles (including LRS2) - there is not a problem with the design or safety of these rifles.

Should you have any further questions, please let me know

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Question �
Mr. Hull,

Thank you for your prompt response. I will post it where it will help create greater understanding.

If I may followup on one of your answers:
"...there will be a click (bolt assembly closing) and there may be a light indentation on the primer (tell tale sign that the handle was not closed). You can simulate this by drying firing your rifle with the bolt assembly not fully closed. The firing pin cannot contact the primer without first closing the handle."

This light indentation on the primer raises a question. Is this indentation from the firing pin, or from something else? I would doubt that US primer manufacturers meet the same level of standards as those in Europe. Here, my CCI primers ignite readily from the relatively heavy impact of my Model 70, but not always from lighter impact of a Remington rifle. For them, I use Federal primers. When reloading for an R93, should I take care to use "harder to ignite" components?

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Answer: ---- Darren Hull <darren.hullblaser.de wrote:

Thank you for your email.
I am very pleased to hear you are considering purchasing an R93. You will not be disappointed!

The light indentation is from the firing pin.
If the bolt assembly is not correctly closed - 2 things can happen

1, The energy from the firing pin/block is only enough to close the bolt assembly but didn�t have enough energy to ignite the primer (leaves light indentation)& results in a misfire.
2, The gun fires. (as normal) What has happened here is that the bolt assembly was first closed by the firing pin/block but then also had enough energy to ignite the primer.

The firing pin cannot touch the primer until the bolt handle is first in closed position.

You definitely do not need to use different primers from those that you normally use.

Should you have any further questions, please let me know


Best Regards
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Question -
Mr. Hull,

Thank you. Do I understand you correctly to say that the firing pin fall closes the action completely if it were not already in battery? If so, that's an excellent design concept!

Answer: ---- Darren Hull <darren.hullblaser.de wrote:

Completely correct. Please allow me to attach an image where you can see the position of the R93 lock-up when the firing-pin is level with the breech of the bolt-head. The lock-up is realized 100%.


Best Regards

Darren Hull

International Service
Blaser Jagdwaffen GmbH
Ziegelstadel 1
88316 Isny im Allg�u
Germany

Phone: 0049 (0)7562 702 159
Fax: 0049 (0)7562 702 148
e-mail: [email protected]