Blaser R8 in 458 Lott

[Green Chile]

I shoot a wood stocked R8 with 375, 300, 257 and rimfire barrels. Great setup. In my traditional rifles, I also like the 458 Lott. I'm thinking of adding a R8 barrel in 458 Lott but don't want to open up the wood fore end for the 22mm Safari profile barrel. I'm considering all options including getting a 2nd R8.

What have others been doing to solve this and how do you like the 458 Lott in the R8? Is anyone shooting it on the lighter receiver or do most of you end up with the heavier receiver as well?

 

[One Day...]

Synthetic stock is the way to go. Depending on the final weight you want, chose steel insert or alloy insert - there is no difference in strength - and keep in mind the scope weight.

Depending on budget available, choose steel or alloy. The steel insert synthetic PH is typically 2.5x to 3x more expensive ($5,300 vs. $2,100 on EuroOptic right now, used to be $4,500 vs. $1,500), for no other reason than Blaser think they can gouge you.

You can always put a 12 oz. or 16 oz. tungsten recoil reducer in an alloy stock if you want the weight of a steel insert stock, without the cost.

I have both alloy insert and steel insert stocks, there is zero difference aside from the weight. I would never have bought a steel insert stock if I had not come across one used-as-new, priced to sell instantly, by a guy who thought he had to get a steel insert to get a 22 mm channel for a target barrel, and who just wanted the cash to replace it with an alloy insert stock. Lucky me!

Here is the data:

I favor DG caliber rifles that are a little heavier, as I find them considerably easier to shoot, and as I cannot tell the difference between 9 and 11 lbs. once they are slung on my shoulder. I love my 11 1/2 lbs. scoped R8 .458 Lott. It is a pleasure to shoot, and clover leaf accurate too.

 

[TOBY458]

I have an R8 Professional with 416 and 458 barrels. Mine is the standard aluminum receiver. My set up with the 458 Selous barrel weighs 8lbs 4oz. I have a Nikon 1-4x20 scope and an RMR set up for it. Weights with both sighting options are as follows.
Rifle/Scope/4 rounds ammo/sling= 10lbs 2oz.
Rifle/RMR/4 rounds ammo/sling= 9lbs 2oz.
RMR and mount weighs 3oz.
Nikon scope and mount weighs 1lb 3oz.

In my mind this is perfect for a 458. Mine is a 458 Win Mag and I use 450gr ammo, so recoil isn’t bad at all. The Lott with 500gr ammo would of course be a bit more.

 

[Green Chile]

I was hoping to hear from both of you...thanks. I like 450 gr TSX in my Lott reloads.

Toby, can you share a photo of both of your optic setups?

 

[TOBY458]

This is the best I can do at the moment.

 

[Green Chile]

Thanks. If you have more of the red dot setup later that would be great.

 

[MD Driver]

Synthetic stock is the way to go. Depending on the final weight you want, chose steel insert or alloy insert - there is no difference in strength - and keep in mind the scope weight.

Depending on budget available, choose steel or alloy. The steel insert synthetic PH is typically 2.5x to 3x more expensive ($5,300 vs. $2,100 on EuroOptic right now, used to be $4,500 vs. $1,500), for no other reason than Blaser think they can gouge you.

You can always put a 12 oz. or 16 oz. tungsten recoil reducer in an alloy stock if you want the weight of a steel insert stock, without the cost.

I have both alloy insert and steel insert stocks, there is zero difference aside from the weight. I would never have bought a steel insert stock if I had not come across one used-as-new, priced to sell instantly, by a guy who thought he had to get a steel insert to get a 22 mm channel for a target barrel, and who just wanted the cash to replace it with an alloy insert stock. Lucky me!

Here is the data:

View attachment 594277

I favor DG caliber rifles that are a little heavier, as I find them considerably easier to shoot, and as I cannot tell the difference between 9 and 11 lbs. once they are slung on my shoulder. I love my 11 1/2 lbs. scoped R8 .458 Lott. It is a pleasure to shoot, and clover leaf accurate too.

 

[MD Driver]

Synthetic stock is the way to go. Depending on the final weight you want, chose steel insert or alloy insert - there is no difference in strength - and keep in mind the scope weight.

Depending on budget available, choose steel or alloy. The steel insert synthetic PH is typically 2.5x to 3x more expensive ($5,300 vs. $2,100 on EuroOptic right now, used to be $4,500 vs. $1,500), for no other reason than Blaser think they can gouge you.

You can always put a 12 oz. or 16 oz. tungsten recoil reducer in an alloy stock if you want the weight of a steel insert stock, without the cost.

I have both alloy insert and steel insert stocks, there is zero difference aside from the weight. I would never have bought a steel insert stock if I had not come across one used-as-new, priced to sell instantly, by a guy who thought he had to get a steel insert to get a 22 mm channel for a target barrel, and who just wanted the cash to replace it with an alloy insert stock. Lucky me!

Here is the data:

View attachment 594277

I favor DG caliber rifles that are a little heavier, as I find them considerably easier to shoot, and as I cannot tell the difference between 9 and 11 lbs. once they are slung on my shoulder. I love my 11 1/2 lbs. scoped R8 .458 Lott. It is a pleasure to shoot, and clover leaf accurate too.

What scope do you use? I have the same setup, but also have a rather heavy low power Zeiss V8, that I’m a little concerned about rattling with Lott recoil. Thanks!

 

[TOBY458]

I recently found a used 23” 416 safari barrel. It has the standard iron sights and no sling swivel band. I was thinking it would weigh a bit more than my 458 barrel but was pleasantly surprised it weighs exactly the same. I guess that’s due to the sights and lack of sling band. Set up just like my 458 except with a lighter weight Leopold 1.5x5-20 scope, it comes in at 9lbs 15oz with sling and ammo.

 

[Green Chile]

Nice. Have you considered using the cup point solids? I had tremendous results with them late last season.

 

[TOBY458]

Here’s a good shot of the scope set up, and what these rifles do best.

 

[TOBY458]

Nice. Have you considered using the cup point solids? I had tremendous results with them late last season.

The CEBs seem to work very well too. So that’s what I decided to go with. I put in an insurance shot on that buffalo, and it penetrated both shoulders like butter. So I was pleased.

 

[MD Driver]

I shoot a wood stocked R8 with 375, 300, 257 and rimfire barrels. Great setup. In my traditional rifles, I also like the 458 Lott. I'm thinking of adding a R8 barrel in 458 Lott but don't want to open up the wood fore end for the 22mm Safari profile barrel. I'm considering all options including getting a 2nd R8.

What have others been doing to solve this and how do you like the 458 Lott in the R8? Is anyone shooting it on the lighter receiver or do most of you end up with the heavier receiver as well?

Hi Green Chile,

Opinion of course, but I wouldn't open up your wood stock to accommodate a thicker barrel, just to take to Africa. The biggest matter is probably sheer weight, as guys above have pointed out. I'm thinking that you'll be much better off getting a heavy/steel receiver synthetic stock for the Lott, and I can report that it's a better way to go to meet your needs. I've got both, and each stock seems good for their intended purposes... heavy/steel synthetic for big boomer cartridges, and wood for eye appeal as well as shooting smaller cartridges. But, I tend to admire fine wood-stocked guns, maybe more than others might....who knows.

Great discussion, let us know what you decide. And pictures always are a big hit!

 

[TOBY458]

Synthetic stock is the way to go. Depending on the final weight you want, chose steel insert or alloy insert - there is no difference in strength - and keep in mind the scope weight.

Depending on budget available, choose steel or alloy. The steel insert synthetic PH is typically 2.5x to 3x more expensive ($5,300 vs. $2,100 on EuroOptic right now, used to be $4,500 vs. $1,500), for no other reason than Blaser think they can gouge you.

You can always put a 12 oz. or 16 oz. tungsten recoil reducer in an alloy stock if you want the weight of a steel insert stock, without the cost.

I have both alloy insert and steel insert stocks, there is zero difference aside from the weight. I would never have bought a steel insert stock if I had not come across one used-as-new, priced to sell instantly, by a guy who thought he had to get a steel insert to get a 22 mm channel for a target barrel, and who just wanted the cash to replace it with an alloy insert stock. Lucky me!

Here is the data:

View attachment 594277

I favor DG caliber rifles that are a little heavier, as I find them considerably easier to shoot, and as I cannot tell the difference between 9 and 11 lbs. once they are slung on my shoulder. I love my 11 1/2 lbs. scoped R8 .458 Lott. It is a pleasure to shoot, and clover leaf accurate too.

How much did Blaser charge to open of the barrel channel on your Professional stock? I believe you had this done at some point, correct?

 

[BeeMaa]

Another thing to consider is the synthetic stock will have a little more flex in it under recoil than a wood one will. This would translate to a little less perceived recoil with the synthetic.

@TOBY458 - I had Euro Optic open the forend on my wife’s Intuition and they didn’t charge me anything. They sent it to Texas because she was getting a 22mm Selous barrel and EO didn’t want to be responsible for damaging the wood in the process. They may have done this free of charge because we bought it from them brand new.

BTW - We sold her Selous barrel and she now has a 19mm barrel in its place. Not much of a difference in the stock/barrel gap.

 

[Green Chile]

Here’s a good shot of the scope set up, and what these rifles do best.

View attachment 594291

Toby that was your 416 or 458? I think I'm taking the R8 to Africa on 2 trips this year. I'm hunting buff with Craig Boddington...and then buff, croc and lion later. Will also take a barrel for PG.

 

[TOBY458]

Toby that was your 416 or 458? I think I'm taking the R8 to Africa on 2 trips this year. I'm hunting buff with Craig Boddington...and then buff, croc and lion later. Will also take a barrel for PG.

That was the 458. But I’m sure the 416 would’ve had the same results.

 

[Green Chile]

Yes of course. I was just wondering about the barrel profile. I haven't handled a safari contour barrel yet.

 

[BeeMaa]

Yes of course. I was just wondering about the barrel profile. I haven't handled a safari contour barrel yet.

The 22mm (Selous and Safari) barrels put a lot of weight out front. I put the kickstop in my 416RM to even it out and add a little extra weight. Made a huge difference in the feel and put the balance between the hands.

 

[Green Chile]

Yes and the kick stop and balance is an important point. How do you know if the receiver or trigger group is steel or alloy? I don't see that referenced much in descriptions. I also almost never see the weight of the kick stop referenced.