Blaser R8 owners... Help sell me on one!

baker42

baker42

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Hey,
So I have been dreaming of a Blaser R8. I have handled a R93 but have yet to handle the R8. I like the many qualities it has and safety features for hunting. I have only heard of a few problems with them and those all have summed up to bad handloads or operators not used to a straight-pull action, plus there really isn't a company out there that has not had at least one rifle made on a Monday after a long weekend. I follow THLR and very much like his set up with the R93 and S&B. The way he uses it for both hunting and long range is much my plan as well.

I am both a long range shooter and hunter, though the later has been lacking the last few season due to work. This has made my gun safe look like a steel pipe factory from all the heavy barrels you can see in there sense I find myself shooting long range more than hunting. To the point this deer season I had to hunt with an 11lbs rifle. I got down to this weight by putting a new scope and lightweight rings on it that looked tiny and out of place. I do not have a problem with carrying this weight I work out and my job requires that I carry far more most of the time. It just isn’t fun and can become awkward well spot and stalking. Another thing you will find is that my safe looks like the same rifle throughout. Same stocks, same triggers, same action albeit long or short and close to the same optics. This is where I think the Blaser would make a lot of room in my safe, one stock and whatever barrel I would like. Let’s say this, I could have my heavy barrel 308, and I could also have a light barreled one for deer. With this and a quick change scope mount I could use the same optic for both. Thus getting the same stock, same cheek weld, same trigger just be a bit lighter to carry. Sense my retirement plan involves hunting various game across Canada I feel I could also have a broad range of calibers to conduct my hunts, again coming back to the fact I would have the same action, trigger, and stock.

I know these are pricey items to start out in, but at base of 3700Cdn this comes in at what some of my custom rifles were. Once I got the base price out of the way it would become cheaper I feel then building a custom every time I wanted a new caliber. I have found barrels/bolts anywhere from 800-2700Cdn, the higher end being the match heavy barrels like 338LM. With the interchangeability of optics mounts and from all reviews and communications I have had of only a 1cm deviation between mounting and remounting, this could also cut down my need for different optics. I could have a long range optic, and a hunting optic. Two mounts two optics could cover all my needs in theory.
I think I have pretty much sold myself on this rifle from just writing down my thoughts here, but if anyone else could weigh in on this rifle/system that would be great. There are a few threads on this site about the Blaser, but I think only a few own them or just a few admit to owning them for fear of being called out as a yuppie rifle snob with too much money ;)

Does anyone else out there use this system for both hunting and long range shooting? What are people’s general opinions from those that have used this rifle for hunting/plinking/long range? What are everyone’s results for accuracy with the standard, semi and heavy weight barrels? What is the total weight people have with each barrel?

I would be selling off all but my most treasured rifles for this purchase so want to gather as much info as possible before doing that. As all my rifles are in my safe for a reason, and have proven themselves to me time and again.

Thanks for your input!

P.S. if someone near the upper part of Ottawa Valley has one, and would be willing for me to handle one I would much appreciate it. If firing is also possible would of course supply the needed ammo of their choice!
 
The R8 is basically the same as an R93 except it's a touch heavier and the trigger assembly acts as a magazine, with appropriate inserts. The trigger group is $500 US and the inserts over $100 each. If you misplace the mag, the gun is useless. At least if you lose a magazine on a regular gun, it's still a single shot. I never did like that feature on the R8, your opinion may be different of course, but something to consider.

I had a Blaser R93 for a few years but eventually got rid of it for a few reasons. While the switch barrel thing is of obvious use for travelling and saving space, I found myself getting annoyed with having to swap barrels every time I wanted to take a different caliber with me. I carry a rifle every day in the truck, so this may not apply of course. Another annoyance was that when cocked, if you nudge the bolt handle back just a hair, the gun will "click" when firing, but the pin won't hit the primer, as the bolt is just that 1mm back from locked. It's a safety feature by design, but I found it annoying. I had this happen to me while out moose hunting, the bolt must've nudged a branch just before I wanted to fire.

One time on my 375 H&H barrel, the bolt carrier slid part way open after firing. This was on the bench (lead sled,no weight added) and I'm not sure how it happened and it never happened again with any of the barrels, but that was the final straw. It scared the crap out of me.

Accuracy was excellent with every caliber barrel I had (about 6 different) and stayed 100% true when removing/replacing scope and barrels. The synthetic stock is nothing to write home about, but functions just fine and seemed very good at absorbing recoil, especially with the available pre-fit Limbsaver recoil pad. The only thing is that the fore arm flexes a lot when a bipod is attached. The trigger is as good as you can get and the mounts are like a Swiss watch. Everything is quality.

One thing to note is that if you reload, you must full length resize.
 
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Thanks bearkilr!
I know they did add some new safety features into the R8 that the R93 didn’t have and more beef for the bigger cals. I like the thought of truck carrying it, two barrels one rifle is a lot easier to put into a truck/tractor then two rifles. I too have a rifle in my truck whenever out on the farm but usually it is only one cal I take, so there would be no need to switch in the field. Only thing with the R8 is no 22LR option like the R93.

I could see that 375 issue scaring anyone… sure it wasn’t muscle memory though? You worked the action and didn’t even think about it? I only ask as with that round if it was a failure in the rifles system I am sure it would have blown something apart and not allow it to be used again.

The 1mm open complaint I have heard everywhere, much like watching hunting shows or other up north shows where you see them carrying a rifle and the bolt handle isn’t locked in place, or slid back. I know bush bashing this has happened to me numerous times with non-locking actions. True to your complaint though I would notice a regular bolt not in battery, but probably would be hard-pressed to notice that slight of an opening.

I laugh though whenever I hear the mag/BDL/ADL thing with any rifle though. I swear it’s an old timer thing to store the rifle and mag separate. Many of an old farm rifle I have had to search for new mags for because that is how he stored them. Now because of the mix match of hunting laws out there I can see where a loaded mag would be quicker to employ well “truck hunting” or using water transportation then a non-mag system. They also have the top load model like the R93 for those tastes, though I would go with the mag.

Thanks for the tidbit on the reloading, I had heard that and well it’s not really too big of a deal, you always reload to what your rifle likes right. I also like what I am hearing from you for accuracy across the board, did you try any semi or heavy barrels? Would you say MOAish? What different Cals did you have?
 
baker42 said:
Thanks bearkilr!
I know they did add some new safety features into the R8 that the R93 didn’t have and more beef for the bigger cals. I like the thought of truck carrying it, two barrels one rifle is a lot easier to put into a truck/tractor then two rifles. I too have a rifle in my truck whenever out on the farm but usually it is only one cal I take, so there would be no need to switch in the field. Only thing with the R8 is no 22LR option like the R93.

I could see that 375 issue scaring anyone… sure it wasn’t muscle memory though? You worked the action and didn’t even think about it? I only ask as with that round if it was a failure in the rifles system I am sure it would have blown something apart and not allow it to be used again.

The 1mm open complaint I have heard everywhere, much like watching hunting shows or other up north shows where you see them carrying a rifle and the bolt handle isn’t locked in place, or slid back. I know bush bashing this has happened to me numerous times with non-locking actions. True to your complaint though I would notice a regular bolt not in battery, but probably would be hard-pressed to notice that slight of an opening.

I laugh though whenever I hear the mag/BDL/ADL thing with any rifle though. I swear it’s an old timer thing to store the rifle and mag separate. Many of an old farm rifle I have had to search for new mags for because that is how he stored them. Now because of the mix match of hunting laws out there I can see where a loaded mag would be quicker to employ well “truck hunting” or using water transportation then a non-mag system. They also have the top load model like the R93 for those tastes, though I would go with the mag.

Thanks for the tidbit on the reloading, I had heard that and well it’s not really too big of a deal, you always reload to what your rifle likes right. I also like what I am hearing from you for accuracy across the board, did you try any semi or heavy barrels? Would you say MOAish? What different Cals did you have?
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The bolt opening wasn't a reflex thing on my part. I probably wouldn't have noticed if it happened shooting at an animal, but since it was on the bench, it was instantly noticeable. Nothing seemed to be broken and the gun functioned fine after, so I'm at a loss what happened. Perhaps the recoil jarred it somehow? Maybe my hand hit it? I'm really not sure, but after that incident, staring at that bolt carrier inches from my face, it was constantly on my mind!

The mag loss aspect is a bit more worrisome than with a regular magazine on a bolt gun, since, as mentioned before, the gun becomes useless, not just a single shot.

I don't need to switch barrels in the field either, but I like to grab the "flavour of the day" gun out of the safe rather than having to assemble it first. It's really just a personal convenience thing. Call it being impatient before enough morning coffees! :)

For a .22, just buy a Browning Tbolt. Same action motion!

I had a 22-250, 243, 257 Wby, 264 WM, 7mm-08, 338 WM and 375 H&H, not all at the same time though. They were all regular contour, although the 22-250 was pretty heavy for a sporter weight. All did right around 1/2 MOA, pretty impressive. The 338 even shot different loads/bullets to within 1", something that still blows my mind. The open sights are also excellent, and with the QD mount, there isn't a better system I've come across.

Check out blaserbuds.com. Lots of good info and even classifieds, though most sales are US.
 
Well now I am on the hunt for one as I have came into money... any suggestions?

Seen West Coast, Wolverine, Epps, and now Grouse River (got the email the other day its like they knew I was hunting for one) all deal in them, but most only have high end yuppie wood that I would feel wrong taking out hunting, or they can order it in.

Well no hits on the EE yet either, so I may have to give up and order one as the 6month wait would probably be shorter then me hunting for the one in stock. Though 6 months is already into hunting season... scary
 
I bought Bearkilr's R93 and have put 250 rounds 375 H&H through it with no probles.. ITs taken a lot of time finding the perfect load because it is extremely accurate. I love the way it fits me which means when I change barrels I know that when I shoulder it nothing has changed
 
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