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Strasser SR05

Strasser SR05

Back in 1960 Horst Blaser started Blaser Jagdwaffen where he designed a number of rifles both bolt-action and combination guns. He sold it to Gerhard Blenk in 1985/86. Blenk kept the name then went on to develop probably the most successful and radical rifle of all times the R93 straight-pull (1993), which has nothing to do with Herr Blaser, though he did make the SR850, which was an unconventional, manual-cocking turn-bolt system that bears a slight physical resemblance to the gun on test.STRASSER MASCHINENBAU Gmbh of Austria was founded by Herbert Strasser and has been in the high quality/tolerance engineering industry since 1947 and as well as making gun parts they produced components for the Arian space rocket. A secondary company HMS Präzisionstechnik GmbH was set up in 2004 to produce the Strasser RS05 straight-pull, which was a joint collaboration between Herbert Strasser (the founder’s son) and Horst Blaser who met in the 1990s. Speaking to Herbert’s son Mathias showed that they are a small company with about 30 employees who produce around 200 rifles a year.

It’s ironic that Horst Blaser helped create a rifle that could give Blaser’s R93 and R8 a serious run for their money. It even uses a vaguely similar bolt locking concept; apart from that the RS05 is a unique system with a number of practical features!

CONVENTIONAL YET RADICAL

Initially the RS05 looks conventional and just a bit ugly with its hump-backed receiver. Factors that are compounded by the short, ball-ended bolt handle sticking out at 90° and the ambidextrous ejection ports joined by a thin top strap. The layout uses a fixed, aluminium alloy action that the furniture attaches to front and back. The butt is your classic, European hog’s back with long, angled cheek piece and slim recoil pad, the forend is a deep/long semi-Schnable design. On this the standard version timber quality is good and chequering equally so. There are different grades of finish etc, with prices ranging from £2295 (Standard) to £10500 (Exclusiv II). A typical European set up, but I want the rifle and not a work of art, so the Standard actually represent good value for money in this area and compares well to other, similar makes. Strasser can also offer a left-hand version and there’s a synthetic stock option too.

Equally the rifle looks big and heavy, which it is not, it’s all a matter of perception and from initially not liking the look of the RS05 I now find it pleasing and ergonomic. Unlike a more conventional bolt-action the Strasser’s is incorporated onto the action shape, much like the R93, which gives a clean and uncluttered look.

The action is straight-pull and to a degree takes a leaf out of Blaser book as it locks radially into the chamber extension. Whereas the R93/8 uses 13 small collets the RS05 uses four, larger quadrants. These are pushed into engagement as the bolt comes to rest. Being a switch barrel you can change the bolt head as required and here it could not be simpler! There’s a single catch on the end of the bolt that lifts up so allowing the head to come off. The bolt removal catch is a plunger rear left on the action with the bolt open.

HYDRAULICS

Unlike the vertical stud barrel retention system of the Blaser and Mauser the Strasser uses a hydraulic concept with no physical locking. However and obviously when the bolt is closed the whole thing locks solidly as one; much like the Sauer 202 Take Down. The chase (parallel) chamber section slides into the front of the receiver and aligns by a pin. Underneath is a rotary valve (for want of a better word) this is wound up by an Allen key. When tensioned it uses hydraulic oil to literally compress a liner around the chase thus locking it solid, reversing this action allows it to slide free easily.

It exerts an equal, 360° force due to the fact liquids are incompressible so will consistently centralise the barrel. A practical touch is that all the tools required are stored in the forend. The forward sling swivel pushes in and rotates 90° and when removed shows an Allan key end that allows you to unscrew the forend. Inside is a second key that operates the barrel valve, though it can also be done with the sling swivel unit, though this does not offer much leverage.

Barrels are offered in three calibre groups and lengths – Mini (22”) 222 and 223 Rem, Standard (22”) 243/270/308 Win, 6.5x55 SE, 6.5x65 RWS, 7x64, 30-06, 8x57JS, 8.5x63 (nice) and 9.3x62 and Magnum (24”) 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag. They can also be fluted or plain and threaded, equally iron sights are an option. Capacity is 3+1 from a single column, flush-fit box magazine; though an extended (driven hunts) 6 + 1 unit is available. With Magnum calibre reduce this by 1-round! It’s interesting to note that there’s no 375 H&H or larger, which seems to be a trend with some of the European straight-pulls as the Merkel Helix is the same!

MORE CLEVER STUFF

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But it doesn’t stop there. The magazine release consists of ambidextrous buttons on the sides of the action. These have to be pushed simultaneously and in doing so forces your hand to cup under the well where the mag falls naturally into it. The scope mount is a work of genius, it locates and stabilises by three, ball-ended lugs (2-rear, 1-front) either end of the ejection ports. Locking is achieved by a steel insert let into the middle of the top strap, which accepts a T-headed catch integral to the mount. All you do is drop it on and locate it then swing the centrally-mounted side lever forward where it’s locked by a separate catch. Fast, simple and secure and quite the best QD system I have seen to date! Strasser offers the option of a Picatinny base, 1” and 30mm rings and European rails.

The straight-pull bolt handle describes an arc of 90° though when open or closed it’s at 45° to the action making for a smooth and easy stroke! Like any push/pull system firm and fast operation is best! Unusually the RS05 does not have a de-cocker, though it looks like it does!

At the rear of the bolt hump is a protrusion that looks like a small, exterior hammer with a locking plunger inset, not dissimilar to Horst Blaser’s old SR850 bolt-action which was manually cocked. This is the safety and operates vertically using the firing hand thumb that automatically pushes in the plunger to allow it to move up to FIRE position. Once set the bolt cannot be operated unless the gun is fired or the plunger depressed should you wish to unload. However, it can be simply pushed down to SAFE. A red, witness plunger shows on top of the shroud that indicates the action is cocked.

The final item is the trigger, which offers three weights between 800 and 2500 grams, plus there is an adjustable, set (push forward) option of between 100 and 200 grams. Adjusting the main pull is simple – remove the bolt and pull back the catch at the very rear of the boltway, which allows the trigger group to slide out. You will see a strut with a spring around it, all you do is lift it up and slide it forward (light), middle (medium) or back (hard) where it locates in pre-drilled holes.

Taking all this on board, I do not think I have seen a rifle that has offered so much and more importantly easy to use technology. Typically like the Blaser and Mauser the Strasser does not include the scope mount and as it’s a dedicated unit you have no option but to buy it as extra! So let’s put it all together and see what it does!

EXTRAS

My tester came in 30-06 and I picked GECO’s 165-grain Express and 170 grain PLUS loads along with PPU and Winchester 180 grain SP. Glass went to the new Kahles Helia 5 2.4-12x56i in Nightforce rings, and up front a .30” cal aimZonic Cyclone reflex moderator. First impressions were good as the Strasser comes together well. Though just 7lbs un-scoped it started to feel a bit bulky with the larger Kahles on top, add on a moderator and the pounds add up!

The single column magazine loads from the front to a capacity of 3 + 1 there is the option of a 6+1 clip for driven hunts. Typically it’s one size fits all and long action only to accommodate everything from 222 Rem with filler block to 300 Win Mag.

This is primarily a hunting rifle as the forend is light, flexible and the barrel slim; I would not recommend a bipod. It feels good in the shoulder with plenty to get hold of without being gross, plus the butt gives a workable head/scope position. The safety is well placed and easy to operate without breaking your firing hand position and far preferable to a de-cocker! The action stroke is long and given how you set the scope up there might be face/bolt contact situation on opening, which is an issue on all sporting straight-pulls. I tended to automatically move my face back as I cycled the action.

GETTING DOWN

The PPU was shooting 1-2” and the Winchester 1” at 100 yards, However the Strasser really liked the GECO! Starting with the ballistic tipped Express it did ¾”, not too bad. However, the heavier PLUS shrank that to ½”; guess that’s the one to go for! In either loading the RS05 was a bit jumpy, but the aimZonic Cyclone really tamed it down in both kick and noise as moderators tend to do. Now the $64,000 question repeatability. Barrel off, scope off and back on and shoot for group, well no disappointments on that one, as it was cock on for same point of impact and group size.

Overall I was most impressed with the Strasser as it shoots well and shows a number of innovative and practical features that could add to its overall appeal. As regular readers will know I own a Blaser R8 Professional Success and wonder how the RS05 will be perceived by the shooting public over what is undeniably the most popular and successful straight-pull ever made. If I did not own an R8 what would I choose? Not an easy call as the Blaser is an elegant, minimalistic and practical design available in a host of options.  The Strasser is a tad more involved and offers fewer model and calibre choices,  but both do the job very well and it would be a hard call.

My thanks to Mathias Strasser for his help and cooperation in writing this article, go to their website for more information and some cool hunting videos in New Zealand.

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gun
features

  • Name: Strasser RS05 Standard
  • Calibre: 30-06 (on test)
  • Capacity: 3 & 6 (DM)
  • Action: straight-pull
  • Barrel: 22” fluted (Standard)
  • Weight: 7lbs (un-scoped)
  • Length: 44”
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