An all-round winner!
The Blaser F16. A gun made specifically for the keen competition shooter and rightfully so. As standard this gun comes with a basic gun metal grey receiver, an adjustable trigger, and grade 3 wood. You also have the option to have the additional barrel balancer fitted, as well as a stock balancer, adjustable comb, and the option to have a left-handed stock upon purchase.
What we like
- The variation in wood – the grain etc.
- Its trigger quality
- High-quality construction and attention to mechanical detail.
What we don’t like
- The plain action
- Lack of calibre options
- Its price – this can be a deterrent for shooters on a tighter budget.
Other Models
Sporting Models:
- The F16 Sporting
- The F16 Sporting Intuition
- The F16 Sporting Heritage
- The F16 Sporting Grand Deluxe
Game Models:
- The F16 Game
- The F16 Game Intuition
- The F16 Game Heritage
- The F16 Game Grand Deluxe
All of which are stunning in their own ways.
Specifications
| Make | Blaser |
| Model | F16 Sporting Grade 6 |
| Calibre | 12 Gauge |
| Mechanism | Over & Under (LH) |
| Barrel Length | 32″ |
| Stock | 14″ 7/8 |
| Weight | 7lbs 13oz |
| Chokes | Multi & Multi |
Thank you Coombe Farm Sporting for allowing us to visit you and take images of this beauty!
Gunsmith Feedback
Ian Mulliner from Mulliners Gunshop
What are the three main things that tend to go wrong with these guns? And why?
The F16 is a well-designed and engineered shotgun, early production F16s suffered a few issues including non-ejection of spent cartridge cases, miss fire with some cartridge brands, non-selection of 2nd barrel trigger, and or a double discharge issue.
What should a buyer look for when looking at this gun?
- The non-ejection of spent cartridge cases was overcome with updates to the ejector internals to improve the consistency of the ejector timing and in some cases, the ejectors themselves needed replacing with new ejectors that had a tighter tolerance fit to the chamber and rim recess to elevate some makes of cartridge brass from fire forming into and or around the ejector’s head.
- The miss fire issue with certain cartridge brands was overcome by fitting updated firing pins with a longer travel and stronger main springs, but the stronger main springs could and did on occasion introduce a double discharge issue which is overcome by fitting an adjustable inertia block which can be timed to prevent double discharge.
- The non-selection of the 2nd barrel sear/ trigger pull was overcome by fitting the same adjustable inertia block to overcome DD so that the travel and timing could be adjusted and set, which is done by means of a laser rig so can only be performed by a Blaser service centre which has a laser timing rig.
What should a buyer look for when looking at this gun?
Any potential buyer of a used F16 should check for the following:
- Check its service history and for updates performed as detailed above.
- Check for cracks in the stock, especially the heading at the rear of both the top and bottom strap and that the stock has not been repaired or bent/cast as this can often lead to a cracked/broken stock in the future.
- Check the top rib for distortion, as it is lightweight and susceptible to damage.
- Check that the top lever is still right of centre when the gun is closed as the bottom lock wedge on the F16s does wear relatively quickly if not kept lubricated and often needs replacement at service.
What is your overall opinion on the design and mechanisms that make this gun?
Overall, the F16 is a well-made, lightweight over-and-under shotgun with a very shallow action making it ideal for those game and sporting clay shooters who like a light gun, the trigger pulls are crisp and the standard stock dimensions are good for the vast majority with a higher stock option available for the Lady shooter. In short, a well-made shotgun with a good feel and balance, crisp trigger pulls and pleasing aesthetics.
What advice would you give to buyers looking to buy this gun? Or people that have one in their cabinet other than the usual cleaning advice?
Like most German-manufactured guns, they do need to be serviced regularly to keep them functioning correctly, but as service also includes updates and update parts it makes sense to have them serviced every 25K rounds or every two years to keep them tip-top. The barrel finish/blacking was not as good as it could have been on the early F16s, as such they can suffer surface corrosion on the exterior if not kept oiled, later F16s have a more robust surface treatment so do not suffer the same issue. If buying a used example, the purchaser must ensure that it has been updated recently and has a crack-free stock and be mindful that the ten-year warranty is only for its first owner and not transferable, best option is to purchase a new one to take advantage of all the latest updates, surface treatments and have that ten-year warranty in force.
Shooter Feedback
What made you purchase this gun? Or shoot this gun if not owned?
Previously I had a browning game gun and I wanted something a bit more focussed for sporting. I decided on the f16 because it was good value for money. It’s perfectly balanced and as soon as I shot it, I gelled with it and felt immediately comfortable. Also, with an adjustable comb and the option for multiple weights in the barrel and stick it was a future-proof gun for me as I would be able to adjust it as I grew. As well as this it’s a very good-looking gun it has a sleek design and Blaser wood is typically very nice and adds to the gun.
What did you like about the overall design, feel, and build of the gun?
The gun is extremely well-built, it’s a high-quality, extremely well-engineered and manufactured gun. You can feel this when you close the gun and hear a solid clunk as it closes, compared to a browning for example which has a kind of rattle when you close it. Small details such as the palm swell make it an extremely comfortable gun to hold, and it feels as though it was built around you.
How would you describe the overall feeling when shooting the gun?
The feeling of the gun: it’s fantastic. The gun balances exactly on the pin and it has a nice weight to it which when shooting means it swings effortlessly, the pad on the stock and the recoil system makes it a pleasure to shoot with very little recoil, even with heavy game loads. The palm swell means you get a solid grip on the gun which is extremely comfortable and makes it fit in your hand like a gun which has been made to measure, the fact that the gun is comfortable to hold and shoot, gives you added confidence on targets. It has a lovely trigger pull and great ejectors which are fantastic for fast loading on a game shoot.
What would you recommend people keep on top of maintenance with this gun in particular?
It’s a very well-made gun so keeping it clean and just taking care of it in general should ensure little to no issues.
The F16 is a fantastic gun, there are very few guns I have shot which I would pick over. The balance, weight and general feel of the gun makes it a pleasure to shoot. Its quality and design mean you look good, and you have confidence that it will last. Overall, other than the f3 there’s not much like it, comfort, looks, reliability and solid German engineering all for a reasonable price.
The Verdict
After all of the feedback from our contributors, we have concluded an overall verdict about the F16.
It is safe to say that this gun is simple but still looks great. Although it may have a plain action and some might say ‘its minimalistic’, Blaser had set out to build a gun based on its performance. The F16 has been perfected in their later models after a few teething issues had been recognised and improved. With the correct level of servicing, care and storing this gun clearly lasts. Due to its low-profile action, the F16 is perfect for the game and sporting clay shooters so this I certainly a gun to consider if you’re looking at becoming a serious clay shooter.
Joshua, our shooter feedback source, has described this gun as being a well-balanced, great-performing gun and it definitely is a future-proof gun.
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