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GUN TEST | FIREARMS

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

■ Name: Blaser BD14 (Bockdrilling)

■ Calibres: 7x57R, 5.6x50 R Mag and

20-bore (on test)

■ Type: break-action rifle

■ Barrels: al 22” (20-bore ½-choke fixed)

■ Weight: 7lbs 4oz

Iron sights Y

■ Uses Blaser QD scope mount (extra)

■ Twin selectable trigger mechanism

■ Price: £5404

Scope mount £393

■ Contact: Blaser Sporting Ltd, (trade only)

0207 6222116

http://www.blaser.de

■ Thanks to: Hornady and Fiocchi primers –

Edgar Brothers Ltd 01625 613177

Lee and Sierra – Henry Krank & Co

Ltd, 0113 256 9163

Norma brass and RWS ammunition

• RUAG AmmoTec UK Ltd,
  01579 362319
  Vihtavuori powders – Hannam’s
  Reloading Ltd, 01977 681 639
  Schmidt & Bender optics -
  Schmidt & Bender GmbH & Co. KG,
  http://www.schmidt-bender.de
  Winchester ammunition - BWM
  Arms Ltd, 01235 514550

7x57 you do it in the normal way and it
was shooting 1” @ 100m. In 5.6 you check
the fall of shot then move the tube
according to your preference. I opted for an
inch high at 100m fi guring that would allow
point and shoot out to 200m. The 5.6 shot
tighter at ¾”!
In this case the impact was low and
right. You need two Allan keys – the larger
undoes the locking nut and the fi ner moves
the adjuster. Windage is controlled by the
front mount and elevation by the rear, the
forend has to be removed to facilitate the
latter. All it does is bow the barrel which
affects the launch angle of the bullet (up/
down, left/right). Baby steps are required
as just a ¼-turn will shift the POI 4-5” @
100m. The adjusters offer little resistance
so it’s easy to over compensate as you can
imagine!

KEEP IT COOL
The rifl ed tubes are slim and get hot, very
quickly. This causes ‘thermal migration’

which is the curse of multiple barrelled

rifl es. This means zeroing takes some time

as if you fi re four shots in quick succession

for example and think you’re done; when

the barrels cool down the POI will shift. I

found two shots maximum is about the

limit then let it cool and repeat. However,

it’s no hassle and when property regulated

I was getting the 1” + over the 7mm @

100m I was looking for.

The shotgun barrel was interesting as

the ½ choke is a bit tight for buckshot and

shreds the pattern at 25 yards. It handled

the #4 turkey and #6 bird loads producing

acceptable patterns. In slug mode expect it

to shoot about 2” @ 50m, which is good

enough. Here you can either use the iron

sights (scope off) or watch the fall of shot in

relation to your reticule. For me this meant

aiming off left 2” at 50m to get on centre.

Payload is mission specifi c. For walk

about work I’d have a bird shot up the pipe

and the scope off ready to go back on. For

the woods then a 20-bore slug would be

more useful, even as a back up or deer

dispatch round JIC. The S&B Exos offers a

true x1 magnifi cation so dialled down to

that with the dot on if you know here the

slug will shoot is yet another good idea for

shorter range use. Plus wound up to x8 is

more than enough glass out to 250/300m.

Would I buy a BD14? Yes if I had the

money, as although it takes a bit of getting

used to it offers a most practical, different

and pleasing approach. Calibre-wise I’d

pick 8 x 57 IRS for the main tube and stick

with the 5.6x50 R Mag; well now I’ve got

the dies sorted...

“Zeroing is easy but

requires a delicate hand”

5.6x50 R magnum and 7x57 R,

nice calibres but a bugger to

get in the UK; I’d recommend

the 308 Win/222 Rem combo

unless you like reloading!

UNI40 and

Hornady dies

The rear sight

offers an L-flip

twin notch plate

The gun uses standard Blaser QD mounts, the

S&B Exos 1-8 x 24 proved an ideal and versatile

pairing with the BD14