Hello, DD. I have been playing with a Blaser Tactical 2 since very early this year. I don't claim to know all things about Blaser, but I certainly know more than I did a few months ago.
My first piece of advice...is to skip SIG. They are owned by Blaser and Blaser has decided to being all of the Blaser named rifles back into their house. In the US. So...you will find Blaser in San Antonio much more responsive than SIG on Blaser parts and service. Also...SIG can get you anything....but they have to wait to get it from Blaser.
I learned pretty quick to just deal with Blaser in SA.
Here is some testing I did with ASYM 175g 308 ammo. Shoots lights out in my Tactical.
Asym 308 175 Grain Ammo. 100 Yards. Sig Sauer / Blaser Tactical 2 Rifle | TacticalTshirts.com
Here is a link on a home cammo job I did on my Blaser a few weeks ago. The all black just doesn't work for work. YMMV.
Home Camo Job on Your Rifle. Sig Sauer / Blaser Tactical 2 | TacticalTshirts.com
Finally, here is a thread that is hidden all the way down in the reloading section of this site. It has become the go-to thread for Blaser owners to share load data and get advice on gear and configurations. I subscribe to it dutifully.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...476-blaser-tactical-2-lrs-2-r93-r8-loads.html
As for a bi-pod, I got the AFAR kit from Atlas and just ran with their setup. I do prefer the Atlas bi-pod.
To address the cocking and de-cocking...I might be able to contribute something there as well. I even showed the guys at Blaser USA a trick on that one. Since the safety is also the cocking mechanism, you are pushing against the firing pin spring which cocks and un-cocks the rifle. It is still relative to more traditional designs. My "trick" is to use my thumb on the button, and to put my opposing finger (index) against the flat surface on the charging lever closest to to the bolt body.
By placing your finger there, you can easily engage and disengage the safety from just about any position or hand. Be it standing or full prone behind the rifle. After figuring this out on my own, I subsequently discovered some foreign military units use this same technique on their issued Blaser Tactical's.
Parts sources:
Euro-Optic is a great dealer on this.
Mad-Dog guns on Gunbroker / Gunsamercia is a legit stocking dealer.
And Blaser in San Antinio.
Sure there are others.
The cool-kids don't subscribe to the Blaser design, but I have to say, once I got used to the idea of the straight bolt tech, there is A LOT to like. Fast. Wicked accurate. Don't weigh a metric shit-ton (A major pet-peeve I have that civilians seem to not give a shit about), switch caliber.
The funny thing about the Blaser Tactical 2 is when I first saw it years ago, I laughed out loud. Look at that freaking pig of a space gun. Just what I need. Another 4 ton rifle to carry around. A few years later, I ended up looking at the Blaser R8 hunting line, since the accuracy claims appealed to me. And the switch caliber allows me to use the rifle more often than just on "That one hunting trip".
What ended up happening was I was SO thoroughly impressed and blown away by the R8, I figured I would give the Tactical a second look. The only...and I mean only...half-way legitimate downside to the Blaser Tactical 2 is the mag capacity. There are no 10 or 20 rounders for it. So....if you think you might be at a disadvantage in a tactical match, maybe that is a concern. But speaking honestly for myself....when it comes to precision rifles, my inability to take first place has NEVER had anything to do with fire-power. If it did, I would switch to a gas gun.
Hope this post was helpful.
Keep "Shooting guns and having fun". That's our company motto. Who gives a shit what your favorite bullet launcher is.
TTR