Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

[mark-hunter]

I'm not sure that will actually work, don't the bolt heads rotate and lock into the barrel on the straight pull rifles?

Merkel helix, rotational bolt head.
Blaser - radial locking system.

 

[samu]

Someone test this with live round already..
My suspicion is that the firing pin will release before the handle is turned all the way forward, because after the bolt is in forward position, the firing mechanism is ready to fire but the bolt is not locked to barrel. If you pull the trigger when bolt isn't fully locked, the firing pin will actually slam the bolt in locked position and the firing pin will not ignite the primer. This seems to be the improvement Blaser remains pretty quiet about after R93 blowbacks.

 

[Fastrig]

Merkel helix, rotational bolt head.
Blaser - radial locking system.

Thanks! Thought they both used a rotational bold head, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Tanks]

...

We traveled in the truck with the rifle magazines loaded and chambers empty.
When we got out to do a stalk, the chamber was loaded and safety clicked on.
...

Kind of standard procedure for hunting. Never have a loaded chamber in a rifle in truck or camp (actually completely unloaded for camp).

 

[Fastrig]

Kind of standard procedure for hunting. Never have a loaded chamber in a rifle in truck or camp (actually completely unloaded for camp).

Quick question on hunting in truly remote camps in Africa, do you keep your rifle completely unloaded in those tent camps? In the lower 48 and Hawaii I would always do so, in Alaska might keep the magazine loaded and the chamber empty depending on location, but Africa is a little more wild with a lot more dangerous critters roaming around.....just curious what the protocol is in that situation.

 

[Tanks]

Quick question on hunting in truly remote camps in Africa, do you keep your rifle completely unloaded in those tent camps?...

I plan to have the girlfriend sleep on the side closest to the tent flap so if a critter comes in I will have time to load while she keeps it distracted.

 

[dchamp]

I plan to have the girlfriend sleep on the side closest to the tent flap so if a critter comes in I will have time to load while she keeps it distracted.

Smart man.... women and children first

 

[Forrest Halley]

Quick question on hunting in truly remote camps in Africa, do you keep your rifle completely unloaded in those tent camps? In the lower 48 and Hawaii I would always do so, in Alaska might keep the magazine loaded and the chamber empty depending on location, but Africa is a little more wild with a lot more dangerous critters roaming around.....just curious what the protocol is in that situation.

If you're a big boy, in your own tent, by yourself, the protocol is whatever you make it. Somebody might have something to say about how you walk around in daylight on the hunt, but how you conduct yourself in a tent by yourself is something that requires no solicitation of opinion. Obviously you should not shoot at things you cannot see, but things that come into the tent unbidden and suddenly are liable to receive a large portion of the muzzle energy.

 

[BeeMaa]

I spoke with Euro Optic yesterday...

Because of the C19 I've not been checking up on our order.

Salesman has to check on a few things but most of the items are here.
Will most likely arrange shipment later this upcoming week.
Pics to follow.

This also happened to coincide with the re-opening of our rifle range to the public.
Good times are a comin'.

 

[BeeMaa]

First allow me to apologize for the less than perfect pictures.
I was just too excited to assemble my wife's rifle.
Here it is, her Blaser R8 Intuition with Grade 4 wood.
I have installed a kickstop in the butt of the stock, it now weighs just under 9# - no scope or ammo.

Blaser R8 Intuition

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020
• 13

Blaser R8 Intuition

 

[BeeMaa]

Here are some better pictures of the wood on the stock.
Pictures really don't do it justice, it needs to be seen in person.

Blaser R8 Intuition Right Side of Stock

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020

Blaser R8 Intuition Right Side of Stock

Blaser R8 Intuition Left Side of Stock

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020

Blaser R8 Intuition Left Side of Stock

 

[BeeMaa]

She wanted the knurled bolt knob (much to my disgust) so she got it.
After seeing it and working the bolt with it...I'm thinking about getting one.
It feels a lot better than the stock polymer one that came on mine.

Blaser R8 Intuition Knurled Bolt Knob

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020

Blaser R8 Intuition Knurled Bolt Knob

 

[BeeMaa]

This is a view of the gap between the barrel and the forend.
The barrel for this picture is the 300WM barrel which is the semi-weight 19mm.
This stock was channeled out in Germany to accept the Selous 22mm barrels.
You can see there's not much of a gap with the 19mm and even less with the 22mm.
The 22mm barrels are still completely free floated.

Blaser R8 Intuition Barrel Gap

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020

Blaser R8 Intuition Barrel Gap

 

[BeeMaa]

To say that my wife is happy is an understatement.
She's over the moon for this rifle and after seeing the wood, I understand why.
My plain old composite stock can't hold a candle to that kind of timber.
This is pretty much our Safari setup, although as always, subject to change.
My PH with a 416RM and Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 in a Contessa QD mount.
Her Intuition with a 300WM and Swaro Z8i 2-16x50 in a Contessa QD mount.
We will share the 375H&H and Swaro Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 in a Contessa QD mount.

Blaser R8 PH & Intuition with Scopes & Barrels

• BeeMaa
• May 1, 2020

Blaser R8 PH & Intuition with Scopes & Barrels.

 

[ve7poi]

Beautiful setup can’t think of anything missing but trip to Africa in future
Blaser sure can find nice wood.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Very fine setup! Nothing but envy from me!
I would like to see some witness scars on that beauty from an Africa adventure!

 

[BeeMaa]

Very fine setup! Nothing but envy from me!
I would like to see some witness scars on that beauty from an Africa adventure!

Working on it.
Wife just got a minor nick in her thumb doing dry fire practice.
Blood running down her hand onto the rifle.
Not exactly blooding in the rifle, but it's all we have right now.
And it was a reminder that gloves are part of her kit.

 

[cagkt3]

Very nice! Congrats

 

[Red Leg]

Lovely - I like hers especially.

What the devil is that blue tape on yours? And you are really going to use one of those stock bandoliers?

Just a great set to help make some wonderful memories together. Congrats.

 

[BeeMaa]

Lovely - I like hers especially.

What the devil is that blue tape on yours? And you are really going to use one of those stock bandoliers?

Just a great set to help make some wonderful memories together. Congrats.

The blue tape has marks on it where my eye lands more often.
I then use that mark to set the eye relief on the scope.
I shine a light backwards through the scope and focus it on a ruler to line up with the mark on the stock.
This seems system seems to work well for us.

Just haven't gotten around to setting the eye relief on the 416 scope yet.

Not dead set on the stock bandolier, but yes...I do like it.
Have to see how it performs when using the rifle.