Anyone has experience with Blaser R8?

[ArmyGrunt]

I've wanted one for a while, but the price has me hesitant, for obvious reasons. I recently found one on the web chambered in 270Wby with a case, scope rings and dies included for much less than retail.
I'm thinking of selling a couple less-used members of my collection to fund this purchase. I've read a ton and watched loads of videos about the R8, and I still feel like I "need" one.

So, has anyone here actually got hands on experience?

 

[Patton63]

I have used a friend's R8 chambered in 300 WSM. It was a tack driver. The ergonomics were off for me a bit, as I am a lefty and was shooting his right-handed rifle. But, the action was insanely fast to operate very nice trigger. I have a standing search for a left handed Blaser and when I find the right one I am going to pounce on it.

 

[markferrigno]

I have several when I lived in Germany. They are excellent rifles but not my cup of tea. Good rifles. If you get it with a scope mount it will save you some coin. Of you are interested in straight pull check out the Heym SR 30

 

[markferrigno]

I have shot several when I lived in Germany. They are excellent rifles but not my cup of tea. Good rifles. If you get it with a scope mount it will save you some coin. Of you are interested in straight pull check out the Heym SR 30

 

[ArmyGrunt]

There are a number of lefties I've seen online both at gun broker and arms list, but there's that money thing....

I looked at the Heym and the Merkel Helix and the Browning Maral. I didn't love the Heym idea, something about the ball bearing system. The Browning is not available in the States, and the Merkel I like but I don't know much about the caliber selection. I've read it over, but Blaser has got my very interested.

I found an Aussie dealer with the Browning, and a USA importer, if the money makes sense. Though I could drive a short way for the R8 from above

 

[Red Leg]

Have an R8 with .375, .300WM, and 6.5X55 barrels. Boringly MOA with each caliber. Ergonomics are superb. Perfect trigger pull. The bolt is blindingly fast - just taking a bit of muscle memory time to quit trying to lift the damn thing. Scope mounts work exactly as advertised. And unlike a CZ, it requires no tuning to make it work as designed.

 

[lcq]

Have an R8 with .375, .300WM, and 6.5X55 barrels. Boringly MOA with each caliber. Ergonomics are superb. Perfect trigger pull. The bolt is blindingly fast - just taking a bit of muscle memory time to quit trying to lift the damn thing. Scope mounts work exactly as advertised. And unlike a CZ, it requires no tuning to make it work as designed.

The muscle memory of a lifetime would be very difficult to overcome. When it comes to guns boring is good

 

[ArmyGrunt]

It's starting to sound like it's a good idea to get one...
I also read that particular chambering is very fast and very flat. A ballistics calculator skied that a ~325m zero will be a couple inches lower hitting at 100 or 500, so mountain critters could probably be little issue aside from a wind shift or angle

 

[lcq]

It's starting to sound like it's a good idea to get one...
I also read that particular chambering is very fast and very flat. A ballistics calculator skied that a ~325m zero will be a couple inches lower hitting at 100 or 500, so mountain critters could probably be little issue aside from a wind shift or angle

about the same as a 270 wsm. With hindsight I should have bought one instead of the 300wsm

 

[ArmyGrunt]

about the same as a 270 wsm. With hindsight I should have bought one instead of the 300wsm

How does the 270 differ from the 300 inn wsm, aside from bullet weight?

 

[aleli]

I have a left handed R8 with adjustable stock comb. It is insanely accurate in both 6.5×55 and 9.3×62. Can easily cover a 5 shot serie with a small coin @ 120 yards with ny 9.3, the 6.5 is egen better. I think I am the limiting factor, not the rifle.

Have a couple of scope mounts so I can change quickly from Aimpoint to Trijicon 1-6 to Kahles 3-12. Always keeps the zero...

 

[aleli]

On the negative side: I think it is ugly

It is very compact and the cocking worlds really well once you've learnt it.. it repeats very fast

 

[lcq]

How does the 270 differ from the 300 inn wsm, aside from bullet weight?

way better ballistic coeffecient per grain, same basic cartridge (270 7mm 300) so flatter trajectory less recoil. Any of the wsm and soon to be discontinued wssm ammo and cases are way overpriced. If I had to do it over again I'd have bought a 270 wsm and a plain old 300wm

 

[ArmyGrunt]

How good is the 270 win? There's an R8 near Indy I found this evening at a store, so I may be able to trade a few of my previously loved toys to offset my cost

 

[enysse]

Nothing wrong with the 270 Win, when you look at ammo sales it's right up there with 30-06 and .308 in popularity.

 

[rookhawk]

Have an R8 with .375, .300WM, and 6.5X55 barrels. Boringly MOA with each caliber. Ergonomics are superb. Perfect trigger pull. The bolt is blindingly fast - just taking a bit of muscle memory time to quit trying to lift the damn thing. Scope mounts work exactly as advertised. And unlike a CZ, it requires no tuning to make it work as designed.

Why'd you sully perfection by buying all those extra barrels for the 6.5x55 version?

All jokes aside, is yours wood or plastic? Drop box or internal magazine? Special rail scope mount or conventional rings?

 

[lcq]

How good is the 270 win? There's an R8 near Indy I found this evening at a store, so I may be able to trade a few of my previously loved toys to offset my cost

absolutely nothing wrong with the old 270 it has stood the test of time for a reason. Hornady superformance ammo will close the gap on the wsm if your gun shoots it and components are way easier to find. That said the case capacity of the wsm enables you to shoot much heavier bullets. think 308-vs 3006. At 150gr there isn't enough diff to matter, bump that over 180 and the 3006 wins big.

 

[Red Leg]

Why'd you sully perfection by buying all those extra barrels for the 6.5x55 version?

All jokes aside, is yours wood or plastic? Drop box or internal magazine? Special rail scope mount or conventional rings?

Funny.

This is the Classic Sporter model. Think their deep black satin finish with a moderately figured European walnut stock with ebony forend and English cheek piece. All three barrels have very useful open sights. Am using standard Blaser lever detachable mounts on the 6.5 and .300. Have a Contessa detachable mount on the .375. Am pretty sure all the R8's, like this one, have the detachable magazine trigger group? Anyway, a nice rifle. Have a Swarovski Z6 on the .375 - Leicas on the other two.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

The "Off Road" version doesn't have a detachable box/trigger group, but all the rest do

 

[Code4]

Great rifle. Stalked Row Buck with one in .308W. Action took a bit of getting used to as it was borrowed. Wouldn't hesitate to own one.