Re: SIG Blaser Tactical 2 Overview
FWIW,
I own a Blaser LSR2 (Looks exactly like a Tactical II but slightly smaller frame). I also have .223, 22-250, 6.5x55 and .308 barrels for the LRS2 chassis and have run several thousand rounds through this "system" (its a system not a rifle). I also own an AI and other match/tactical rifles (GAP), Bighorn and will try to provide some comparison and contrast.
The Good:
1. Accuracy - The Blaser is with out a doubt the most accurate rifle(s) I own. All calibers shoot 1/4 MOA or better. It shoots all kinds of ammo consistently better than the other rifles that I own. In other words, I can get all of my other rifles to shoot great but they are more sensitive to the bullet/load combination than the Blaser.
2. Cold bore shot - Some how the Blaser folks have figured out how get a single shot from a cold bore to go into the exact same place every time (this is also true of the light contour sporter barrels used for hunting). Critical where have you have only one shot to place. This is not true some of the other tactical/match guns I own.
3. Take down - the rifle breaks down in 30 seconds and packs into a 30" soft case or an A4 hard case. Assembly takes about 30 - 60 seconds and ALWAYS returns to zero.
4. Caliber change - you can run any of the Blaser R93 barrels in the chassis (the sporter barrels look a little silly) but of the fluted tactical barrels there are .222, .223, .22-250, 6mm BR, .243, 6.5x55, 6.5x284, .308 and .300 WM to choose from. (Note the Tactical II is a slightly larger frame and will accommodate only .223. .308 .300WM .338 LM Tactical II Barrels).
5. Convertible - you can change from a left or right handed action which takes about 15 seconds to change. (Slide one out slide the opposite handed action in)
6. Adjustable Stock - great feeling prone stock.
7. Straight pull bolt. Manipulating the bolt is very fast and almost approaches the rate of accurate aimed fire you can get out of a semi-auto.
8. Its a System not a Rifle - The Blaser is more of a "system" than a rifle and you can change L/R actions, boltheads and drop your tactical scope/barrel setups into a sporter stock for hunting. In the hunting configuration the rifle weighs about 8-9 lbs and is perfectly balanced. This system has a high "fiddle factor" for those of you that like to fool around with changing your guns.
9. Decocker safety. You can keep a round in the chamber and there is no way to fire the gun with the safety on as it de-cocks the firing pin spring. This is useful when hunting/stalking as some professional hunters will not allow you to stalk with a round in the chamber. (Note: this does make taking the safety off (cocking the spring) rather stiff but not for the studly folks that visit SH.)
The Bad:
1. Cost - these Rifles are expensive ($4,000 for the gun?, $1,600 for a barrel? $380 for a scope mount? $200 for a mag?). However the price is not unlike what you see companies like Dessert Tactical charging for barrels or Sako charging for a mag or bi-pod. If you buy into Blaser, you buy in with the notion that you are going to get multiple calibers and sporter stocks to amortize the cost. (Note: because all of the Blaser parts are interchangeable there is a healthy used market for buying used bolts, barrels at substantial savings. I paid $2,200 for my rifle, $800 for the .223 and so on ...
2. Magazines - As shown on the video there are issues with the magazines. Smaller calibers can and do have feeding problems.
3. The stock - The gun is not as sturdy as a McMillan or AI setup and can feel flimsy compared to the others. That being said, I don't recommend it if you are going to jump from a helicopter or C-17 with it strapped to your back. Otherwise it will hold up to all of the paper punching, match shooting, hunting you would like to do with it, unless of course the tactical matches start including an airdrop as part of the course.
4. Straight pull bolt - You can have missfires if you don't push the bolt forward and lock it with authority. There is a case where you can push the bolt lightly forward where it appears locked but is not locked. In this condition the gun will drop the firing pin when you pull the trigger and as the bolt is not locked, all you are rewarded with is a is a "Click". You then have to shove the bolt forward all the way and then pull the trigger a second time. This is really irritating but something that you only do 2 or 3 times. LoneWolfUSMC did a great job of cycling the bolt in the video so this did not show up. Had he just flicked it forward with a couple of fingers he might have stumbled onto this issue. Everyone soon learns to cycle the bolt with gusto.
All this said, the Blaser LRS2 is the tactical gun that I shoot the most. It is the gun that my kids and guests want to shoot more than any other (using the .223 barrel of course). It is the goto gun when there is an offending prairie dog on the premises (My record hit on a prairie dog is 623 yards with the Blaser LRS and the .22-250 barrel). I put in the .223 barrel and practice shooting for F-Class at 200 yards using a 600 yard reduced target. Then I stick the 6.5x55 barrel in for the match. It is the most fun gun of them all to shoot ...
Now is it worth $4-5,000 for a single caliber ... not to me. Bought an AI Covert for that ...
Good shooting ...
