Thread: Does a Blaser really make much sense in New Zealand?

I just moved to Nelson a few months ago and getting close to finishing the FAL so I'm trying to decide what gun to get. When I was in Europe I hunted with an R8 and an R93 and while they were both excellent rifles and I shot about 30 animals with it, I can't say the straight pull ever came in handy in any of those situations. Blaser is very popular in Europe, but then again European hunters are very fansy pansy and put A LOT of emphasis on buying expensive gear to look wealthy. Hunting there is much more about social status, akin to being part of an exclusive country club than about being a proficient hunter and filling the freezer. I ended up selling the rifles before I left because it just wasn't worth the hassle to move them to New Zealand and deal with all of the paperwork.

Anyways, I saw a nice R8 on TradeMe (https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/5713485136) and I would have pulled the trigger but I couldn't actually bid without my FAL as TradeMe forbids bidding unless you enter your FAL number. I reached out to the seller and told him I would put a deposit and we could complete the transaction after my FAL came in later this month, but he was holding out on getting something close to the $10,000 asking price. Rifle has been listed a few times now and nobody has placed a bid on it, which made me wonder if this rifle really makes any sense in New Zealand.

The staff at Hunting & Fishing told me to avoid anything with a wooden stock as it tends to warp in NZ's wet environment. They also mentioned the reason most people choose stainless steel barrels is because the blued ones tend to rust pretty quick when you're out in the bush. What do you guys think? Would this Blaser be worth $8k (what the seller is now asking) or am I just being stupid and should get a T3X?

Absolutely retarded money for a hunting rifle.

Buy you should buy whatever gives you a Serotonin release.

Absolute H&F crap about blued and walnut rifles, Ive hunted for 50 years with them in NZ (and have my Dads rifle from 1952) and none of them are rusty or have ever caused the remotest issues by our climatic conditions. Nothing wrong with stainless synthetic stuff but it just a fashion the industry promote to sell rifles!

I wouldn't let a salesman put you off a wooden stock if that is your preference. They may take a bit more care but do look better.

I know wheres there's a cheap R93 for sale.

Wouldnt read too much in to what H&F have to say, theyre not renowned for being very knowledgeable, or have much real world experience with firearms. I'd suggest you buy whatever floats your boat, if that happens to be a Blaser, so be it. A Blaser will shoot and kill anything in NZ as good as any other rifle. If it happens to be a wood and blued rifle, Im pretty sure you will know how to look after it, having used a Blaser previously. And lets not forget that stainless/synthetic need to be cleaned and looked after too. If youre gonna part with 10K for a rifle, remember that its also gonna cost a decent amount for good glass and mounts suitable for such a good rifle.

Thats a lot of money for something that won't do a better job than anything else. My advice is go in too the stores and try a heap of guns. You should pick up something you like for 2.5-4 grand max and spend the rest on hunting trips.

The R8 on Trademe is a really nice example. I've owned Blaser's for over 20 years. Mine were in Offroad or other synthetic stocks but the chromoly barrels have never been an issue. The walnut on that stock will be fine. What won't be that great though is the weight. The R93 was heavy and the R8 only worse. I'm guessing it comes with the scope. Looks like a Z5 or Z3 so 2-3K in glass on top maybe.

If it was the left hand Blaaer K95 Barronesse it wouldn't be ideal for general hunting in nz
And he wants a hell of a lot more than he listed it for

That sort of rifle is just a cabinet queen

does a porsche make sense on our roads? Same.

Originally Posted by STC

does a porsche make sense on our roads? Same.

Well I hunt with K95 with class 5 walnut and even i think that ones a bad idea

The stock on that R8 is the US classic style. No available now and hard to come by. A new R8 synthetic in professional or thumb hole is 6.5 to 7k over here.
There should be a lot of cheaper one coming from Aust if the govt buy back doesn’t offer market values.


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Originally Posted by Dicko

The stock on that R8 is the US classic style. No available now and hard to come by. A new R8 synthetic in professional or thumb hole is 6.5 to 7k over here.
There should be a lot of cheaper one coming from Aust if the govt buy back doesn’t offer market values.


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That stock is made here in NZ by Laurie Bradley

Originally Posted by Shamus_

That stock is made here in NZ by Laurie Bradley

Ok that’s new to me. Blaser did a similar stock as a factory offering for a short while. Called it a classic style.


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Wouldn't take too much notice of what most salesmen say, most that I've come across wouldn't know their arse from their elbow and just talk bullshit. Similar to Tentman, I've hunted with wood/blued rifles for 49 years and never had a problem. My currently most used rifle is stainless but that's only because that's what happened to be on the shelf at the time. Went through a period of wanting to own a Blaser or Strasser but went off the idea after using an R93 in the bush, didn't like much crap in the action before becoming hard to cycle. Might have been bad luck but it put me off that style of action. Nice rifles though.