Orsis Varmint M

Orsis rifles are relatively new to these shores and are imported exclusively by Brock and Norris. Produced in Russia on state of the art CNC machinery the range of precision rifles is comprehensive from Light weight Alpine hunters to F class, Varmint or Bench rest models. I had the Varmint M model that was a typical varmint stock but with a semi tactical twist with adjustable cheekpiece and made from wood laminate. Chambered in the venerable .308 Win cartridge if the test target was anything to go by I was in for a treat.

BARRELLED ACTION

First up the whole rifle, well made metal parts are coated in a charcoal grey Cerakote finish making a nice overall blending of action to barrel as well as offering a superb tough and weather resistant layer. The barrel is 24” long with a slow taper from 0.955” just forward of the receiver ring to 0.872” at the muzzle. It has eight straight flutes to reduce weight a little and the muzzle is threaded 18x1mm. This model comes with a muzzle brake which is 2.75” long with an outside diameter of 1.18” and a series of six ports on top with a blank base. The crown is rebated and the whole tube is free floating, so all looking good so far!

Internally the dimensions are held to an incredible maximum tolerance bore diameter of 0.0005mm, wow! Made from high quality stainless or chromium-molybdenum alloy steel (4140) type using a single point cut rifling technology… I was getting excited.

The action too is very well executed. Large yes at 8.25” long with a large 0.3115” separate recoil lug for a good bed. There is also a large rectangular ejection port to the right for easy cartridge manipulation and a faceted left side to the action.

To remove the bolt there is a lever to the rear left of the action. There are two opposing locking lugs up front with a nice coned bolt front profile and a plunger-type ejector system and very much like the M16/ Howa type long extractor claw. There are three venting gas holes along the bolt’s body and the handle is straight, just the way I like it, and is held in place by two Allen screws and has a semi tactical coned knob to grip.

This all adds up to a well engineered and thought out action and in use you will be very surprised how incredibly smooth it is. Silky comes to mind, rather like a precision made bench rest action.

TRIGGER SAFETY AND MAGAZINE

The trigger continues the precision theme. Wow! It’s almost like a Jewell to operate. Very slim profile and smooth blade but has the best single stage pull on any factory rifle I have tested. It breaks very cleanly at 2.25 lbs with zero creep or backlash, superb. The safety is a wing or bolt shroud mounted type with a typical three position operation. Forward is FIRE, middle SAFE with bolt operation and rear SAFE bolt locked. A small protruding cocked action indicator with a red ring is visible when the bolt is cocked. The magazine is a fully metal and detachable and in .308 Win cal holds three shots. It is easily removed and pops out when the trigger guard button is pushed forward.

STOCK

Outwardly the stock looks like many other varmint/tactical designs but the Orsis has a few hidden secrets. First up the laminated design is ergonomic and settles well in the hand whether that be from a prone or standing position. You can further enhance or customise this to your own needs by adjusting the height, an inch either way using a thumbwheel behind the butt pad that protrudes both sides of the stock.

Next the cheekpiece, again with thumbwheel can be elevated 1.5” on a central column flanked by two supporting pillars. Combine these adjustments and the upright pistol grip design with a scalloped rear hand grip to the lower section of the stock and semi beavertail forend There are Q/D swivel mounts and an Anschutz-type under side accessory rail in the forend but no checkering and although I like the black/silver laminate it is a bit slippery! But you can forgive it this as inside the stock is a great surprise. The whole action is fully bedded from front to back but not on the trigger guard. This is very well executed and is supported with twin aluminium pillars to the two action screws.

You therefore have a free floating barrel and excellent bedding system, this should shoot very well lets see.

FIELD USE

That muzzle brake works and its loud too!! But I tried several differing moderators in the test including the new MAE Compact and Jet –Z. Mike Norris had attached a Vortex Razor scope, very nice in Razor rings and the Orsis was soon sighted in.

Factory-wise the Orsis loved the Remington match loads shooting those Sierra 168-grain Match King bullets at 2598 fps/2509 ft/lbs and grouping three shots into less than 0.35” all the time, that’s more than good and shows that the bedding and barrel quality is right up there. Trouble is that it’s not deer legal but great for practical matches.

Hornady Superformance and Winchester Silver Ballistic tips were right up there in terms of velocity, 2971fps and 2935 fps respectively but accuracy could not match the Rem`s at 1.12 and 0.91”. A real surprise were the Federal Barnes TSX loads that I never really have any luck with but these shot ridiculously well in the Orsis.

Those monolithic 150-grainers cruised along at 2872/2748 ft/lbs energy and planted three shots into 0.352” at 100 yards.

Reloads stepped up the game; I tried some light 110-grain Bergers and 125-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. The Bergers really liked 41-grains of IMR 4198 powder for 3194 fps and 0.45” groups. The Noslers too shot well at 0.55” groups consistently with a load of 41-grains of RL10X powder for 3021 fps.

The 150 grain bullets shot well too, 0.42” groups from the Ballistic Silver Tip with 44-grains of RL15 for 2741 fps/2503 ft/lbs. Sierra Game Kings, 150-grains are always really good and the Orsis also liked a load of 44-grains of RL15 powder for 0.45” groups and 2711 fps

CONCLUSIONS

Bit of a surprise really, we Brits think of Russia as producing heavy and basic engineering, but the Orsis totally disproves these beliefs. It is a super accurate rifle out of the box with factory or reloads and well made certainly by Western standards.

However, at £3200 it’s far from cheap in comparison to more well known brands and also very much an unknown quantity despite the fact it’s a real shooter. Trouble is getting people to think outside the box and not buy a typical American or European option as they would be missing out in my view. Mike Norris knows a good thing when he sees it and now I have tested the Orsis I hope it has a future here in Britain, as it deserves it.

PRICE: £3200