Straight-Pull Rifle Test

Top rifle review Tim Pilbeam has a Merkel Helix, a Blaser R8 and a Browning Maral to play with as he runs through the pros and cons of straight-pull rifles generally and these models in particular.
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[@anthonylandino7709]

I have a Blaser R8 with a .300 Win Mag and a .375 H&H barrel and I love it.

[@TheDillon1987]

Would be nice to see an updated video as more options and price brackets are on the market now .

[@hunttomuchwolfe]

k31 is a great one and chambered in a great round to use for hunting/target

[@Kman31ca]

hunttomuch wolfe K 31 is my favourite rifle to shoot. I have newer rifles I use for hunting that are a lot lighter, and more accurate(not by much) but the K 31 is just such a masterpiece of engineering and for me, when I shoulder it, it just feels perfect. And I love the straight pull action. Swiss really know how to build things the right way.

[@alecingram4669]

Kman31ca Swiss rifles are spectacular, made to perfection and are so accurate. Amazing rifles

[@MinhVu-in9iz]

I love the k31 and k11, they are great straight pull bolt rifles!! For 100 year old rifle, they can keep up with current bolt guns!! And for a quarter of the price, what’s not to like!

[@sargera1]

This is like wehn u make an enfield on a straight pull.look at the angle and position of the bolt grip

[@leoSeu]

Would love to see a review for the Steel Action HS, also a straigh-pull rifle from a relatively small manufacturer from Cologne, Germany. It was first presented at IWA 2017, so it's relatively new to the market and here in Germany it starts at 1.990 Euros (1.754 Pounds). Very slick action and the only part made of plastic is the red follower inside the magazine. The rest is steel and wood.

[@2dads370]

So how much is that in u.s. currency?

[@moinvideo]

@@2dads370 Roughly 2100$, all of the import Stuff not included. Got to try it out a few months ago, easily beats all other straight pull actions imho.

[@bertvinkenborg1940]

You forgot the best. The Heym SR30.

[@CreepingDeath018]

You mean steel action hs haha :P

[@B61Mod12]

1:12 yes, that's it, close your eyes. Use the force.

[@NimrodNo22]

It is not uncommon for people to close the eyes when the shot is taken. It is a reflex and it does not affect your aiming. If you close your eyes just a second after you pull the trigger the bullet will already be on it's way if not already at the target. You obviously have no clue about bullet velocity.

[@B61Mod12]

@@NimrodNo22 don't BS a shooter Nimrod, I know better. I'm not talking about after the shot. He closed his eye before he pulled the trigger in anticipation (watch it in slow motion) which is totally trainable to break such a habit. Perhaps you closed your eyes while watching also and missed it??? lol Sight alignment and follow through are both core marksmanship principles. Besides it doesn't even matter. We all flinch from time to time, learn how to take it for what it is, a bit of a laugh.

[@c.j.stansfieldsonscontract2259]

Professional & informative product. Thank you

[@creative_expressionproductions]

best sounding action on earth

[@1valg]

Strasser RS 14 and Lynx TD15 most certainly deserve to be in such a test/presentation.

[@HondoTrailside]

Normally what determines your speed on target is not the action as much as the sights. You can work the bolt as fast as you want, but you can't pull the trigger until you reacquire the sight picture. So for anything other than a pipsqueak caliber, you will be unlikely to see much difference in these actions or a bolt. The other thing is that unless there are 4 targets out there, you don't need to be worrying about getting your fourth shot off. Hit it hard with the first or the second. Having access to a fast second shot is great so long as you keep your head on what really matters.

[@paulwiggins183]

Yes!

[@north4961]

👍💯 Hondo, so true, keeping an eye on target most important after first shot. Then you need silky smooth action plus least amount manipulation for second shot. I’m new to straight pull, been using 30-06 bolt action for Mule and Whitetail deer 🦌 🇨🇦

[@JH-jo9wt]

These types of rifles are favoured and targeted for the Driven Hunt where you will see a group of 10 boars run past quickly. Its not about getting follow up shots on the same target its about hitting multimple targets much quicker than a turnbolt allows. Most of these rifles have suppressors on them and 308 is prob one of the most popular calibres for this type of hunt. 50-200m range, good bangflop and quite controllable in 308 supressed. This allows for multiple hits in a short period. Theyve been using this Mannlicher style movement for over 150yrs

[@wvictor5352]

The music sounds like it's from Runescape

[@DMX-PAT]

The Merkel Helix is likely based on the Browning Acera, that would be a great comparison.

[@blackforest270]

Might want to try a Browning BLR?

[@mchughcb]

It is not completely correct to say that the straight pull is more accurate than a turn bolt. I have a blasér R93 in 22LR and a Sako Quad and shot thousands of rounds in benchrest. The reason the turn bolt is more accurate, taking everything else into account is the collet locking system requires quite a hard slam forward to close properly and positively. The sako quad on the other hand can be opened with a flick of the little finger, not moving it as much on the bag. This is using a 36X Weaver scope on a bag for mm accuracy at 50m. On the other hand if we are comparing offhand shooting at moving targets rapidly, well I need to see a bigger sample size because it has more to do with the operator than the style of action.

[@fastmover45]

UK laws are a joke we want semi auto's back. we are law abiding subjects and we want our firearms back (pistols included)

[@fastmover45]

kris jackson they are both knee jerk reaction to events that shouldn't have happened and to people that shouldn't have had firearms

[@CSLFiero]

come to usa. women love your accent and our breakfast food is waaaay better.

[@alecingram4669]

CSLFiero ah, we brits would if it was easier to move there.

[@MarineAqua45]

kris jackson Australian gun laws are much worse than the UKs, except that they permit some handguns over there for ordinary target-shooting.

[@AMoistEggroll]

If UK gun laws ever get reformed, I could see it be more laxed while keeping gun crime low. Your unarmed police should at best have a service revolver as the gap ratio of unarmed to armed cop seems to be big. Some stations I hear are starting to lose manpower. Gun laws as far as I'm concerned should be classified by the amount of workload you need to operate a certain firearm and should work in a fairly strict manner for the sake of the UK if not in place already. Plus, if the Brits are so happy with firearms in the right hands, why can't collectors, hunters, and sportsmen be with some restrictions removed?

[@yeahbee8237]

would be cool to see others aswell, blaser and merkel are all over the internet but there are others out there and the helix is discriminatory because it doesn't have a left handers version and re speed: the difference is so tiny in the hands of the really capable and talented, blaser and merkels biggest selling point is the stupidly easy calibre changes

[@thesayxx]

agreed. would love to see the Titan 16, probably the cheapest straight pull on the market (goes for around 1k€ where i live)

[@yeahbee8237]

BloodRaven I have read a very funny review of that in my native langauge, by a dude who used to work there, Håkan Spuhr of some fame in the gun industry (Spuhr mounts, high end rings/bases for scopes) He completely trashes it Strasser looks alright thou but my dream gun is a Lynx, check them out a small finnish company

[@thesayxx]

Lynx (as far as googling images go) looks like a mix of K31 and Blaser R8 :D But whats wrong with the Titan T16? (im not fanboying or anything). Im was kinda planning to get one.

[@DuRöhre4711]

The Titan 16 is alright, in my Opinion. In Truth, it's a Mauser M96/M97 (no, that's not a Swedish Mauser) and has been on the Market in Germany and around the World for some time.

[@CSLFiero]

kreighoff sempiro could technically also fit into this category, and is even more different. brings its own s drawbacks and benefits.

[@north4961]

New to straight pull, based on your experience, which rifle has the best accuracy? Sub’d and liked 🇨🇦👍 looking to get into 300 Win Mag in my Beautiful backyard of British Columbia 🇨🇦

[@Snurker]

Would love to see the Jakele J1

[@flyingninja1234]

It is my hope, that the citizens, of the UK get their semi-auto centerfire rifles back.

[@Starblind11]

And handguns. Two people shot dead in London within days of each other shows that criminals get their hands on guns anyway, there was never a need or reason to ban responsible legal owners from using them for target shooting and competitions and so forth.

[@flyingninja1234]

Starblind11 Agreed.

[@williampan29]

no

[@TheAlexagius]

Never gonna happen.

[@sargera1]

freedom what wkwkwk. the time and money it tooks are almost expensive (they charge u for literally every minute changes from std definition), and ure better off getting 2nd hand from pawn shop(soemtimes they have nice old pre ban stuff anyway)

[@volvomads]

If one fancy the open sight, the Merkel comes with that too for the same price.. :)

[@kevincoe500]

blaser r8 is great I love mine

[@Mooseracks]

Hylex or Heym???

[@dominicohea5624]

What’s the. Rush

[@nexus1g]

Curious question: is the bolt locked in the forward position by the round in the chamber triggering a mechanism, or does it accomplish locking the bolt forward by some other mechanism? It seems that it's not locked into the forward position provided there is no round in the chamber. How do you handle a misfire?

[@AndreasNkleby]

nexus1g the Blaser has "petals" in the bolt head that expand when the bolt is in the forward position. Also, the more pressure that is pushed towards the head of the bolt (towards the shooters face), the more the petals expand, creating more grip. The Merkel I don't know

[@Homesy01]

probably too late but you missed the three best. Lynx, Heym SR30 and Anschutz 1727 F in rimfire. Try them.

[@slow_diver]

Good review and plenty of slow-mo action ... badummtssssh🎭

[@petrusmeier8484]

I own a r93 blaser, never missed a magazine. No problems with the mounting system or precision etc.. two friends of mine got a Helix. Its such a pu.... ! Only expensive rws or norma ammunition works fine. At the shooting Cinema i always had to help open the chamber. Cause of the speed you have no power to open bigger or stronger c.i.p. cartridges... especially you shouldnt by one when you do reload your ammo.

[@szeredaiakos]

how do modern str8 pull compare in accuracy to rotating? did you run some quality ammo through them and check the grouping?

[@rustyshackleford17]

I'm not sure about long range accuracy. I seem to see the blaser and merkel achieve sub-moa in most every video I've seen.

[@CSLFiero]

all three will shoot straighter than 99% of the shots they will take, but none were built specifically for minimum grouping. comparing them to rotating bolt for accuracy is basically the question of "is lockup inherently less tight?" the best most complete answer to this is "not at all. not even a little."

[@johncumming8567]

Looking at this video I can't help think about the Remington 7600 pump action big game rifle. Cost a lot less than the Merkel.

[@johncumming8567]

@@FranzAntonMesmer I think we are talking about two different guns here. I was referring to the Remington 7600 pump gun, not the Remington semi-automatics, which if not kept clean, have a tendency to jam.The 7600 will beat any bolt gun for speed for repeat shots, and they are lighter. The works of the action are so simple, you wonder why Mauser didn't think of it first.

[@MinhVu-in9iz]

Most avenger people can’t afford these rifles!! I can’t afford any of them! I say buy Swiss k31, such a great straight pull rifle, you can top load or use the detached mag!

[@2dads370]

How much is it in u.s. currency?

[@Wollestar]

Why should no one be able to afford these rifles? I don't understand why I would "safe" 500 or a 1000 bucks on a rifle I will posess for minimum 30 years. If I buy a Blaser R8 for 3000€ and or the Merkel Helix for 2500€, I have a gun where I can exchange the barrel to different calibers and that way I can use one rifle for variuos occasions for all my life. There are hunting schools in germany which have fired 60.000 shots and more with the same Blaser R8 and same barrel and it still hits exactly where you aim it. That amount of shots you will never achive in your life while hunting. Even if you practice a few times a year, reaching a thousand shots a year for 60 years straight will be unlikely. And than the gun still shoots where you aim it.

[@muntee33]

I like the idea. But from what I just watched, a good quality bolt action is not really far behind at all. My Tikka would only be fractions of a second slower, and the price difference compensates 99/100 times I would encounter a situation that a straight pull may be considered advantageous. (Im no professional pest controller...) and FAST follow up shots under 75yrds could be better achieved by a pump action or even lever action. (Semi autos are the Devil’s tools here. 👀And we do not even dare mention full auto’s for fear of Licence disqualification...🤫

[@Matt85ism]

what part of this video was a test?

[@giorgio5818]

Merkel helix vs blaser, which is faster?

[@josephperez3941]

Did he just spank that rifle 🤣

[@DiniMartini]

Strange that they don't comment on the barrel change much where Blaser is by far superior.

[@volvomads]

Martin Hansson Ehm? Have you seen the helix barrel change? No tools and it takes half the time compaired to a blaser 🤔

[@deonmeyer2982]

The Blaser Professional would be faster to reload than the Blaser Professional Success, still not as fast as the Maral/Helix, but certainly faster.

[@fatsamcastle]

Would be good to see a 'field' comparison between a couple of decent straight pulls and bolt actions. Seeing him put two shots into a moving target wasn't spectacular. Nor was watching over exaggerating movements of how to cycle bolts.

[@rustyshackleford17]

The aimpoint hog hunting videos use straight pulls kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3myeX1mhreLjJo In competent hands both rifles will do fine, but a straight pull seems to be easier to run when quick follow up shots are needed.

[@CSLFiero]

overall i'd add the straight pull is also highly an ownership enjoyment thing. the k31 is highly sought almost entirely for this sole reason (though it is also a very capable battle weapon in many other regards as well)

[@ChrisSmith-mj4uj]

Shot a blaser in Scotland and loved it! Not a huge fan of the maral, cycling a round sounds like slamming a car door!

[@kingduckford]

But in all seriousness, can any owners chime in about how well these rifles bench shoot compared to the traditional turn bolts? Be very interested to hear if there are major differences in accuracy with the way the bolt locks up.

[@AndreasNkleby]

kingduckford I know the Blaser R93 (model before R8) delivers sub-MOA, and below that, all the way out at least 700 meters. With a bipod, not a bench though. (Not much bench shooting going on in Norway.)

[@kingduckford]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, and good to hear about the accuracy of these weapons. Sad to hear about not many folks back in the home country not taking up bench shooting. I tell ya what, there are few things as satisfying as hunting, and then shooting, a bench.

[@rustyshackleford17]

All these rifles are sub-moa. Heck, given how much they ask for them, it's pretty much demanded.

[@CSLFiero]

you guys over in Scandinavia seem to take accuracy really serious. especially open sighted. i guess having to fend off russian heavy cavalry with only small arms means making the very most out of those first long range salvos.

[@montefuller4260]

Just came across this video, I have a Blaser R93 LRS2 .308 and with my reloads I'm getting .5 inch groups at 200yrds if I do my part. Taking a 1000 yrd class in December, looking forward to seeing the results from that class, Phoenix Arizona USA.

[@broup9137]

Why does blaser put those tacky stocks on their guns?

[@markbennettjr]

I feel so sad for my English cousins who gave up their God-given right to a proper semi-automatic rifle. here in America, we would rather overthrow the government violently then suffer the indignity of the straight pull rifle. I love you guys but you really need to start standing up for your rights.

[@Starblind11]

A vast amount of people in the UK are brainwashed (well not brainwashed per se, but so totally misled and lied to about guns that it amounts to brainwashing) that if guns being banned totally were put to a public vote in the UK it would pass with a huge majority. People just have no fucking clue that they are both necessary to a lot of people (try running a farm without one) and that legal owners are never a problem and should be allowed to own any gun they want. Legal owners in the entire EU accounted for about 150 gun-related crimes (not even fatal ones, just crimes, so that includes things like carrying one or storing one improperly) in the last year, most of those were shotguns which are far less regulated anyway and not the guns the ignorant public are always crying about, 150 people is a stupidly small number compared to EU-wide stabbings, unarmed killings, death by cars, every single comparison is so ludicrous because legal guns just do not cause a statistically significant problem.

[@MrQualityMeats]

Hunting with a semi automatic is for old ppl with arthritis..

[@CSLFiero]

mark bennett there is NOTHING undignified about these rifles! all three are very very nice guns, even if they exist to overcome an artificial problem.

[@MarineAqua45]

Quality Meat Which is why semi-autos for hunting are useful in Britain.

[@PBMS123]

God given right? What are you talking about?

[@Mooseracks]

Believe it or not, it is easier for a right handed shooter to use a left handed rifle

[@astroboy9736]

It's a shame the browning maral is not made in left hand.

[@greatsportb5376]

If you buying blaser because is faster you buying it with thumbhole which slows you down. Where is logic there?

[@thomasruiz762]

if you are a good shot and really know your rifle, you shouldn't need 2nd or 3rd fast shots

[@B61Mod12]

1) not everyone is perfect like you; 2) sometimes there are multiple targets (i.e. Driven boars, hinds/does with fawns, packs of carnivores, culling mobs of pest species etc). 3) hunting dangerous game requires the ability to provide fast follow up shots. These firearms are obviously designed for types of hunting beyond your own experience/ambition.

[@angeladeadman1938]

you only need 2 bullits, 5 is more than enough

[@commonconservative7551]

makes a k31 look like a dinosaur

[@karisalminen4360]

Best rifle is Lynx td 15

[@serverlan763]

The Blazer is nice but way over priced and not tool less take down. You also have to use an expensive Proprietary scope mount. The one to get would be the light weight carbon model, but huge dollars. The Merkel is tool less take down and also has a pica tinny rail. However the Merkels have accuracy issues with some ammo.... I have no experience with the Browning None of them are good value for money. More for the European hunter that has everything and money is no issue...

[@monooo5918]

Where is straight-pull strasser rifle

[@simondeeley9413]

I will never be able to afford any of these rifles.

[@MinhVu-in9iz]

Simon Deeley that includes all average guys, they are so over priced!! Go buy a k31, such a great rifle!! Get them before they are gone!

[@johnkendall3616]

So what my 760 Remington is even faster and no need to remove my finger out of the trigger guard. Straight pull bolts are solution to a non exiting problem.

[@antoniofiammelli1792]

Browning bars semi auto can be jammmmmmers ,,, cannot ever be fixed ,,,,, repair does not work even if worked on plus ,,, once you get a good one they are hard to group

[@MrYrgas]

Buy a semiautomatic, cheaper and shoots faster

[@betaich]

In most EU countries you're not allowed or are very restricted when hunting with semi automatic rifles.

[@YaoiMastah]

Americans prefer semi auto's because they don't have any culture of marksmanship honing as we have in the EU. If you need more than two bullets to kill it, you're a really bad shot.

[@rustyshackleford17]

You have to take into account what countries these guns are best suited in. These guns excel in Europe in the same situations semis in the US do As for the culture of marksmanship, its debatable and often dependent on where you live in the states. Midwest it's pretty much impossible to get a shot off past 100 yards outside of farmland and a select few ranges. In the many years I've been hunting, I've had one shot over 75 yards. West of the Mississippi, things change very quickly and marksmanship becomes more important. Besides, when you have AR15s and 9mm pistols its easier to magdump...

[@YaoiMastah]

Not to mention that magdumps are quite expensive in Europe. Want to know what a box of rifle ammo, with the carbon-neutral gunpowder and EU mandated food grade metal bullets cost?

[@CSLFiero]

bolt guns have the potential to be more accurate. unfortunately, these fine rifles don't worry about ultimate accuracy and are more about working well in the field and looking very nice, since they have heirloom prices.

[@davidoliveira6559]

primeira de luxo👍

[@geezerp1982]

you forgot the ar-15 !

[@deadlord20]

just get a simi auto...

[@srspower]

Not legal in the UK in centrefire and also not allowed in many countries for game shooting.

[@handlebullshit]

Time to change that, asap.

[@betaich]

Here in Germany you're technically aloud to hunt with a semi rifle, but only with two bullets in the magazine, so it becomes mute. With a bolt action of any kind you are aloud to have I think 5 shots in the rifle so that is better.

[@MinhVu-in9iz]

Get a Swiss k31, for 650-800$ such a great straight pull bolt action rifle!! They are reliable, accurate and well balanced with a nice two stage trigger!!

[@mitchellmitchell6938]

Dude just get a semi auto! Duh!!

[@Paches92-]

Mitchell Mitchell not easy in the UK