Blaser S2 double rifle

[Red Leg]

For non dangerous game, it's fine. For anything that bites back, not so fine. The lump right over the barrels isn't condusive to quick reloading, and the gun (unlike anything else Blaser makes) doesn't recock automatically after reloading, so you have to push the cocker/safety forward each time. I currently own two Blaser rifles, and prefer them (R93's) over any other bolt, but I wouldn't go for the S2. The over under rifle is nice, and I've heard good things about the D99 - I just prefer to have a 12 ga. gun so I haven't gone for that one. The over under gun is a bit more versatile too, since you can get a cape gun set of spare barrels.

From someone who has killed Cape buffalo with his ( and a lot of other game) it works just fine. It is simply a different manual of arms. I can operate mine just as quickly as my Birmingham .470. Nothing with two barrels has proven more accurate.

 

[Tommen]

I used my S2 in 500NE for few years, it was working perfect. I shot from rabbits to Buffalo with it. Now it's for sale I changed to Heym 89b in 500NE

 

[Raven]

One Blaser dealer once wrote that the S2 was discontinued because they sold poorly. Something less than 50 copies per year. And it was unprofitable for the company to maintain such a line.

On the other hand, Blaser is not a poor company, it is unlikely that it suffered much financially from this.

I think they just didn't believe that the S2 would ever sell well. Conservative hunters looked at the S2 with disbelief and chose weapons from other manufacturers.

However, the same dealer noted that there were few complaints about the quality of this double rifle. The main claims to it were in the field of aesthetics and tradition.

 

[ET1775]

Are all the Blaser S2 rifles built on the same size action? If someone picked up a 30-06 could they add a DG caliber barrel set later?

 

[Green Chile]

That's correct. One frame size for all barrels.

 

[Raven]

Are all the Blaser S2 rifles built on the same size action? If someone picked up a 30-06 could they add a DG caliber barrel set later?

I can say for sure that the barrel blocks are interchangeable on the Safari modification. These are the calibers .375 H&H Mag, .500/416 NE, .470 NE, .500 NE. I even saw kits on sale that had barrel blocks .470 NE and .375 H&H Mag.

But I've never seen kits where there would be and .375 H&H Mag and .30-06, for example. But I admit that it is quite possible.

 

[Challer]

I'm thinking about buying a Blaser S2 in a non dangerous game caliber, 30-06, 8x57JRS or 9.3x74R. I appreciate that it's a non traditional double but personally I like the positives of the quality, accuracy, auto safe, adjustable barrels, Blaser scope mount system. If anyone is looking to sell a mid caliber version of an Blaser S2 please message me.

I have the Blaser BBF 97 with 06/06 barrels as well as 9.3/9.3 and 20g/22 Hornet. Smaller rounds in these doubles are wonderful and give you more time with your investment… my 97s are way more fun and much lighter than my beloved R8s. I’d have a 375 barrel set if only Blaser made them.

 

[Green Chile]

I don't know how the barrel blocks switch out between Nitro and cartridges like 30-06. Some of our members have barrels of both types. Maybe they could comment on this. I just know it's the same frame size.

 

[Mountaineer]

Are there different size forearms?

 

[Red Leg]

I can say for sure that the barrel blocks are interchangeable on the Safari modification. These are the calibers .375 H&H Mag, .500/416 NE, .470 NE, .500 NE. I even saw kits on sale that had barrel blocks .470 NE and .375 H&H Mag.

But I've never seen kits where there would be and .375 H&H Mag and .30-06, for example. But I admit that it is quite possible.

My 30 06. .375, and 500/416 barrels all interchange and function perfectly without changing anything in the action. I do use a smaller forend for the 30 06.

 

[rookhawk]

The thing I question about the S2 and is probably why others may be hesitant to buy them is this: we don't really know what their long-term longevity will be.

Parts may be in short supply in the future and they do not use common parts as say a classic boxlock that any competent smith can work on. Specifically, the rubber rib's longevity is unknown.

If someone is buying the rifle just for themselves and they aren't considering multi-generational longevity or future resale, it probably doesn't matter whatsoever.

 

[Green Chile]

Where did the smaller fore arm come from? I dislike my beaver tail type fore end...too wide. Can you take a photo of comparison @Red Leg ? Thanks.

 

[Red Leg]

Where did the smaller fore arm come from? I dislike my beaver tail type fore end...too wide. Can you take a photo of comparison @Red Leg ? Thanks.

Came with the 06 barrels. It too is beaver tail, but has a narrower barrel channel.

 

[Muskox]

I had one about 20 years ago. If anyone ever runs into a 9.3x74R that has Spanish import marks on it, that was the one I brought back from Madrid when I left Spain in 2003.

Mine was the hogs back style stocks with a splinter fore end.

I wouldn't personally buy one unless it was had for a steal. They have not been manufactured in a while, and unless you live here in Europe who knows what kind of service you will get on it.

Plenty of Krieghoffs around.

 

[rookhawk]

I had one about 20 years ago. If anyone ever runs into a 9.3x74R that has Spanish import marks on it, that was the one I brought back from Madrid when I left Spain in 2003.

Mine was the hogs back style stocks with a splinter fore end.

I wouldn't personally buy one unless it was had for a steal. They have not been manufactured in a while, and unless you live here in Europe who knows what kind of service you will get on it.

Plenty of Krieghoffs around.

The S2 would probably have sold better and would still be in production if they didn’t have Germanic designers. The more common basket weave checkering, Germanic engraving, and hogs back stocks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Had they gone “full Anglo” they’d probably be a popular choice today. Even Heym had bad taste as good as they are, but the 89b made them the nicest British styled double around even though German.

 

[Pasme]

My S2 shoots Hornady factory ammo in .470 Nitro, 2 shots touching at 50 yards. Andrej regulated it in San Antonio exactly like it should shoot.