Back at home, I examined the R93 with attention to ergonomics and hunter-friendly features. The stock itself is a good-looking synthetic stock that Blaser touts as "Shatter-proof and thermo-stable even under extreme conditions," that sports rubberish grip inserts fore and aft.

The author testing the R93 at the range. It performed beyond expectation. Note the unique plunger-type safety/cocking mechanism.

The barrel is free-floated in the stock. The front sling swivel is located in the end of the fore-end tip, rather than in the typical spot.

The bolt is easily the fastest I have ever used. Just pull back, push forward. Operation is smooth, positive, and has a quiet but satisfying "ka-chunk" sound as it is operated.

The safety takes some getting used to. It is a manual cocking design that actually compresses and depresses the firing-pin spring as the safety is deactivated and activated, providing a design that truly is unable to fire when the safety is on. However, operation requires a good amount of thumb movement and is fairly stiff.

The trigger breaks fairly cleanly at about 31⁄2 to four pounds, with no creep. A bit of overtravel is present, and I am an overtravel nut, but obviously it didn't interfere with the rifle's performance on the range.

The polymer magazine works well and is not particularly hard to load. However, the magazine contains only three rounds in standard calibers, two in magnum calibers.

Obviously the goal is to need only one. Unfortunately, I--like many hunters--occasionally err, and I like more than one additional round on tap if I do need to follow up. If I hunted with an R93 magnum, I would definitely top off with one in the chamber before shooting, if time permitted.

As for the barrel, judging by the performance of my test sample, it is match quality. Length is 22.7 inches in standard calibers. The Saddle Mount scope-mounting system is particular to Blaser and locks directly into mortises milled into the barrel. I would prefer a simple drilled-and-tapped barrel that would accept a Weaver-type rail and standard rings.

Women who tried the Blaser straight-pull action preferred it to conventional bolt designs. Its smooth forward-and-back stroke should make it easy for youngsters to work as well.

Balance is superb, as it should be on a rifle with that kind of a price tag. In standard calibers it weighs in at just over 61⁄2 pounds. I ran several speed drills, cycling the bolt and squeezing the trigger rapidly, and I found that it is significantly easier to stay in the scope and keep the rifle on target than with a standard bolt action. Also--other than the difficult-to-manipulate safety--both my wife and a friend's wife preferred the rifle to standard bolt-action designs, finding it easier to function.

Another advantage to the rifle is the ease of transporting it, especially for those who do a lot of travel by air. Broken down, the system fits into a much smaller case than your standard hunting rifle. Makes it lots easier to climb into the taxi.

Is it worth the price? Well, yes. For the discriminating hunter and shooter who demands quality and performance, and is willing to pay for it, the R93 is a cutting-edge design that delivers as much or more than promised. •

Gun services provided by Turners Outdoorsman (www.turners.com). Range facilities provided by Angeles Ranges (www.angelesranges.com).